Stronger by Ang Chris
Chapter 25

We had dinner and walked hand in hand back to our house. He told me that he was surprised I hadtaken so well to the people and I didn’t hold back telling him it distracted me from his absence.

We went out spectate ways as soon as we got home but it felt a little less frozen in my bed. I could feelhim leaking in through the cracks.

I had woken up and he wasn’t there again. It shook my faith for a second but I held my head up if thiswas going to work I couldn’t fault him for his daily schedule.

I didn’t have much to do with the crops this morning and so I went for a run. I let seraphine take over soI could relax.

I leapt down our porch and hit the dirt, feeling the lightning in my nerves. I let her run far and fast,holding my breath as I watched the world pass.

I wasn’t sure if I was getting what I wanted, if he would be willing to come to me. I thought I would feelbetter, how do you trust the person who can hurt you the most.

1

A scent hit my nose. My personal worries disappear as the sensation of defense comes over us. Theknowledge of a stranger being close to me that doesn’t smell like our lands, heightens everything.

We run in a long arch around the scent of a trespasser. Not of here. Not of my mate. So it’s a threat.

I moved along trying to catch succinct aromas. There was a different type of tree on him and gasoline.

It was definitely a male too I could smell his sweat and heat.

I looked over and saw the flash of grey and black fur. Most of Graysons wolves were brown and black. Ididn’t know there was a wolf here with grey fur.

I stopped and focused my eyes on him. I lifted my head and let out a sound of the alarm, my howlringing for attention.

The stranger wolf stopped and stared at me before rocketing himself out of sight.

Who are you?

I had never seen Grayson work as an alpha besides the lunch meeting. This was far more serious andI knew he would be angry I had been the one to replace this unknown.

After only two or three minutes eight to ten wolves were there. I looked around at them, not a speck ofsilver.

Elizabeth’s wolf Mareen called me over a change of clothes for me. Four wolves swept the perimeterand one chased down the intruder.

When given an all–clear I transformed and put on the loose dress behind tree.

“What did you see?” Matt marched over to me.

“A grey and black wolf with brown eyes. He was near me but I smelt him first. He was not one of oursand smelled of different trees not our pines and first,” I have home a run down.

“He didn’t get that far into the lands but he had a path that advertised,” Brian came up to us stillbreathing heavily from

his run.

1

“Annette,”

I spun around, Grayson was in just his jeans. His eyes trained on me. I felt n*ked under his stare,especially in this thin dress.

“Where did you replace him?” he commanded as he took me away from everyone else.

“It was about 200 yards back there, I was going for a run and his smell it was….i don’t know”

He had meant for me to smell him….no wolf doing recon on another pack or even a rogue for thatmatter would let their scent out that far. He wanted me to replace him.

“What?” He gently rubbed his thumb over my elbow.

“It was strong as if he wanted me to know he was there,” I felt so foolish chasing after him. I shouldhave realized he had been scenting the woods.

“What was his smell like?” he now had both hands on my arms.

“Woods that weren’t ours and gasoline….and metal,” I closed my eyes trying to go through the sensesof the last 30 minutes.

“What did he look like?”

“Grey and black fur and brown eyes he wasn’t that big either,” I knew I could have handled him but I feltas though following him further was dangerous.

“He’s southern then. What did he do?”

“Basic maneuver he figured out I was following him and left, he stopped to look for a minute but then hebolted.”

“Go back to the main grounds. Stay with Elizabeth, I will handle this,” He gave me a light squeeze andstarted walking

away.

“Give me a reason before you go,” I grabbed him by his belt and pulled him back to me. “Part of tryingis not treating me like a soldier and speaking to me,”

He huffed and crossed his arms shaking his head but I stepped in from of him and stood like a pillar

“He knows what you look like and he came here for a purpose. You are special and we all know it. Wehave not been bound yet he may be here for you,”

“Then I’ll go to the main grounds and I will have Elizabeth with me,” I nodded.

“Good,” he replied walking away

“Thank you?” I corrected him.

*He is never going to be easy.

*

“Luna, shall we?” Elizabeth came up to me and we walked to the main grounds.

“I think I’m missing something Elizabeth,” I look over at her observing her reaction.

“I don’t know what you mean Luna,” she pursed her l*ps as she replied.

“Why would Grayson halt his duties over a wolf that’s been chased away?” I interrogated her.

“Luna I do not think you should be asking me this,” She stopped her waking to plead with me.

“Who should I ask?”

“Alpha,”

We headed to the main grounds and people were abuzz with questions and concerns.

“The alpha is seeing to this matter I have no doubt he will tell us more at dinner tonight. The randomwolf I off our lands and we have our warriors on alert. I can assure everyone that we are well preparedfor anything, even though nothing will come of this,” I spoke to a crowd that had formed in the maingarden.

*Liar. *

“Does this mean we still have classes?” A small pup around nine asked me.

“Yes,” I smiled.

Many children groaned and mumbled about the unfairness.

“Let’s go to the training house,” I told Elizabeth and started heading there.

We entered the training house and I got myself changed and my hair put up.

I decided to start with the speed bag. I listened to music and I did not think about the wolf. I will get myanswers later.

Then I went to a Wing Chun dummy, Elizabeth stood by the sparring ring watching me from a distanceand coaching whoever was in the ring.

The mystery of the wolf and Grayson’s reaction to it ate at me, but as everyone has been telling me Ineed to be patient.

I decided to be done attacking random objects and walked over to the ring.

“Are you alright?” Elizabeth kept her eyes on the two men battling it out in the ring.

“It was very odd and I feel stupid for not realizing he wanted me to smell him,” I still berated myself.

“Our defensive instincts can take over us. You handled it well,” She commended me.

“I still should learn from my mistakes,”

“Luna! Elizabeth,” Ella called from behind us.

“Ella?” I spun. Ella should be with the other warriors checking the perimeter.

“Do you need another person for company?”