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.

help Patricia and I worked with the elders to bring back her

enough there were cries of a strangled nature not used to fresh air. Patricia wept such happiness as I placed her girl on

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

break a horse though because they can be a

though she’d lost a lot of blood. Her husband, one of the largest men I’d seen, looked broken in half at the sight of her unconscious. The elders had given her tea for sleep

could not believe the smell sometimes though I do believe you’ll get used to

I could only hope my alpha would allow it or that his elders

many horses so I am in good shape. The tournament tomorrow will be so

the sun doesn’t set at all,” I was astonished this actually

for almost four months,”

I laughed before

help get my voice through all the conversations. This

He was telling me all

I’m sure you could manage if you ever came,” He

the other males who all claimed I would be theirs. “You do not

Perhaps this was just another tactic to get under my

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

and blinked for a second at his change of emotion. “I

pack that I’ve been secretly seeing for months. My parents have no clue and it was an honor to be requested here. I do want her though. I need her as my Luna,” quickly realizing he may have offended me he added “you are great! Don’t get me

letting him stew in his anxiety. “She sounds like quite the gem. I should hope she knows

made sure she knew I did it as to not offend your pack as I hope to

in my hands laughing internally. “Well, then I

so?” His nerves returned to him in

you know of the other men trying to

back in his chair. “You are very

to drink. “Seriously

standing even though you haven’t spoken to him. Arthur Marcken only talks about the ranch in his pack. One man can’t help but stare at your umm…assets. Another I’m fairly sure is into your eldest brother. Maxwell Voxel I do believe truly is into you though he keeps to himself. The only other male that seems serious about you has yet to arrive,” He ran

pressed flowers entered my mind. I could

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

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

myself when I realized

move not coming until the

taken the time to get gifts I actually enjoy. I’m worried

knows maybe the goddess has smiled upon you

know to get me a romance?” I turned my head to look at

guilty party nervously sipped her

days of having conversations with nervous boys I got a moment of peace to eat dinner with my

had last night with an alpha who refused to leave

My father sighed, annoyed at my mother’s

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

who wanted to know what

partiality,” My father

am not,” she defended. “I simply did what he asked Jonathan,” my mother gaped and his indignation. “If any man asked to give my daughter a gift she truly liked I would have told him as that shows signs of a good

to get you to fall in love quickly,”

hoping this meant the mystery

quickly chastised

of this alpha and I do not think for a second that she would endanger a female. She herself was in

something hidden then. Perhaps this is why he’s stayed away, his mother

his mouth as he talked. “Good thing. Still I’d be more

smile. Still, I felt as though

but his manners were sorely lacking. He did

number of people scared to look him in the eye but I

He was like an unsavory dish sl*pping down your throat.

too much to let this continue. I’m afraid I have my list picked out for the tournament and it’s

as possible. I wish I could

I raise my eyebrows and the man bows his head

“Miss Maloria,” he returned.

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

smile at him covering my

in the woods with only an old tree cut into a bench. It overlooked another cliff