Chapter 34

*I won her*

I knelt on the ground laughing silently. My arms were bloody I think I had lost a tooth. I know I had a cracked rib and I was so excited.

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

I made my way to her my body aching and throbbing. I opened the door to her sweet wide wet eyes. She sobbed and ran forward to me her body turning red with my blood.

She moved me to 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 I unabashedly watched her for peace. I savored her kindness for me who had to hurt her family. I had hurt her and she was worried for me and healing me.

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

“Go,” I nodded to her.

*Stay. *

I watched her leave me for the second time that day but this time it felt different. I knew now what I would give for her I had been beaten and all I thought the whole time was of her.

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

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

“Goddess be,” I turned away from them bile creeping up my body.

*He had done this…*

*I can't be upset they had all accepted this. He did this for me. *

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

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

“Do not feel guilty,” he commanded me.

I shot my head up. “Papa he hurt you and I..”

“He is your family now too Annette, you have to choose him that's how it lasts so long. It is a choice my darling. You chose every day to have him,” He gave me a soft smile.

“I still think he's an ass,” Charles rolled his eyes.

“Cea go to Theo,” I grabbed the cloth from her.

Before she left quickly wrapped herself in a hug and whispered an apology she had to witness that.

I dabbed the cloth in cold water and cleaned his fingers they were stained red.

“So you used your claws?” I looked at the red on his hands. “Like a child?”

“An-”

“Why are you acting so weird?” I gave him a serious look.

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

I shook my head. “You're an idiot. Beating Grayson will not prove you are ready to be alpha. You are ready and you know it,”

“That's not what I meant,” he whispered under his breath and I wanted to ask what he meant but my mother came over.

“He fought with everything he had,” She looked over at me with an unreadable face.

“Your brothers will wake up soon, but I have to take you to get ready for the feast,” she sighed and now I saw the disappointment in her eyes.

We walked to my house in an uneasy quiet. I felt her anger or sadness. I could not tell what she was going to say to me when we were alone but I knew she was upset.

Grayson wasn't in there when I opened the door and I thanked the goddess silently. We went...left to my room and sat down where she pointed.

“I don't feel good about this,” she finally said.

“Mama,” I started.

“Anna let me finish,” she toned me. “I know he will do anything for you, but he is fractured. It is hard to start a relationship when one of the people isn't whole,” she stood behind me brushing my hair.

“He is willing to do what it takes and I can sense his care for you but this situation is not one any mother would feel good about,” She looked at me through the mirror.

“How am I supposed to leave you now that I know he's capable of hurting you?” she whimpered.

I spun and hugged her. “I will not break for anyone mama,” I told her. “That's how you know, because you raised me, and you made me stronger than any kind of sadness. Even if he hurts me, even if there are challenges I will always be standing in the end,”

She held me for a while and I felt the years fade and I was a small child in her arms.

She pushed away eventually and looked at me. “I still wanna kill him,” she joked.

She sat me down and began braiding my hair in an intricate four-stranded braid. She curled the ones we leave out to frame my face.

I grabbed the silver necklaces that went below my neckline. Then the cuffs. And finally the anklets. These were to symbolize my journey to Luna and how soon I would be bound in gold to him.

The men had to welcome me before dinner tonight. They selected fighters and whoever won would bear the mark of a Luna’s warrior.

Tonight I had to serve everyone. I would fill their cups and their plates to show my devotion to my new pack.

Then in thanks and celebration Grayson would serve me. I found it funny the thought of Grayson serving me.

I walked out in my white dress and bare feet and the people were laughing and dancing and singing the praises of Grayson who stood with my brothers Theo joked with him and Charlie was stone-faced.

“Men!” Matthew called when he saw me. “Time to welcome our Luna,”

The men encircled me and led me to a throne beside Grayson I felt like a china doll with all of them towering over me.

“We have chosen our fighters for you,” Leon called to me.

Aarron, Matt, Brian, and Leon all stepped forward.

“We will fight for the prize of champion and brand of our Luna,”

They would fight to get a brand from me which felt slightly off-putting. I did not find it pleasing to push a piece of hot metal into the skin of these men who had been friendly to me.

Luckily it was not much of a fight. Matt was above the other men and quickly had them out for the count. He had punched Leon once and he went dizzy. Aarron put up a better fight but Matt was larger and could take his blows. Brian only needed a trip and push before he went out. Eventually, Aarron gave into a chokehold

I walked over and grabbed the metal. My symbol was a present moon with a paw print next to it. I felt like puking as I walked over to him pity in my eyes.

“I am honored Anna,” he whispered. “I can take it don't worry,”

I gulped down and pushed the metal into his skin. The smell of burning flesh and the sizzle made me flinch slightly. I let it go as soon as I could a sickening feeling crawling all over me.

I cleared my throat. “Let us eat,” I called and they all bowed their heads to me and got into a line to wait for the food.

Grayson came first his eyes burning into me as served him his plate and his fingers grazing over my hand.

Then Matt as he had won and he was Beta. He thanked me politely and gave me a kind smile. Then I went down the line serving my family and Amaria.

Ella and Charlotte gave me bright smiles as they got their food. Elizabeth gave me a smirk and a nod of encouragement.

Once everyone had been fed I walked up to the main table as Grayson went to get my food. He placed the savory meal in front of me.

But suddenly his arms were around me scooping me up and squeaked in shock. He placed me on his lap and fed me.

I opened my mouth to the fork of burnt pork with wide eyes.

*I think I misinterpreted what it meant when they said he'd serve me *

His large hand was around my waist as stared at me gently with that upturn in the corner of his mouth.

I couldn't help blushing at this romantic scene we were in. He fed me the whole night. His touch is so rousing to me even now.

I felt like I was in a trance not speaking and only looking at him, some unspoken feeling hanging between us. His thumb rubbed into my side every once in a while and the sensuality in his eyes when he brought a glass of wine to my lips parted meekly for him.

I felt so exposed and for a second scooched to get off of him and he growled and brought his hand around lower and tighter.

My breath turned to flames and my chest constricted. I felt the pull to touch him the need to feel his skin and taste him.

He brought more food to me and I opened my mouth for him, our eyes never leaving the others an amorous feeling seeping into us.

*Goddess I may die if he keeps this up. *