Listen to me 112

In Chapter 112 of “Listen to me,” Sloane reveals a significant family secret to Benedict, which shocks him deeply. She explains her lineage, emphasizing that she is not just any heir but the rightful heir due to her grandmother’s Alpha blood, which was hidden from her grandfather. This revelation brings a mix of emotions, as Sloane grapples with the weight of her heritage and the implications it has on her life. Despite Aisling’s urging to trust Benedict, Sloane remains cautious, unsure of his intentions.

As they discuss the potential threats from her grandfather’s chosen mate and her uncle Kaelin, Sloane expresses her determination to accept her birthright and lead the pack. Benedict’s reaction to her decision is one of excitement and admiration, showcasing a lighter side of him that Sloane finds captivating. Their dynamic shifts as they flirt and joke about alliances, highlighting the growing connection between them.

The chapter culminates in a tender moment where Benedict expresses his desire to form a bond with Sloane, not just as allies but on a more personal level. His kiss signifies a deepening relationship, leaving Sloane feeling both exhilarated and apprehensive about what this means for her future. The chapter encapsulates themes of trust, identity, and the complexities of familial ties, setting the stage for the challenges that lie ahead.

Sloane

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I watch as shock spreads across Benedict’s face. He begins blinking like he’s struggling to process what I’ve just said and his hand drops from my hair.

I hadn’t intended to tell him, but Aisling has been loudly purring in my head and pressuring me to trust him all night. She’s all in when it comes to Benedict and Marrok.

I’m not so easily convinced. That is until he forces me to see the truth in his eyes. He holds my gaze and challenges every reason my brain comes up with that he’s here with me tonight for any reason other than he wants to be with me.

“So, you’re not a choice of successor. You’re an heir,” he says slowly, as if trying to comprehend what I’m saying.

“I’m not just AN heir, Benedict. I’m THE heir,” I say quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“When my grandfather met my grandmother, his fated mate, he didn’t accept her. He didn’t realize that she had Alpha blood. You know how second sons become Betas and second sons of Betas become Gammas, etc?” I ask.

“Yeah.”

“So, that was my grandmother Judith. She comes from Alpha blood, but my grandfather wanted a true Alpha female as his mate. That didn’t stop him from having a sexual relationship with my grandmother and my father was the result.”

“This was before he took his chosen mate?” Benedict asks, looking shocked.

“Yes,” I say softly. “Apparently, he’d already chosen the woman he wanted as his mate.”

“Holy fucking shit, Sloane!”

“My grandfather kept Grandmother Judith and my father, Derrick, a secret.”

“A serious fucking secret if no one knows about him or you,” he says.

I stop, watching him carefully. Maybe Aisling is wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t trust him.

“I’d like to keep this a secret for now.”

He shrugs. “Of course. I won’t say a word.”

I stare at him, not sure I believe him.

“Sloane, if I wanted to out you, I could have done it at my birthday party. That’s not what this is about. If you don’t want to tell me, okay, but that was one hell of a bomb you dropped just to back off now,” he says.

I scrub my hands over my face.

‘We can trust him, Sloane. I don’t sense any deceit in him or Majrok,” Aisling says.

When I open my eyes, Benedict is watching me intently.

“What does Aisling say?” he asks.

I sigh. “That I should trust you.”

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He shrugs slowly, looking at me like that should be enough for me. And, in truth, it is. I trust Aisling implicitly. I’ve just never had to trust her with things like this. No one has ever gotten this close to me who wasn’t part of my immediate family or Scarlet’s family. And I count Scarlet as family.

“If you betray me, I swear to the goddess…” I begin.

“If I betray you, I’ll give up my Alpha birthright and let Bethany take over my pack,” he says.

I glare at him. “That doesn’t make me feel better. She’d make a fantastic Alpha.”

He grins. “You have no idea. Okay, full truth, she’s the one who realized that it was you who was Alpha Waylon’s choice for successor.”

“Bethany did?”

He nods. “When I say I keep my eyes and ears open, I mean I have Bethany. She’s young and no one pays a lot of attention to her, which is stupid on their part. My sister is incredibly intelligent and she loves me. She and I are really close, and I trust her as much as she trusts me. So when she told me that she saw you, Slade, and Scarlet walking Alpha Waylon’s pack lands a couple of weekends ago…”

“You put two and two together …” I say, then narrow my eyes at him. “Is that why she’s friends with my brother?”

“No, she likes Slade. She says he’s not like most Alphas, kind of like you.”

He looks at me, tilting his head. “How do you feel about all of this? I can’t imagine what it must be like to have the opportunity to take over a pack when you haven’t been raised to do that. But, add to that, you are a true heir that no one knows about, and, maybe I’m wrong, but you don’t seem to have a great relationship with your grandparents.”

I look at him. “Apparently, you don’t always need Bethany.”

“I did say I pay attention, too,” he says, grinning.

I look at the overhang where the sky is starting to take on the spectacular colors of the sunset.

“My grandfather has apparently wanted a relationship with me since he found out that I was potentially his heir. He has a lot of regrets about how he treated Grandma Judith and my father. He also has regrets that he didn’t offer the pack to my father sooner. If he had, maybe none of the terrible things that happened would have. But he did and those terrible things did happen,” I say, shrugging. At this point, there’s no sense thinking about what ifs. “I met him and Grandma Judith at Aunt Samara’s Luna ceremony.”

