Page 9 of Red's Beast

Instead, I hear that man’s voice again.

You’re mine, little wolf. You can’t run from your destiny forever.

I swallow hard as I try to figure out his words. “What destiny are you talking about?”

He never answers, and I’m left with more questions than before.

Lillian

I quickly turn and run toward the houses. My steps falter as I realize the voice I’m hearing has to be the monster in the woods. Didn’t he say I was his a bit ago?

Honestly, though I heard them, I thought maybe the wind played a trick on me, but now that it has settled in and I heard him again, now I’m not so sure.

My musings are interrupted as I hear another howl in the distance, with several others following behind it.

“I’ll have to think about it later,” I mumble under my breath.

I dash through between houses as my mind thinks about the words spoken to me. They are haunting, but I don’t know what to do with them. I can’t share them with anyone until I know exactly what it means. If I were to reveal that the monster is real and is speaking to me, it will only add to the hatred.

And I can’t risk them doing something to my grandmother.

As I come closer to where the pack is gathered, I’m taken aback by what I see. I come to a stop near the edge of where they are and peer between the others. Nigel kneels next to someone, cradling their head in his lap with his back facing me.

I move closer, pushing my way toward the front. “What is going on?”

Someone in the crowd answers, “It’s none of your business, outcast.”

I cut my eyes and see it is one of the betas, so I just roll my eyes and look at Nigel’s back.

Ophelia turns around, flicking her long dark hair over her shoulder. “You. What are you doing here? This is a pack event and you aren’t welcome.”

“I heard the call and came to see if I could help.”

With a swift toss of her hair, she turns toward Corbin as she tries to soothe him. I’ve never seen him so upset, but right as I’m about to turn away and give up, I feel something telling me that I need to stay.

I close the gap between myself and the body, my heart thundering in my chest. As I peer around the alpha, my jaw almost hits the ground when I see the body on the ground.

Nigel cries out, his voice echoing in the clearing. “Not my mate. You can’t leave me. Fight for me, please.”

My eyes roam over her body as blood streams out of a wound from her stomach. It’s a slash from a set of very large claws. Even with her clothes, I can see the flesh around them.

Alana’s condition is very poor, and it appears as though she’s about to face death.

“Call her, dad. Make her stay with us. Use your alpha abilities and keep her here. We just need a few more minutes until the healer returns,” Corbin says as panic consumes his voice.

His distress is clear and for a moment, I can’t help but feel bad for him. But then my gaze returns to Nigel.

He turns with a growl directed at Corbin. “Don’t you think I’m trying? I can’t get her to anchor to me.”

I bite my lip as I realize what they are trying to do. Even though the alpha’s pull can sometimes be enough to pull a pack member back from death, she is slipping out of his grasp. It makes me wonder if it has to do with his glowing orange eyes. His influence isn’t strong enough to keep her from leaving.

Let me help her.

My wolf comes as close to the surface as she can. I want to refuse. Why should I help those that have done me so horribly? I shouldn’t help them. They get what they get and they deserve it.

Despite my strong urge to refuse, she presses forward and takes control. I fall to my knees right next to Nigel, causing the crowd to gasp.

“Her eyes are red,” someone whispers.

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