Listen to me 110

In this chapter titled “Listen to me 110,” the protagonist, Sloane, experiences a whirlwind of emotions during her first date with Benedict. As they drive away from the school, Sloane is captivated by Benedict’s kisses, which leave her feeling exhilarated and confused. Despite her initial attempts to keep the kisses brief to avoid drawing attention, she finds herself lost in the moment, overwhelmed by the intensity of their connection. The anticipation of their date builds as Benedict hints at a surprise involving food, which surprises Sloane since she expected a more formal restaurant setting.

As they converse, Sloane reflects on her past and her new role as an Alpha, while Benedict shares details about his family, creating a deeper bond between them. Their conversation reveals vulnerabilities and personal histories, allowing Sloane to see a more genuine side of Benedict. However, Sloane’s insecurities surface when she notices other girls’ interest in him, leading her to doubt why he chose to be with her, despite his reassurances of his feelings.

When they arrive at a deli, Sloane struggles with her jealousy as she observes Benedict interact with other girls, which stirs Aisling, her inner wolf. Nevertheless, Benedict’s affectionate gestures remind her of his commitment to her during their date. As they leave the deli, the atmosphere shifts to one of fun and freedom, with music and laughter filling the car. Sloane begins to relax, enjoying a carefree moment with Benedict as they sing together, showcasing a lighter, more playful side of their relationship.

Eventually, they reach a scenic lookout point, where the beauty of the sunset enhances the magic of the evening. Sloane is overwhelmed by the breathtaking view and the thoughtfulness behind Benedict’s choice of location. This moment solidifies her feelings for him, as she realizes how special this date is, filled with shared laughter, music, and the promise of something deeper between them. The chapter captures the excitement and uncertainty of young love, highlighting Sloane’s journey of self-discovery and emotional growth as she navigates her feelings for Benedict.

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When Benedict pulls out of the parking lot, past the line of students who have stopped to stare at us, my lips are still tingling. I can still taste him. I don’t know what I taste like to him, but to me, he tastes better than anything I’ve ever tasted before.

It’s probably why I get lost when he kisses me. I try to resist. I try to make the kisses short so we’re not stared at. But then his tongue is in my mouth and Aisling begins purring in my head. Then, my head begins to spin, and before I know it, we’re making a spectacle of ourselves.

“So, are you going to tell me where we’re going?” I ask him.

“Nope, but I will tell you that there is food involved. We have to stop and pick it up.”

“We’re not eating at a restaurant?” I ask, surprised. I would have thought that Benedict would have taken me to some ritzy restaurant where I’d feel uncomfortable. I mean, that’s what Scarlet said she’d heard he did with other she–wolves he’s taken on dates. She did some recon for me after we talked Monday night.

He turns, looking at me with worry on his face. “No. But if you want to go to a restaurant, we can do that on our next date.”

Our NEXT date?

…

“That’s fine. I just figured you were a restaurant kind of guy.” I don’t want to tell him I’d heard about his other dates. He might ask me about mine and that would be mortifying since tonight is officially my very first date.

I was surprised when Uncle Roman hadn’t asked for specifics about me going out with Benedict. He told Aunt Samara to let me be when she started asking for details. He said that I’m going to be an Alpha of my own pack in a few weeks, and if I want to share the details of my date, I will. Otherwise, they are there for me if I need or want to talk.

I could tell Aunt Samara didn’t like that, but she didn’t push the conversation.

“I told you I’ve been thinking about it all week. If I screw it up, you can let me know. I wanted this to be special, Sloane. You’re not like the others I’ve dated. You don’t like the same things that most girls like. So, I wanted our date to show you that I see you, and I respect you for the woman you are.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so I just stay quiet.

“Do you like music?” he asks.

“Sure,” I say.

“What kind?”

“Pop, I guess,” I say.

“Perfect, me too,” he says, grinning and turning on the radio. He keeps it low so we can still talk, even though I have no idea what to say to him.

“Soooo, are you ready for finals?” I ask.

