Listen to me 121

In Chapter 121, Sloane grapples with her feelings about her relationship with Benedict, feeling both drawn to him and burdened by her insecurities regarding her lack of a white wolf. Aisling, her wolf and confidante, reassures her that her worth is not defined by these traits, emphasizing that she is still a strong Alpha. Their conversation highlights the emotional turmoil Sloane faces, as she wrestles with feelings of unworthiness while also recognizing the strength and potential of her bond with Benedict.

As Sloane arrives at the packhouse with Benedict, the atmosphere shifts to one of curiosity and scrutiny from her family, particularly Aunt Samara, who expresses concern for Sloane’s well-being. The dynamic between Sloane and her relatives is tense yet protective, showcasing the fierce loyalty within their pack. Benedict’s confident demeanor contrasts with Sloane’s apprehension, particularly when Aunt Samara warns him about the importance of treating Sloane with care, further emphasizing the protective nature of family ties.

Amidst the serious discussions, there are moments of lightheartedness as Sloane and Benedict navigate their new relationship. The playful banter between them reveals their growing connection, with Sloane feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety about their public display of affection. As they face the reactions of their peers and family, Sloane begins to embrace her feelings for Benedict, realizing that their relationship could signify the early stages of a deeper bond.

The chapter concludes on a hopeful note, with Sloane and Benedict discussing their future plans, including studying for finals and the possibility of sparring together. This transition from tension to camaraderie illustrates Sloane’s journey towards self-acceptance and her willingness to explore her relationship with Benedict. Their shared laughter and mutual support signal a turning point for Sloane, as she begins to see her own worth and the potential for love and partnership.

**Chapter 121**

**Sloane**

༥.39% .-

55 vouchers

This idea is utterly ludicrous, yet the magnetic pull of Benedict is nearly impossible to resist. His unwavering confidence, the way he carries himself with an air of certainty, makes it hard for me to believe that my lack of a white wolf truly concerns him.

“Honestly, Sloane, it only matters to you,” Aisling interjects, her voice steady, a soothing balm to my tumultuous thoughts.

“But it was your birthright, Ais,” I counter, a hint of desperation creeping into my tone. “Doesn’t it bother you even a little?”

“Only because it bothers you,” she replies, her tone softening. “I’m still an Alpha wolf, strong and fierce. But above all, I am YOUR wolf, Sloane. That’s what truly matters to me.”

I let out a heavy sigh, my gaze drifting to the rearview mirror as I merge onto the main road. Benedict’s expression is one of undeniable satisfaction, as if he’s finally broken through the walls I’ve built around my heart.

“He should feel that way. It seems he has managed to reach you when no one else could,” Aisling observes, her voice laced with a hint of pride.

I choose to disregard her comment, focusing instead on the question that has been nagging at me. “Do YOU think Benedict and Marrok are our mates?”

Aisling shrugs in that quintessential wolf manner, a gesture that speaks volumes. “I like them both. They have qualities that resonate with us. But the truth is, we won’t know for sure until our birthday. And let’s be frank, Sloane. We deserve mates like them. They are strong Alphas, just like us. They would be worthy of us.”

Yes, but would we be worthy of them? The thought lingers in my mind, heavy and unsettling.

“You’re the only one who feels unworthy, Sloane,” Aisling reassures me. “Do you really think those obnoxious twins are more deserving than we are? Or that Alpha female who caked on so much makeup that Scarlet claims no one knows what she truly looks like underneath?” Her words make me chuckle, a small reprieve from my swirling thoughts.

“I love you, Ais,” I confess, my heart swelling with affection.

“I love you too, Sloane. I just wish you could love yourself as fiercely as I do,” she replies, her voice tinged with concern.

I let out another sigh, the weight of her words settling heavily on my shoulders. Maybe one day, I muse silently.

As we approach the guard gate, I bring the truck to a halt.

“Hey, Liza. Alpha Benedict is right behind me, you can let him through,” I announce, my voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in my stomach.

