Forsaken by the Moon Goddess novel Chapter 38

Sloane

Uncle Roman is right. Most wolves, even Alphas can’t keep up with me in warrior training for two hours straight.

But Benedict did. I don’t care how many bruises he has on his body, he didn’t quit. And that says a lot about the man he is, and why he isn’t willing to give up on me. Benedict Winslow isn’t a quitter, about anything.

After sending him into my shower with my honey, milk, and vanilla scented body wash, not the floral I teased him with, I ran into my Aunt Samara.

“Come talk to me,” she says, looping her arm through mine and not giving me an opportunity to say no.

She leads me to her room, closing the door and leading me to a couch. When we sit, she turns and faces me.

“Sweetheart, I want to start by saying that I have always Loved you like a daughter. I know that we are close in age, and I had hoped that you would at least see me as an older sister at some point. But you have always stayed very close to the vest. I’ve wanted to try and break through those barriers, but your Uncle Roman insisted that | let you decide for yourself how much you wanted us in your life. Since I know that he’s better with relationships than I am, I listened to him. But now, I really need to know that you’re okay with what’s happening between you and Alpha Benedict. I don’t care what kind of intimacy the two of you are sharing, but all of this seems very sudden to me and knowing that you’ve never been involved with anyone before, knowing how vocal you’ve been about never wanting your mate, I just want to make sure that you’re okay. I want to make sure that you don’t have any questions, and that you’re not feeling pressured to do anything that you’re not ready for. I meant what I said to him this morning. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you-cry. I’ve seen the aftereffects of your tears, but you aren’t one to cry in public. I respect that, but I also won’t allow anyone to hurt you. I guess… I guess | just want to know that you’re okay and that you’re in agreement with whatever is happening between you and Alpha Benedict.”

I smile at my aunt. “I love you too, Aunt Samara,” I say, because I want her to know that I really do love her and Uncle Roman, not just because of what they’ve done for me, Slade, and Aria, but because they’re both really great people.

“I don’t know how I feel about all of this, honestly. Like you said, I never expected to find my mate, or if I did, l expected that he’d be as willing to reject me as I was to reject him. But Benedict isn’t that way. He’s had so many opportunities to hurt me, to ridicule me, or to embarrass me, I mean, he’s Benedict Winslow, V for goddess’s sake.

But he never has. If anything, he’s supported me, protected me, and more importantly, he’s protected Slade.

Aisling doesn’t know if we’re mates. She doesn’t feel the mate bond yet. But even before he turned eighteen, Benedict was never once cruel to me. He never said anything hurtful to me or Slade. Somehow, he’s alwaysbeen there when things went south, watching, making sure they didn’t get out of hand. So, while things may seem sudden to you, when I look back on it, it’s been coming for a long time.”

“So, you respect him?” she asks.

“It’s hard not to, Aunt Samara. He’s the opposite of the bullies at school…”

She growls. “And that shit better have stopped.”

“It did. Principal Rogers has been very clear that bullying Will not be allowed. I don’t know what it means, but Benedict is … Benedict. He’s nice. He’s not intimidated by me. I mean, you saw him on the sparring field today,” I say frowning. I honestly don’t remember if she was there.

“I did. He was impressive. Not as impressive as you,” she says, grinning. “But impressive in his own way.”

I look down. “He doesn’t care that I’m not a white wolf,” I whisper:

Her fingers come under my chin, forcing my head up to look at her. “Sweetheart, NO ONE except you cares that you’re not a white wolf.”

She shakes her head, watching me. “Even without a white wolf, you still have an incredible Alpha lineage. You and Aisling are still two of the strongest fighters I’ve ever met in my life. You’re going to be the first female Alpha in history Sloane. Do you understand how important that is?You’re paving the way for other females to become Alphas of their packs. And you’re right. The fact that Alpha Benedict ish’t intimidated by you is wonderful. But I don’t want you giving that up because you fall in love. I don’t want you to give that up even if you’re mated to Alpha Benedict. You deserve to be an Alpha. You deserve to make a name for yourself and to be the incredible woman. that you are, Sloane. Just…” she looks away and closes her eyes. “Just don’t undersell yourself. You have never felt that you were worthy enough of anything that you’ve achieved. And you are the only.one who IS worthy of all the great things that are coming to you in your life.” She sighs, and looks down before looking at me again.

When she finally pulls out of the hug, she presses her forehead against mine.

“You should go save your mate. It sounds like the she-wolves in our pack are taking advantage of your absence,” she says.

I growl, cutting it off quickly, shocked that Aisling would do that. But Aunt Samara smiles. “Perhaps it is the beginning of the mate bond after all. If it’s not, your uncle and I will be here for you. If it is … we’ll also be here for you,” she says.

‘Thanks, Aunt Samara.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. I Love you. Now go rescue that poor Alpha before the she-wolves in this pack overwhelm him,” she says, laughing.

I walk to the door of her room, then turn back. “Maybe you should stop listening to Uncle Roman and start listening to your own heart, Aunt Samara.”

Her eyes burn into mine with fierce determination. “I will if you will, Sloane.”

I nod, realizing that my ‘heart’ is Aisling, and Aisling loves me so much more than I love myself.

‘Always, she says, making me smile as I head downstairs to save Benedict from his adoring fans.