Forsaken by the Moon Goddess novel Chapter 36

Sloane

This is a terrible idea, but it’s hard to resist Benedict, especially when he’s so sure, so confident that me not having a white wolf doesn’t matter to him.

‘It only matters to you, Sloane, Aisling says.

‘But it was your birthright, Ais. Doesn’t it bother you even a little?’ I ask her.

‘Only because it bothers you. I’m still an Alpha wolf, I’m very strong, but most importantly, I’m YOUR wolf, Sloane.

That’s what matters to me.

I sigh, looking in the rearview mirror as I pull onto the road. Benedict has a very pleased look on his face.

‘He should. He seems to have finally gotten through to you when no one else could!

I ignore that. ‘Do YOU think Benedict and Marrok are our mates?’

Aisling gives me the equivalent of a wolf shrug. ‘1 like Benedict and Marrok. But I won’t know for sure if they are our mates until our birthday. And let’s be honest Sloane.

We deserve mates like them. They’re strong Alphas, like us. They would be worthy of us.’

‘Yes, but would we be worthy of them?’

“Again, you are the only one who finds yourself unworthy, Sloane. Do you think the bitch twins are more worthy than we are? Or how that that Alpha female who wears so much makeup that Scarlet says no one really knows what she looks like underneath?’ she says, making me chuckle.

¡ love you, Ais.’

I love you too, Sloane. I just wish you loved yourseif as much as I do.”

I sigh. Maybe someday.

When we pull up to the guard gate, I stop.

“Hey, Liza. Alpha Benedict is behind me, you can let him

– through,” I say.

“Sure thing, Alpha,” she says.

I drive through slowly, watching to make sure she lets Benedict through, then I head to the packhouse. When I get there and’see Uncle Roman and Aunt Samara waiting, I know Liza let them know I was back early and probably Let them know that Benedict is with me.

Uncle Roman watches me pull up before looking at Benedict. Aunt Samara, however, stays focused on me.

I get out of the truck, grabbing my bag off the passenger seat.

“Sloane, you’re back early and with Alpha Benedict,” Uncle Roman says as Benedict gets out and comes around histruck to take my hand.

Oh boy. I guess he meant it when he said he was going to tell everyone that we’re boyfriend and girlfriend.

“Hello, Alpha Roman. Hello, Luna Samara. I hope it’s okay that I’m stopping in unannounced. Sloane invited me to : dinner,” he says.

“Did she?” Uncle Roman asks, looking at me again. But it’s Aunt Samara’s gaze that’s so intense that I’m struggling to maintain eye contact. It’s not often that she looks at me with the full force of Ayla behind her eyes, but she is now.

“You’ve been crying, Sloane,” she says. I can hear Ayla’s voice mixed with Aunt Samara’s.

“We had a disagreement…” Benedict begins, jumping to my rescue. Aunt Samara barely spares him a glance.

“I’m not speaking to you, Alpha.”

Aisling pushes forward to answer our aunt. “I’m okay, Aunt Samara. I just ..” I look at Benedict and sigh. “We had a disagreement.”

“Are you sure, Sloane. If Alpha Benedict hurt you, I have no problem removing him from our pack lands,” Ayla says, practically growling.

“He didn’t hurt us, Ayla. I swear,” Aisling and I say together.

She looks at us a moment longer, then turns her intimidating glare on Benedict. To his credit, he doesn’t flinch.

“My niece does not cry, Alpha Benedict. Be very careful how often your ‘disagreements’ cause her to do so,” Ayla says.

“Yes, Alpha.”

Uncle Roman watches my aunt and when Ayla pulls back, he turns back to me.

“This is new,” he says, pointing to our clasped hands.

“Sloane agreed to be my girlfriend,” Benedict says. It feels like the two of us are standing off against the Spanish Inquisition.

“When was that?” Uncle Roman asks, Looking at me.

“It sort of happened on our date Friday night. Alpha Benedict came to Grandpa Waylon’s for dinner last night,” I say, watchirg both my uncle and aunt’s eyebrows raise as they look at Benedict. “Yeah, I told him.”

“Perhaps we should go inside. I’d like to hear about how all of this has come about, and what your intentions are with my niece, Alpha Benedict,” Uncle Roman says.

When they turn to walk inside, I look at Benedict.

‘I warned you!’ I mouth to him.

“I’m pretty sure you did, eventually,” she says, smiling at my uncle before turning back. “My comment from earlier still stands, Alpha Benedict. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care how powerful your pack is. I don’t care what consequences have to face. You hurt my niece, and you will face Ayla’s wrath.”

“Aunt Samara,” I begin. You don’t just threaten Alphas because they’re dating your niece.

“No, Sloane. Your aunt is right,” Benedict says before turning to Aunt Samara. “I have no intention of hurting Sloane, Luna. Obviously, I can’t confirm that this is the mate bond until she turns eighteen and thankfully Sloane has invited me to her birthday party,” he says, grinning at me before turning back to Aunt Samara. “But as I told your niece, I had the best date of my life on Friday. I got to be myself for the first time in my life. It felt …” he pauses.

“Freeing,” Uncle Roman says.

“Exactly.”

Uncle Roman nods. “Well, if you know about Waylon, then you know that Sloane has the option of becoming an Alpha of her own pack. I don’t want my niece giving up that opportunity just to become your Luna, Alpha.””I don’t want that either, Alpha. I don’t know what it all means. Honestly, I’ve just been focused on making sure Stoane knows that I meant it when I said I wanted her to be my girlfriend. I haven’t thought much past that, next week, and graduation. But it is something that she and I will have to talk about, especially if I’m right and she and.! are mates.

“Did you tell your grandfather that you’re willing to take , over his pack, Sloane?” Aunt Samara asks.

“I did. He was very relieved. Scarlet and I ran warrior training this weekend and I’ve already started making a mental list of the pack members who are going to be problems,” I say.

“I’m happy to help in any way you need, Sloane,” Uncle Roman says.

“So am I,” Benedict says, squeezing my hand.

It’s quiet for a moment while Benedict holds my gaze.

“So, what are you two going to do today since you’re here quite a while before dinner,” Uncle Roman asks.

“We probably need to study for finals,” I say, looking at Benedict.

“Yeah, because I have a Valedictorian position to earn,” he says, grinning.

“Good luck with that, Alpha, you’re going to need it,” I say, grinning back. This is easy, this teasing I’m used to.”Shall we get to it then?” he asks.

I look at my aunt and uncle.

“Any other questions for us?” I ask.

“Not at the moment,” Aunt Samara says, watching me closely again.

I stand and walk to the door, still holding Benedict’s hand.

“You know, if we have time, I’d love that chance to spar with you, Sloane.”

I grin. “Oh, I will definitely make time for that.”