Listen to me 162

Chapter 162

Benedict

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When I pull up to Alpha Roman’s packhouse, I’m surprised to see two people locked together in a very passionate kiss.

“Is that Alpha Stephanie?” Bethany asks.

“Hard to tell. Her face is connected too tightly to his to see,” I say.

“It’s pretty much what you and Sloane look like when you’re kissing,” she says, grinning.

“Hmm, maybe it’s a new mate bond then,” I say as we get out of the car.

I forget all about the two people kissing my I see Sloane standing there smiling at me.

“You made it,” she says, walking over to me.

S:

“As if I would have missed it,” I say, meeting her halfway and pulling her into my arms. Maybe we do look like the other two people kissing, but I don’t care. All I know is that it’s been too long since I kissed her.

When I pull away, I brush my hand over her hair. “Happy birthday again.”

“Thank you! I haven’t even had a chance to get ready. We haven’t been here long and well … that happened,” she says, pointing to the two who are still kissing as if they are the only two people in the world.

“Is that Alpha Stephanie?” I ask.

“Yep, and Will,” she says, smiling. “I think they’ll make a great pair.”

“They seem to agree,” I say, chuckling and taking her hand.

“So, did Scarlet tell you what I was wearing so you could match me again?” she asks.

“As if I’d let BWFive look like an outsider, especially now that he’s officially your mate, Sloane,” Scarlet says.

“Let me grab our bags,” I say, jogging back to the car and getting my bag and Bethany’s before walking back over to take Sloane’s hand.

“You’re in my room tonight. I hope that’s okay,” she says.

“Where else would I be?” I ask. “When is your uncle going to make the announcement?”

“Which one?” she asks as we walk into the packhouse.

I don’t get to answer as Roman’s pack swarms Sloane, wishing her a happy birthday. I stand back, watching as she says hello, thanking everyone for the birthday wishes. I realize that while others outside this pack may not recognize what an amazing woman Sloane is, Roman’s pack members do. They seem nearly as drawn to her as they are to Luna Samara.

“I’ll show you to your rooms,” Scarlet says. “How did it go in your pack. Did you tell them?”

“About Sloane and about our bond, yes. I didn’t mention you yet, but I will say, my Beta is making my decision about what to do about having multiple Betas easier,” I tell her.

“What do you mean?” she asks as we walk upstairs.

“I walked in on him arguing with a pack member, one he’d put on double patrols apparently because he was angry that the man stopped him from having sex with his daughter.”

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Scarlet stops and looks at me. “That’s a problem.”

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“A big problem and not the first one I’ve come across. How would you and Daniel feel about being co–Betas to co–Alphas?” I ask her, wondering if it feels like too much work to her.

She shrugs. “It’s just a bigger pack, right? Same work, more people. No biggie.”

And that right there is why she’s a better choice of Beta than Ellis ever was.

“Here’s Sloane’s room,” she says, checking the knob to make sure it’s unlocked. “And you, beautiful, are down here,” she says, to Bethany, leading her farther down the hall.

I step into Sloane’s bedroom and groan as her scent of honey surrounds me. I take a moment to stand in the middle of the room, just breathing in her scent.

‘Just wait until our bedroom smells like her all the time,‘ Marrok purrs.

I can’t wait.

Since she told me I’d be staying in here with her, and knowing we’re mates who are planning to create a life together, I walk into her closet and hang up my clothes for her party.

I’ve just stripped off my shirt and jeans when her door opens. I poke my head out of the closet and she smiles, biting her lip when she sees me in nothing but my boxers.

“Mmmm, happy birthday to me.”

“I’m pretty sure I’m not allowed to make you late to your own party,” I growl.

Her eyes get dark as she slowly walks over to me.

“You’re going to need to hold that thought, because I want more than a few minutes to give you what you want. But what I would like to do is give you your gift while we’re here together?

She slides her arms around my neck, leaning against me and making me instantly hard and regretful of my decision to try and wait to have her until later.

“You got me a gift?”

“It IS your birthday.”

“I didn’t get you anything for your birthday.”

“The pleasure of your company was all I wanted. But then I also got you with your hair down,” I grunt, sliding my fingers through her long, silky hair. “That was like two presents in one.”

She wiggles her hips against me. “What if this is the present I want.”

