Page 12 of His White Moonlight (Dominant CEO Shifter Romance #1)

Mom had been right to question the wisdom of the outing.

Since Bennett was relatively okay at work—except for when his female coworkers were trying extra hard to gain his attention—I’d thought he’d be fine out in public.

However, he’d looked ready to tackle everyone in the arcade and on the sidewalk.

How did he manage to go to work every day?

I used my phone to navigate to the dessert place and then tried to send him to find a table while I waited in line to order. He wouldn’t budge from my side.

“Seriously, Bennett, you’re being ridiculous, and I’m starting to regret leaving the house with you. Please just find a table for us. Or, better yet, you order, and I’ll find a table.”

“We’ll get it to-go and eat at the park,” he said.

If he meant the one by Wulf Enterprises, there was no point. If we had to drive to that, we might as well drive home. I didn’t say that, though. I just stood in line and placed my order. He declined to add anything for himself.

Yep. Definitely regretting it.

I waited until we were outside to say, “Let’s just head home.”

He didn’t say anything on the way back to the car or on the long drive home, which was just fine by me. I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Mom.

Me: I’m happy to report that there were no rage-fueled outbursts, so public hugging was successfully avoided.

Then I sent one to my group chat.

Me: In the seven years since I’ve been gone, neither one of you could manage to teach Bennett how to have fun? My first time ever going to an arcade, and he sucked the fun right out of what could have been a great afternoon. I blame both of you.

Aiden: Us? Blame his mate.

Karter: We tried teaching him. All he can think about is her.

I would have pitied whoever his mate was, but I knew werewolves lived for finding their mates.

Whoever she was, she would just as likely be as obsessed with Bennett as he was with her, which made his hesitation to claim her even more confusing…

unless she truly was that much younger than he was.

If that was the case, I did feel sorry for him.

Not enough to excuse his crappy behavior, though.

Only sorry enough to keep my questions to myself so I didn’t potentially rub salt into any wounds.

He pulled into the garage and parked but didn’t get out. Risking his wrath, I opened my door to give him the alone time I thought he needed.

Inside, I put my dessert in the fridge and went upstairs to shut myself in my room.

My phone rang just as I sat down on my bed. I glanced at the number, hurried to turn on some music in my bedroom, and closed myself in my bathroom.

Once I had the water in the sink running, I answered with a quiet, “Hey, Sophia. What’s up?”

“A few friends and I are heading downtown to a dance club my uncle owns. Any chance you want to meet us there?”

“I’d love to, but I’m not sure I can manage it.”

“Still under house arrest?”

“Something like that.”

“Can’t you sneak out?”

“Probably not.”

“Well, if you decide to, give me a call. I can pick you up wherever. Whenever. And I talked to my mom. If you need a place to stay until the start of the semester, we have a spare room.”

“Thanks. I hope I don’t need it, but if I do, I’ll call.”

We said goodbye, and I turned off the water.

I wasn’t expecting Bennett to be standing on the other side of the door when I opened it. Rather than scream like an afraid, normal person would, I punched him right in the face, then cried out in pain.

My whole hand throbbed, and I tried to shake it out. Bennett grabbed my hand and immediately turned on the cold water, sticking it under. It helped.

As the pain receded, clarity bloomed, and I glanced at Bennett’s face. His nose was actually bleeding, the drips falling to the floor unnoticed by him.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to hit you. It was reflex.”

He didn’t look at me. Instead, he focused on carefully moving my fingers.

“Any pain?” he asked as he worked.

“Yeah. I hit your face, Bennett. Of course, it hurt. But nothing’s broken if that’s what you’re asking. You’re bleeding, by the way.”

He stopped moving my fingers and just stared at my hand for a long moment. I grabbed the hand towel and held it to his nose. He took it over after a second and straightened.

“Who were you talking to?” he asked.

“A friend.”

“I didn’t know you had friends.”

The comment made me want to punch him again.

“Yeah, thanks for poking where it hurts. Did you need something other than to invade what little privacy I have?”

He frowned slightly as he studied me.

“No? Then get out.” I grabbed his arm.

It annoyed me to know that everything—turning him, pushing him toward the door, and even punching his nose—was because he allowed it all. He could’ve dodged or blocked any of it, but he didn’t.

Once he was in the hall, I slammed my door in his bleeding face and turned off the music as I replayed my conversation with Sophia in my head. I hadn’t said anything to explain who I was talking to or why or what we were talking about.

The explosive sound of a fist hitting the other side of my door was followed by a split in the wood. My eyes went wide. I backpedaled then bolted to the bathroom for my phone.

I hurriedly called Mom. “Bennett’s really mad.”

“What happened?”

“I accidentally hit him and made his nose bleed.”

“Are you okay?”

I loved her for asking that first.

“Nothing’s broken. He made sure before getting mad.”

“Why did you hit him?”

“It was an accident, Mom. I was on the phone with someone, and when I opened my bathroom door, he was in my room. I wasn’t expecting him there and just reacted without thinking.”

“Were you talking to a boy?”

“Are you serious? Bennett’s wrecking the house, and you’re worried I’m breaking your no-boys rule?”

Something crashed in Bennett’s room, which was right next to mine. Whatever it was, it was big enough to shake the floor.

“He’s throwing things, Mom.”

“It’s okay, Wrenly. He’ll calm down in a bit.”

“Before or after he destroys the whole house? When are you coming home?”

“We’re still in the city. It would take us over an hour to get to you. Go talk to him.”

