Listen to me 173

Chapter 173

Sloane

I 55 vouthels

On my way back from Benedict’s pack, where I made sure his Beta and Gamma had everything under control and that they had no intentions of trying to take over the pack while Benedict was down, I got a call from Will.

“Sloane! Oh my goddess! Stephanie and I just heard about the attack on your pack. What happened? Are you okay? Do you need me?”

“Hey, Will. We’re still recovering, but we’re okay.” I told him about what happened and that my uncle and Scarlet’s father are still here helping us.

“If you need anything at all, please call me. And next time, I don’t want to hear about it from someone else, Sloane. We’re allies. If you need me, call me.”

“Thanks, Will.”

When I returned to the packhouse, I was surprised to hear that Scarlet was sleeping. It’s so unlike her that I asked Daniel if she needed to go to the pack hospital.

“I think she’s just tired like we all are, Alpha. You know Scarlet. She’ll go until she drops,” he says.

“Well, you know, as her mate, it’s your job to make sure that doesn’t happen,” I say, smiling to take the edge off my words.

“Which is why she’s in bed right now,” he says, making me smile.

I make my way around the pack, checking in with pack members to make sure everyone was feeling safe and calm, only to find that between my aunt and uncle, Alpha Austin, Scarlet, and Daniel, the pack feels really good.

As I head to the pack hospital to see Benedict, I think about my conversation with Beta Elliot. He hadn’t realized that Ellis was in the pack that had attacked me and he wasn’t happy to find out that is where he’d ended up.

I let him know I hadn’t killed his son but told him to spread the word about anyone who attacks my pack. I also told him that if Benedict or I were ever attacked again and Ellis was part of the pack, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill him.

“He’s been warned, Beta. I’ve learned quickly that if you give too many chances, it’s bites you in the ass. One is all he gets.”

“Understood, Alpha. To say I’m disappointed in my son is an understatement.”

I’d also told them that Alpha Benedict, IV, had gone to kill their previous Luna. Again, they were shocked to find out that she’d been involved in giving information to Alpha Felix to attack me, making her partially responsible for Benedict’s near- death experience.

When I walked into the hospital, I asked how Benedict was doing.

“He’s doing well, Alpha. He still can’t talk, but he was able to drink some water earlier,” the nurse says.

“Good. Thank you.”

When I quietly walk into Benedict’s room, he’s alone. His eyes flutter open and when he sees me, he pats the bed beside him, shifting over to make room for me.

“You need your sleep, Alpha,” I say.

He points at me, then points to the spot beside him.

“So bossy!” I say, but I crawl onto the bed beside him. He wraps his arm around me, and I carefully lay my head low enough

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on his chest that I’m not touching his neck. His free hand comes in front of my face. He makes the gesture of talking then points to himself.

I tell him about my meeting with Gabriel and Jack, then I tell him about his pack. I go through my conversations with his Beta and Gamma, but when I get to the part about Ellis being in Felix’s pack, he holds his hand up in a ‘stop‘ gesture.

I lift my head and look at him. “You didn’t know about Ellis?”

He shakes his head slightly.

I shrug. “He said he didn’t know what they were doing, that he’d just gotten there that night because he heard your mother was there.”

He reaches over and pulls the tray with the paper and pen over, scribbling quickly.

‘Do you believe him?‘

I sigh, laying my head back down on his chest. “I did, Benedict. Maybe I’m wrong, but he hadn’t been gone long enough to know what was going on, unless he’s been feeding Felix information and you didn’t know it. Plus, your mother WAS there. He would have felt comfortable joining a pack with his previous Luna, don’t you think?”

He writes again and I lift my head to see.

‘I guess.

“I told Beta Elliot that if either of us is ever attacked again, and he’s in the pack, that I’ll kill him myself. I don’t think he was happy about it, but he’s not happy with his son right now either.”

When I look at him, Benedict is grinning at me.

“Don’t give me that look. You would have said the same thing.”

He nods.

“How’s Marrok? Any flutterings in your mind that he’s starting to waken?” I ask.

He puts his finger and thumb close together to say ‘a little‘

“That’s good. Maybe having me and Aisling here again tonight will help him get stronger.”

He nods again, then pats his chest. I lay my head down and he pushes the tray away.

It doesn’t take long before the heat of his body and his scent lull me to sleep.

The next morning I wake up to the sound of purring against my car. It takes a moment, then my head shoots up.

“Marrok?”

“Hello, mate,” he says, his voice rough and raspy.

“Don’t talk, Marrok!” I say, squeezing my arms in a makeshift hug. “I’m so glad you’re back.”

“My voice box is healed, mate. It’s just the muscles around it that I still need to heal. But I am a strong Alpha wolf, and I’ll have Benedict healed by tomorrow.”

“Of course you’re strong. You’re an amazing wolf. Let me go get the doctor, then I need to go say goodbye to my aunt and uncle, my grandparents, and Alpha Austin and Luna Elizabeth. They’re all leaving today. Plus, I need to check on Scarlet. She was sleeping when I got back yesterday. I want to make sure she’s okay.”