“You can have it, just not yet. But I promise you can have it later. I stopped at the store on the way and stocked up on

condoms.”

“That reminds me. I’m going to see the pack doctor tomorrow before we leave.”

“Thank the goddess! At the rate we’re going through condoms, we might bankrupt our packs in less than a year,” I say, making her laugh.

I keep one arm around her waist and reach into my bag with the other, pulling out her gift. Then I move behind her and put

the box in her hands.

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“I hope you like it,” I say, resting my chin on her shoulder and wrapping my arms around her again while she unwraps it.

“It’s from you. I’m sure I’ll love it,” she says, opening the box. “Oh, Benedict,” she gasps.

The necklace is two interlocking white gold hearts. The top of both hearts are inlaid with diamonds. Inside the one on the left is an emerald for my birthstone and in the one on the right is an alexandrite for Sloane’s birthstone. On the left heart, ‘Always‘ is engraved, and on the right ‘Forever‘ is engraved.

“It’s our hearts, joined forever,” I tell her.

She looks at me over her shoulder. “You had to have this made in advance,” she says.

“I told you, Sloane. I knew I loved you before I knew we were mates.”

She turns and wraps her arms around me again, kissing me with all the love and passion that very few people get to experience from Sloane.

“I love it. Thank you.”

“Hopefully, Scarlet won’t get upset about you wearing another necklace,” I say, grinning.

She laughs. “She’ll be okay with it. She’s got one from Daniel that she wears too,”

I put the necklace on her and when she turns around, I growl possessively. “Tonight, I want you only wearing that when I’m inside you.”

“Deal.”

I grunt, then release her before I start something I don’t have time to finish.

We quickly get changed and the new intimacy of sharing space is nice, if a bit awkward.

“We’ll need to make sure we build a larger closet in our bedroom,” she says..

“Definitely,” I agree, before stepping out of the closet to finish putting my belt on.

When she steps out of the closet wearing her casual white dress, I look her up and down. “I am such a lucky man.”

“I was thinking that I am such a lucky woman. I know we have a lot to work through, but I want you to know how happy I am that we’re mates, Benedict.”

“I am too, Sloane. I love you,”

“I love you too,”

I lean in and kiss her once more.

“Let’s go watch as your uncle announces you as an Alpha and a mated female to your family’s pack so we can get this party

started.”

When we get downstairs, Roman and Samara have already moved the party out back. Sloane and I walk outside, arm in arm and everyone cheers as she walks out.

I start to step away, but she holds me with her.

“Everyone, I have an announcement to make,” she says, smiling at me. I thought she was going to let her uncle announce us as mates, but apparently not.

“This man, this amazing man and Alpha, is my mate,” she says, and the pack cheers. I note that their cheers are much louder

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than the ones in my pack and I wonder how many of my pack members might be gone before I return tomorrow. Oh well, if they can’t acknowledge Sloane as my mate and their co–Alpha, they aren’t welcome in the pack anyway.

Sloane surprises me by kissing me in front of the pack. She’s not usually one for public displays of affection, so when she wraps her arms around me and kisses me with a passion that is similar to what I experience when we’re alone, I’m pleasantly surprised.

When she pulls away, she smiles at me.

“And I also have an announcement to make, one that, while it’s not more important than Sloane’s, it is, in my opinion, just as important. Very few people knew that my niece was actually the daughter of Althea, Samara’s sister, and Derrick, Alpha Waylon’s son,” Alpha Roman says.

The pack begins murmuring, and looking around, obviously wondering who knew and who didn’t.

“Yesterday, Alpha Waylon announced his successor. Your Luna and I stood as witnesses as we watched our niece take her place as the first ever female Alpha. Not only that, but Sloane announced her choice of Beta, the first ever female Beta, Scarlet Morgan.”

As with my pack, the entire pack goes silent, staring at Sloane. I feel her tense beside me, uncomfortable with the attention and scrutiny of the pack. I tighten my arm around her waist, reminding her that she’s not alone.

“So you see, we not only have a birthday and a mate bond to celebrate today, but today, my niece has made history. To the first ever female Alpha and female Beta. I couldn’t be prouder of both of you,” Roman says.

I lift my head to the sky and howl my pride at my mate. It only takes a moment for the rest of the pack to join me, announcing their pride in Sloane and Scarlet.

“Let’s party!” Scarlet says.

Cedella

Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.