Stronger

“Honey,” I told Matt as we left.

“What?”

“She smells like honey, it’s on you,” I almost growled my explination.

Matt looked down at himself as realization dawned on him. “I’m wearing the shirt I wore when I met with her for you,”

This made me stop in my tracks. That’s right he met with her and he’d given her my present but when I’d seen her the ring wasn’t on her at all.

“Did she not like it?”

“She did.” Matt stoped for moment and then looked back at me “she looked impressed at least,” he shrugged.

“We need to head back,” I started walking again.

1

I did not like being away from my pack and given recent events I felt as if I was failing them.

I did not lie when I sent Matt ahead to make up for my tardiness.

A sigma from a nearby pack had found his way onto our lands. He had fallen for one of our warriors but she couldn’t have been bothered by his aggressive advances. This wolf did not take no for an answer and began hunting her for sport.

As alpha I took this personally. He was harassing one of my warriors. One of my people

I had dealt with him just before I left. I also brought the woman with me so she could help Annette and stay safe.

“Grayson, have a heart,” Matt scolded me causing me to look at him confused and now annoyed.

“Ella is here, she’s safe. I would have never left a member of our pack like that. I knew she could help her new Luna as well in the journey. I still dislike having to leave so quickly after that whole ordeal,” I grunted.

“Gray, this is her home,” Matt walked faster to catch up with me. “She is your soulmate and that is a great gift for our people, but remember her life is changing forever now,”

I suppose I’m hyperfocused on the defense of my pack but an attack like that was my fault. *

I stomped through the trees and dirt to our guest home.

“I had to think of her now, but being alpha is my main priority.

“Alpha,” Brian bowed his head as we marched up the steps.

He opened the door and we took off our shoes and made ourselves comfortable as my beta continued to berate me.

“Grayson, she’s leaving everything behind to come with us, be sensible and give her a few last moments,” he pestered me relentlessly.

“We’ve just had a serious attack on our people and you want to stay thousands of miles from our pack?”

“What’s going on?” Ella interjected as she set food and water down in front of us and her brother.

“Grayson wants to leave now,” Matt told her.

“No, I want to leave in the morning,” I grabbed my fork and began shoveling food into my mouth.

“Alpha!” Ella shrieked. “You can’t do that to your mate!”

I rolled my eyes at the hysterics.

“Ella we need to get back quickly,” I stated as harshly as I could with a mouth full of food.

“He has a point it’s best to be where we can defend easily with greater numbers,” her brother Brian sat down beside me to eat as well. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“She is our luna!” Ella barked and swatted her brother’s arm.

“Thank you!” matt scoffed sipping a glass of whiskey.

“Where did he get that! *

“Give me some if you’re going to continue your testimony,” I ordered, and as commanded he got me a glass.

“Alpha this is your soulmate!”

“I know,” replied, growing tired of being told that. They had never felt the pull that I feel right now.

Why do they think I want her on my land where I could keep her safe and she could be amongst our people and learn our

ways and be with me.

“You need to consider her feelings,” Ella advised me, her exasperated tone making me more done with this whole argument.

“She knows her duties,”

Matt set down his glass hard and looked me dead in the eyes “and what about your duty to be her mate and care for her,”

*Shit. He had me there. *

I was still fatigued from the power of finding her and the battle if that’s what you call a battle. I sighed and drank my whiskey in one gulp.

“She has two days then,” I stood and put my glass and plate in the sink heading to my room.

I needed to sleep so in the morning I could handle this turn of events with a clear mind. As I pulled off my shirt her scent hit again. The feel of her small frame in my hands rushed to my fingers. Suddenly I needed her again.

I slumped down onto my bed keeping my shirt on.

“Annette you are going to make life difficult aren’t you,”

2

“He just left!” I huffed, crossing my arms.

I had just found my soulmate, the one the goddess made for me and he didn’t say a word and walked out of my home without a single sound.

My mother came up and rubbed my back. “I’m sure he is just overwhelmed Anna,” she comforted me but I found no solace in it.

No, I wanted him here. I wanted him standing in front of me with his arms open and waiting for me. He was mine. He should be forever grateful that I was given to him and he did not have to earn me the way another male would have.”

My anger spiked and clenched my fits only to open them with my claws extended.

“Anna,” My father cautioned.

1

“Oh come on dad it could be interesting,” James laughed walking away from the scene.

1 huffed and growled but retracted my claws.

*Fine then. *

The next morning I woke up and showered trying to go over everything in my head. I wanted to make sure I hadn’t done anything to upset him or if I had seemed weak, succumbing to the pull of a soulmate so quickly.

“I’m sure there is a reason he left without talking to me, he is my soulmate and the goddess put us together for a reason,”

I dried myself off and started to get ready for the day taking a few extra minutes to put myself together nicely.

My hair was half up just so it was out of my face and I put on a simple blue shirt and jean shorts.

The only good thing he’s done is he hasn’t demanded I pack up and leave immediately.

At least he has a heart.

I rolled my eyes as I exited my room trying to find patience for my mate.

*He didn’t even say a word! *

I scoffed and stomped down the stairs. This was not how I had expected him to react to me and I had built up a moment in my mind of sweet words and pleasant touches. Still, I needed to consider his emotions because he was my mate.

“Did he consider mine? No. But we are together for the rest of our lives and I will do my best to not judge.

*

I composed myself at the end of the staircase and walked toward the kitchen. I hoped against hope he would be waiting in there with a wonderful and heartfelt apology.

Nope

I walked in and found my parents talking happily and laughing as Theo and Cea were beside them.

“Morning mama,” I smiled and greeted my mother. I walked around her and k*ssed my father on his cheek. “Morning papa,”

Our kitchen was by far one of my favorite places in our house. The yellow walls and large windows made the whole room light up in the morning. The small breakfast nook off to the side where we are together as a family and held so many early mornings that I held dear.

1

I bit my l*p memorizing the plaid curtains and stained glass windows. The dark brown tale and benches.

When I was little my father and mother would sit me down here and force me to do the math homework I had missed. It

was never my favorite subject.

I grabbed a plate and filled it up with pancakes. I would miss my mothers cooking she always added something special to her meals that gave them their renown.

“How did you sleep?” my mother smiled drinking her orange juice.

“I slept well. I’ll admit I wanted to go and knock his door down but I didn’t,” I clenched my jaw.

“Give him patience,” my father counseled.

*Patience. Grace. Give him time. He is new to this as well. Yes yes yes.

I put a fork piled with pancake into my mouth so I would not reply with a snarky remark.

“He will no doubt come by later to talk to you,” Cea added.

I’m sure that she knew I was biting my tongue and doing my best to not hunt him down and demand an apology for his rudeness. My control was wearing thin.