Page 28 of His White Moonlight (Dominant CEO Shifter Romance #1)

“This didn’t scare you before,” he said. “Why do you smell like you’re two seconds from running?”

“Because I am. How are you going to explain that to Mom?”

He pulled back and studied me. His jaw clenched, and his hand started shaking more than mine.

“I’m already nervous enough, wearing clothes I hate, walking into a conversation that they’ve been avoiding for months. Please don’t make tonight worse,” I said softly.

He breathed in deeply as he closed his eyes, and this time, I knew he wasn’t testing the truth of what I said but trying to control himself.

When he opened his eyes again, he wrapped my hand around his arm and walked me to the entrance.

He hadn’t exaggerated when he’d said the place was fancy.

The lobby had marble floors. Gold and crystal fixtures. Decor in dusky reds and twilight blues accented by primarily cream walls. It was pretty and screamed designer money.

“Good evening, Mr. Wulf,” the hostess said. “Would you like me to walk you to your room? The rest of your party is already seated.”

“No need,” Bennett said.

Keeping a firm hold on my hand, he led me past what looked like a reception desk and down one of the hallways leading off the lobby. The restaurant had a strong hotel feel with its numbered doors.

He stopped at room 112 and opened the door for me.

Mom and Dad’s whispered conversation immediately stopped as they watched us enter.

“That dress is stunning, Wrenly,” Mom said.

“Thank you.”

Bennett led me to the seat next to hers. I could feel his tension as he held it out for me, and I swore to the moon god I would unman him if he touched me in front of Mom. He didn’t, though. He just pushed the chair in like a rational, normal person.

“Is there anything you want to drink?” Mom asked. “We have wine and some mineral water.”

“Water, please.”

Bennett poured it for me while Mom took my hands in hers.

“I am so sorry for this morning.”

“So am I. I was frustrated and let it out. It won’t happen again. I promise.”

“Of course it should happen again. If we’re doing something that upsets you, tell us. Don’t keep it in.”

I wanted to laugh. How many times over the years had I tried to do that? So many that I lost count. I’d learned it didn’t do any good. Well, not true. Usually, gifts would show up after a complaint.

You’re sad at school and miss home? Here’s a gold watch, Wrenly.

You don’t like your classmates? Here’s a pair of diamond earrings.

Gifts meant to placate me into silence.

“Well, not talking about what university I want to attend has been a little upsetting.”

“I know. And we’ll talk about that. Let’s order first.” She patted my hand and passed me a menu.

The deflection was expected, so it didn’t upset me. Opening the menu, I glanced at the selection, then closed it again.

“You can order whatever you want for me,” I said, passing the menu back.

“I thought you wanted the freedom to make your own choices,” Bennett said.

My gaze drifted to the fork on the table, and I remembered the last time I’d had to use one as a weapon. It worked decently against humans, but wouldn’t do shit to a shifter. I was still a little tempted to give it a try.

“Exactly,” I said, choosing words over violence. “That’s why we’re here tonight. To talk about reclaiming a tiny bit of freedom.

“I’ve applied to Coalwell University and received my acceptance.”

Mom looked down at her menu, and I saw how it trembled in her hold.

Dad pressed the button on the table to summon the server, and the other door in the room opened. I focused on relaxing and mentally resetting as Dad ordered steaks for everyone.

“Can you add a grilled cheese to that? A regular one. Nothing fancy,” Bennett said.

I glanced at him in surprise. He held my gaze as he said, “French fries too. Salted. That’s it.”

He handed the menus to the server without looking away from me.

“You didn’t want steak, did you?” he asked once the guy was gone.

“No.”

“What about the grilled cheese?”

The way he was looking at me made me nervous. I knew that if I said I didn’t want it, he’d be pressing that button. Why, though? Why did he care if I was getting what I wanted? Did he think giving me a grilled cheese sandwich would stop me from wanting to go to Coalwell? If so, he was insane.

Without answering him, I looked at Mom.

“My grades were good enough that I was awarded a decent scholarship.”

“Your grades weren’t just good, sweetheart,” Dad said.

“They were exceptional and can open better doors than Coalwell’s.

Did you apply to Hildcrask or Wellborn? They’re both highly acclaimed schools with diverse programs. Bennett even owns an apartment almost between the two, so you wouldn’t need to commute. ”

Why couldn’t they just stop pushing me off on Bennett?

I fisted my hands, despite the ache, determined not to give in to the fear threatening to consume me as I repeated my reason for not wanting either of those schools.

“I thought you hated being away from us,” Mom said.

“I did. Then, I got used to it,” I said.

Mom flinched and looked down at the table. Dad wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

“What if we compromise?” Dad asked. “Attend Hildcrask for the first year; then transfer to Coalwell. You can spend more time with us before you leave again.”

He made it sound so reasonable, but it wasn’t. Not really. It was a way to pull me into their plans and make me forget my own.

