Listen to me 119

In Chapter 119 of “Listen to Me,” Sloane grapples with her feelings about Benedict as she engages in a sparring match with Jack, who disappoints her with his lack of effort. With Gabriel sidelined due to an injury, Sloane is relieved to focus on warriors who are genuinely committed to improving their skills. However, her morning takes a turn when Scarlet confronts her, demanding to know the truth about Sloane’s relationship with Benedict. Scarlet’s intensity reveals the seriousness of the situation, leaving Sloane feeling confused and frustrated as she struggles to understand Benedict’s intentions.

As Sloane confides in Scarlet and Daniel about Benedict’s claims of affection, the conversation shifts to the concept of mate bonds. Daniel shares his own experience with Scarlet, emphasizing the depth of their connection. This prompts Sloane to question whether she and Benedict might share a similar bond, but her insecurities surface. She feels unworthy of such a connection, believing that her status as a forsaken wolf makes her unsuitable for someone like Benedict. The weight of these emotions leads Sloane to storm off, overwhelmed by the implications of their conversation.

In a moment of turmoil, Sloane decides to leave abruptly, seeking her grandfather’s help to borrow a car. Her desperation highlights her inner conflict and the urgency she feels to escape the situation. As she drives away from Benedict’s pack, she attempts to distance herself from the painful thoughts of a potential relationship. Sloane reflects on her identity as a forsaken woman, burdened by her mother’s past sins and the belief that she is destined for loneliness. The chapter culminates in a powerful emotional release as Sloane allows her pain and frustration to surface, howling in anguish for the life she feels she cannot have.

Ultimately, Sloane’s struggle with her feelings for Benedict and her sense of self-worth creates a poignant narrative of longing and despair. Her journey is marked by the conflict between desire and fear of rejection, leaving her to confront the harsh reality of her situation. The chapter captures the essence of Sloane’s internal battle, as she grapples with the idea of love and acceptance while feeling trapped by her lineage and the expectations placed upon her.

**Title: Listen to Me**

**Chapter 119**

**Sloane**

As dawn breaks the following day, I find myself engaged in a sparring match with Jack. However, it becomes painfully clear that he isn’t worth the effort when he taps out almost before he even hits the ground. The moment is deflating, and I can’t help but roll my eyes at his lack of dedication.

With Gabriel still nursing a dislocated knee, courtesy of Scarlet, it leaves me and a few others free to concentrate on those warriors who genuinely wish to hone their skills. It’s a relief, really, to focus on improvement rather than babysitting someone who can’t handle a little competition.

After our sparring session, I expect to join the others for breakfast, but Scarlet has other plans. She swoops in, her best friend instincts kicking into high gear as she grabs my arm, holding me back with an intensity that makes it clear she’s not letting me go anytime soon.

“I need the tea, and I need it now,” she demands, her voice low but fierce. “And don’t give me that ‘he wants to be boyfriend and girlfriend’ nonsense. I want the unfiltered truth. What the hell is going on between you two? Because that boy is laying claim to you like it’s nobody’s business, and he’s doing it right in front of everyone,” she hisses, her eyes narrowing.

“I honestly don’t know, Scarlet,” I admit, feeling a mix of confusion and frustration. “He says he’s here because he wants to be with me. He told me he likes me, that he likes the way I taste and the way I smell. But how do I know he’s not just playing games?”

Scarlet stares at me, her eyes wide, blinking in disbelief as silence stretches between us. I frown, feeling a knot of anxiety twist in my stomach. Scarlet is NEVER this quiet; it’s unsettling.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” I ask, my voice rising slightly in irritation.

“Hang on a second,” she replies, raising a finger in a gesture that demands my patience. She glances over her shoulder, and moments later, Daniel jogs up, his presence a welcome distraction.

“Hey baby, what’s going on?” he greets, his tone casual.

“Tell Daniel what you just told me,” Scarlet insists, her eyes gleaming with mischief and determination.

“Scarlet, he doesn’t care about this,” I protest, my cheeks heating up with embarrassment as I realize my best friend has dragged Daniel into our private conversation.

“Sloane, just trust me on this. Spill it,” she urges, her expression serious.

I huff in resignation. “Fine. Scarlet wanted to know what’s happening between me and Benedict…”

“Scarlet…” Daniel growls softly, a hint of warning in his voice.

