Forsaken by the Moon Goddess novel Chapter 20

Benedict

“Thank you for coming,” I say to her. “You look…”

I’m honestly at a loss for words. I’ve never seen Sloane like this. I’m not sure that any woman has made me want them like I want her at this moment.

“Uncomfortable? Like my feet are being pinched? Like I don’t want to be here?” she offers in her typical snarky Sloane way.

“Stunning.” I say, meaning it. She is absolutely the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen in my life.

“And she smells good too, Marrok adds. Interesting.

“Will you join me?” I ask, offering her my arm.

She shakes her head and looks so utterly defeated that I could kill my mother.

“Maybe I should just go.”

“Please stay.”

“Why?” she whispers.

“You got all dressed up. You’re here. It’s my birthday and I want you here. Please?” I say, offering my arm again.

“People will talk,” she says, putting her arm through mine.”Oh, they most definitely will,” I say, walking her into the room. “No one has ever seen you looking like this. I’d tell you that you look amazing, incredible, magnificent, or perfect, but I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t believe the stunning l’ve already called you, so l’ll refrain from saying you look any of those things.”

“You would be right. Flattery will get you nowhere with me, Benedict. Speaking of, did you not find your mate?” she asks, frowning.

“No, I didn’t. She’s either not here, or perhaps she’s underage,” I say, watching her carefully. I wonder if I’m the only one feeling the pull. “When is your birthday?”

She snorts in a very typical Sloane way.

“After graduation. I’m pretty sure you’re safe.”

“Mmm,” I say noncommittally. “Will you dance with me?”

“I don’t dance.”

“Did you get me a birthday present?”

She’s looking around the room and while I can hear the party-goers asking if this is really Sloane Hartwell on my arm, l ignore them. I’ve been utterly bored all night and now, I’m perfectly content.

She looks up at me. “What could I possibly get the man who already has everything?”

“A dance with the most beautiful woman in the room.”She blinks at me, then frowns.

“Tell me where she is, ‘ll get her for you.”

I smile. “She’s right here. Dance with me. Consider it my birthday present.”

She gets that terrified look on her face again. “I don’t know how to dance, Benedict.”

I take her out onto the dance floor and nod at the musicians that my mother paid to play tonight. They begin a slow, love song and I turn to her.

“Follow my lead, Sloane. I won’t let you fall. Don’t fight me, just follow my lead,” I say, holding out my arms to her.

She steps into my arms and the rest of the room falls away. I’ve heard my sister talking about things like this.

It’s apparently a big deal in the romantasy books she reads where the world falls away when you’re in the arms of the one you love. I never gave any thought to it, until now.

Right now, the only two people in the world are me and Sloane.

“How is your weekend?” 1 ask her as I begin to dance. The slow song allows me to stay close to Sloane, helping to guide her through the dance.

“Lovely. How is your birthday?”

“Better now that you’re here,” I say, grinning when sherolls her eyes. “Honestly, I didn’t think you were going to come.”

“I wouldn’t have, if you hadn’t specifically brought it up yesterday. But then I’d have to say that I’d missed the birthday of the Alpha King,” she says, making her eyes wide like she’s swooning over my title.

I throw my head back and laugh. It’s the first real laugh I’ve had today.

“What a ridiculous title,” I say.

“Utterly ridiculous,” she agrees, grinning at me.

Irealize she’s not paying attention to our steps so it’s

– making it easier to guide her around the dance floor.

“You don’t actually think you’re going to beat me for Valedictorian, do you?” I ask, loving this banter between us.

“Oh, I’m absolutely going to beat you, Alpha. You can count on it.”

“I don’t know … I asked Principal Rodgers yesterday where we stand,” I say, knowing she hasn’t and that shell want to know.

Her eyes narrow. “What did she say?”

“That it’s too soon to tell and that finals will decide who is actually the school’s Valedictorian.”

She grins at me. “It’s a good thing I’m not distracted by things like birthdays. I’ve been studying and preparing for finals while you’ve been …” she looks around us. “Dancing.”

“Benedict already DID hear about it.” I look at the Alpha females who were snarling at Sloane. “You two can leave.

You are no longer welcome in my home or on my pack lands,” I growl.

“But …”

“NOW!” Marrok snarls.

Both of their necks go up in submission as they walk past me, unable to fight against Marrok’s Alpha command. It doesn’t matter that they’re Alphas. Marrok is one of the purest, strongest Alpha wolves in our time.

I’m pleased to note that Sloane and Aisling aren’t submitting to me. I was pretty sure they wouldn’t feel the need to. Aisling is as pure an Alpha as Marrok is.

“Come with me,” I say, taking Sloane’s hand and leading her back into the party.”What are you doing, Benedict?” she whisper yells at me as I basically drag her into the center of the room.

“Everyone, may I have your attention please?” I say.

The room instantly goes quiet.

“Benedict, don’t do this,” Sloane pleads.

I ignore her, knowing that she might punch me later for what I’m about to do, but it needs to be done.

“Show of hands, how many of you in this room know that I’m in the running to make Valedictorian of our class this year?” I ask.

About half the people raise their hands.

“And how many of you know that my biggest competition, is this woman right here, Sloane Hartwell?” I ask.

Not a single hand goes up.

“Right. You all think you know who this woman is because you know something about her family’s past. You know nothing about HER, about the woman that Sloane Hartwell is,” I say turning to her.

From behind me, I hear my mother hissing. “Benedict, she is NOT Luna material.”

“You’re right, mother. Sloane is not Luna material.”

I watch as Sloane’s body delates, as if she’s expecting meto make a spectacle of her, as if she’s expecting me to berate or bully her in front of everyone, making her the laughing stock of the school. She couldn’t be further from the truth.

I watch her carefully, wanting to see her reaction and know if I’m right.

“You ARE, however, Alpha material, aren’t you Stoane?” I ask.

I’m rewarded with her gasp and the look of shock and surprise that I was expecting.