Forsaken by the Moon Goddess novel Chapter 20

Benedict

“Thank you for coming,” I say to her. “You look…”

I’m honestly at a loss for words. I’ve never seen Sloane like this. I’m not sure that any woman has made me want them like I want her at this moment.

“Uncomfortable? Like my feet are being pinched? Like I don’t want to be here?” she offers in her typical snarky Sloane way.

“Stunning.” I say, meaning it. She is absolutely the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen in my life.

“And she smells good too, Marrok adds. Interesting.

“Will you join me?” I ask, offering her my arm.

She shakes her head and looks so utterly defeated that I could kill my mother.

“Maybe I should just go.”

“Please stay.”

“Why?” she whispers.

“You got all dressed up. You’re here. It’s my birthday and I want you here. Please?” I say, offering my arm again.

“People will talk,” she says, putting her arm through mine.”Oh, they most definitely will,” I say, walking her into the room. “No one has ever seen you looking like this. I’d tell you that you look amazing, incredible, magnificent, or perfect, but I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t believe the stunning l’ve already called you, so l’ll refrain from saying you look any of those things.”

“You would be right. Flattery will get you nowhere with me, Benedict. Speaking of, did you not find your mate?” she asks, frowning.

“No, I didn’t. She’s either not here, or perhaps she’s underage,” I say, watching her carefully. I wonder if I’m the only one feeling the pull. “When is your birthday?”

She snorts in a very typical Sloane way.

“After graduation. I’m pretty sure you’re safe.”

“Mmm,” I say noncommittally. “Will you dance with me?”

“I don’t dance.”

“Did you get me a birthday present?”

She’s looking around the room and while I can hear the party-goers asking if this is really Sloane Hartwell on my arm, l ignore them. I’ve been utterly bored all night and now, I’m perfectly content.

She looks up at me. “What could I possibly get the man who already has everything?”

“A dance with the most beautiful woman in the room.”She blinks at me, then frowns.

“Tell me where she is, ‘ll get her for you.”

I smile. “She’s right here. Dance with me. Consider it my birthday present.”

She gets that terrified look on her face again. “I don’t know how to dance, Benedict.”

I take her out onto the dance floor and nod at the musicians that my mother paid to play tonight. They begin a slow, love song and I turn to her.

“Follow my lead, Sloane. I won’t let you fall. Don’t fight me, just follow my lead,” I say, holding out my arms to her.

She steps into my arms and the rest of the room falls away. I’ve heard my sister talking about things like this.

It’s apparently a big deal in the romantasy books she reads where the world falls away when you’re in the arms of the one you love. I never gave any thought to it, until now.

Right now, the only two people in the world are me and Sloane.

“How is your weekend?” 1 ask her as I begin to dance. The slow song allows me to stay close to Sloane, helping to guide her through the dance.

“Lovely. How is your birthday?”

“Better now that you’re here,” I say, grinning when sherolls her eyes. “Honestly, I didn’t think you were going to come.”

“I wouldn’t have, if you hadn’t specifically brought it up yesterday. But then I’d have to say that I’d missed the birthday of the Alpha King,” she says, making her eyes wide like she’s swooning over my title.

I throw my head back and laugh. It’s the first real laugh I’ve had today.

“What a ridiculous title,” I say.

“Utterly ridiculous,” she agrees, grinning at me.

Irealize she’s not paying attention to our steps so it’s

– making it easier to guide her around the dance floor.

“You don’t actually think you’re going to beat me for Valedictorian, do you?” I ask, loving this banter between us.

“Oh, I’m absolutely going to beat you, Alpha. You can count on it.”

“I don’t know … I asked Principal Rodgers yesterday where we stand,” I say, knowing she hasn’t and that shell want to know.

Her eyes narrow. “What did she say?”

“That it’s too soon to tell and that finals will decide who is actually the school’s Valedictorian.”

She grins at me. “It’s a good thing I’m not distracted by things like birthdays. I’ve been studying and preparing for finals while you’ve been …” she looks around us. “Dancing.”

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