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 runafterwards. My routine gave me peace and I had found kindness in everyone I’d met. I would Charlottewhenever she needed me but there wasn’t much but one or two sonograms a week. I did get to see thepups 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 theywanted to. One mother was scared because her son was at the height of his anger turning almostevery 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 hadto say since what we ate at our group meals was up to me. The pups had suggested we should haveice 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 potatoesand 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 bemuch 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 lunabefore 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.

“I meant no disrespect to Luna Annette, I just don’t care for the taste,” she smiled sweetly.

“That’s why we’re having sausages and potatoes as well,” I nodded to her. “I’m going to go for a run,” Iturned and went to the training house.

I always started my time there with a run going over things in my head. Tasks that needed to be done,people who wanted to see me, projects I had thought up for the community, pups, and how they couldtrain better.

Then I would go down and spar with warriors. Apparently, after my attack on the boxing bag, they wereexcited to practice with me.

A few of the larger men were tricky to spar with. They were adept at speed more so than I was used to.Luckily getting a man to spin around was an easy way to confuse them and drop them.

I liked moving and the banter of the gym. People like to give a lot of shit when a little girl beats them up.Only Matt had come close to beating me.

That’s the allure of Alpha blood, heightened senses, and instincts. Better agility, strength, and speed. Iin particular was very fast and flexible so I was able to get out of an opponent’s way in the blink of aneye.

I would have loved a long afternoon of sparring trash–talking with the warriors. You’d be surprised atElla; she could lay a man low with her words.

Today I had to leave though to go and get the chickens ready for the roast. Ella and Charlotte both hadoffered their assistance and I gladly said yes to time spent with them.

I had carved out a place for myself. I only had friends and acquaintances but it was a start. I didn’t needeveryone’s love and admiration but I wanted to earn their respect. I wanted something more thanwaiting for a man who may never fully trust me.

As for him, he’d talk to me at dinner or whenever he saw me but there was still a chasm between us. Ifelt the pangs of loneliness when his eyes fell on me and the storm inside him raged. I know he thoughtI did not see it, but I knew he was actively keeping himself from opening to me.

I showered and ate lunch after the gym. I had sparred with Brian who had warmed up to me. He wasalso my protection if we ever left the pack so I was glad we’d turned a corner.

Sadly I had to put him on his ass today so I don’t think we’ll be the best of friends yet. He had lefthimself wide open and I went for the back of his knees then got him to yield. He shouldn’t have turnedhis back.

“What should we do for a rub?” Ella asked, looking at the spices in my kitchen cabinets.

The only thing well–stocked in here was the food. Other than that I had to order plates, silverware, anda mixer for sure.

“Sage, rosemary, salt, pepper, and a bit of paprika, keep it simple,” I told her, bringing over a metalbowl to pour the rub

into.

We had 25 chickens before us to season. These birds were going to be slow–roasted for 3 1/2 hours.We would have andouille sausages with them and roasted potatoes.

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

“You’ve certainly gotten into a good groove Luna,” Ella smiled at me. “I’m so happy that you’ve foundhappiness with the people,”

“I cannot tell you how lovely it is to have you in the office. Jessica is a pain in my butt,” Charlotte shookher head.

“Do you need any help?” Elizabeth came into view.

It was hard at times to talk to Elizabeth because I knew she found Grayson’s distancing of meappropriate. How could I be open with someone who localized their hesitancy about me?

“Of course, we have plenty of birds to prepare,” I nodded to her and pushed some chickens aside forher.

She had been trying to make me feel welcome though so I had done my best to return her kindnessand open a spot in my life to her.

“I truly thought this adjustment would be harder than it has been. I mean I miss my family like crazy andI talk to my mother every night after dinner, but I couldn’t help but be endeared to the wolves here,” Itried not to blush. I didn’t want to sound so self–centered.

“I’m sure the Alpha is happy you’ve taken so quickly,” Charlotte elbowed me with wiggled eyebrows.

I turned my head to the other women in the room with a knowing look.

“The alpha can feel the way he wants. I’m not giving up your cooking ever!” Ella interjected much to myjoy.

Ella was aware of my issues with Grayson and she knew I had decided to let go of all my worries withhim and focus on my role. I had made her promise not to tell anyone and she had obliged.

She wasn’t Cea who I had had to talk down from coming to the pack and killing my mate after the hotelbathroom incident. I know she didn’t tell Theo because he would have been waiting here for us if he’dhead with our other brothers. Still, Ella was my first friend here, and my heart was saved by herkindness.

We put them on spits and over the fire ring in the pavilion. They turned for hours until it was time to eatwhile Elizabeth taught me how to sew on snaps which seemed to be a more complicated version ofbuttons.

Soon enough we were sitting with the pavilion full of people and food again. I sat beside Grayson whohad told me the food was good, that’s it. Amaria on the other hand was some of the best conversationhere.