Stronger by Ang Chris

Chapter 34 1 won her | knelt to the ground laughing silently. My arms were bloody I think | had lost a tooth. | know | had a cracked rib and | was so excited.

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

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

She movedto 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 | unabashedly watched her for peace. | savored her kindness forwho had to hurt her family. | had hurt her and she was worried forand healing me.

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

Stay.

| watched her leavefor the second tthat day but this tit felt different. | knew now what | would give for her | had been beaten and all | thought the whole twas of her.

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

“How can | still be afraid now? I've promised to try and she is still the one thing | am fearful of. * | ran to the keep bad into the clinic. My brother lay passefput on tables as my mother and Cea cleaned Charlie and my dads wounds.

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

He had done this...

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

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

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

“Do not feel guilty,” he commanded me.

1/4 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 chase every day to have him.” He gavea soft smile.

“I still thimit: he’s an ass,” Charles rolled his eyes.

“Cea go to Then, | grabbed the cloth from her.

Before she left quickly wrapped her in a hug and whispered an apology she had to witnessfit.

| (dabbed the dish in cold water and cleaned his fingers they were stained red.

“So you used your dows? | looked at the red on his hands. “Like a child?” “An” “Why are you acting so weird?” | gave him a serious look.

“He hurt my sister, and...and wanted to prove..myself,” He looked nervously around the room.

| shook my head.. “Yaamidin. Beating Grayson will not prove you are ready to be alpha.. You are readityam! you know it.” That's not what | meann, The whispered under his breath and | wanted to ask what he meant but my mottierOver “He fought with everything he had, She looked over atwith an unreadable face.

“Your brothers will wake upscom, ut have to take you to get ready for the feast,” she sighed and now | saw the disappointment in her eyes..

We walked to my house in am unuary quiet lift her anger or sadness. | could not tell what she was going to say to mi when we were alone but | knew she was Grayson wasn’t in there when | opened the door and | thanked the goddess silently. We wane tip to my room and satt down where she pointed.

“I don’t feel good about this,” she finally sand..

“Mama,” | started.

“Anna letfinish,” 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 behindbrushing my hair.

“He is willing to do what it takes and | can sense his cthe youth this situation is not one any mother would feel good about,” She looked atthrough the mimon.

“How am | supposed to leave you now that | know he’s public al hurting you?” she whimpered.

22 (Chanter 34 Ismum and hugged her. “I will not break for anyone mama.” | told her. That show you know, because you raised me, anthyou madestronger than any kind of sadness. Even if he hurtsemiff there are challenges | will always b standingsint the end,” Siecletmeltor a while and | felt the years fade and | was a small child in hermanas.

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

She-saatintedtown and began braiding my hair in an intricate four-stranded braid Sculled the ones we leave out to frraneany:fface.

grabitiedittinssiivenn*ecklaces that went below my n*eckline. Then the cuffs. And finallyt tizenklets. These were to symbolize my tourney to Luna and how soon | would be bound in gold to him: The merhad it to welcme before dinner tonight. They selected fighters and whoever worsoodidbeart the mark of Luna’s warrior.

Tonight lliaditosterveeveryone.l would fill their cups and their plates to show my devotionit.comywypack.

Then in thankssandlocelebration Grayson would serve me. | found it funny the thought of Graysomservingne.

| walked out in my whiteddress and bare feet and the people were laughing and dancing and singing theppadisescof Grayson who stood withhenylbrothers Theo joked with him and Charlie was stone-faced.

“Men!” Matthew cailertvinthessaw me. Tto welcour Luna,” The men encircled meantileetmeto at throne beside Grayson | felt like a china doll with all of them towering wenn “We have chosen our fightersstoryou, Icon called to me.

Aarron, Matt, Brian, and Leomaillsteppetifforward.

“We will fight for the prize of champion and brand of our Luna, They would fight to get a brand from nuwhich felt slightly off putting. | did not find it pleasing to push a piece of hit metal into the skin of these men wholiadentfriendly to me.

Luckily it was not much of a fight Mattwassalonwerthe other men and quickly had them out for the count. He had punched Lean once and he went 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 a chokehold | walked over and grabbed the metal. My syntindwasapresentimoon with a paw print next to it. | felt like puking as walked over to him pity in my eyes.

“I am honored Anna,” he whispered. “I can take it bortwany, | gulped down and pushed the metal into his skin. Meanvill ofhurning flesh and the sizzle madellinch slightly.. let it go as soon as | could a sickening feeling crawling all venni.

| cleared my throat. “Let us eat,” | called and they all welltherrieads toand got into a line to wait for the fuos Chapter 34 Grayson cfirst his eyes bumming immessen him his pand his finger grazing over my humili When Matt as the hud wm and her wasBer Beintedmittely and gavemind smile. Then went downthe line werving a famly and omnia.

Eli and Chariots gavebright miles as they then and Elizabeth gavemiratimit encouragement.

(Once everyone had been a in from dime.

LIT waited upthe man intern Gowan wen word my foot. Septed the vary meal But suddenly his arm were undsoomingup somented in sinek. Sengedon this immand lietime.

opened my mouth to the Tors of hum pont end with wide eye Babuldnt hem blushing at this manne stene we were denrare where might. En outings so musing to trance noi speaking and only looking at him scompotem feeling tungngher werm u...Bis be semantiline in this eve, whom he broughta gaastad wine toomy.

de Tar him.

So exposed and woorded to pet off of bum and he growled and brought this humutaround lower unti My breach tamed to fumes and my chest ammatticed. | fat the puilla tuthim the eco feed his sum milituste ught mure foodund opened my mouth for him ou nuva navng de oduzeo amamus feeding “Godifiers be | may die if the amps this up.

Chapter Commems I'm hoone e Chanti e worth his is Charle rying to be worth his VIEN ALL & COMMENCE 5]