Stronger by Ang Chris

Chapter 10

“I should go,” he turned on his heel and walked away.

*What in the actual f**k!

“Excuse me!” I shouted at him and everyone in the gym stopped at my voice.

He turned to look at me with a cross expression but I did not have the time to care.

This man had now only said one sentence to me and barely gave me a nice word. He was supposed to be my mate and he was refusing to be near me and I don’t know about you but I was not going to take that.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I snapped my hands on my hips. “I haven’t heard a word from you besides I fight well and you think you can just leave? Again!” I challenged him, my patience shattering on the floor.

“I did not want to interrupt you,” he replied looking around at everyone.

“Are you joking! You’re my soulmate and you didn’t want to interrupt me!” I growled stepping closer.

“Anna,” Charlie came over and grabbed my arm but I slapped his hand away.

“As an alpha, I have many duties we will have plenty of time to take later,” he asserted straightening his back.

Was he seriously trying to pull rank with me! After ignoring me the whole day and then saying one thing before trying to leave again!

“And as your mate, I will see you for a talk tonight at dinner,” I walked up to him, poking him in the chest, which looked probably hilarious as I was a teeny female and he was a mountain of a man..

“Im not sure I’m avail-”

“I will not leave my home until you come for dinner with my family. If you have any respect for me or my parents you will come to dinner tonight to introduce yourself and be a pleasant male.” I cut him off, not even remotely interested in his pitiful excuse.

Ella laughed behind me.

“Alpha. I think that’s a wonderful idea,” she called helping me corner him into an evening together.

I smiled at her and turned my head back squinting my eyes at him.

TU

I gathered my stuff and walked toward the changing rooms. “I will see you tonight.”

“You may have been right that she would be upset but I think she overreacted,” I straightened my tie in the mirror.

“I know I had been slightly unreasonable to not speak to her, but demanding I come and spend the evening with her and her family in front of half of her pack was a little extreme. *

“I think you’re lucky it wasn’t you in the ring with her or we might be taking you home in a bag,” Ella called from her spot on the couch.

I understand that I should have been a little more sensitive to her needs but no one besides her understood the pull we felt to one and other.

It took everything in me not to rip her clothes off and mine and hold her right then and there because that’s the only thing that would make life seem sensible.

I was an alpha and that meant my life was not my own. I served my people and would gladly lay my life down for theirs. I could not be consumed by her or I would forget my duties. /I was made to help others and protect them.

I sighed and put my coat on. I was not entirely sure what I was supposed to wear but I was going to at the very least dress appropriately.

“You brought this on yourself, I told you to show her kindness,” Matt walked into the room in a simple grey shirt and black slacks.

I was not going to start this argument again. I ignored him and put my shoes on. I was not a particular fan of dressing up, but my mother had made sure I knew how to present myself.

Despite the warnings in my head I knew I was meeting her family and I could not resist the urge to let them know she was with a good man. I wanted to look put together and I wanted to make her smile at me and I wanted her to look amazing so that I would stop in my tracks when I saw her.

to breathe and I felt like I was on fire unless she was near I would not forget my purpose and I would make sure she would be a good leader before I gave

or rude but if she is my true mate

and I was wearing an off the shoulder long sleeved black dress that fell just above my knees

face with my hair and put on simple pearl earrings but nothing else. I had

ignored me all day. Of course I knew my worth and I knew I deserved to be treated better, but he was my mate and I

to do when you know someone is perfect for you in

upset, I was going to give him patience he is afterall showing up for me. He’s even bringing along his pack members, he is now making an effort and I will not discourage

enough was enough and I stood to head downstairs. I was short so I had a certain love for heels, but only if they were comfortable! Stilettos noooo thank you. Wedge heels, block heels were comfortable. I put on

were having tonight was something I always enjoyed making. It was in

paste for heat. Simple but my family always ate it up. You let the duck breast sear in the pan and finish in the oven but then you cook the bok choy in the duck fat of course for it

out when I make this. I know duck is a bit fancy, however our hunters brought it back by the flock so I was always used to

the duck was cooked through and the bok

did come naturally to me and when a recipe entered my mind it never faltered. I often exclaimed my ingenuity during a new meal.

salad, laid out some bread,

of meat but we were all of alpha blood and

grabbed a peach pie from the fridge and checked it out and maybe talked myself out of eating

us, it was Georgia and a sugary peach pie

table was set and all I had to do was

was I always waiting?

my mind and focused on a positive attitude.This is what I made of it, if I fought him that’s all we would do, if I tried to meet him I knew

I could for this relationship. I could tell there was something holding him back, but if I did my best and gave myself perhaps he would see

younger that if someone was in need and even if you had nothing to give, if you gave yourself, your joy, your warmth, your kindness, then you

the seconds dragged on, my family fluttered around the room getting ready. My heart skidded and the millions of scenarios of the evening filtered through my mind, the good, the bad, the amazing, the awful, the funny, the scary. I wiped

doorbell rang.

the kitchen suddenly afraid to see him. All my thoughts went white and I huffed trying to swallow my

platter and walked out of the safety and light of the

and I did my best not to look right away. I set down the meal and slowly walked

smiled and went over to hug the woman of my new pack.

hugged me back and I turned to face

I smiled to begin the introduction, still avoiding the heat I sensed two

a warrior of the Northern Ecl*pse pack,” I began and

Ella’s brother,” I had hoped I got that right as I realized I wasn’t entirely sure.

I finished the introductions. “This is Alpha Grayson, he is the leader of the Northern Ecl*pse pack. Grayson,

rang out to me.

caught in my throat as a large and warm hand grazed my back. It was gone all too quickly but only to pull

chair for

but I knew my elation

I graciously replied, trying to school myself

welcome Annette,” He replied and I squeezed my hands into fists

stuffed peppers, salad, and Anna’s amazing duck and bok choy,”

cook?” Ella asked me.

comes naturally to me and i’ve

have to teach Ella some recipes. She is not

good!” Ella defended

no time. I’m sure if Ella needed it Anna could help,” my

of singing my praises, I think they understand I

food before I’d entered the house. I don’t know what I did to deserve such a talented and

meet his eyes, thinking that my mind was playing tricks on

from running away from me to being such a gentleman?

you enjoy cooking?” Cea asked him continuing the conversation

“No,”

being I guess,” James

brother. He and I were the closest in age being only two years apart and though he was rambunctious right now I knew he was not happy

“Yes,”