Stronger by Ang Chris

Chapter 34

I won her

I knelt to the ground laughing silently. My arms were bloody I think I had lost a tooth. I know I had a cracked rib and I was so excited.

I stood and hobbled out of the arena. Cea and Eva came forward to their men.

I made my way to her my b*dy aching and throbbing. I opened the door to her sweet wide wet eyes. She sobbed and ran forward to me her b*dy turning red with my blood.

She moved me to the couch and she sat beside me. We spoke no words but it felt like heaven.

She washed my face and arms. She cleaned my wounds and bandaged them. Her fingers traced over my skin and I unabashedly watched her for peace. I savored her kindness for me who had to hurt her family. I had hurt her and she was worried for me and healing me.

She finished wrapping up my chest and sniffled. “I have to go see my family,”

“Go,” I nodded to her.

Stay.

I watched her leave me for the second time that day but this time it felt different. I knew now what I would give for her I had been beaten and all I thought the whole time was of her.

It’s terrifying when there is someone you need with your whole being and every time you try you freeze because your are afraid.

“How can I still be afraid now? I’ve promised to try and she is still the one thing I am fearful of. *

I ran to the keep bad into the clinic. My brother lay passed out on tables as my mother and Cea cleaned Charlie and my dads wounds.

“Goddess be,” I turned away from them bile creeping up my b*dy.

He had done this…

“I can’t be upset they had all accepted this. He did this for me.

I breathed in and put my eyes stinging with the fact I had healed him before my flesh and blood. I felt gross and sickly with myself.

I turned and walked up to my father bowing my head and ready to beg for forgiveness.

“Do not feel guilty,” he commanded me.

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Chapter 34

But my end up. “Papa he hurt you and I..”

too

“Bu in your family whette, you have to choose him that’s how it thats sollong. It is a choice my darling. You

He gave me

he’s an ass,”

go to Then, I grabbed the cloth from

quickly wrapped her in a hug

dish in cold water and cleaned

looked at the red on his hands.

“An-”

so weird?” I gave him a

sister, and…and wanted to prove..myself,”

head.. “Yaume amidin. Beating Grayson will not prove you are ready to be alpha..

know it.”

under his breath and I wanted to ask what he meant but my mottierame

Over

had, She looked over at me with

ut have to take you to get ready for the feast,” she sighed and now I saw the

unuary quiet lift her anger or sadness. I could not tell what she was going to say to mi when we were alone but

and I thanked the goddess

feel good about this,” she finally sand..

“Mama,” I started.

let me finish,” she toned me/“I know he willl din amuthing for you, hut he is fractured. It is hard to start a relationship when one of the people imit wholu,” she stood behind me brushing my

willing to do what it takes and I can sense his came the youth this situation is not one any mother would feel

leave you now that I know he’s public al hurting you?” she

22

(Chanter 34

not break for anyone mama.” I told her. That show you know, because you raised me, anthyou made me

the years fade

stickawayeventually and looked at me. “I still wanna kill him,” she jokec.

and began braiding my hair in an intricate four–stranded braid Sculled

below my n*eckline. Then the cuffs. And finallyt tizenklets. These were to symbolize my tourney to Luna and how soon I would be bound in gold

it to welcome me before dinner tonight. They selected

their cups and their plates to show my

thankssandlocelebration Grayson would serve me. I found it funny

in my whiteddress and bare feet and the people were laughing and dancing and singing theppadisescof Grayson who stood withhenylbrothers Theo

me. Time to welcome our Luna,”

Grayson I felt like a china doll

have chosen our fightersstoryou, Icon called to me.

Matt, Brian, and

will fight for the prize of champion and brand of our

putting. I did not find it

dizzy, Arran put up a better fight but Matt was larger and could take his blows. Bru only needed a trip and push before he wentton. Eventually, Marron gave into

over and grabbed the metal. My syntindwasapresentimoon with a paw print next to it. I felt

honored Anna,” he whispered. “I can take it bortwany,

skin. Meanvill ofhurning flesh and the sizzle made me llinch slightly.. let it go as soon as I could a sickening feeling