Page 10 of His White Moonlight (Dominant CEO Shifter Romance #1)

My brows shot up at the same time Walt’s did. However, the elevator dinged, and before I could say anything, Bennett steered me out of the opening doors.

“Wrenly, do you need me to call security?” Walt asked, following us.

I felt Bennett’s hands twitch on my shoulders as I glanced back at Walt.

“This is my older brother. He doesn’t hit. He mostly ignores. I’m fine. I promise.”

Walt nodded and watched as I got into the parking garage elevator with Bennett. I gave a little wave to reassure him. Bennett captured my hand as the doors closed, and a second later, I was pinned against the wall with my hands over my head.

Bennett leaned down so we were eye to eye, and I could see the level of his annoyance in his eyes.

“I am not your brother, Wrenly.”

I made a rude noise. “Fine. You’re not my brother.

I should have let him believe you’re my abuser, instead, so he called security on you.

It would have been highly entertaining for me, irritating for you, and embarrassing for Mom and Dad.

Don’t you think calling you my brother was the best option to defuse the situation? ”

His gaze swept over my face as we reached the garage. The elevator dinged, and the doors opened, but he didn’t let go. He continued to look at me.

“If we go back up, I’m definitely calling security.”

His lip curled at the corner, not in a smiling way, but the start of a silent growl kind of way, and he released me.

After a silent ride home, I fled to my room and closed the door. My room wasn’t the sanctuary it’d been in my youth, and I hated that even as I went to my vanity to look at my face.

When I saw the bruise, I snorted in annoyance. It was a mark barely even the size of a dime. The red patch from the ice pack was bigger. Setting the ice pack on my vanity, I sprawled out on my bed with my phone and put my earbuds in to watch a movie.

I was almost to the end when the door to my room burst open and Mom swept in, looking uncharacteristically murderous. I sat up and tore an earbud from my ear.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

She calmed visibly and joined me on the bed. When she reached out to touch my cheek, I made a face.

“Bennett told you I was hurt, didn’t he?”

“He did. What happened, Wrenly?”

I withheld my sigh.

“Bennett lost his cool today and made multiple people cry. Being the curious person that I am, I went to the bathroom to see if I could find out who. I wasn’t paying attention and face-planted into the door.”

She searched my gaze, trying to find a lie that wasn’t there. I took her hands in mine and gave her my best sad eyes.

“Working is obviously dangerous for me, Mom. Maybe I should do something else this summer. Like travel around Europe. I heard it’s fun.”

Her worry vanished, and she gave me a dry look.

“If I find out you hurt yourself on purpose to get out of work, you’ll be in trouble.”

“Like grounded and can’t go to work kind of trouble?”

She groaned and pulled me into a hug.

“I’ve missed you so much, Wrenly.”

Then why did you send me away in the first place? I wanted to ask, but I already knew the answer—Bennett.

Since the day they’d brought me home, he’d had a problem with me. I’d been six and he’d been thirteen. From a distance, he’d watched me play with Karter and Aiden and had tattled any time we’d done anything even remotely fun.

Bennett, the fun killer.

He hadn’t changed much in that regard.

When Mom pulled back, she held my hands in hers. “Bennett didn’t just tell me about the bruise. He said you were acting off today. Afraid.”

“You mean when he came into my room this morning without me knowing and woke me out of a dead sleep, or at work when he snuck up on me again?”

She tilted her head, studying me. “Is that all it was? Surprise? He said he smelled fear.”

“Mom, I’m not wired like you guys. When I’m startled, fear is pretty common.”

“Okay.” She gave me a small smile, leaned in, and kissed my cheek.

When she would have left, I kept hold of her hand.

“I overheard some of the girls at work. They’re bugging Bennett because they think he’s still looking for his mate. If he’s found her, even if he’s giving her time, can’t he tell them so they leave him alone?”

Mom’s smile grew a little sad.

“They stopped believing him years ago, sweetheart. Until he can show her to the world, they’ll keep trying.”

“Then he’s an idiot for waiting.”

“I think so too, but he’s deeply afraid she’ll reject him.”

“Really? Why?”

“She’s never shown any interest in him as a mate.”

A mental image of Bennett rose to my mind. His dark hair. Dark eyes. He was attractive…if the girl liked a serious guy.

“What are you thinking?” Mom asked.

“Since he’s not ugly, it’s probably his personality holding him back. You said it yourself. He makes people cry and throws things. What girl would want that?”

Mom tried to suppress her smile and failed.

“He mentioned that you told him people will start quitting if he keeps it up. I think it opened his eyes a little.”

“Good.”

She patted my hand. “You’re a good influence on him, Wrenly. Are you hungry? I brought some pizza back with me.”

