Stronger by Ang Chris

Chapter 21

It was almost the end of my first week here. I watered the crops every morning and went for a run afterwards. My routine gave me peace and I had found kindness in everyone I’d met. I would Charlotte whenever she needed me but there wasn’t much but one or two sonograms a week. I did get to see the pups once a day helping them to practice fighting, helping them learn archery, learning endurance.

With the young wolves, we were teaching them how to control themselves and how to turn when they wanted to. One mother was scared because her son was at the height of his anger turning almost every night, I had him run laps and work his aggression out in the gym. It seemed to do the trick.

I enjoyed my mornings the most, sitting and watering the crops and talking with the other wolves. Sharing stories and jokes, talking about what they might want for dinner. I liked to hear what they had to say since what we ate at our group meals was up to me. The pups had suggested we should have ice cream and brownies for supper.

“You know a good night of slow–roasted chicken doesn’t sound too bad,” a farmer suggested.

“I think that sounds good too,” my mouth watering at the thought. “But we should have roasted potatoes and sausages with them,”

“We’re lucky to have you luna,” he laughed and headed off to his tractor.

They made their own sausages here, made the ice cream, and milked their cream from their cows. They milled their own flour, sowed the oats, they wove the fabric of the clothes they made.

Elizabeth was teaching me how to make my own clothes so far I had made a simple strap dress. Square top and straight skirt with ties for straps.

She’d ruched the skirt by pulling a thread at the top of the fabric. I honestly thought that part would be much harder

“I don’t like chicken,” Jessica called to me.

Jessica was a warrior and farmer. She had been one of the women Grayson had thought to be his luna before his mother told him of me. I got the feeling she wasn’t a fan of mine.

“Is that how you speak to your Luna?” Elizabeth scowled at her.

to Luna Annette, I just don’t care for the taste,”

well,” I nodded to her. “I’m going to go for a run,” I turned and went to the training

needed to be done, people who wanted to see me, projects I had thought up for the community, pups, and how they could

warriors. Apparently, after my attack on the boxing bag, they were excited to

spar with. They were adept at speed more so than I was

People like to give a lot of shit when a little girl beats them up.

Better agility, strength, and speed. I in particular was very fast and flexible so I was able to get out of an opponent’s way in the blink of

have loved a long afternoon of sparring trash–talking with the warriors. You’d

and Charlotte both

start. I didn’t need everyone’s love and admiration but I wanted to earn their respect. I wanted something more than waiting for a man who may never fully trust me.

dinner or whenever he saw me but there was still a chasm between us. I felt the pangs of loneliness when his eyes fell

had sparred with Brian who had warmed up to me. He was also my protection if we ever left the pack so I

don’t think we’ll be the best of friends yet. He had left himself wide open and I went for the back of his

should we do for a rub?” Ella asked, looking at the spices

here was the food. Other than that

pepper, and a bit of paprika, keep it simple,” I told her, bringing over a metal bowl to pour the rub

into.

slow–roasted for 3 1/2 hours. We

preferred boiled but the pack majority did not. I had no problem letting them win on potatoes. I grabbed the first chicken put a tablespoon of olive oil on

into a good groove Luna,” Ella smiled at me. “I’m so happy that

how lovely it is to have you in the office. Jessica is a pain in my