Listen to me 134

Chapter 134

Sloane

The morning after my first time with Benedict, I wake up early for warrior training. The moment I step outside, Scarlet pounces on me.

“Uh, girrrrl! What is BWFive’s scent doing all over you?”

“Not now, Scarlet,” I whisper. She and her mother stayed the night after shopping with Aunt Samara yesterday.

“Oh, I will have the tea, Sloane. All of it, every last little spilt bit of it. Don’t think I won’t,” she says, but thankfully, she leaves it alone until the end of warrior training.

The moment training is over, she’s back at my side.

“Luna Samara, Sloane and I are going to have breakfast in her room so she can try on the dresses we got her last night,” she says in a sing–song voice.

Aunt Samara looks at me. Since EVERYONE in warrior training twitched their noses when I walked by, I’m sure she also knows that Benedict and I were together last night. It was mortifying to realize that everyone in my pack now knows that I gave my virginity to Benedict.

“Let me know what you think of the dresses, Sloane. I’ll be up to check on you in a bit,” she says.

“Sure thing,” I say, before Scarlet practically drags me inside.

“Can we get two trays of food sent up to Sloane’s room, please?” she asks the omegas.

“Of course, Beta,” the omegas say.

“Thank you. You’re the best!” she says, making the omegas smile before dragging me upstairs.

The moment we’re in my room and the door is closed, I face her.

“You and BWFive? When? How? Was it amazing? Did it suck? Tell me EVERYTHING!”

I laugh, remembering last night.

“It was amazing,” I begin. She squeals before I can finish. “Until it wasn’t.”

“Explain,” she says, dragging me to the loveseat in my room.

“Bestie promise this stays between us,” I say, holding out my pinkie.

“As if I would ever say anything to anybody,” she says, hooking her pinkie in mine. “Bestie promise this stays between us. Spill.”

As always, I tell her everything, about how amazing Benedict was, how special he made it for me, then how I

17:53 Wed, Jan 7 N

blew it.

“Sloane…”

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“I know. I know. He was so mad, Scarlet. He said I was ruining one of the best moments of his life. Do you think he meant it?” I ask her.

“Do YOU?” she counters.

I hold her gaze. “Yeah, I do.”

“Then why are you asking me, Sloane? I think he’s genuine. We all think he’s feeling the early stages of the mate bond. If he is, then yeah, it definitely was one of the best nights of his life. Daniel told me that no time before me even came close to being as amazing as our time together was. And I don’t have to question him because we’re mated and I can feel his feelings and hear his thoughts. BWFive has already turned eighteen. You’re a week away from your birthday. I can guarantee you, if you do it again …”

“He’s getting us a hotel tonight,” I tell her.

She gives me a look. “It will only be better for him every time you have sex until you turn eighteen and identify each other as mates.”

“But Scarlet,” I begin.

“Don’t. Don’t you fucking dare, Sloane,” she says, just as the omegas knock on my door. “Don’t move,” she says, going to get the food. She thanks them, then pulls the cart with food into our room.

“We have had this discussion, Sloane. Just because you don’t find yourself worthy of a mate doesn’t mean you won’t have one. And I don’t know the answer to how two Alphas come together to form a mate bond when you are Alphas of separate packs, but you’re both smart. You’re co–fucking–Valedictorians for goddess’s sake! If any two people can figure it out, you two will. You’re going to his Alpha ceremony tomorrow night, right?”

“Yes. He wants me to stand on the stage with him,” I say.

She smacks my thigh, gripping it so hard I’m worried I’ll be bruised.

“Holy. Fucking. Shit. Sloane! The man isn’t just claiming you. He’s letting the entire fucking world know that you’re his.”

“Scarlet, I told you about his mother.”

“So fucking what, Sloane? What do they call those matriarchs when they’re past their prime? Dowagers? She’s the Dowager Luna. You’re the fucking Alpha he’s taking as his mate! Take that, Luna Sourpuss!”

I snort the water I was drinking through my nose.

“Oh my goddess, Scarlet. I love you so much.”

“I love you too. I just wish that YOU loved yourself as much as others love you. Now, are you done eating? I want to see these dresses on you.”

17:53 Wed, Jan 7 N

“How many dresses are we talking about?” I ask.

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“Two for now. We still have to get a dress for your birthday and YOUR Alpha ceremony. They’re in your closet. I’ll wait.”

I shake my head and walk to my closet. When I step inside, I see the two dress bags hanging on the rack.

“Which one is the graduation dress?” I ask her.

“The black and white one,” she says.

I open the first bag and see a smoky color dress, so I move to the next one. When I open it, I see it’s an A–line dress with white block color panels in the skirt. The dress is crepe and chiffon with thin straps and when I put it on, it hugs my upper body before flaring out to the full skirt that comes to my ankles.

