Forsaken by the Moon Goddess novel Chapter 65

Sloane

I stayed another night with Benedict, then I needed to return to Grandpa Waylon’s pack. Scarlet and Daniel returned the day after Benedict’s Alpha ceremony, knowing we have a lot of work to do before my birthday next weekend.

“Thank you for staying. I was hoping to be able to see you this week, but …” Benedict begins.

“You need to make sure your pack is stable, Benedict. I understand that. Do what you need to do. If we can find time to be together, great. If not, I’ll see you on Saturday for my birthday party.”

“We need to make time together this week, Sloane. I don’t want to go an entire week without seeing you. Plus, we need to talk about what happens if this IS the mate bond we’re feeling. How do we come together if we’re both Alphas of our own packs?”

“Benedict, we have time. Just because I’m turning eighteen next weekend, we don’t have to rush into a mate bond. Your pack needs to feel settled. My pack will need to acclimate to a female Alpha. There will be enough change that any further change might set the packs off.

And honestly, I haven’t even had time to think about what it might be like if we are mated,” I stop, not looking at him.

No matter how much Benedict has going on around him,he always seems to see past the walls I put up around others.

“And?” he asks, lifting my chin so I’m looking at him.

“I never expected to have a mate, or if I did, I didn’t expect that it would end in anything other than a rejection,” I tell him honestly.

“Not happening. Not if it’s me, anyway. If it’s someone else, feel free to reject them and leave yourself available for me,” he says, grinning.

“You’d really want to be mated to someone like me?” I ask softly.

He tugs my hips against his. “Did I not tell you I loved you enough last night? Have I not told you how amazing I think you are? Does my inability to keep my hands off you seem like I’m faking it? You are the most incredible woman l’ve ever met. You are strong, compassionate, and through everything that has happened, mostly because of MY family, you’re still willing to stand at my side and support me.”

He cups my face in his hand, running his thumb over my cheek. “So, yes Sloane, I want MY mark, right here,” he says, sliding his hand to my neck and running his fingers over my marking spot. My entire body shivers and heat flows straight to my core, which is ridiculous. For someone who had never had sex a week ago, I’ve sure made up for it in the last few days. But no matter how often we’re together, I still can’t get enough of him.”Are we clear on that now?” he asks softly.

“Crystal. Sooo, we just have to wait and see what happens next weekend and then figure out how we would manage two packs together,” I say.

“You should talk to your uncle. See if he has any ideas about that.”

He leans in and kisses me softly, slowly deepening the kiss as our tongues move together in what has already become a familiar dance. Then he slowly slides his nose over my jaw, leaving little kisses until he gets to my ear.

“And I meant what I said about rejecting anyone else but me as your mate,” he growls before nipping my earlobe and sending another wave of heat straight to my core.

“Benedict,” I breathe.

“I know. I know you have to go, but I hate having to say goodbye. If I can, I’ll sneak away and come stay with you tonight.”

“Don’t push it, Benedict. The pack needs to know they can count on you. You’re their Alpha now. They need to trust you.”

“Spoken like a true Alpha,” he says, grinning. “Ill call you either way.”

“Okay. I love you,” I say, still blushing when I say it.

He growls softly. “I love you too.”We’ve been standing at the shared border of our two packs. I kiss him once more then cross over onto Grandpa Waylon’s pack lands. When I turn back, Benedict is watching me with his hands in his pockets.

He waves, and I wave before making my way back to the pack.

When I get to the packhouse, it’s as I expected. Now that Scarlet has graduated, she and Daniel have moved back to this pack, so I get all the insight from her about what’s really happening.

Not surprisingly, Beta Gabriel and Gamma Jack are worthless.

“How did your grandfather keep them in their positions?”

Scarlet asks me.

“They’re younger and probably stronger than he is. He’s tired of fighting and has become complacent. Remember, he found me nine years ago. He’s been biding his time ever since,” I say.

“What if you had said no?” she asks.

That’s a very good question. One I don’t have any answer to.

“And why are the two of them watching you like they are?” she asks.

“I will. I want to see that bitch realize that she’s not in control’like she thinks she is,” Gabriel says.

“Perfect. See you then.”

I get what I need to subdue Sloane, then I make my way to the pack borders. Grabriel better not let his patrols send up the alarm because cross their borders:

When I get to the meeting spot, he’s there.”Are you ready for me?” I ask.

“Let’s do this,” Gabriel says.

I leap over the area where the patrols run, and we make our way to the packhouse. Gabriel makes sure the way is clear, then we climb the stairs to the Alpha floor. I haven’t been here since I was banished by my sperm donor.

I feel Fergus stirring in my head.

‘Something wrong, Fergus?’ I ask him.

I’m not sure, he says.

We get to Sloane’s door, the one Gabriel directed us to and listen, making sure she’s asleep.

The moment I open the door, I feel Fergus go rigid.

‘Family,’ he says.

‘What? What the fuck are you talking about Fergus?’ I growl.

‘She and her wolf are related to us. We can never mark her, ‘he says.

Related? I stand there, stunned. And then it hits me.

Son of a bitch! No wonder the old man is considering her as his heir – Sloane Hartwell is my half-brother’s daughter. My niece.