Forsaken by the Moon Goddess novel Chapter 60

Sloane

I enjoyed Benedict’s Alpha party much more once I was outside with Scarlet, Daniel, and Bethany. I was surprised when Alpha Stephanie joined us. I was even more surprised that liked her. She fit in with our group very well.

“I remember you from school. I was a year ahead of you,” she said.

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember you,” I say. I’m surprised that! don’t remember her.

She smiles. “I didn’t bully you. But I didn’t interfere either.

Shame on me. I should have. But honestly, I enjoyed watching you knock out those pompous assholes with one punch,” she says.

“She’s fucking incredible, isn’t she?” Scarlet says, handing me another drink. I pass her the one that I’m holding that haven’t touched, and she begins drinking it as if we’re just passing drinks around. Daniel looks at her and shakes his head.

“I think you’re biased,” I say.

“I don’t know. My brother seems to think you’re pretty incredible too,” Bethany says.

“Yeah. If you don’t mind me asking, how did that happen?”Stephanie asks.

“Honestly, I have no idea. Well, other than what he said at graduation that he was competing with me and I didn’t know it. Honestly, I thought he was just trying to set me up so he could embarrass me publicly …”

“Oh no. Bene would never do that,” Bethany says. “He’s a great guy.”

“I know that now. I didn’t know it then,” I say.

“Yeah, BWFive is growing on me,” Scarlet says.

“Oh! My! Goddess! Does he know you call him that?”

Bethany asks.

“Oh yeah. When he called me about the color of Sloane’s dress, I called it to his face,” she says, grinning.

“Scarlet!” Daniel scolds.

“Oh, Danny. He didn’t mind. BWFive has a sense of humor.

He called me SMOne,” she says.

We all stare at her for a moment, then break into laughter.

“He called you that?” I ask.

“He did. Made me like him even more.”

I watch Bethany’s eyes go unfocused. When they refocus, she looks at me.

“Bene wanted me to let you know that when you’re donehere, he’s waiting for you in his room.”

“Ohhhhh,” Scarlet and Stephanie say at the same time. | laugh. “I would say it’s not like that, but… it totally is,” | say, grinning like a foot.

“Good for you, Sloane. Really. I’m happy for the two of you.

I know you haven’t turned eighteen yet, but..” Stephanie shrugs. “I think sometimes our wolves know before we do.”

“Well, Aisling is all about Marrok, I can tell you that,” I say, handing my drink to Scarlet.

“Finish this for me? I’Il see you in the morning.”

“Yeah you will and I’m sure you’ll have a fresh coat of Eau de Benedict on you when you come down tomorrow,” she says, as Daniel shakes his head again.

I’ll walk up with you in case anyone tries to stop you,”

Bethany says.

“I think I’ll head to bed as well,” Stephanie says.

I hug Scarlet goodnight and wink at Daniel, knowing he’ll be carrying my friend to bed tonight. I also know she’ll make sure to make it up to him.

When we walk inside, the party seems to be breaking up now that Benedict has left. I’m surprised when Luna Beatrice stops Bethany and I at the stairwell.

“Oh, Sloane, dear, why don’t I escort you upstairs?

Benedict insisted that you have the room next to his, butafter you came in smelling so strongly of him, I’m sure he’s planning to have you sleep in his room.”

I glance at Bethany and see the same frown on her face that I have on mine. Why is Luna Beatrice being so nice to me? She’s made it very clear that she can’t stand me.

I follow her up the stairs to the Alpha floor, then down the hallway to the last door on the right, just like Benedict said. I notice that Bethany follows behind us, also curious about what her mother is up to.

“Benedict, dear,” Luna Beatrice says, in a singsong voice.

She turns the knob on his bedroom door, turning to smile at me as she does. When she opens the door, her response is so staged that even if I didn’t suspect that she was up to something, I’d know something was up.

When she ‘apologizes’ that I had to see what’s going on, but steps aside to make sure that I DO see what’s going on, I see a naked Benedict looking repulsed and a she-wolf pressed against him, her arms around his neck as if they were having a loving embrace. Except I know Benedict, and I know that if he wanted this she-wolf, his arms wouldn’t be at his side. He wouldn’t look startled or repulsed. He told his sister that he was waiting for me. He wouldn’t have done that if he was planning to hook up with someone else.

His mother’s behavior, however, makes much more sense.

I know very well that she staged this.

I step past her, looking at the she-wolf who is barely dressed, as Benedict shoves her off of him.

“Benedict,” | say, turning my gaze to him. I can see the pleading in his eyes, begging me to realize that he had no part in this. Not to worry, BWFive. I’ve got this.

“I told you what I would do if lever caught you in this type of situation,” I say.

I watch as his body relaxes and he slowly smiles. “You did.

And I agreed that it was acceptable.”

“Good, as long as we’re still in agreement,” I say, turning to the she-wolf.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Alpha Sloane. This isn’t what it seems,” she says.

“Oh, I know EXACTLY what this is. But let me explain something to you, sweetie,” I say, my tone mocking.

“Now, mother. I will deal with you tomorrow,” he growls, pulling me against his side.

I want to argue with him, but seeing the look on Bethany’s and Benedict’s father’s faces, I know that Benedict HAS warned her multiple times and she’s ignored him.

When the warriors take her arms and begin leading her out of the room, her mate stops her.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever been more disappointed in you, Beatrice.”

I watch what’s left of Beatrice’s bravado collapse.

“Benedict…” she whimpers, but he turns away from her,and the warriors take her down the hall.

“Alpha Benedict, what of my daughter?” Alpha Steph asks.

“Take her and teach her some manners because if your daughter ever enters my room again uninvited, I will rip her to shreds.”

Alpha Steph pales but picks his daughter up.

“Let’s go, Stephanie.”

Rather than following her father, she turns to me. “I hope you won’t hold my step-sister’s actions against me, Alpha Sloane. I really enjoyed our time together this evening.”

I nod. “I did as well, Alpha Stephanie. Thank you for your honesty about Luna Beatrice’s plans to try and break Benedict and me apart.”

She nods, looking from Benedict to me. “You’re too good together to get broken up by something so ridiculous.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” I say.

She walks out, leaving me, Benedict, Bethany, and Benedict Winslow, IV.

“What are you going to do with your mother, Benedict?” he asks.

“I warned her father. I have a witness who says she did exactly what I told her not to do. I’m sure that tomorrow, when Elena regains consciousness, she’ll corroborateAlpha Stephanie’s story. I think the more important question, Dad, is what are YOU going to do about Mom?”

He nods. “‘m going to sleep in the spare bedroom tonight.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” Benedict says.

Then both he and Bethany walk out, closing the door behind them. Benedict walks over and locks the door before turning back to me.

“Thank you for believing me.”

I walk over to him. “You knew your mother was going to do something like this, didn’t you? That’s why you warned me.”

“I wasn’t completely sure, but I wanted to safe, rather than sorry.”

I wrap my arms around his neck. “Are you okay?”

He shakes his head, no, pulling me against him and burying his face in my neck.

“No. No, I’m not okay at all.”