Stronger by Ang Chris

“I love my people they deserve a great Luna and a strong heir,” He panted

*Oh! How nervous could someone be! *

“I’m sure they do. I would like to know more about you,” I smiled.

This was my third conversation of the day. We were walking in the fields talking about what life may be like if he won. I wanted to get to know the men before they fought. This was not part of the tradition but I had insisted and so had my parents.

The alphas son I was with now was 17 and highly strung about his chance with me. I could empathize with him and his hopes.

We had been walking for 10 minutes and he had not said a single word about himself.

“I enjoy reading and learning. My father wishes I would practice my fighting more but I do my best to balance both,” He did indeed have broad shoulders and hefty arms. “I know it seems foolish but I do believe that knowledge is power as well. Though I know you are a strong warrior,” He smiled, wringing his hands.

“I am. I’ve learned many forms of combat to help defend my pack. Though reading is one of my passions,” I looked over the fields at the growing food my pack would harvest at the end of the season. I would not be here for that.

“Really,” He examined. “I am so glad, it would be nice to enjoy sharing my books with my mate,” He nodded his eyes now alight.

“I enjoy a good romance,” I furthered.

His face dulled. “Ah,” He turned his head away from me “I meant nonfiction. Science books, psychology, and historical texts,” he folded his hands behind himself.

I scrunched my eyebrows. “There is a lot to learn from fantasy novels as well. Morals, facts, coping, heartbreak,” I pushed back.

He smiled. “You are right. Still not my favorite. I do think I’d listen to you talk of them all day though,” He said, turning to smile at me once more.

*I’m not sure he seems too good to be true. *

I could not hope to fall in love in one conversation, and he seemed honest. No man trying to deceive me would show their dissatisfaction with an answer of mine unless they were stupid.

“That is very sweet Maxwell,” I laughed.

“Your time is up Annette has some duties to attend to,” Theo stuck his head in between us.

I smiled and waved goodbye to him as I turned.

“Please call me Max!” He hesitantly called after me.

“Only if you call me Anna!” I called back.

I turned my head towards the building of our pack. This was the best conversation I’d had this day. I enjoyed him, though I still felt a stone in my heart that he was not for me.

“He seemed nice,” Theo poked my side.

I turned to the middle of my brothers. “He was. Still, I’m holding my heart behind closed doors. Something is sitting in me telling me to wait,” I shook my head confused at this unsettling sense I held onto.

“Is it your fears?” Theo stopped. “You should not let them hold you back you know,” He looked so worried. I knew it was not easy for him to see me like this, so vulnerable and there was nothing he could do.

“It is not, I feel as though there is something missing,” I shrugged my shoulders not sure how to explain to him the feeling I knew was right.

He put his hands in his pockets. “Perhaps there is something the goddess wishes to show you?”

I turned away from him. “I could only hope, still I am going to listen to it. I will not bend,”

“As you should,” He walked after me lazily. “I wish I could give you advice but I knew who I wanted for the longest time. No one cared who I choose,”

He and Cea were good together. They brought out the best in each other and I saw it every day. It was hard to look at sometimes knowing I’d never enjoy something like that for myself.

“Mother wants you to help her with Patricia. She’s started too soon,” Theo explained finally why he had indeed pulled me from my chat.

I turned now enraged that he’d let me ramble on for so long. “Are you an imbecile? Where is she!”

I took off running as soon as he gave me her location.

“And we have horses. Lovely breeds it’s how we make the money we have….” He didn’t even look at me as he spoke. He had been speaking the entire time.

I could not care though my mind was still with Patricia. She had birthed such a beautiful little girl. Her husband, a strong warrior, already had six sons. Six! The baby had come so soon because she was not breathing but I could tell she hadn’t left us yet.

I worked with

of a strangled nature not used to fresh air. Patricia wept

joy you get from being there for others in moments of true need were the

is most of the day for us. You shall not break a horse

seen, looked broken in half at the sight of her unconscious. The

could not believe the smell sometimes though I

enjoyed the most. I could only hope my alpha would allow it or that his

in good shape. The tournament tomorrow will be

doesn’t set at all,” I was astonished

for almost four months,” He

laughed before I took a sip

get my voice through all the conversations. This one was easier than the

the frozen moon pack. He was telling me all about the people and the seasons as they were quite

windows. I’m sure

wasn’t as presumptive as the other males who all claimed I would be theirs. “You do not think

to see if he was being genuine. Perhaps this was just another tactic to get under my

turned and faced me fully. “Can I tell you something?” He

my mug down and blinked for a second at his

though. I need her as my Luna,” quickly realizing he may have offended me he added “you are great! Don’t get me wrong I

nodded and picked up my mug, drinking again before talking, letting him stew in his anxiety. “She sounds like quite the gem. I

a sigh of relief. “She was not happy I left at all but I made sure she knew

with the mug in my hands laughing internally. “Well, then I believe

returned to him in

tell me what you know of the other men trying to claim me,”

his chair. “You are very

and continued to drink. “Seriously though tell me what you

I’m fairly sure is into your eldest brother. Maxwell Voxel I do believe truly is into you

entered my mind. I could smell

what do you know of the missing man?” I tried to ask as nonchalantly as I could

the alpha of a Canadian pack. The Northern Ecl*pse pack I think, and he has sent his beta ahead with gifts for you to apologize for his delay. I am terrified to see what he looks like because

know! I almost fell over myself when I realized

bold move not coming until

time to get gifts I

maybe the goddess

did he know to get me a romance?” I turned

nervously sipped

long few days of having conversations with nervous boys I got a moment

the dinner I had last night with an alpha who refused

didn’t,” My father sighed,

I had snacks and treats all day to help further my conversations with the men. I was not

who wanted to know what she liked,” My mother smiled while playing with

showing partiality,” My

“If any man asked to give my daughter a gift she truly liked I would have told

abusers to get you to fall in love quickly,” James

been hoping this meant the mystery man was earnest but his mystery could

quickly

this alpha and I do not think for

Perhaps this is why he’s

power,” he stuffed his mouth as he talked. “Good thing. Still I’d be more afraid of him if he didn’t. Wouldn’t have dreamt of

and Cheshire Cat smile.

last tastes of the sea air. His clothes were nice but his manners were sorely lacking. He did not act as though he respected me or my family. His whole persona reeked

families pedigree the number of people scared to look him in the eye

He was like an unsavory dish sl*pping down

to let this continue. I’m afraid I have my list picked out for the tournament and it’s only fair to you that I do not

walking away as quickly as possible. I wish I could have framed his face: like a

I raise my eyebrows and the man bows his head to

“Miss Maloria,” he returned.

all week. I pushed his talk until the end to see if the alpha turned up and if not

a nice smile at

more so in the woods with only an old tree cut into a