Stronger by Ang Chris

Chapter 32

“Now I’ll see you in the morning my pup,” my mom k*ssed my forehead and my dad hugged me goodnight.

Grayson stood waiting for me. I wouldn’t sleep much tonight. I had to get up early and go the moon pool for cleansing.

The dinner had gone better than I had thought….

“It’s so good to see you!” I jumped into Cea’s arms.

“Anna! Oh my goddess I have missed you!” she held me in the vice grip of her arms.

“You look good,” James came up to me and gave me another tight and cozy hug.

“How have you been?” I looked at him with worried eyes I know I shouldn’t treat him like this it’ll only frustrate him

but I had been worried about him and his chaotic moods.

“Really you’ve been worried about me with the hell you’ve been put through?” he looked over me to Grayson.

“James there will be a time for that,” Charlie did not look upset with James at all he looked like a strategist getting

what they needed.

“Theo,” I walked over to him and hugged him, bringing my face to his car. “You will behave right?”

“He accepted the challenge,” he whispered back to me.

E

“Mama, Papa, this is Amaria Adams Grayson’s mother,” I introduced my mother–in–law to my parents without thinking, remembering at the last second they knew each other. I cursed to myself and shook my head.

“Amaria!” my mother gave her a warm hug and a k*ss on the cheek.

“Eva you look as radiant as ever I’m still jealous of you!” Amaria chuckled.

“Amaria,” my father gave her a quick hug. “I am indebted to you for the kindness you have shown my daughter,”

“No. We are family there are no debts between us,” She shook her head and rolled her eyes and my father’s traditionalism.

“You’ve done so much though,” I spoke up behind her.

“I know, I never said I didn’t deserve the praise I just said they shouldn’t feel indebted, “She winked at me.

“Come on let’s eat,” She looped her arm through my mother’s and they walked ahead.

Cea grabbed my hand and we walked behind them. Chatting mindlessly like we always do. I knew everything that had happened with her and she knew everything that had happened with me but in person was much different.

“Theo has puppy fever I can’t take it!” she looked like she was going to pass out.

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Chapter 32

“Really? I mean well yeah no I could see it being him wanting kids,” I realized my brother was much like my father, a

family man..

We ate roasted rabbit, with salad and bread. My brothem are more than their share and James talked a lot with Matt. I felt like that could be a good thing Matt was very lewell–headed and James could use someone outside the family to tal

1. TO.

“You seem to have an abundance of resources, Grayson Chutie started up.

“He should have called him Alpha Charlie isniti one toitegen that type of thing.

“Grayson has many exports for the pack and looks after all of them, jumped in, staring down my brother challenging him to behave. Just for tonight..

“Annette would be far better at it than I would she toolsover fem in complet days while I helped shore up our northern defenses and she had many wonderful suggestions,” He spoke calmity and reserved which surprised me since he didn’t like disrespect.

“Annette is always better,” Charlie clasped his hands and leaned his elbow on the table. “She deserves the world,”

“Charlie you’re too sweet. You know I think you should talk to Aarrom the data the trains the warriors here they train: differently than our warriors it might be worth discussing,” I stopped Charlie from starting anything

“Ele hasn’t acted like this in a long time what is going on with him!”

decided now would be a good time to introduce Cea to the friends live made here so that some tension would diffuse

nditted over to Ella and Charlotte.

“Can this is Blin and Charlotte they are my friends and this is Elizabeth she’s been my guide here she’s Aarons’s wife,” expilaimed and they all gave their hello and introduction, and good to meet you.

samice to meet you guys,” Cea laughed. “I have heard a lot about you.”

“Lumu Armulis always talking about you and she’s missed you so much,” Ella beamed.

wife?” Elizabeth questioned.

for our packs. We had no

delta”

a little frazzled by Elizabeth’s interrogation.

modded and returned to

sure we will have dum tomorrow cleansing and praising–Anna,” Cea smiled

puil and then anointed with oils, herb balms, and scents. Afterward, I wouluver runes inscribed om my bucks for luck and fertility and then

Chapter 32

prepared for the tattoo?? Charibethegaverne a pitying

yes I am, I sheepishly tried to covernmyyfteam of the process.

fine.” Cea nudged

Charlie came up

face. He looked up at the two girls in front of me and then to Cea and then back

1. me.

to bed good night,” He k*ssed my cheek and walked off

Okay?

went calmly. Theo and James

so aggressive and thenthatmintent of telling me

walked back to my house together all the rooms had beeffumished for them to stay in. My

night and

Grayson nodded to me as we

don’t know if you’ll make it,” I felt like wassdiecaming We were saying this because. tomorrow we began

Annette.” He nodded to me and went into

softly said as I walked

that sparkled with the sscass. Tiemconthunglow and told

walked out of my room. I was supposed to go to the moompoobladbecam kay in there until t

eldrescoeeftonme.

“Aunette.”

“Ginyon??”

gray’darkness. He was supposed to sleep and

yuditor?backed up slightly and crossed my arms to cover

felt transpar

Timewalked towards me each step spiking my heart rate.

you should goobtube,

even though there

Chapter 32

is restless. He knows he will be with her today, I don’t want you or her to

breath vanished.

you tonight.” He k*ssed my cheek and walked

lighting my b*dy on fire and walking away?

the closed door feeling like I had missed something important. He had never touched me like

had never brought his

were apart from each other it was easy to say I wanted to wait and I wanted time before we touched one another but when he was close and blurred the lines we had drawn in the sand I felt like there was only one thing to do. How could I not touch him and feel

more time…

go to the forest. This heat would

was the sweet sort of cool. It didn’t bite or claw at you, it

around you.

to the man–made pond. It was a shallow pond with rocks on the bottom in an open clearing of the woods. It

water laying down gradually and dipping

moment.

her. I wanted to know why I had been given a

were spread out to keep me afloat in the pond. Most brides say you can feel yourself become ready for the life you will

Waiting for Grayson. Waiting for answers. Waiting to know if it would all be

out and closed my

“Anna,

“Anna,”

the sun was out… Had I

up my mother was waiting for me with a robe as the elders turned their back out of respect. Amaria was the

on me. The onyx ones

not supposed to watch me

hapter 32

his impatient wolf. We walked back to

elders did this so I would be attractive to my mate and my b*dy would be prepared for

started by rubbing rosemary oils into my scalp and almond oil on my skin.

for a long and happy life

1. mc.

and I felt myself relax as the long process of oil after oil went on. My mother comb my hair which was now slick with the various treatments to make it healthy and

for this my

“Yes, mama,”

drift in and out of sleep as the time went on. My hair was washed in water

was massaged by Amaria who chanted a prayer I

whispered to me. They scrubbed my skin and then began

balm on each part of my b*dy. I felt like I was going to sl*p right off the pillow I was

braid after something was combed into it

things are going to be put on me?”

my back. The ink was cold and the brush tickled so I had to keep my laughter in. While the elders wrote on me Ella walked over and placed some sort of cream on my sternum to numb me for the laborious process of the