“She’s my best friend, Daniel. Just hush and listen,” Scarlet retorts, her gaze unwavering as she focuses on me.

I roll my eyes, feeling the weight of their scrutiny. “He claims he’s here because he likes me, that he enjoys the way I taste, the way I smell…”

“Oh,” Daniel interjects, his annoyance with Scarlet fading as he processes my words.

“See? That’s what I’m talking about,” Scarlet says, her excitement bubbling over.

“Yeah,” Daniel replies slowly, his eyes studying me with a newfound intensity.

“Okay, but I still don’t get it. Can you clarify, Scarlet?” he asks, looking between us with genuine curiosity.

“Sweetie, do you remember when we visited Alpha Waylon before my birthday? Daniel showed us around the pack lands?” she prompts, her voice taking on a nostalgic tone.

“Yeah,” I respond, frowning as I try to connect the dots.

“He liked the way I smelled too,” she says deliberately, watching my reaction closely.

“So what if I like the way you smell?” I counter, feeling a mix of confusion and irritation.

“Sloane,” Scarlet groans, but Daniel cuts her off, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.

“I couldn’t get Scarlet out of my mind after that visit, Alpha. Every waking moment, she was there, haunting my thoughts. I swear I could catch whiffs of her scent, and it would distract me all day long. All I wanted was to see her again. But then she went to Alpha Will’s pack, and I thought it was over until Friday night,” he explains, his voice steady and sincere.

I blink at him, my mind racing to catch up. “Friday night?” I echo, trying to grasp the significance.

“Yeah, that’s when I realized she’s my mate. She wasn’t eighteen when I first saw her, but I think I was already starting to recognize the mate bond,” he continues, his gaze locked onto mine.

I stare at him, then shift my gaze to Scarlet, who nods in agreement.

“You can’t be serious. There’s no way that Benedict Winslow, V is feeling any sort of mate bond with me,” I say, my voice trembling with disbelief.

“Why not?” Scarlet challenges, her eyes flashing with determination.

“You know exactly why, Scarlet,” I respond, frustration bubbling to the surface.

“No, I don’t know why, Sloane. I know why YOU think it’s impossible. But you’re wrong,” she insists, her tone unwavering.

“Scarlet…” I sigh, feeling overwhelmed.

“Let me ask you this, Alpha. At Alpha Benedict’s party, did he not declare to a room full of Alphas and ranked members that your bloodline is as ancient as his, perhaps even older?” Daniel asks, his voice calm and measured.

“Yes,” I reply, my heart racing.

Scarlet gives me a look that suggests I’m missing something crucial. “Old bloodlines mate with old bloodlines, Sloane,” she states emphatically.

“You seem to forget, Scarlet, that I am forsaken by the Moon Goddess. Why would she allow Benedict Winslow to suffer with a mate like me?” I growl, my emotions boiling over as I storm off, furious and now questioning everything I thought I knew.

“Sloane!” Scarlet calls after me, but I know my friend well enough to realize that if it weren’t for Daniel, she would have pursued me relentlessly. Instead, I’m grateful for the distance. I bypass the dining hall and head straight to my room, my mind racing with turmoil.

Is this the reason Benedict has been showering me with so much attention? I had thought it was simply about school, but could it be something deeper? Does he truly believe we might be mates? And if that’s the case, why would he even want me? The thought that gnaws at me more than any other is the most painful: if he thinks we’re mates, is he planning to be with me, to share intimacy, only to reject me afterward because I’m not a suitable partner?

I would rather endure the humiliation of him stripping me of my dignity in front of everyone at his birthday party than to let him make me believe in him, to let myself fall for him, only to face rejection. Because a man like Benedict would never accept someone like me as his mate.

With my heart pounding, I hurriedly pack my belongings and rush down the stairs to find my grandfather.

“Sloane, I’ve heard wonderful things about today’s sparring session. Are you ready to get to work? I know you have to leave today,” he greets me with a warm smile.

“Grandfather, I need to leave right now. Something urgent has come up. I’m really sorry. I’ll be back next weekend after graduation, but I have to go,” I explain, urgency lacing my words.

“Is everything alright?” he asks, concern etching his features.

“It will be. Please, can I borrow a car? I promise I’ll return it next weekend,” I plead, desperation creeping into my voice.

