Stronger

“Okay so tell me how you went from trying to binding?” Cea giggled over the phone.

“It’s more about safety than anything but I trust him enough to do this he has given me everything I need to go through with this,” I shrugged and poured myself a glass of wine.

“Safety? How dangerous is it out there?” Cea panicked.

“Preventative measures,” I fibbed but only slightly.

“Is there something you’re not telling me?”

You know what’s not easy. Lying to the person who knows you best in the world.

“No no but ugh you got me off topic. There is a favor I need to ask,” I prayed to the goddess she would help me.

“Anything its your binding!” She squealed for me,

“I need you to stop my family from killing Grayson in a ceremonial fight the day before my binding,” I hurried my words in a begging whiny tone.

There was silence and then ferocious laughter as the phone possibly clattered to the floor.

–

“No, this is his payback,” she spoke through large gaps of laughter.

“Cea please please please okay it’s my binding and he has apologized. He has told me everything and we are enjoying each other’s company more and more,” I pleaded with her hopelessly.

“Annette you are my best friend but this is, it’s gonna be good for him. You’ll see. I love you buh bye!” She sang to me as she cut the call short.

This is what I get for having a protective best friend, life is never easy when people who love you dearly are okay with murder. * (1

I called the person who hopefully wouldn’t overreact. “Mama?”

“Annette oh my love! How is everything going pup,” She exclaimed. She and I had been texting and calling all day.

“Mama I need you to do me a favor,” I really hope my mom will listen to me. She doesn’t know the full extent like Cea does but she doesn’t like Grayson much either.

“Of course whatever you need,”

“Okay mama so I’m there is a ceremonial fight between Grayson and any male members of my family. Umm can you please tell them all not to like go for like you know the jugular or anything?” She was my last resort.

“Honey….” She uttered. “Umm. No,”

“Mom? Wha- Mom!” I shouted into the phone.

“You should know in a large family no secret is safe. Cea told Then, Theo told Charlie and James, Charlie told your father, your father told me, James and Cea confirmed in My mother confronted me. “He left you in nothing but a towel without a word,”

“Mom he didn’t l–This will be disastrous for everyone involved Grayson won’t like being attacked so harshly

“I deserve it,”

I spun around to see Grayson grabbing a bottle of whisky

“I left you in a towel. I isolated you, this is my trial to bind with you. It’s why we do it.” He walked over and grabbed the phone from me. “I will accept whatever they throw at me. Luna Esa it will be wonderful to see you all again,” he handed the phone back to me.

“Anna?! Did he just accept the challenge?” My mother was honestly stunned because she was silent.

“He. Did.” I sighed.

I quickly hung up the phone with my mom.

“Grayson!” I called up the stairs. “Grayson,”

“Is something wrong?” He poked his head out of the door of his bedroom.

“Grayson, my brothers and father will kill you. Apparently they are all aware of the bathroom incident and I don’t know if you know but brothers are highly overprotective if they have only one sister!!” I argued with his stupid and insane decision to go through with a fight with my whole family.

“You need to calm down,” He spun on his heels and started striding towards his room

“Grayson, they will kill you!” I chased after him.

“Then I’m not worthy of you,” He shrugged. “Good night Annette,

“Grayson!” I bellowed to a closing door.

“He’s going to die.”

The next day I spent in the loving glow of my mother in law.

“I know it is not what you want but this is best and you two will come together much better knowing how the other feels. She patted my hand as we wove Blowers.

“Annette! Charlotte called to me from her braid of flowers.

There was a warrior behind her but not one from this pack. One of mine. My family’s pack. Oh my goddess!

“Liam!” I sprung up from my spot.

“Annette, he bowed his head to me.

“How are Patricia and the baby?” I asked, it had been in the back of my mind for a while.

“They are both healthy and well. She is well here,” He took his phone out and showed me the photo of her trying to hold up her head and failing.

“Oh sweetheart, “I grinned looking at the teeny tiny baby trying to take a big big step.

“I brought this for you from your mother,” He handed me a long box.

I walked over to the tables of the pavilion where the women were braiding flowers into garlands and runners.

Inside was a stunning color of navy blue. The fabric was shiny and soft to the touch. My eyes were a soft blue that had traces of dark to them so whenever I wore navy they looked like shattered glass.

“Oh mama,” I hopped a little on the balls of my feet.

“To your liking?” Liam asked from behind me.

“Of course!” I looked over my shoulder.

I’m glad,” He smiled.

I turned to face someone who knew me my whole life. Liam was even older than Charlie but I had been on my own for so long getting a semblance of home I needed.

“Tell me about home,” I turned to him, leaving the fabric there.

“The crops are growing and the pups are…restless my boys dear goddess. The three in school oh no it’s not their poor teacher,” he laughed at his wolf wolves.