“Nope! No school talk tonight.”

I blink at him. “What do you want to talk about then?”

“You,” he says, grinning at me before turning back to the road.

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“What about me? I’m pretty boring.

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“Are you?” he asks, raising an eyebrow. The implication of me taking over my grandfather’s pack has me blushing.

I turn and look out the window, not sure what to say to that.

“How about I start. I’m the oldest of two children. I have a younger sister, Bethany, who is fourteen going on thirty,” he says, making me laugh.

“Your sister is hilarious. She reminds me of Scarlet.”

“High praise coming from you,” he says seriously.

I shrug.

“Scarlet was the daughter of your uncle’s Beta right? Is that how you met?” he asks.

“Yeah.” I say, thinking back to my first night at Uncle Roman and Aunt Samara’s packhouse. I was so miserable, and then Scarlet was there. “I met her at the lowest point of my life. She insisted that we should be friends because I was an Alpha and she was a Beta. I told her she didn’t want to be friends with me, but no one tells Scarlet anything. I had just moved to my aunt and uncle’s packhouse. They assumed that setting up my room like I had it back home would make me feel more comfortable, but I hated it. When Scarlet found me, I didn’t know how to tell Uncle Roman and Aunt Samara that I wanted it to look different. I was afraid that I’d say the wrong thing and they’d be mad at me, or worse, take it out on Slade or Aria. Scarlet insisted that we could do what we wanted and since we weren’t asking the warriors for help, no one could say a thing. We rearranged my room, got rid of everything that reminded me of my parents, and by the time Uncle Roman and Aunt Samara found us, I was feeling better. Looking back on it, Uncle Roman understood what was going on. He must have realized, more than my Aunt Samara, that I didn’t want my room that way. Scarlet told them we needed more ‘mature‘ rooms, since we were eight, practically nine, and going to be ten soon, meaning we’d have our wolves. Her excuse sounds so stupid now, but Uncle Roman made sure I ordered all new things for my room,” I say, only now realizing what my uncle did for me back then.

“I remember seeing you for the first time when you came to school back then. I remember thinking how sad you looked. Of course, I didn’t know right away what had happened. I just saw a sad girl with the prettiest brownish–green eyes seen,” he says.

“You know the color of my eyes?”

“Sure do,” he says, as we pull up to a deli. “Stay here, I’ll be right back. Oh, what kind of chips do you like and do you like pickles?”

“Any kind of chips and yes, I like pickles.”

“Awesome.” He starts to get out of the car, then turns, quickly leaning over and pressing a kiss to my lips. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere,”

“Where would I go?” I ask.

“Don’t know. So you should stay here.”

“I’m staying,” I say, making him grin.

He gets out and walks inside the deli. I can see him talking to the person behind the counter and if I had to guess, I’d say they know each other. Well, who am I kidding, everyone knows Benedict.

As I watch, a couple of girls from school walk into the deli. The moment they see Benedict, they make a beeline for him.

He smiles, talking to them while he waits. When one of the girls puts a hand on his arm, I have to catch Aisling’s growl before it leaves my mouth. Benedict looks over at me, and I quickly look away.

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I need to remember that every she–wolf in every pack is interested in Benedict. I don’t know why he wanted to go out with me, but this is only temporary. I need to remember that and not let my heart, or Aisling, rule my mind.

I force myself to look down the street until I hear the door to the car open again.

“Smells good,” I say, not looking at him.

“Sloane,” Benedict says.

“Hmm?” I ask, still not looking at him.

When he doesn’t respond, I turn. He’s so close I gasp and he takes the opportunity to press his lips to mine, sliding his tongue into my mouth, cupping my cheek, and kissing me like he did at the school.

Once again, I forget everything. I forget that I’m supposed to be letting my mind rule my heart. I forget that we’re sitting in a car on a busy street. I forget that he was just talking to a group of she–wolves who probably made plans to meet up with him later. All I can focus on is him, his scent, his taste, and the way his tongue sends electric jolts of heat straight to my core.

