Forsaken by the Moon Goddess novel Chapter 57

Beatrice

I cannot believe that my son refused to return to the pack knowing that I had planned a party for him. For goddess’ sake, we have allies here, people who are or should be important to him. More important than that Hartwell bitch anyway.

My mate was no help. He just keeps telling me that Benedict is going to be Alpha and he doesn’t need to do anything that any of us tell him to do.

Wrong! The child obviously doesn’t understand the value of choosing the right woman to be his Luna. And that girl isn’t the right choice.

When he doesn’t return home for breakfast, I’m fuming.

I’ve worked so hard, planned to make sure the most eligible Alpha and Beta females are here for his birthday.

Against my better judgement, I invited all the Hartwells, just like he instructed me to do, so you’d think he could at least show up to interact with the true guests of honor before his Alpha ceremony.

“Excuse me, Luna. If I may ask, where is Alpha Benedict?” Alpha Stephanie asks. She’s my first choice for Benedict’s mate. She’s a perfectly acceptable, possibly the MOST acceptable choice for a chosen mate.

“Well, you know how boys are. They love to party. I’m sure he’ll be home soon,” I say, gnashing my teeth. He betterfucking be home soon.

“Bethany,” I bark, making my daughter jump. “Call your brother and.find out when he’ll be home.”

“Why don’t you call him? I’m not his mother or his keeper,” she says before jogging up the stairs toward the Alpha floor.

My mouth drops open at my daughter’s sass.

“Bethany Aleah Winslow! Get down here this instant.”

“Sorry mother. It’s going to take me all day to get ready for Bene’s party,” she says in a singsong voice.

When my son finally does make his appearance, right before lunch, he REEKS of that girl.

“Hey everyone! Thank you all for coming! I’m very excited for the celebration tonight. I hope everyone is having a good time?” he says, looking creepily happy. What the fuck did that bitch do to my son?

“Benedict? A word please?” I say sweetly.

“Sorry mother. I need to get ready for tonight.,” he says, before waving at the group and jogging up the stairs, just like his sister did earlier.

I grind my teeth together. What is with my children ignoring me?

I force a smile on my face and turn to the group. “Lunch will be served on the veranda,” I say, casting furious glances up at where my children seem to be hiding from our guests.

No matter how many times I try to mind link Benedict throughout the afternoon, his mind is closed and I’m unable to push past his barriers. When I send an omega to his room, she comes back telling me he didn’t answer his door.

“Excuse me, Luna. I have to ask. I was under the impression that Alpha Benedict hasn’t found his mate.

However, he smelled very strongly of a she-wolf when he returned home today,” Alpha Stephanie says.

“Well, boys will be boys, right. Just because he was with someone last night, it doesn’t mean it’s permanent. I’m sure he’ll be happy to give you his full attention this evening,” I say.

She frowns. “I’m sorry, Luna. I’m not interested in being second best. He obviously has someone that he’s interested in. I’m going to respect that,” she says, before walking off.

Great! Now my son has ruined his one chance at the best possible chosen mate there is. Thankfully, I have a backup plan and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t share her sister’s morals.

Benedict POV

I had no intention of letting my mother ruin my goodmood. Nor did I have any intention of letting the she-wolves that my mother invited for tonight overpower Sloane’s scent on my body. She’s my girlfriend, and hopefully my mate. But we’ll have to wait until next weekend to confirm that.

I had planned to spend the afternoon sleeping, since l didn’t get much sleep last night, but Bethany caught me in the hallway and pulled me into her room.

“Holy Mother Moon Goddess, Bene. You reek of Sloane! | take it you had a good night?”

Since I’m closer to Bethany than anyone, I sit down, ready to tell her about my night. However, the thought that she’s the person I’m closest to gives me pause. Sloane is closest to Scarlet, the woman she’s chosen to be her Beta.

Shouldn’t MY Beta be the person I’m closest to?

“Benedict?” Bethany says.

“Yeah, sorry. Uh, let’s see … It was the best fucking night of my life.”

“Oh, Bene! I’m so happy for you. You know you need to be careful tonight. Mom invited every eligible she-wolf around. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t care who you end up with, at this point, as long as it isn’t Sloane.”

“Our mother needs to get used to disappointment,” I said.”

But I did warn Sloane. I could use your help when I’m not with her though. I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to try and bully her after my birthday party, and I madesure my scent is all over her, but just in case, can you be a second set of eyes for me tonight?” I ask.

“Aren’t lalways?” she asks.

“You are the best sister ever,” I tell her.

“I know,” she says, shrugging smugly.

I laugh. “Tell me what I missed last night.”

“You mean besides mother’s sourpuss face after you told everyone you had plans and wouldn’t be joining your own party last night?”

“Yeah, that,” I say, grinning.

Bethany spends the next hour telling me about everything I missed and who I should be most concerned about tonight.

“You didn’t mention Alpha Stephanie,” I say.

I jog down the stairs, seeing that people have already started to congregate in the main living room. It looks like my mother has set up a pre-ceremony cocktail party for everyone.

“Oh good, Benedict, you’re here!” my mother’s grating voice says.

“I’m just on my way out,” I say, turning away from the party.

“Excuse me?” she growls, her sweet tone instantly changing.”You heard me. I’ll be back soon.”

“And just where do you think you are going, young man?” she growls..

I turn and step into her space, making her take a step back. “Remember who you are speaking to, mother. I may be your son, but in three hours, I will be Alpha of this pack.

I will not tolerate insubordination from anyone. That includes you. As to where I’m going, that’s none of your fucking business,” I say, turning on my heel and striding from the packhouse.

I get in my car, feeling like I can breathe for the first time since I returned home. I take a deep breath then start the car and pull away from the packhouse.

I need to do something about my mother, I’m just not sure what that should be. However, I can’t allow her to continue to poison the air in the packhouse. I shouldn’t feel so uncomfortable walking into my own home.

When I get to Alpha Waylon’s pack, the guard waves me through without linking Alpha Waylon. They’re either expecting me, or they know me so well by now that I’m just welcome.

When I arrive at the packhouse, Alpha Waylon is waiting for me.

“Well, don’t you look every bit the Alpha, Alpha Benedict,” he says when I get out of the car.”Thank you, sir. I do hope we’ll be seeing you and your mate this evening,” I tell him.

“Of course. Judith has been getting ready for hours. I’m glad that I only have to shower and put on a suit,” he says conspiratorially. I couldn’t agree more.

We walk inside and stand in the front entrance where the stairwell spirals to the upper levels, including the Alpha floor.

When I see her, I feel like my heart stops. It sounds cliché, but honestly, she’s the most gorgeous woman l’ve ever seen in my life. Her dress tonight is slate grey, like Scarlet said, but just knowing the color doesn’t do it any justice at all.

The dress is form fitting with an asymmetrical neckline and a chiffon flutter sleeve on her left side. The dress pulls into a fitted waist, and the floor-length skirt has a slit that is high enough to be sexy, but not so high that it’s slutty. Her hair is partially up, but most of her thick hair is down in those wavy curls that I love.

When she walks up to me and begins smiling, I realize I’m staring and haven’t said a word.

“I take it this dress made you forget how to think?” she asks.

“This dress and the woman in it made me forget everything and everyone else in the world. Damn, Sloane.

I am one lucky man.”I’m feeling pretty lucky too, Alpha Bendict. Shall we go join your party and make you the official Alpha of your pack?” she asks.

I hold out my arm to her.

“We absolutely should,” I say, as she slides her arm through mine.