“Are you crazy? I just hit him. I’m pretty sure the last person he wants to see is me.”

“I think you’re the only person he needs to see. Apologize and try hugging him. Call me when he’s settled down.”

She hung up.

I looked at the phone in disbelief.

Not for the first time, I wished I’d been fostered by a human family instead of a werewolf one. Life would have been so much easier.

As soon as I had that thought, I felt guilty.

Mom repeatedly told me how much she’d dreamed of having a daughter.

Both she and Dad loved me unconditionally.

I could do no wrong in their eyes—unless I even looked at the opposite sex.

That was their bottom line, and I’d never been brave enough to touch it, not that they’d given me access to boys to try.

Play nice and make peace, Wrenly, so you can leave and have the freedom you want.

Releasing a long, calming breath, I squared my shoulders and left my room.

Bennett’s bedroom door stood open. He was standing beside a large, tipped-over dresser. A broken drawer lay farther away with clothes scattered around it. One of the floorboards was cracked, too.

I wanted to turn around and walk away like I hadn’t seen a thing, but I made myself knock on the doorframe instead.

His head turned, just an inch toward the side, proving he’d heard even though he didn’t speak.

“I’m sorry for hitting you, Bennett. Do you…Do you want a hug?”

I felt so stupid for saying it.

Before I could feel truly uncomfortable, I was pinned against Bennett’s chest.

One hand was on the back of my head, with his forearm pressing into my shoulders, pinning me against him, while the other caged my waist. My ear was trapped against his chest. I could hear this thundering pulse over the sound of my harsh breathing. His bicep was crowding my face.

Unable to move, I couldn’t draw enough air. Fear bloomed with my growing panic.

“No, Wrenly,” Bennett said against my hair. “Please. Don’t. Don’t fear me. I won’t hurt you. I promise.”

My fingernails dug into his arms as I gripped them, trying to push him away. He only held me tighter.

“No. Shh. It’s okay.”

It wasn’t okay, though. Nothing was okay. I was trapped. I couldn’t breathe.

A low wail filled the air, and I realized it was coming from me.

I was falling apart.

Again.

Bennett loosened his hold.

Able to move, I lashed out. My fear-filled cry turned into one fueled by rage and desperation.

Get away.

The second he removed his hands to block mine, I bolted.

Hide.

I made it to my room, locked my door, and tipped a bookshelf in front of it all within seconds.

Without waiting, I ran into the bathroom, turned the lock, and then slowly backed away until I stood in the shower.

The harsh sound of my breathing filled the space, and I tried to quiet it so I could listen.

My hands shook as I wiped the hair from my face and stared at the door.

They won’t follow me here. They won’t have the advantage now that I’m awake and free. They…

Catching my spiral, I slowly crouched down and hugged my knees.

Then, I took a big breath and filled my lungs until it felt like I couldn’t do more.

Rather than exhaling, I added little inhales to force even more in until more wasn’t possible.

Bit by bit, I released that breath and started the process again.

While I worked to bring my panic back under control, I silently coached myself.

It’s okay to be afraid, Wren. What they did to you was shit. But you’re not at school anymore. You’re safe. Bennett wasn’t trying to hurt you. He was hugging you. Hugs are good. Hugs are nice.

I wasn’t sure how long it took to calm down my racing pulse, but it was long enough that my legs went numb. After a final, steady breath, I carefully stood and shook some feeling back into them.

My gaze never left the door.

Was Bennett waiting on the other side again?

If so, I couldn’t allow a repeat punch. Two episodes of erratic behavior in one day were more than I could afford to show.

With my luck, he was probably already on the phone with Mom, telling her that I needed therapy.

I probably did, but I didn’t want Mom and Dad to know that, or they wouldn’t ever let me leave, which would only add to my trauma.

After listening at the door, I cautiously opened it. Bennett wasn’t in my room. The bookshelf was still in front of the door, but it’d been moved almost a foot, the same width as my door stood open.

I slowly approached the mess I’d made. The sturdy bookshelf hadn’t broken, thankfully. I picked up a few books and stacked them on my bed. When I had enough room to move, I tried lifting the bookshelf but couldn’t.

How had I tipped it over?

Fear-induced strength.

I looked at the narrow door opening. It was enough to slip through, but did I want to? Knowing I couldn’t put it off forever, I climbed over the shelf and peeked out the gap. The section of the hallway I could see was empty.

Anyone unfamiliar with this family would think they’d gotten a lucky break. I knew better. Bennett was out there. Waiting. Probably listening.

“I don’t like feeling trapped,” I said. “It’s a thing for me. Like claustrophobia.”

“Since when?” Bennett asked, sounding calm.

“For a while now.”

“Why didn’t you say anything to anyone?”

“Do you announce your weaknesses to the world?”

I heard him exhale heavily.

“I’m sorry I hit you, Bennett. Again. Is there any chance you can help me with this bookshelf? I’m not sure how I managed to knock it over. It’s heavy.”

“Sit on your bed.”

I scrambled away from the door and watched the bookshelf slide across the floor with a wood-on-wood groan until Bennett had enough room to wedge himself through the door.

He righted the bookshelf then turned to look at me. His hair wasn’t neatly styled anymore. The chaotic disarray didn’t make him look disheveled but dangerously appealing, which was not how I should be viewing any man, especially Bennett.

I glanced away.

Keep your head straight, Wren, or they’ll never let you go.

“You startle easily, and you don’t like feeling trapped,” he said. “What else should I know?”