Forsaken by the Moon Goddess novel Chapter 74

Sloane

I didn’t expect that the Moon Goddess would bless me with a mate. I certainly didn’t expect someone like Benedict who is about as perfect a mate for me as I could possibly get. He’s kind, loving, and caring, like a mate should be. But he’s also strong, powerful, and confident, the way an Alpha should be. He’s the total package and I’m still a bit in shock that he’s mine.

‘Ours,’ Aisling corrects. She’s been purring non-stop for hours.

We blew through the first set of condoms quickly. Then, we laid on the ground, holding each other and basking in our mate bond until Aisling and Marrok insisted on having their time. We’d let them run together, mating for a couple of hours, before we shifted back and went through the second batch of condoms that Benedict brought.

Now, we’re back to laying on the ground in each other’s arms.

“We need to come up with a solution so we can be together officially, Sloane. I want my mark on your neck,” Benedict says. I look up from his chest where I’ve been tracing the lines of his muscles with my fingers.

“Aunt Samara had some interesting ideas about that.”

“Did she? What did Aunt Samara have to say?”

“Well, we were talking about Scarlet and Daniel and what we’d call Daniel since it’s customary for the Beta’s mate to be the Beta female. She suggested calling them co-Betas and that’s when said it would be like you and I being co-Alphas.”

“Co-Alphas? How would that work?” he asks.

“Aunt Samara said we need to think out of the box. Since I’m already making history, being the first ever female Alpha, we shouldn’t confine ourselves by typical standards.”

He looks at me. “Did you have an idea about what being outside those confines would look like?”

I look around us. The area is beautiful and now it holds a very special meaning to me.

“Combine the packs,” I say softly.

He jolts slightly, then begins looking around like I am.

“Combine the packs,” he says slowly. “Become co-Alphas. Build a new packhouse on our shared border,” he says, thinking it through.

“You don’t have to decide…”

“It could work,” he says, his voice becoming excited. “It could work and then you’d be mine. We’d have two extra packhouses we’d have to figure out what to do with, but it really could work, Sloane.”

“I thought so too. I haven’t had time to think through the logistics of everything yet…’

“Co-Alphas would work through that together, don’t you think?” he asks me.

I smile and nod. “And I know we both have a lot that our packs are dealing with right now and combining our packs right away might make things more tense.”

“But if we have a plan, if we know what we’re going to do, if we both agree, then you no longer have a reason to deny me putting my mark right here so I can claim you for all the world to see,” he says, sliding his fingers over my marking spot and making my body shiver. “Do you really like the idea?” I ask.

“I like any idea that makes you mine,” he growls, rolling on top me.

“We’re out of condoms,” I say, feeling nearly desperate to have him inside me again.

“I found another one. I was laying on it,” he growls.

This time, everything is slower. We take our time, feeling everything as both our wolves push forward.

“I never expected to have this,” I say as he holds my gaze while he slides in and out of me. “I never expected to be happy about finding my mate.”

He runs his nose against mine. “I never expected that the mate bond would give me such a perfect woman as a mate. I love you, Sloane. I loved you before I knew we were mates, but now…” He stops, shaking his head. “Now I know I can’t live without you. I won’t. You’re mine and you will always be mine.”

We cling to each other as we come, our bodies contracting together as our wolves growl and purr through our orgasms. Afterward, still panting from our release, I reach up and kiss Benedict’s throat.

“We’re going to have to start alternating between our packhouses spending time together. I already know that Aisling won’t give me any peace if I’m not with you,” I tell him.

“Marrok won’t either, but it’s a good idea, Sloane. We can use our evenings together to plan how we’ll combine our packs, talk through our individual pack issues, and figure out how we want to tell our packs that we’re combining them into one. Because the sooner we do that, the sooner you and I can share a mind link and create a unified pack link so we can work together more effectively to manage our one pack. And let’s not forget,” he says, moving to my neck and grazing his canines over my marking spot. “The sooner we have a plan, the sooner you are mine forever.”

My entire body shivers and Aisling whimpers, wanting Marrok to mark her.

“So possessive,” I say breathlessly.

“Yes, I am. Are you ready to head back? We both need to shower before heading to your Uncle Roman’s pack. I need to stop by my pack, check on my father and make sure there are no issues on the way. You’re welcome to join me but just know I need to make that stop first.”

“Well?” Scarlet asks, bouncing over to us.

“Scarlet?” Daniel says, sounding like Scarlet is once again trying his patience.

“She’s my best friend and Alpha, Dan,” she says, her eyes going from my neck, then to my eyes.

I nod and she squeals in delight, yanking me into a hug.

“I’m so happy for you both, but what does this mean?” she says more softly.

“We’ll talk about it on the way to Uncle Roman’s. Benedict has to go check on his pack, so he and Bethany will be driving separately. We don’t have everything worked out yet,” I say, looking at Benedict.

“But we are open to suggestions while we figure everything out,” he says.

Scarlet grins at him. “BWFive, you did right by my girl. I’m proud of you!” she says, lightly punching him in the arm.

“SCARLET!” Daniel exclaims, but Benedict takes it in stride.

“She’s my girl, now, SMOne,” he says.

Scarlet squeals again. “I can’t WAIT to hear everything!”

“Told you,” I say to Benedict.

“Go shower, my love. We need to get going.”

I look at this man, this amazing man, and even though we’ve been together for hours, I feel another wave of hot dåesire flowing through me.

“Come shower with me,” I murmur.

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” he says, taking my hand and leading me to my room.