“I’d rather not deal with transferring and just go to the school I want from the start.”

Mom and Dad exchanged worried looks. Then Mom glanced at Bennett. I didn’t look.

“I’m going to use the restroom,” I said, standing.

Dad and Bennett both politely stood when I did, but I saw Bennett move to follow me.

“I think I can manage this on my own, don’t you?”

A slow flush crawled up his neck, and his eye twitched. I didn’t know what that meant, but it couldn’t be anything good. I left quickly before I found out.

While I took my time in the posh restroom to regroup, an older woman walked in on the phone.

“Darling, tonight is your night. Bennett Wulf is having dinner at Seventeen-Twenty-one right now. Go change into that lavender sleeve dress, and wear your diamond waterfall necklace. Hurry. His group just placed their order.” She paused to look at herself in the mirror and pulled a tube of lipstick from her purse.

“If we time it right, you can bump into him as he’s leaving his room. ”

I finished washing my hands and wished luck to whomever the woman was talking to. Charming Bennett was like trying to sweet-talk a volcano into not erupting.

When I returned to our private room, the conversation between Mom, Dad, and Bennett abruptly ended.

Bennett looked like he was two seconds from flipping the table, and Mom looked like she was ready to bury her firstborn.

Not the best mood to resume our conversation, but I was tired of waiting for what I wanted.

I gave Mom’s shoulder a comforting squeeze on my way to my chair. Bennett stood and pushed it in for me as I sat again.

“My choice of school shouldn’t be the cause of an argument,” I said.

“We just feel it would be better for you to attend Hildcrask or Wellborn,” Dad said.

“I understand. They’re good schools. I’m sure I would have a bright, carefully arranged future by attending them.

But that’s not what I want. And this conversation wasn’t to ask for permission.

It’s to inform you of my choice so you can make peace with it and spend whatever time with me you want before I leave. ”

“How are you going to pay for it?” Bennett asked.

Mom’s growl was so faint that I almost missed it.

I glanced at her, unsure if she was mad at my insistence or at Bennett for bringing up exactly what I’d known they would try to use to get me to attend the school of their choice.

“Whatever the scholarships and my wages from this summer don’t cover, I’ll earn. If I need to take out a loan, I’ll do that.” I didn’t say anything about my savings, wanting to keep it a secret just in case.

“You’ve given me enough already. I can do this on my own. And if I can’t…if I run into any trouble, I know who to call.”

The glasses on the table started to rattle. No one’s hands were on the surface, though, so I wasn’t sure who was doing it.

“We know how much you want this and understand you’re not asking for permission,” Mom said. “But please don’t shut us out. We want to be a part of your life, Wrenly. You’ve been gone for so long. We finally got you back. I thought you’d stay.” Her voice broke at the end, and she began to cry.

The table shaking stopped as Dad hugged Mom.

I fisted my hands under the table, willing myself not to feel guilt, not to react.

“We’ve heard what you’ve had to say,” Dad said. “And I guess there isn’t much we can say to change your mind. I’m sorry.”

“Me too,” I said, although I wasn’t sure what he was apologizing for.

Our food arrived. Mom barely ate any of her meal before she and Dad excused themselves.

“How is the food?” Bennett asked.

I looked down at my plate and realized I’d eaten most of it without tasting a thing.

“Fine.”

“Do you want to go somewhere else?”

“No. This was?—”

“Don’t say fine.”

I told myself his voice didn’t sound desperate and tortured. That I was projecting what I felt—desperate for understanding and tortured that no one did.

“I think I’m done.”

He stood and pulled out my chair for me, leaving his plate mostly untouched. If his fingers brushed my arm, it was just an accident. The way his hand briefly settled on my lower back was just a courtesy. Aiden and Karter would have done the same.

When we reached the hall, my stomach almost dropped to my toes at the sight of the woman from the bathroom and…

Lindi.

I fought to keep all my emotions in check as she stumbled into me. Bennett released me to catch her and prevent me from falling.

“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

Bennett made a noncommittal sound as he extracted himself from her tentacle hold. When he reached for me again, I sidestepped.

Lindi’s light brown gaze swung to me, not showing a hint of the maliciousness I knew she possessed. Her perfectly styled brunette hair was swept off her neck to showcase the necklace she wore.

“Lindi,” I said. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Nice necklace.”

She smiled prettily and touched the diamond strands.

“Thank you, Wrenly. I never thought I’d see you here either.”

“You know her?” Bennett asked me.

“I do,” I said neutrally. “From school.”

She held out her hand. “Lindi Shane. And you are?”

He looked from her to her hand and reluctantly shook it. “Bennett Wulf.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wulf. I would love to meet for coffee sometime, if you’re interested.”

She plucked a business card from her tiny clutch and passed it to him when he released her hand. Again, he hesitated for several seconds before accepting it.

“I hope I hear from you,” she said.

With a polite nod, she walked away with her mom.