“They’re your cars, Sloane, or they will be in a couple of weeks. Take whichever vehicle you want,” he replies, his kindness wrapping around me like a comforting blanket.

“Thank you,” I say, feeling a rush of gratitude.

I give him a quick hug, then grab my bags and head to the garage. I snatch the first set of keys hanging on the hook and press the unlock button, hurrying to the truck that beeps in response. I toss my bag onto the passenger seat, push open the large garage doors, and pull the truck out into the open air.

It isn’t until I’ve driven well past Benedict’s pack that I finally feel the tension start to ease. Whatever he’s thinking, I can’t be part of it. There’s no future for me and Benedict. No future for me with anyone. I am a forsaken woman, a forsaken wolf, punished for the sins of my mother that angered the Moon Goddess. I’ve come to terms with my life; it’s who I am, and there’s nothing I can do to change that. But I refuse to let Benedict use me or, if he’s truly considering it, take me as his mate. He deserves better than that—better than me.

‘Sloane,’ Aisling whines softly within me.

‘No, Aisling. You know I’ve always expected to be alone. Perhaps, once we’re Alphas, you might find someone to mate with in your wolf form. But that’s not the life for me—or for us. We are forsaken. We are paying the price, and forsaken women don’t get to live happily ever after. Our mother’s betrayal will end with us. I refuse to ever even consider having a daughter who might have to endure the same suffering we have.’

I pull over to the side of the empty road when my emotions overwhelm me, lifting my head to let Aisling howl her pain into the void. Then, I collapse over the steering wheel, releasing the anger and frustration that have built up inside me. I detest my mother. I detest what she did. I loathe that I am condemned to suffer because of her actions. I despise the thought of living my life alone, ensuring I never have daughters who could face the same fate. I hate that my wolf will never know her fated mate because I can never accept anyone as my own.

I scream. I scream so loudly that the sound reverberates through the forest surrounding me.

Then, I collapse over the steering wheel once more, allowing years of anger, hatred, and pain to finally surface.

As Sloane drives away from Benedict’s pack, the weight of her turmoil begins to lift, albeit slowly. The realization that she is forsaken—a notion that has haunted her for so long—now feels like a shield, protecting her from the vulnerability of potential heartbreak. She clings to the belief that her fate is sealed, that her mother’s choices have dictated her path, and in doing so, she shields herself from the possibility of love and connection. The pain of her lineage, the fear of being rejected, and the anger at her circumstances all merge into a powerful resolve to maintain her solitude. In this moment of clarity, she recognizes that the life she envisions for herself is one devoid of the complications that come from relationships, particularly with someone like Benedict, who could never truly accept her.

Yet, as she howls alongside Aisling, a flicker of doubt emerges. The rawness of her emotions spills forth, revealing a deeper yearning for acceptance and love that she has long suppressed. In that cathartic release, Sloane confronts the reality that her identity is not solely defined by her mother’s failures but also by her own choices. The scream that bursts from her is not just an expression of pain; it is a declaration of her existence, a signal that she is still here, still fighting against the shadows of her past. While she may believe that love is a luxury she cannot afford, the truth is that the journey ahead may challenge her to reconsider what it means to be forsaken and whether she can embrace a future that includes the possibility of connection, even amidst the fear of rejection.

In the next chapter, readers can expect a deep dive into Sloane’s emotional turmoil as she grapples with her identity and the implications of a potential mate bond with Benedict. The tension will escalate as she confronts the reality of her forsaken status and the complexities of what it means to be bound to someone like him. With her heart still reeling from the revelations shared by Scarlet and Daniel, Sloane will face a pivotal moment that could change everything. Will she continue to run from her feelings, or will she find the courage to confront her fears and the truth about her connection with Benedict?

As Sloane seeks solace away from the chaos of her life, the chapter will also introduce new challenges that threaten to pull her back into the fray. The dynamics between her and Benedict are bound to shift, especially as he begins to realize the depth of his feelings for her. Readers will be left wondering if Sloane can overcome her insecurities and the weight of her lineage to embrace the possibility of love and acceptance. With the stakes higher than ever, the path ahead will force Sloane to make a choice that could either bind her to her destiny or push her further into isolation. The anticipation builds as we await her next move—will she choose to fight for her happiness, or will she succumb to the shadows of her past?

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.