“If I remember your oldest is very strong. Not alpha strong but strong.” I felt so pleased to be with someone I know. Someone I could talk to easily and I didn’t have to learn anything.

“How have my parents been?”

“I think they’re hounding Charlie to find a mate it’s not going easy for him,” He furrowed his brows as he confessed.

“Oh goddess, my binding probably isn’t helping,” I shook my head.

“Actually your mother has that to focus on so she isn’t focusing on your brothers singleness,” He smiled comforting

1. me.

“The people…they’ve been worried about you. Are you happy here?” He stopped in his tracks to question me. “I don’t I’m not trying to…you saved my daughter and my wife. I want to know that you are okay. I’m indebted to you,” He bowed his head to me as he spoke earnestly.

I looked at the world around me, the pines, the willows, the spruces. I poked over at the pavilion the people happily creating decorations for my binding.

“It’s hard,” I confessed. “I know no one. My mate he is not, fully prepared for a life long relationship. I want nothing more than to find peace, but it will come I know it,” I declared to him and myself.

“Okay. I will be happy to watch you bind. Your mother said you will have a place for me to stay?”

“Of course! Will Patricia be coming?”

“We weren’t sure if you’d have the room and the baby is so small,” he explained to me.

“No no tell her to come I will make sure the baby and you are taken care of a guest bedroom will be fine I’ll look for at bassinet for you all,” I told him.

I would love even more of my people to be before my binding.

*If my family doesn’t kill my mate.

“Tell me more about home….”

We walked around as he told me everything. I had never been particularly close to him or his family but this was the closest I had had to home in weeks.

He told me about my family, how James has been. It didn’t sound like much progress had been made. He told me how my grandparents were doing their best to get home in time from their travels.

The day turned darker and I had him tell me more as I returned to the pavilion to clear away the flower garlands and runners. I cleaned up the floor as we spoke and listened to anything and everything I could.

“A guest room in the Keep has been prepared for you it’s connected to a room for your boys,” I explained to him as people started gathering for dinner.

“Please we eat dinner together here come sit by me, I grabbed his arm.

“Luna Annette,” I heard Matt call for me.

“Liam this is beta Matthew O’Connell,” I introduced the two men.

We all walked to the dinner table as I waited for my mate. I wanted my old pack member to see that everything was fine maybe then my family wouldn’t be so harsh during battle.

“Annette,” his voice came to me.

“Grayson,” I stood. “This is Liam from my pack he brought the fabric for my binding dress,”

“Hello,” he shook Liam’s hand, not an ounce of pleasantry on his face.

“Grayson, how was your day?” I tried to make conversation.

“It went well. How are things going for our binding.” He gave a sideways glance to Liam.

“They’re going really well. I think we should be happy Liam was willing to leave to his mate and seven kids including a

newborn to give us the fabric,” I gave him a look to be on better behavior and to stop acting so cagey.

“Yes, it’s very nice of him.”

Grayson was cold calculating with his words for the rest of the evening. He only spoke to Matt and me. He gave Liam aggressive glances when he thought I wasn’t looking.

We all stood when dinner was done and cleared our plates.

“I’m glad you are happy Annette,” Liam nodded to me.

It is so good to see someone from home. Thank you for making the journey,” I gave him a light friendly bug

“I’m tired, Grayson grabbed me by my arm and wrenched me away.

“Grayson,” I whispered aggressively at him. “Stop it, let good my arm!”

“Fine!” He growled.

Then he proceeded to lift me over his shoulder as I squeaked and screeched, gripping me by my first and legs..

“Put me down!” I howled

“Nope,”

He carried me all the way home even as I kicked and hit his back. I could not believe he had done that in front of a member of my pack.

Still, his touch…

We entered our house and he set me down on the couch aging me with his arms. I felt my heart slide up my throat and my b*dy grow warm and tingly.

“Why do you insist on touching other men!” he leaned himself closer to my face.

My mood soured. “Grayson! I haven’t had anyone I’ve known for weeks I have helped bring his children into the world and he is mated stop this right now,” I pushed against his chest but he did not budge an inch.

“I know that I may not be open with my affection but that does not mean it’s easy watching you give your smiles and touch to another man,” his breath came on my n*eck and the fire and heat returned like a whirlwind.

“Grayson,” I couldn’t find any words. I only could think of things that needed touch to tell him how I felt.

He brought his eyes to mine. “I’m binding to you in a matter of days Annette. I will not keep my feelings in if 1 see him touch you again,” his grey eyes so stormy.

couldn’t help myself from reaching up and pushing one of his curls out of his face. “Any man can touch me but it’s

nothing like you,”

He grabbed my hand away from his face and brushed his finger down my limb and up to my n*eck to cup my face “biot

yet…” He stood and walked away. “Good Night Annette.

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Lynne Castro

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