Forsaken by the Moon Goddess novel Chapter 23

Sloane

Scarlet and I stayed up talking until the wee hours of the morning Sunday night. After her initial shock and me reminding her that I’ll be the first female Alpha so who cares if she’s the first female Beta, she was all in.

We excitedly talked about everything that needs to be done and she agreed to go with me next weekend to let my grandparents know that I’m accepting their offer to take the pack.

We talked about her probably having to challenge my grandfather’s current Beta, Gabriel, for the Beta position, to which my amazing best friend scoffed.

“As if that will be hard. Slade can defeat him and he’s eight years younger than that asshat.”

When we finally went to sleep, I felt settled for the first time since Grandpa Waylon offered me the position of Alpha.

The next morning, Scarlet left for school, while I took an extra moment to meet with Uncle Roman and Aunt

Samara.

“I talked to Scarlet last night,” I begin.

“And?” Uncle Roman asks.

“She agreed to be my Beta.””Which means that you’ve agreed to take over Alpha

Waylon’s pack?” Aunt Samara asks.

I look at the two of them. “Yes.”

“Good for you,” Uncle Roman growls, pulling me into a hug. “We’ll sign an alliance agreement the day of your Alpha ceremeny. It won’t protect you completely, but it will put the other packs on notice that if they. do anything stupid while you’re rebuilding that pack, our pack will retaliate.”

“Thanks, Uncle Roman.”

“You should talk to Will too, and I’ll make sure that you have alliance agreements with all three of our packs.

Whatever you need, Sloane, whatever it takes for you to succeed, I’m here for you,” Uncle Roman says.

I’m not sure I’ve ever loved my uncle more than I do at this moment.

I’m still riding the high of our conversation when I get to school, so it takes me a minute to realize that everyone is looking at me and whispering. It’s not unusual for them to stare at me, but the looks are different. Instead of disdain, they’re more curious.

“What the hell is going on, Sloane?” Slade asks, noticing the change in the student body.

“I have no idea.”

I say goodbye to Slade and head to my locker only to bewaylaid by Scarlet.

“What the hell, Sloane! We talked all night and you didn’t think it was important to tell me that Benedict Fucking Winslow, V basically staked his claim on you during his birthday party?” she whisper yells at me.

“What are you talking about? He didn’t stake a claim on me?”

She gives me a look like I’m being stupid. “Did he or did he not announce to the entire group of people at his party that your Alpha line is as old and powerful as his?” she says, still whispering.

“Well yeah, but that’s because the bitch twins were being assholes and he caught them. He basically felt the need to remind everyone that I’m an Alpha no matter who my parents were.”

She looks at me, dramatically closes her eyes as if she’s calling on the goddess to ask for patience, then opens them again.

“Sweetie, everyone knows that BWFive is practically werewolf royalty. He announced that YOU have the same level of royalty that he does,” she says, staring at me as if I’m still missing something obvious. “Royalty mates with royalty, Sloane! Don’t you get it? He basically claimed you.”

“It wasn’t like that.” Was it?

“Did he kiss you?” she asks.

I feel heat flooding my cheeks.

Scarlet’s eyes go wide and then she smacks me on the arm. “Seriously? You didn’t think to bring that up last night???” she hisses at me.

“We had other important things to talk about,” I say, rubbing my arm.

She points her finger in my face. “We are SO having another sleepover tonight.”

“Fine. I’ll tell you everything,” I say.

“Not really. His mother hates me. She made that VERY clear at his party.”

“WHAT?” she growls. “Sloane Marie Hartwell, I cannot believe that you didn’t mention ANY of this to me last night.”

I grin at Scarlet’s use of my full name. I’ve heard Luna Elizabeth do that to Scarlet ever since l’ve known her.

“Wait? Does he know about your father?” she asks.

“I don’t know. I have no idea how he knows about Grandpa Waylon’s offer, but he didn’t out me at is party, thankfully.””What did he say?” she asks.

“He said he keeps his eyes and ears open and he pays attention.”

She looks thoughtful. “He could have seen us. We did that tour a couple of weeks ago where Daniel took us around the pack lands. Maybe he saw us. It would have been off for you, me, and Slade to all be there.”

“That must be it. How else would he have known?”

She looks thoughtful again, tapping her lips with her finger. “We need to talk to Slade tonight.”

“Why?”

“Bethany Winslow is in his class. Maybe she knows something.”

I think back to this weekend and how Bethany stayed at my side while Benedict made a tour of the room.

“I bet she does. She doesn’t seem to have the same aversion to me her mother has. She was very pleasant, actually, and intelligent like Benedict.”

“Oh yeah, that’s the other thing. Were you going to mention to me that you’re in the running for Valedictorian?” she growls.

I open my mouth to defend myself, but she points that finger at me again.”Listen here, Alpha. If I’m going to be your Beta, and I’m going to be your fucking Beta, then no more secrets. I can’t have your back if I don’t know what’s going on.”

I smile, holding out my pinkie. “Bestie Promise.” She hooks her pinkie with mine. “Bestie Promise.”