“Sure thing, Alpha,” she responds, her tone cheerful.

I drive slowly through the gate, ensuring she grants Benedict passage before heading toward the packhouse. Upon arrival, I spot Uncle Roman and Aunt Samara waiting, their expressions revealing that Liza must have informed them of my early return—and of Benedict’s presence.

Uncle Roman’s gaze follows me as I pull in, before shifting to Benedict. Aunt Samara, however, remains fixated on me, her eyes sharp and penetrating.

I step out of the truck, retrieving my bag from the passenger seat.

“Sloane, you’re back early and with Alpha Benedict,” Uncle Roman remarks, his tone a mixture of surprise and curiosity as Benedict exits his vehicle and strides over to take my hand.

Oh boy, I think, realizing he must have meant it when he said he would tell everyone we were officially boyfriend and girlfriend.

“Hello, Alpha Roman. Hello, Luna Samara. I hope it’s alright that I stopped in unannounced. Sloane invited me to dinner,” he states, his voice smooth and confident.

“Did she?” Uncle Roman inquires, his eyes darting back to me. Yet it’s Aunt Samara’s intense gaze that makes me falter, her scrutiny almost overwhelming. “You’ve been crying, Sloane,” she observes, her voice a blend of concern and authority, infused with Ayla’s spirit.

“We had a disagreement…” Benedict starts, rushing to my defense. But Aunt Samara barely acknowledges him.

“I’m not speaking to you, Alpha,” she asserts, her tone firm.

Aisling steps forward, ready to address our aunt. “I’m okay, Aunt Samara. It’s just… we had a disagreement.”

“Are you certain, Sloane? If Alpha Benedict has hurt you, I will not hesitate to remove him from our pack lands,” Ayla’s voice rumbles through Aunt Samara, fierce and protective.

“He didn’t hurt us, Ayla. I swear,” Aisling and I respond in unison, our voices harmonizing in conviction.

Ayla studies us for a moment longer before shifting her intimidating glare to Benedict. To his credit, he stands tall, unwavering. “My niece does not cry, Alpha Benedict. Be very cautious about how often your ‘disagreements’ lead her to do so,” Ayla warns, her voice low and serious.

“Yes, Alpha,” he replies, his tone respectful, though I can see a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

Uncle Roman observes the exchange, and as Ayla relaxes her stance, he turns back to me.

“This is new,” he comments, gesturing to our intertwined hands.

“Sloane agreed to be my girlfriend,” Benedict declares, a proud smile playing on his lips. It feels as though we’re facing an inquisition, the air thick with anticipation.

“When did that happen?” Uncle Roman asks, his gaze shifting to me, clearly intrigued.

“It sort of happened during our date on Friday night. Alpha Benedict came to Grandpa Waylon’s for dinner last night,” I explain, watching as both my uncle and aunt’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise at the mention of our dinner. “Yeah, I told him.”

“Perhaps we should head inside. I’d like to hear how all of this has come about and what your intentions are with my niece, Alpha Benedict,” Uncle Roman suggests, his voice authoritative yet curious.

As they begin to walk inside, I turn to Benedict, a playful warning in my eyes.

“I warned you!” I mouth silently at him.

“It’s fine,” he replies, a cheeky grin spreading across his face.

He takes my bag, slinging it over his shoulder, before pressing a gentle kiss to my hand and guiding me into the packhouse.

The moment we step inside, a hush falls over the pack members. They pause, their eyes widening as they take in Benedict, especially those who attend school with us. Their gazes flicker to our clasped hands, and instinctively, I start to pull away. But instead of letting go, he draws our hands behind my back and leans in to kiss me.

Initially, I tense, unaccustomed to such public displays of affection, let alone a kiss. But soon, I find myself melting into Benedict’s embrace, lost in the warmth and sweetness of the moment.