I zip it up and step out of the closet.

“Daaamn girl! You look fantastic! BWFive is going to swallow his tongue.”

“You said that about the dress I wore to his birthday party,” I say.

“And? I was right, wasn’t I?” she asks grinning. “So, do you think he’ll bend you over, push that skirt up, and take you from behind, or take his time and slide it down your body?”

“SCARLET!” I say, my cheeks becoming so hot I’m afraid I’ll combust.

“What?” she asks, giving me a look with the same mock outrage she must see on mine. “Make everyone in that room want what Benedict has, Sloane. He’s the only one who has really seen you all those years. He’s the only one who has never judged you. You should reward him for that, and that dress… that’s a reward, baby!”

I laugh, just as there is a knock on the door. “May I come in?” Aunt Samara asks, opening the door just enough to poke her head in.

When she sees me, she stops. “Oh Sloane. You look beautiful. What do you think? Did we do a good job?”

I look at myself in the full–length mirror. Then I meet her eyes in the mirror. “I love it Aunt Samara.”

“Perfect. Have you tried the other one on yet?”

“Not yet,” I tell her.

“Do you mind if Elizabeth and I stay to see the other dress?” she asks.

“I haven’t even seen this one yet,” I hear Scarlet’s mother grumble from the hallway.

“Mom! Why are you skulking in the hallway?” Scarlet asks, making my aunt roll her eyes.

When Luna Elizabeth steps in, she sighs and brings her hand to her heart. “Oh, it looks even better on you than I imagined.”

*Thank you, Luna,” I say.

17:53 Wed, Jan 7 N…

“Go try on the other one,” Scarlet says.

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I walk into the closet again, ignoring the sound of my friend, her mother, and my aunt talking. The second dress is more elegant than the first. This one has an asymmetrical neckline with a flutter sleeve on the left side and an off–the–shoulder sleeve on the right side, with a fitted waist. The floor–length gown has a slit that goes to mid–thigh, which is higher than I would like, but allows me to walk more easily.

When I step out of the closet, all three women stop what they’re doing. I realize they’ve put out champagne and strawberries to celebrate our graduation.

“It’s not much, sweetheart, but we wanted to have a little moment this morning, just us girls, before you go to your grandfather’s pack,” Aunt Samara says. “We’re so proud of you, of both of you,” she says, including Scarlet. “You’re going to be leaving us soon and starting your own pack and I’m just so proud …” she stops, covering her mouth as tears begin falling down her cheeks. “I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become, Sloane. I’m so proud to be your aunt, and your surrogate mother, and hopefully your friend.”

I feel my throat tighten and I walk quickly to my aunt, pulling her into a hug.

“I love you, Aunt Samara.”

“I love you so much, Sloane. I really am so proud of you,” she says quietly.

“It’s a good damn thing I haven’t put my makeup on yet! No crying after makeup!” Scarlet says.

I pull away from Aunt Samara to see Scarlet and Luna Elizabeth crying too.

“Group hug!” Luna Elizabeth says and the four of us wrap our arms around each other.

“Thank you all, so much. Not just for the dresses, but for always believing in me,” I say.

“Okay, let’s see it!” Scarlet says as we pull out of the hug. We all wipe our eyes and I stand back, showing off my dress.

“You look like the Alpha you are,” Aunt Samara says, smiling at me and handing me a glass of champagne.

“You look like the elegant, strong, confident woman that I know you can be,” Luna Elizabeth says.

“What you look like is the fucking bitch that’s going to rock BWFive’s world during his Alpha ceremony! You are HOT!” Scarlet says, making everyone laugh.

I change out of my dress and spend the rest of the morning talking to the three women who are most important in my life. When lunch time rolls around, I pack up my things, including both dresses and make my way downstairs.

“Oh, you did remember us,” Slade grumbles.

“Hey, little brother. I’ll see you tonight?” I ask, pulling him into a hug.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” he says.

“And you, Uncle Roman?” I ask, hugging him goodbye.

“I’ll be the one cheering the loudest for you, Sloane,” he says.

I smile. “Thank you.”

I hug my sister and cousins goodbye, then begin making my way to Grandpa Waylon’s pack. I need to talk to him this weekend about where, when, and how we’re going to announce me taking over his pack.

Something is changing in me, or maybe it’s just that my life is coming to a crossroads. But it’s time for me to step into the next phase of my life which includes becoming an Alpha of my own pack and quite possibly, having some sort of relationship with Benedict, even though I’m still not exactly sure what that will look like.

Either way, I’m going to hold my head high and step into this next phase of life with confidence.

Lucia Morh

Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.