He nods. “I was there.”

“You were?” I ask.

“You were still pretty out of it back then. Plus, Scarlet was like a guard dog, not letting anyone near you,” he says, making me grin.

“She’s awesome that way. But yeah, I’ve never met Grandpa Waylon’s son by his chosen mate.”

“Alpha Kaelin, right?” Benedict asks.

“Yes. He and his mother were stealing from the pack and Grandpa Waylon banished them. I think his chosen mate knew about Grandma Judith and my father, but I’m not sure and I don’t know if Kaelin knew. But even if they did, they don’t know about me.”

“When they find out, you can expect them to fight it,” he says.

“They can try. I have the DNA tests from back then proving that I’m Derrick’s daughter. Grandma Judith put Grandpa Waylon on my father’s birth certificate and a DNA test was done to prove that he was my grandfather’s son. So, there isn’t

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much he could contest,” I say.

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“He could contest you as Alpha, Sloane. You understand that, right? Once you take over, he could say the pack should be his and he could challenge you to take over the pack.”

“He won’t win,” Aisling growls.

Benedict blinks. “So, you’re going to do it? You’re going to accept your birthright and take over the pack?” he asks, grinning.

“Yeah, I’m going to do it. I decided earlier this week.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, what was it that made up your mind?” he asks.

I grin, desperately wanting to shock Benedict again.

“Scarlet agreed to be my Beta.”

Benedict doesn’t disappoint. His eyes go wide, and his mouth drops open. Then he falls onto his back and begins laughing.

“Oh fuck, Sloane. You are going to rock the entire werewolf world, aren’t you?”

I watch, mesmerized by this relaxed, casual, and completely carefree version of Benedict who is laughing so hard I’m pretty sure I see tears at the corner of his eyes.

When he finally stops laughing, he turns his head and looks at me. I’m not sure what he sees on my face, but the look on his changes and he sits up, leaning into my space.

“Can I be the first Alpha you create an alliance with?” he whispers, once again so close that I can feel his breath on my lips.

I slowly shake my head. “No,” I whisper.

“The second?”

I smile, shaking my head again.

He frowns.

“You can be the fourth, or maybe the fifth, if Will beats you to it,” I say.

“I’m beating Will. Who else do I need to beat?” he asks.

“Uncle Roman, Scarlet’s father, and Alpha Adam,” I say, listing off the three packs that will go to Uncle Roman’s two sons and the one that will go to Slade when they come of age.

He grunts. “That probably won’t happen. I’m guessing Alpha Roman already has alliance agreements lined up for all three packs,” he says.

“Probably.”

“Does Alpha Will know about this?” he growls. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was jealous.

“Yes. I trust Will. He’s like a brother to me.”

Benedict smiles, looking down at my mouth before looking in my eyes again.

“I want you to trust me, too. And I have no intention of being like a brother to you,” he says, before closing the distance between us and kissing me in the way that he does that makes me forget everything but him.

In this chapter, Sloane’s emotional journey reaches a pivotal moment as she confronts her complex lineage and the weight of her newfound identity as the true heir to her grandfather’s pack. The revelation of her heritage not only challenges her perception of family but also forces her to grapple with the expectations and responsibilities that come with it. With Benedict’s unwavering support, she begins to see a future where she can embrace her role, not just as an heir but as a leader who can redefine the legacy of her bloodline. Her decision to accept her birthright signifies a turning point, marking her transition from uncertainty to empowerment, as she chooses to forge her own path alongside those she trusts.

The connection between Sloane and Benedict deepens, underscoring the importance of trust in their relationship. As they navigate the complexities of their respective roles within the pack, Sloane learns to lean on her instincts and the guidance of Aisling, her inner voice that has always urged her to be courageous. The playful banter between them serves to lighten the weight of their realities, allowing Sloane to embrace her potential with a sense of hope and excitement. Their kiss at the end of the chapter encapsulates the blossoming intimacy between them, symbolizing not only a romantic bond but also a partnership built on mutual respect and shared aspirations. As Sloane prepares to claim her destiny, she does so with the knowledge that she is not alone, and that together, they can challenge the norms of their world.

In the upcoming chapter, readers can expect the tension between Sloane and Benedict to escalate as they navigate the complexities of trust and their burgeoning relationship. With Sloane now fully aware of her status as the heir to the pack, the stakes have never been higher. As she grapples with the implications of her newfound identity, the question looms: will she be able to embrace her role and unite her allies, or will the shadows of her family’s past threaten to tear her apart? The bond she shares with Aisling will be tested, and the stakes are set to rise as both friends and foes emerge from the shadows, eager to claim their piece of the power struggle.

Moreover, the chapter promises to delve deeper into the dynamics of pack politics, as Sloane’s decision to accept her birthright will inevitably attract the attention of those who oppose her. As Benedict’s intentions become clearer, readers will be left wondering whether his support will be enough to shield Sloane from the challenges ahead. With potential rivalries brewing and alliances shifting, every choice Sloane makes will reverberate throughout the pack, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation that could change the balance of power forever. Prepare for unexpected twists, heart-stopping moments, and a deeper exploration of Sloane’s character as she steps into her destiny.

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.