Forsaken by the Moon Goddess novel Chapter 26

Benedict

Okay, it isn’t just Marrok. I’m officially falling in love with Sloane all on my own.

I’ve never had so much fun, and we’ve barely started our date. I didn’t think she’d actually sing along with me, but unlike other girls l’ve dated, she isn’t trying to look or act a certain way. She’s just being herself and I love every fucking minute of it. I’ve never felt this relaxed around anyone except Bethany before.

When we get out of the car, she takes a deep breath. I watch as she closes her eyes and her face relaxes into a beautiful smile.

I fist pump in my mind.

‘Here, Marrok says, mentally holding out his paw. I fist bump his paw, knowing we fucking scored! She loves it!! got it right!

I walk te the back of the car, working hard to hide my smug-as-fuck smile that I got this right. I grab the blanket I brought, and the basket that has wine, but also soda and water, then get the food from the back.

“Ready?” I ask.

She chuckles. “Let me help you.”

“I’ve got it. But if you want to help, I could use a little extraassistance in holding up this arm,” I say, holding out my arm for her.

She shakes her head at me. “Are you always this smooth?”

“Do you want the honest truth?”

“Td prefer it,” she says.

“I’m nervous as fuck right now. I want to get this right and-I’m in unchartered territory.”

She slides her arm through mine. “Well, if I’m being honest, I didn’t expect this and I’m pleasantly surprised, Benedict Winslow.”

“Pleasant enough that I earned another kiss?” I ask hopefully.

She surprises me by turning to look at me and after a moment’s hesitation, she leans in and presses her lips to mine.

She pulls away before I’m ready, but I’ll take it. I lick my lips. “Mmm, you taste good.”

“What do I taste like to you?” she asks as we walk toward the overhang

“Honey. Sweet, rich honey. What do I taste like to you?” I ask, wondering if she’s feeling any sort of pull to me at all the way that l am to her.

She grins, and looks at me out of the corner of her eye.”Tell me, please,” I say softly:

She looks like she might refuse, then answers. “Like a fine wine, aged to perfection. That was the thought I had the first time you kissed me.”

“The first time, or the second time?” I ask, finding a spot that gives us a spectacular view but isn’t too close to the edge. I stop, setting the food and basket down before spreading out the blanket.

“First or second?” I ask again when she doesn’t answer.

“The first time was …?”

“Beside your uncle’s car.”

She looks down, blushing. “The second one, then.”

“The one at my birthday. That was a good kiss. They both were,” I say, wanting her to know just how much l enjoy kissing her.

“You’re a very good kisser,” she says, giving me a look.

I sit on the blanket and pat the space in front of me, waiting for her to sit.

“I won’t lie t you, Stoane. I’ve kissed other women. But none of them, not one of them, has tasted as good as you do.”

She points at me. “See, you are much too smooth for me.”I’m just being honest. I’ve never brought anyone up here before. I’ve never gone on a date where I didn’t have the option to use something to help steer the conversation, like a restaurant, or a show. I brought you here, primarily, because I thought you’d like it.”

“I do,” she says.

“Good. But I also brought you here, because I want to get to know you, Sloane. I want to know who you are outside of all the bullshit at school.”

Treach over and start unpacking the food, laying several different sandwiches out. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I bought several different kinds.”

Then I lay out several bags of chips and some pickles.

“Do you think of everything?” she asks, looking over the sandwiches.

“I try, especially when it’s important to me. This is important to me,” I say, opening the basket. I pull out the wine, the soda cans, and the water.

She takes the wine and looks at it, grinning. “A fine wine, aged to perfection. I wonder if it will taste better than you.”

It’s a challenge, and the Alpha in me rises to accept it.

“We should try it and find out,” I growl softly, getting the wine key I brought and the plastic wine glasses.lopen the wine and pour two glasses. I hand her one, then hold my glass out.

“To meaningful relationships.”

She tilts her head at me, then clinks her glass to mine. “To meaningful relationships.”

She takes a sip and closes her eyes. “Mmm, it’s good.”

Note to me, my girl likes a good wine.

I swirl my wine in the glass watching her.

“So? What’s the verdict? Me or the wine?” I ask.

It’s a statement, not a question. hadn’t planned on lyingto Sloane and she’s been honest in a way that I’m not sure she is with most people, so I refuse to give her anything less than the same honesty she’s giving me, no matter how much it bothers me.

“No, she doesn’t,” I sigh. “And I have no idea why she’s so against you and Slade.”

Sloane raises an eyebrow. “Really? You don’t know why?”

“You are NOT your mother. Her sins died with her. I honestly have no idea why my mother has such an issue with you.”

“My mother was a murderer who killed her parents, her brother, and her fated mate. She’d have killed my Aunt Samara if she could have.”

I lean forward and take her chin in my hand. “Are you a murderer, Sloane? Have you killed your family? Are you planning to murder Slade? Aria?”

She jerks, shocked at my words.

“No?” I continue, watching as she frowns. Then don’t tell me it makes sense that others treat you like you’re just like your mother. You are nothing like her.”

“You don’t know that,” she says quietly.

“Don’t 1? At nine years old, you were willing to leave your bedroom in a way that you hated so that your brother and sister wouldn’t face any backlash. Doesn’t sound like a murderer to me. At least three times a week, 1 see peoplesaying shit to you and never once do you stand up for yourself, but goddess forbid someone breathes wrong on your brother. You’re there in an instant, smashing your fist into their face or their gut, reminding them that they’d better not fuck with your family. So yes, Sloane, I DO know that. I KNOW that you aren’t like your mother. I also know that YOU don’t seem to realize that any more than the assholes at school.”

She stares at me, blinking as if shocked by my words.

When she finally tries to pull away from my grasp, I hold on just long enough to press my lips to hers before releasing her.

“Stop underestimating yourself, Sloane. Stop letting others treat you like you’re less than you are. You are a strong, powerful, compassionate Alpha female. You should make others respect you for who you are.”

She looks down, picking at her sandwich.

I lay down on the blanket, propping myself up on my elbow so I can watch her.

“Alpha Waylon seems to see the person you are,” I say.

Her eyes snap to mine and her chin goes up.

“is that the real reason I’m here, Benedict? You want to know about that?” she says, her face and her tone letting me know that she’s disappointed. In me. It’s unacceptable that she thinks that’s the only reason I brought her here.I sit up, sliding my hand into her hair and holding her there when she tries to pull away from me.

“I am here because I like you, Sloane, and I want to get to know you. Am I curious about why Alpha Waylon seems to have chosen you as his successor, yes? Will it change my feelings for you if you don’t tell me? No. I like YOU, Sloane. I like the woman you are, the fighter you are, the sister you are, the competitor you are. Do I want to know what caused you to become the first possible female Alpha that I’ve ever heard of? Fuck yeah! This is groundbreaking shit and I’d be stupid to NOT want to know more, especially since you’ll be running a pack adjacent to mine. But it’s not why I brought you here, Sloane. You’re here because I want to get to know YOU – better.”

She stares at me for a long time, but I don’t let her go. It’s important to me that she realizes how serious l am.

“What would you say if I told you that I’m Alpha Waylon’s granddaughter?

Holy fucking shit. I didn’t see that coming.