“Seriously? What toppings?”

“Pepperoni.”

It was such a normal food item and not something I’d gotten at school. I started salivating and beat Mom out of the room.

* * *

I woke with a leisurely stretch and rolled over, not yet ready to get out of bed. For the first time in years, I had absolutely nothing to do on a Saturday. No homework or extra classes. No secret meetups to sell or buy things. No hiding from mean girls. Nothing.

My smile faded as I realized how boring that sounded, and I reached for my phone on the nightstand to send Mom a message.

Me: If I wanted to drive into the city to shop, what are the chances you’d say yes?

Mom: Of course you can. You’re not a prisoner. I’ll let Bennett know.

Ha! I couldn’t believe my luck.

Bounding out of bed, I hurried through my morning routine and flew out my bedroom door only to crash into Bennett.

I would have rebounded with a pained grunt, but he wrapped his arms around me and trapped me against his chest instead.

Turning my head to the side, I grabbed my nose. My eyes were watering profusely.

“I think I broke it.”

He immediately had my face between his hands and was tipping my head back so he could see.

“Is it bleeding?” I asked.

“No. I don’t think it’s broken either. I’m sorry, Wrenly.” He wiped away my tears with his thumbs then leaned in to kiss my cheek, right over the bruise.

I froze.

He pulled back and searched my gaze.

Was he trying to be nice ? If so, it was oddly…affectionate. Even Aiden and Karter, the two people I was closest to, had never kissed my cheek.

Was this because of what I’d said yesterday? I’d meant Bennett needed to be nice to other girls, not me. He was weirding me out.

“I didn’t think you’d come out of your room that fast,” he said after a prolonged silence.

I stepped out of his hold and said, “Mom said I could leave.”

“I know.” He held up the keys. “My car and I are at your disposal today.”

My excitement imploded. “What?”

“Mom said you wanted to do some shopping,” he said. “What are you interested in? Handbags? Shoes? Jewelry?”

“None of the above.” I tried to take the keys, but he held them higher, out of my reach, which would have ignited my temper if I let it. However, I knew getting mad would be counterproductive.

“I asked Mom if I could drive to the city, not if we could drive to the city.”

“You drive; I navigate.”

“Why can’t I just go by myself?”

“It’s my car.”

I wanted to kick him so badly. Instead, I pulled out my phone and called Mom.

“You said I wasn’t a prisoner.”

“You’re not, Wrenly.”

“Then why do I have a warden?”

Mom sighed. “Wrenly, please be reasonable. You’ve been home for three days, and your face is bruised. We’re worried about you. Bennett promised he wouldn’t stop you from doing anything you wanted. Think of him as your wallet with legs. This is a way for him to atone for yesterday, too.”

Throughout the call, Bennett didn’t move. His face didn’t give away what he was thinking or feeling, either.

“I can do anything I want?” I asked while meeting his gaze.

“Of course,” Mom said as Bennett gave a single nod.

“Okay.”

“Have fun, sweetheart.”

“I will.”

I hung up, grabbed the keys from him, and started down the stairs.

Was I happy to have a chaperone? No. I’d wanted to meet up with Sophia, my future roommate, today. Thankfully, I hadn't tried setting anything up in advance.

When we reached the car, I learned that Bennett's door-opening rule didn’t only apply to when I was a passenger or in a parking garage. He opened the driver’s door for me and closed it again. He stayed next to the door for a moment.

Don’t do it, Wren. Don’t look at him, or you’ll be more tempted to run him over.

Bennett seemed to sense my mood because he didn’t attempt conversation as we left the house and approached the gate. The guard from last time was there and didn’t open the gate until he saw Bennett in the passenger seat.

“Yeah, definitely not a prisoner,” I said under my breath.

“Is that really how it feels to you?” Bennett asked.

“I’m nineteen. I can vote for the next leader of our great nation, but I can’t go anywhere without permission first. Does that sound right to you? Because it doesn’t to me.”

He was quiet as I took the route he’d taken the last two days to get to the highway.

Driving wasn’t bad at first, but the closer I got to the city and the more cars there were around us, the more nervous I got. My palms started to sweat, and my chest grew tighter.

“Take the next exit,” Bennett said.

Rather than try to fight for the right to keep driving, I signaled and pulled over to the shoulder before reaching the stop sign.

“Wait there,” he said.

He walked around the car and opened my door.

Without a word, I got out and took the passenger seat.

When we were in the car again, he pulled away from the shoulder and got right back onto the highway.

Frustration, anger, and the growing need to cry had me looking out the window for the next thirty minutes, until Bennett asked, “Where do you want to go?”

“Home.”