Stronger

We’d been on the road for hours. My mate was a little consumed in getting home.

This was one of the only times I had left my pack so I had hoped to see something along the way but I was content with watching the states pass by as we drove.

Right now I think we were somewhere in Illinois believe. I wasn’t entirely sure.

2

I had been listening to music on my phone as Grayson called his Delta Aarron Hokk.

I did my best not to listen in but when you hear the word attack.

“Any more attacks?” He spoke to his delta.

*Attacks? He kept that a convenient little secret from my family.

*No, no. He was dealing with something and he had said so. He’s my mate! *

I felt that war of trust played on within me. It was natural to want to believe every word he spoke. I wanted to have the certainty that he had every good reason to keep things from me. Then there was the other side. How could I trust him when he had given me no reason to? Why had he not been as open with me as I was with him? He had kept things from me including himself. I want to believe him. It felt like I should but I couldn’t, no sensible person would.

I listened in further pretending to keep my music going. There had been some form of attack that was personal Grayson had handled and it appeared to be dealt with. There was nothing and it was a sigma that had attacked.

Sigmas have no place in a pack; they exist outside of their pack’s community and rules. If it was a sigma that meant he’d acted alone. His pack hadn’t even acknowledged it.

“He’d had a reason. *

I looked out of the window and noticed we were getting off of the interstate.

“Are we stopping?”

“I’m not cruel enough to make you sleep in a car,” Grayson grunted as he typed on his laptop.

“Who said you were cruel?”

No reply came to me. Of course, I knew he had thought me haughty and dramatic after I demanded he come to my house

for dinner. Perhaps he shouldn’t detach himself to the point where I break.

We stayed in Chicago that night. This may sound crazy, but I had never seen a city like this. 2

Packs were always in more rural places so that we could run and transform without the humans trying to pry into our lives.

I’m sure humans thought our societies were very separate and different. If they only knew how good wolves were at trade and devolving wares, skills, and produce.

Seeing the skyscrapers and the people walking busy so engrossed in their issues they didn’t notice the people passing them by.

There were glittering shops with beautiful gowns and fluffy couches in the windows. One shop had nothing but diamonds in it and my jaw dropped.

I know some packs mine for things like that or develop ways to make them. Those packs control a lot of the market and these beings had no clue.

We turned through the streets and I had to hold on to screams a couple of times at the drivers getting so close and driving fast. Pedestrians paid no mind as they walked mindlessly into the streets. Bikers risk themselves in their lanes.

People cursed and spat and the smell clawed its way into our car. The smoke and smog clouded the sky. I had been told as a child you couldn’t see the stars in the city because the lights were too bright.

I concluded quickly that I didn’t think I liked the city and I leaned back in my chair. It may have appeared shining but so many people with so many problems and they all were clueless simply following the flow they were told to.

1

The car pulled into a build and I gasped helpless unaware we were heading into an underground garage.

I didn’t look over at Grayson not wanting to see his annoyance at my naivety.

We parked in a specialty parking spot and I immediately became confused.

Brian got out of the driver’s seat and opened my door for me.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” I smiled at him, stepping into the cold garage. “Thank you,”

“You’re going to be my luna. I have no issue opening your door, “he said, but his voice was stern.

I had a feeling he wasn’t sure about me.

2

“Just like Grayson.

I huffed and waited as Matt parked the second car and Ella got out of it with him.

“Oh my God it’s completely unfair they’ve separated us! Car rides are so boring,” Ella huffed, stretching her arms out.

I smiled at her and was going to reply that I was happy to see her but Matt and Grayson began speaking instead.

“I feel as though I should be insulted,” Matt feigned offense. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Ella, we’re going to keep the convoy like this for safety. Annette is out of her territory and hasn’t yet stepped foot on ours; she’s vulnerable so she’ll stay by Brian and mine’s side,” Grayson chided his warrior.

At least he was intent on keeping me safe. Silent but safe.