He pulls back, a triumphant grin lighting up his face. “Just so everyone is clear, we’re together,” he whispers softly, his eyes sparkling with mischief. Then, turning to the pack members who are as stunned as I am, he waves cheerfully.

“Hey, everyone,” he calls out, before leading me toward Uncle Roman, who stands with an eyebrow raised, clearly processing the scene before him.

As we pass Slade, he opens the mind link. “What the…?”

“We’ll talk later,” I reply swiftly, knowing full well that this will spark countless questions.

“Oh yeah, we will,” he retorts, amusement evident in his tone.

I sigh again, bracing myself for the inevitable onslaught of inquiries from everyone later.

Upon reaching Uncle Roman’s office, he closes the door and turns to us, his expression shifting to one of seriousness.

“Alpha Benedict, that was a rather possessive claim you just made, and I must remind you that my niece is underage.”

“Yes, sir,” Benedict acknowledges, glancing at me with a mix of respect and affection. “Sloane and I talked this morning. That was our disagreement, Luna. My wolf and I both feel we are experiencing the early stages of the mate bond with Sloane and Aisling.”

I glance at Aunt Samara, my heart racing. “You know how I feel about finding my mate.”

“I do, which is why I’m surprised you agreed to be Alpha Benedict’s girlfriend and that you and Aisling are allowing him to claim you so publicly,” she replies, her tone a mix of concern and curiosity.

“Aisling isn’t the issue, Aunt Samara. You know that,” I insist, feeling the weight of their scrutiny. “Benedict was… very convincing. He doesn’t care that I don’t have a white wolf.”

“Couldn’t care less,” he affirms, his gaze unwavering as he looks at me.

I roll my eyes playfully. “And he claims he doesn’t care who my mother was.”

“You are not your mother,” all three of them declare in unison, and I can’t help but notice the smirk on Benedict’s face.

“Right, so…” I begin, feeling the conversation shift.

“So, Alpha Benedict finally managed to penetrate that stubborn head of yours when your aunt and I couldn’t. Is that what I’m hearing?” Uncle Roman asks, a teasing note in his voice.

“I might have kissed her into compliance,” Benedict quips, his grin widening.

“Hmm. Maybe I should have tried that when I met you,” Uncle Roman muses, glancing at Aunt Samara with a hint of nostalgia.

“I’m pretty sure you did, eventually,” she responds, a smile dancing on her lips before she turns back to us. “My earlier comment still stands, Alpha Benedict. I don’t care who you are or how powerful your pack is. You hurt my niece, and you will face Ayla’s wrath.”

“Aunt Samara,” I interject, feeling the tension rise. You can’t just threaten Alphas because they’re dating your niece.

“No, Sloane. Your aunt is right,” Benedict interjects, turning to Aunt Samara with earnestness. “I have no intention of hurting Sloane, Luna. Obviously, I can’t confirm that this is the mate bond until she turns eighteen, and thankfully Sloane has invited me to her birthday party,” he adds, shooting me a playful grin before focusing back on Aunt Samara. “But as I told your niece, I had the best date of my life on Friday. I got to be myself for the first time in my life. It felt…” he hesitates, searching for the right word.

“Freeing,” Uncle Roman supplies, nodding in understanding.

“Exactly,” Benedict agrees, his eyes lighting up.

Uncle Roman contemplates for a moment. “Well, if you know about Waylon, then you understand her own pack. I don’t want my niece to give up that opportunity, especially now that Sloane has the option of becoming an Alpha of her own.”

“I don’t want that either, Alpha. I’m still figuring it all out. Honestly, I’ve just been focused on ensuring Sloane knows I meant it when I said I wanted her to be my girlfriend. I haven’t thought much beyond that, next week, and graduation. But it’s something we’ll need to discuss, especially if I’m right and she and I are mates.”

“Did you tell your grandfather that you’re willing to take over his pack, Sloane?” Aunt Samara inquires, her gaze sharp and assessing.

