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.

I hold the same position for our packs. We had

delta”

never mated, Convermell a little frazzled by Elizabeth’s

modded and returned to her

cleansing and praising–Anna,” Cea smiled at the

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

Chapter 32

tattoo?? Charibethegaverne

sheepishly tried to covernmyyfteam of the process.

be just fine.” Cea nudged

up

looked up at the two girls in front of me and then to

1. me.

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

Okay?

of the evening went calmly. Theo and James didinoideum Grayson

so oddly that night so aggressive and thenthatmintent of telling me he was going to bed what was

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

night and

to me as we waited

felt like wassdiecaming We

He nodded to me

as I walked to

I woke up to a pitch black sky that sparkled with the sscass. Tiemconthunglow and told n

supposed to go to the moompoobladbecam kay in there

eldrescoeeftonme.

“Aunette.”

“Ginyon??”

to sleep and he was not supposed thatbome.

arms to

felt transpar

be nervitustooky, Timewalked towards me each

should

were going to get caught even though

Chapter 32

I don’t want you or her

breath vanished.

k*ssed my cheek and

lighting my b*dy on fire

door feeling like I had missed something important. He had never

brought his

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

need more

forced myself to move from my spot and go to the forest. This heat would

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

around you.

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

into the water laying down gradually and dipping my head under

moment.

stayed there and looked up at my goddess wanting answers from her. I wanted to know why I had been given a soulmate

brides say you can feel yourself become ready for the life you will lead

Waiting for answers. Waiting to know if it would

closed my eyes letting her

“Anna,

“Anna,”

was out… Had I fallen asleep?

a robe as the elders turned their back out of respect. Amaria was the only one who didn’t as she would now also be my mother in the

me. The onyx

not supposed to watch me Enzo…

hapter 32

wolf. We walked back to

I was taken to a ritual tent to have my b*dy prepared. The elders did this so I would be attractive to my mate and my

oils into my scalp and almond oil on

a long and happy life with Grayson and

1. mc.

I felt myself relax as the long process of oil after oil went on. My mother comb my hair

this my pup?” she whispered to

“Yes, mama,”

drift in and out of sleep as the time went on. My hair was washed in water for a long time to get all the substances out.

Amaria who chanted a prayer I did

have asked for a graceful aging,” she whispered to me. They scrubbed my skin

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

put up in a braid after

things are going to be

runes on 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 tattoo.