“Let’s go up to the room to get ready for dinner,” He nodded to the group.

“Dinner?” I was seriously confused.

“Alpha is taking us to the hotel restaurant, it’s a Brazilian steakhouse. Nothing but meat for miles,”

At that exact moment, my stomach growled like a bear. I blushed and looked away, so so embarrassed that that happened in front of him.

“Is it fancy?” I asked her.

“Yes, they fly–in meat from all over the world. I’ve been looking forward to this all week!” She giggled squeezing my

arms.

“I–I have to get something out of the car then,”

The men all stopped I’m sure he thought I wouldn’t notice but my mate had rolled his eyes.

1

*Forgive me for wanting to look good in front of you, you annoying pig–headed frustrating man! *

2

I sighed and turned around to the car Ella was in finding the box I had put my nicer clothes in. A beautiful white satin top with a deep v back that was lace lined would do. Then I grabbed some white flats from another box.

My brothers often teased me but at moments like this, that being slightly over–organized. What some might call compulsive came in handy.

“Sorry I took five seconds,” I said, grabbing my bags and strutting forward with my purse slung over my arm and my bag

and clothes for the evening in my hand.

*I shouldn’t be angry…no you know what he shouldn’t have rolled his eyes!

UGH!!!

We entered the lobby and it was marbled and huge chandeliers and mahogany wood pillars, ceiling, and desks.

It was lavish and beautiful. I felt like I was dreaming. Grayson walked ahead and got us the keys to our room.

No not room. Suite.

Who in all hell am I with?

1

This suite was two levels, the master bed on the top floor. The guest rooms are on the bottom floor with a kitchen, a living room, and a balcony with a private hot tub.

The wall with the balcony was nothing but glass. To say I was at a loss for words was an understatement.

I set my stuff down in the living room. I looked around stunned that I was staying in this place.

Leather tufted couches, glass side tables. Marble countertops, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances. Hand–painted dinnerware, crystal glasses. Fluffy pillows and blankets. A spiral staircase to the second floor with the master suite.

“How long will you need to get ready?” he asked me as I admired the room.

*Really? *

“Five minutes,” I coldly replied over my shoulder. “Which room is mine?”

Ella laughed at me. “The master,”

“Oh. I really have to get used to that. *

I walked up the staircase and dropped off my bag on a four–poster bed. I went into the bathroom with a two–sink vanity, claw foot tub, and enormous glass shower.

I put my hair up in a ponytail. It had been braided so I had waves. I brushed my teeth and changed my shirt sl*pping on the white flats.

It was a backless shirt but I had a sticky bra that could tighten.

It wasn’t as nice as I like but it would have to do. I had blue jeans on which wasn’t the most appropriate for a fine dining

restaurant.

I walked back down to everyone else. Ella was wearing jeans too with a teal silk blouse and black pumps.

I felt better after seeing her in something similar.

We started heading out but he wrapped his hand around my arm and spun me around.

“What are you wearing?” he growled, stepping into my space.

Startled by his dark mood I shrunk a little and backed up. “Let me go,” I yanked my arm away from him.

“You think I’d let you go out with a backless shirt?”

“You’d let me?” I crossed my arms and stood straighter.

He huffed. “No, you are my mate. I don’t want other men looking at your bare skin,”

“Should I cover my face?” I quirked my head to the side “my hands? my feet?”

“Stop it. You know what I mean that is not meant for them,”

“I will wear what I like. You are not my husband, you have not bound me, I will dress with respect for you when we are together until that time you can mind your business,”

1

I spun and stomped and opened the door gesturing for everyone to leave with fire in my eyes.

He walked past me with dangerous anger floating around him.

After sitting in the restaurant and waiting for the meat to be walked around for us I stood to go to the ala carte section and Brian stood to follow me.

“I know you’re not happy with the fact that I disrespected him,” I said aloud to him.

“It is your relationship you’re entering it’s none of my business,”