“I did. He was very relieved. Scarlet and I ran warrior training this weekend, and I’ve already started making a mental list of the pack members who are going to be problems,” I respond, feeling a surge of determination.

“I’m happy to help in any way you need, Sloane,” Uncle Roman offers, his voice sincere.

“So am I,” Benedict adds, squeezing my hand gently, a gesture that sends warmth coursing through me.

A brief silence envelops us, the weight of our conversation settling in as Benedict holds my gaze, his eyes filled with unspoken promises.

“So, what are you two planning to do today since you’re here quite a while before dinner?” Uncle Roman asks, breaking the tension with a casual inquiry.

“We probably need to study for finals,” I suggest, glancing at Benedict, who nods in agreement.

“Yeah, because I have a Valedictorian position to earn,” he replies, a playful grin stretching across his face.

“Good luck with that, Alpha. You’re going to need it,” I tease back, feeling a sense of ease return as we slip into our familiar banter.

“Shall we get to it then?” he proposes, his enthusiasm infectious.

I look at my aunt and uncle, gauging their reactions.

“Any other questions for us?” I ask, raising an eyebrow playfully.

“Not at the moment,” Aunt Samara replies, her gaze lingering on me, a mix of scrutiny and affection.

I stand, moving toward the door while still holding onto Benedict’s hand.

“You know, if we have time, I’d love the chance to spar with you, Sloane,” he suggests, a spark of excitement in his eyes.

I grin, a thrill of anticipation rushing through me. “Oh, I will definitely make time for that.”

As the chapter draws to a close, Sloane stands at a precipice of emotional growth, her insecurities slowly beginning to dissolve under the warmth of acceptance and love. The weight of her doubts about worthiness, once a heavy shroud, is now being lifted by the unwavering support of Aisling and the steadfast affection of Benedict. This newfound connection not only challenges her perceptions of herself but also opens the door to the possibility of a deeper bond that transcends her fears. The laughter shared with Aisling and the playful banter with Benedict serve as reminders that she is not alone in her journey; she is surrounded by those who see her strength, her potential, and her worth, regardless of her lineage.

In the face of familial scrutiny and the expectations of her pack, Sloane’s resolve solidifies as she embraces her identity and the choices that lie ahead. The playful exchange with Benedict, filled with teasing and camaraderie, signifies a shift in her emotional landscape—a move from uncertainty to confidence. As they prepare to face the challenges of finals and the impending responsibilities of their roles, Sloane recognizes that she is not just stepping into a relationship but also into her own power as an Alpha. With the support of her loved ones and the promise of a bright future, she is ready to confront whatever comes next, armed with the knowledge that she is deserving of love and capable of leading her pack.

**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**

As the tension in the packhouse begins to settle, Sloane and Benedict’s blossoming relationship will face new challenges that test their bond. With the looming shadow of Sloane’s impending birthday and the uncertainty that comes with it, the stakes are higher than ever. Will the pair navigate the complexities of their feelings while also dealing with the expectations of their families and the pack? As they delve deeper into their connection, the question of whether they truly are each other’s mates will hang in the air, creating an electric atmosphere filled with anticipation and doubt.

Furthermore, the dynamics within the pack are set to shift, especially with Sloane’s newfound confidence in her role as a potential Alpha. As she embarks on her journey of self-discovery, the support from Benedict and her family will be crucial, but will it be enough to prepare her for the trials ahead? Expect moments of vulnerability and strength as Sloane grapples with her identity and the responsibilities that come with it. The chapter promises to be a rollercoaster of emotions, as love, loyalty, and the weight of legacy collide in unexpected ways.

With the tension of finals looming and the excitement of sparring with Benedict on the horizon, readers can expect a blend of heartwarming moments and intense confrontations. Will Sloane embrace her power and the potential of her relationship, or will doubts and external pressures threaten to pull them apart? The next chapter is poised to deliver an exhilarating mix of romance, self-discovery, and the bonds of family, leaving readers eagerly turning the pages for what comes next.

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.