Stronger by Ang Chris

Chapter 11

It felt like a dream a bit. Knowing this was the last day your home was your home. The feeling was not something natural. I felt hyper aware of the time going by.

Ella had come over after breakfast and we had started packing my clothes. My mother and Cea helped as well.

I kept stopping and looking around remembering forgotten moments of my childhood. Mornings before school, studying, sleepovers, dancing around, playing pretend. It felt like it had all happened in a split second.

Now I was supposed to pack all of it up and move myself across countries to live a life that always seemed like a far off island waiting for me.

What do you do when someday arrives?

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“Anna remember you’ll get plenty of clothes there so don’t pack everything,”

I sighed looking at my hoard of clothes and decided she may possibly be right.

I started sifting through my shirts deciding what I would like and what I would not. In truth I was ill prepared for the cold of Canada but I was excited all the same.

I decided to leave a good portion of my summer clothes for donation and I took all of my warm clothes. The two pairs of jeans that I had.

“A lot of the women on our land wear skirts during winter because the harvest is over, it’s like wearing a blanket,” Ella told me.

“I suppose I’ll have to learn to make some,”

“You’ll want some sweaters too. And some long underwear if you ever go out for a winter hunt. Alpha loves to ice fish and snowmobile as well so I suggest we order you some,” Ella recommended.

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It was nice that she was here. It helped me to have someone to teach me about the new life I would have. Grayson was too busy or distracted to do so.

I looked around my room as this surge of doubt entered me. It felt like a wave washing up inside my b*dy.

Should I leave my home for him? He had barely spoken to me. I had to force him to go to dinner.

I knew that this was going to be difficult. I could feel the wall of a challenge rising in front of me. Was I ready for this when I had no idea it would be worth it?

I had no clue what was holding him back, I had no clue if he saw me as a mistake. Should I leave all of this for a risk that would shatter me?

And if I stayed? I would never know.

I shoved a lot of my clothes into garbage bags for donation. His pack did make clothes so I shouldn’t bring too much

anyways.

“Anna before I forget what color silk do you want for your binding dress?” my mother asked me and the whole room stopped.

she’d tell me

“Navy blue,” I mumbled

that’ll be perfect. You’re tan right now too so I know

nerves calmed a little

wasn’t against binding to me for all his people know. Matt said that he takes advice from his

keeping and began putting them in boxes

at the unholy amount

gonna

have to bring them all?” Cea whined next to me flopping

am not leaving without them,” I

of escape. Reading never failed to take me to

1

this?” Cea picked up

to get to her and stop

air and my eardrum. “What on earth is this! Oh,

the large ice blue sapphire ring that had a halo of diamonds

dazzle in the sunlight of the

my mother gasped taking the ring from Cea. “It’s gorgeous, when did he give you

confused as to why no

I had known Grayson was my mate I would have worn it with pride, but I hadn’t, and

kept it a secret because I was wary of gifts from a man who hadn’t shown his face. Now it was still in the box because it felt wrong to wear a ring when he wasn’t talking

when I felt

at Grayson’s request,” Ella walked over and admired

looked at

him but that is a claim on me,” I gave her

our marriage. For humans, this came after getting to know one another but for us, it comes before…and you my pup see it as the promise it

ring he’d let me pick it out with him,”

was a marquise-cut ruby with two pear-shaped diamonds on the side on a

in a mate’s relationship when a couple gifted rings it meant they

gifted me a ring before ever even meeting me it was a way for

Now it felt cheap.

his soulmate and he

goddess at creation and it felt like

began pricking my

This is not my dream romance but nothing ever goes as it

and grabbed the box from my mother and placed it in the bag

safe but won’t wear

didn’t like it,” Ella chimed in

and grabbed her hand, shaking it once for reassurance. “I just can’t wear it until I know him,” I shrugged and went over to my bookshelf and started piling

Cea about my hobby I suggested she break

some sandwiches,” my

don’t think it’s fair that’ll you be three thousand miles from me,” Cea sat down beside me and rested her