Listen to me 170

Benedict

65 vouchers

I wake slowly with the smell of antiseptic mixed with the scent of Sloane’s honey smell in my nose. The moment I shift my body, fire erupts in my neck.

I try to lift my hands, but one is being held.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you?” my father’s soft voice says. He places his hand on my chest, holding me steady and grounding me at the same time.

I open my eyes, and blink, waiting for them to focus.

“Wh…” I begin, then quickly stop when that fire erupts in my throat again.

“Don’t try to talk. Do you remember what happened? Answer in the mind link,” he says, keeping his voice low.

‘I don’t remember,‘ I say and realize that Marrok is being quiet. Too quiet.

‘Marrok?‘

I know my eyes go wide when I look at my father and I hear the sound of a heart monitor speeding up as my heart rate

increases.

“Calm down, son. You almost died. I’m sure Marrok is silent at the moment, but he’ll be back. You couldn’t mind link if he was gone for good.”

I close my eyes and take a couple of deep breaths, ignoring the pain that it causes.

‘What happened?‘ I ask.

“Sloane’s pack was attacked. You and the pack answered her call for help. I wasn’t here, but from what I’ve gathered from talking to Bethany and Alpha Roman, there was some Beta who was trying to force his mark on her.”

‘Did I get there in time. Is she okay? Is Sloane okay?‘ I ask, terrified that I was too late.

He looks down at the other side of my bed. I have to shift to see, and there, sound asleep, holding the hand that I couldn’t lift, is Sloane.

“She’s been here for about fourteen hours. I understand that she went about forty–eight hours without sleep before that, so everyone agreed to let her sleep and let the mate bond heal you, which it seems to have done. You kept her from getting marked son, and she paralyzed the Alpha who nearly killed you. Then, she and her wolf flooded your body with her venom to save your life. After that, she apparently went to Felix’s pack, intent on killing everyone left, because all the warriors who attacked this pack are dead. She didn’t, though, and earlier today, a group of individuals from that pack came to join her pack.”

He looks at Sloane and I pull my hand from hers, smiling when she whimpers softly at the loss. It quiets the moment I begin running my fingers gently through her soft hair.

“Your mate is extraordinary,” he says. “I never paid much attention, but I didn’t have the animosity for her that your mother did. She not only went to Alpha Felix’s pack, that’s the Alpha who attacked, but then she came back to check on you and Bethany and her pack members who were injured and lost family members. Then, she went to our pack to make sure that everyone there was settled and safe before returning here to lay her own dead to rest. There aren’t many established Alphas who could have kept up that pace for as long as she did, but she didn’t stop until it was done. It says a lot about the kind of man you are that the Moon Goddess gave you a mate like her,” he says.

‘I’ve known for a long time just how extraordinary Sloane is.’

“Yes. Yes, you did,” he says, smiling sadly and looking away.

‘What is it?‘

55 vouchers

He clenches his teeth together, then turns to look at me. His eyes are haunted in a way that I’ve never seen before, not even after he rejected my mother.

“Your mother was there, Benedict. She was in Alpha Felix’s pack and it’s pretty obvious that she gave them information to help them infiltrate this pack. Your mother is partly to blame for you being in this bed right now and for that Beta trying to force his mark on your mate.”

‘Where is she now?‘ I snarl, but the sound isn’t as strong without Marrok behind it.

“Sloane sent her to the cells in Alpha Roman and Luna Samara’s pack. She told Bethany that she was afraid she’d kill her if she kept her here. We both agree she did that for you, so that you could decide what to do with her. But it’s not your decision to make, Benedict. It’s a decision I should have made years ago, but didn’t. I’m going to go to Alpha Roman’s pack and I’m going to end this, once and for all.”

‘What does that mean?‘ I ask him.

‘For all intents and purposes, your mother is feral, obsessed with Sloane and her family. We can never be sure she won’t try something else if she’s alive. And I can’t trust that she wouldn’t do something to Natalie once I find her. It’s not safe for any of us if she lives, Benedict. It’s time to put her down and I need to be the one to do it.‘

‘Dad …‘ I say, knowing how hard that will be for him. He may no longer love my mother, but they were together eighteen years.

“As Alphas, it’s you or me, son, and it’s not fair for me to lay that burden on you, especially when I should have handled it long ago. I’m glad you’re awake. Now, I can go take care of this and then we’ll all finally be free,” he says sadly.

I reach out with the hand that’s not in Sloane’s hair and grip my father’s arm. ‘I’m sorry you have to deal with that.

“I’m sorry she could never let go of the past, and I’m angry and sorry that you almost paid with your life for my inaction. I hope you can forgive me.”

‘There’s nothing to forgive, Dad‘

He nods and looks at Sloane again. “Mark her, son. Do whatever it takes to make her yours because now, word is spreading Her strength is going to be coveted by Alphas everywhere. Don’t let them take what’s yours. You were always a smarter man than I was, so I know that you’ll figure it out.”

‘I will,‘ I say. Again, it feels like my father is saying goodbye.

“Is there anything you want me to tell your mother before I do it?” he asks, unable to say that he’s going to kill her

“Tell her how disappointed I am with her. Tell her that she had her chance and she continued to think that I wouldn’t hold true to my word. Because Dad, if you weren’t going to kill her, I would be I will not allow anyone, ANYONE, to hurt my mate, I say fiercely.

“I’ll tell her. I’m going to go. I need to make arrangements with Alpha Roman Your sister went back to our pack to check on things, but Beta Elliot and Gamma Thomas returned early this morning Alpha Roman and Luna Samara spent the night in our pack to make sure the pack felt secure so your mate could stay here with you That’s the kind of family and allies that you need, son. People you can trust to maintain things for you when you’re unconscious and no one knows how long it will take you to recover.”

2/4

6:35 pm DOW

55 vouchers

I owe it all to Sloane, Dad. Yes, we were allies before, but this level of intervention? Especially in two packs? It’s unheard of.

“Do you know what you’re going to do? How you’re going to resolve the two Alphas with two packs thing?” he asks.

Yes. We’re going to combine the packs. We’re going to bring everyone together and make our two packs one. Then we’ll lead them as co–Alphas, just like Scarlet and Daniel are co–Betas,

He smiles. “Good for you. Make waves but never apologize for doing what is best for you, your mate, or your pack. I’m proud of you son. I love you.”

‘I love you too, Dad. Will you call me when it’s done?‘

“I’ll text you, I doubt I’ll want to talk.”

‘Understood.

He squeezes my arm, then walks out of the room. I stare at the door, wondering what it would take for me to ever have to come to terms with killing my mate. Thankfully, I won’t have to, Sloane would never act like my mother, she’s just too good of a person.

It’s probably thirty minutes later when I feel Sloane starting to stir.

She shifts, obviously uncomfortable from being in the same position for so long. She grunts softly and I smile, familiar with the sounds that my mate makes when she’s waking up after a long, deep sleep,

When she finally lifts her head, she looks around, not immediately looking at me. Since I can’t speak, I wait for her to realize that I’m awake. When she finally looks at me, it takes a moment for it to register, then I see shock on her face, followed by overwhelming relief.

I point to my mouth, then motion ‘no‘ with my fingers.

“Of course you can’t talk. But you’re awake and alive. Oh, goddess, Benedict, I was so worried that I was going to lose you!”

Almost as if she knows where to touch me and where not to, she lays her head on my chest and then begins to cry

I wrap my arms around her, wishing I could say something, anything to console her, but just happy to have her and her unmarked neck in my arms again.

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.