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I get off the bed, but when I start to move, Benedict or maybe Marrok, holds my wrist. When I look back, he taps his lips with his finger.

I smile. “You’re so cheeky,” I say, but I lean over and press my lips to his. It’s a slow, gentle kiss, but it does a lot to help release the strain and fear I’ve felt ever since I saw Benedict bleeding out on the battlefield.

When the doctor removes the bandages, I can see that Marrok is healing Benedict very well already.

“Well done, Marrok.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

He feels around his throat and agrees that Benedict can talk, but only if it doesn’t put a strain on his voice box. Then he wraps his neck again, but this time with less than half the bandages he had before.

He’s just finishing when there’s a knock on the door. I sniff the air then go quickly to the door, opening it for Scarlet and Daniel.

“Hey girl! We came to check on BWFive,” she says, looking past me. “How’s it going, Big Guy?”

“It’s going,” he says, his voice still rough.

“I’ll order some soft foods and broth this morning, Alpha, but hopefully by tonight you can start eating more solid food,” the doctor says before walking out.

Scarlet and Daniel step in and I look my Beta over.

“Are you alright? You were asleep when I got back last night. I was going to come check on you.”

“I’m great!” she says, smiling at Daniel and taking his hand. “We wanted to tell you something before I tell my parents and since they’re leaving this morning …”

“Please don’t tell me you’re quitting as my Beta,” I say, suddenly terrified that I’ll have to do this alone.

“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t trust anyone else to have your back. You’re my bestie! Bestie promise that I’ll never leave you,” she says, holding out her pinky to me.

“Bestie promise that I’ll never leave you,” I say, hooking her finger with mine. “So, if that’s not it, what’s going on. Are you sick?”

She chuckles and leans into Daniel who looks proud, protective, and possessive, all at the same time.

Benedict chuckles behind me. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Scarlet says, but she’s looking at me. She smiles when she realizes I have no idea what’s going on.

“I’m pregnant, Sloane,” she says, laying her hands on her stomach.

My mouth drops open but I quickly snap it shut.

“Oh, Scarlet!”

I throw my arms around my best friend and hug her tightly.

“Can you believe it?” she whispers and I smell the salt of her tears.

“Congratulations!” I say, feeling my own tears well in my eyes.

When we pull away, she brushes the tears from her cheeks.

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“So, I won’t be doing warrior training any more, and since we just had that battle, I’m going to have the doctor check our pup over to make sure he or she is okay.”

“A baby! I can’t believe it,” I say, looking back at Benedict. He reaches out his hand to me. I step back and take it, seeing a familiar ferocity burning in his eyes. I already know he’ll be happy when it’s our turn to have a little one.

We talk a bit longer, then I get the notification that my aunt and uncle are leaving.

“I’ll be back later,” I tell Benedict, leaning over to kiss him again.

Scarlet, Daniel, and I walk back to the packhouse just as our families, including Grandpa Waylon and Grandma Judith, finish packing to leave.

“I’m so proud of you, Sloane,” Samara says.

“Thank you and thank you for everything.” I say, before going to hug Grandpa Waylon and Grandma Judith next.

“I knew you were the right choice, Sloane. The pack hasn’t felt this good in a long time,” he says.

“Thank you, Grandpa. I hope the two of you enjoy your travels,” I say, hugging my grandmother goodbye

I hear Luna Elizabeth squeal and call Samara over to her as I walk over to say goodbye to Uncle Roman.

He’s watching the three women with a knowing look on his face.

“Time to get that Beta floor put together,” he says.

“It definitely is.”

“I can’t tell you how proud I am of you, Sloane. I never trained you to be an Alpha, but here you are, acting like you’ve been training for this your entire life.”

“I don’t feel like I have any idea what I’m doing half the time,” I say quietly.

“But you’re following your instincts and your instincts are good. Keep doing what you’re doing, Sloane. The pack is following you. You’ve lost a couple of pack members, but since they snuck away in the middle of the night, I think we all know they are the ones who betrayed your pack.”

“They are. I took note of which mind links disconnected and they were all pack members I had identified as potential problems.”

He smiles at me. “See, good instincts.”

He pulls me into a hug. “I know you know it, but I’ll say it again. If you ever need me, if you need anything, I’ll be here for you.”

“Thanks, Uncle Roman. Thank you for everything,” I hug him tightly before going to say goodbye to Alpha Austin and Luna Elizabeth, who is already planning a return visit to help Scarlet set up a nursery for her new grandpup.

“Thank you for everything.” I say to Alpha Austin.

“We’re allies, Sloane. I would have answered the call anyway, but you are as much a daughter to me as Scarlet is. Your uncle and I will always answer the call for help if you need us.”

I stand with Scarlet and Daniel as we wave goodbye to our families, then I turn to Scarlet.

“Should we go tell the pack the good news?”

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.