When he pulls away, he runs his thumb over my cheek. “I wanted to make sure that you, and they, know who I’m with tonight. I’m not interested in anyone else, Sloane. I’m with you tonight because I want to be. If I need to kiss you again to make sure you know that, I’m happy to do it.”

I smile and shake my head.

“Good. Let’s go start our date.”

When he puts the car in reverse, I look in front of me, only to see the she–wolf who had been touching Benedict earlier glaring at me. If I were a lessor woman, I might have waved at her. As it was, I forced myself to stop with a smug smile.

Benedict drives us out of the city. As soon as we pass the city limits, he rolls down the windows, letting in the fresh air.

“I love this song!” he yells over the wind, turning up the volume.

I close my eyes, letting the wind blow through my hair as I take in the scents of the forests around us. The music is pretty good, and I begin moving to the rhythm while Benedict begins to sing beside me.

I open my eyes and smile. I’ve never seen Benedict like this. He seems … relaxed, casual in a way that he never is at school. He begins beating on the steering wheel like it’s a set of drums, reaching over to hit the imaginary cymbal in front of me.

I laugh, enjoying this side of Benedict.

When the next song comes on, Benedict looks at me. “Come on, Sloane! Sing with me!”

I don’t at first. But after the first few lines, he holds out his imaginary microphone and I give in.

I begin singing along and he resumes his singing. By the time we reach our destination, we’re both singing at the top of our lungs, he’s still playing the drums, and now I’m playing air guitar beside him.

As we pull into the area where I guess we’re having our date, he turns down the volume of the music. When he comes to a stop, he turns and looks at me.

“Well, do you like it?”

He’s brought me to some sort of lookout, We’re at the top of a cliff that overlooks the city. It’s just late enough that the sun is sending splashes of color over the valley beneath us. It’s utterly breathtaking.

I shake my head, before turning to look at him.

“I love it.”

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In this moment, as I gaze at the breathtaking view before us, I realize that this date is more than just an outing; it’s a turning point in my life. Benedict has shown me a side of himself that is genuine and free, far removed from the expectations of who he should be. His laughter, his carefree spirit, and the way he looks at me with such intent have made me feel seen for the first time. Each kiss, each shared moment has chipped away at the walls I’ve built around my heart, allowing the warmth of connection to seep in. I can feel Aisling purring with contentment in my mind, echoing the joy that blooms within me. This is not just a date; it’s the beginning of something beautiful, and for once, I’m ready to embrace it.

As the sun sets, casting a golden hue over the city below, I realize that I no longer need to worry about the whispers of other she-wolves or the shadows of my past. Benedict’s words resonate within me, assuring me that I am enough, just as I am. The insecurities that once clouded my heart begin to dissolve in the warmth of his gaze. With each passing moment, I understand that I deserve this happiness, this adventure, and the chance to explore what lies ahead with someone who truly cares. Together, we stand on the brink of a new chapter, ready to face whatever challenges may come our way, but for now, all that matters is this moment, this connection, and the promise of many more beautiful moments to come.

In the next chapter, Sloane and Benedict’s date takes an unexpected turn as they navigate the complexities of their budding relationship against the backdrop of breathtaking scenery. With the sun setting over the city, the stunning views will serve as a metaphor for the emotional landscapes they are yet to explore. As they share their dreams and fears, the tension between Sloane’s insecurities and Benedict’s intentions will heighten, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. Will Sloane be able to trust Benedict’s feelings for her, or will the shadows of past relationships cloud her judgment?

Moreover, the arrival of unexpected guests may complicate their intimate moment. As they begin to open up to each other, a few familiar faces from their pack could intrude upon their private world, forcing Sloane to confront her jealousy and insecurities head-on. The stakes will rise as she grapples with the reality of being an Alpha and the responsibilities that come with it. Will Sloane find the confidence to embrace her role and the affection that Benedict offers, or will she retreat into her doubts? Prepare for a chapter filled with emotional revelations, unexpected challenges, and the undeniable chemistry that continues to spark between them.

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.