Page 6 of Red's Beast

The door to the alpha house slams, causing me to jerk my attention in that direction. Lillian is running with her basket on her arm and her cloak flowing behind her.

I breathe out a huff as I ponder on why she allows herself to be treated as a servant when she is the legitimate heir to this pack. She is from one of the original line of alphas from eight hundred years ago and is a powerful alpha. If she wanted to, she probably could make them all submit, including Corbin and Nigel.

Of course, just by watching her, I have figured out she doesn’t want to. I’ve never seen her wolf surface, not even once, so that might also be part of the problem.

I let out another huff and lie my head down on top of my paws as she disappears from view into her home.

A scream pierces the air, and it seems to be coming from the alpha house. I roll my eyes as I realize who that is.It’s not even dark yet and they are at it again for all to hear.

Ophelia must have convinced Corbin to begin their celebrations earlier or they know they won’t get away with it tonight. Nigel might have put his foot down, though that is doubtful.

Honestly, that woman gets on my nerves and I’m not even sure how Corbin stands her.

If I were him, or able to shift and leave these woods, I’d be going after Lillian. That is where it’s at. But of course, I don’t want him going after her.

She has enough troubles as it is and he doesn’t need to be anywhere near her.

My gaze drifts toward the path in the woods that leads to the cottage. I swallow hard as I think about the past.

Sadly, I don’t know if I’ll ever get to be with anyone because of this blasted curse. How can I find someone when I’m trapped here?

My head perks up as something stirs within me. It’s an odd feeling and something I definitely don’t expect because two hundred years have passed since I became cursed and I have grown rather hopeless since. The witch told me only a white wolf would be able to free me, but no one has been solid white since my time.

Then I hear her.

Lillian comes out of her house, the cloak billowing out behind her with a basket in her arm. Something tingles down my spine, causing my eyes to widen in shock.

For a moment, I wonder if maybe she might be the one to free me, but then I remember she hasn’t seen her wolf and only a white one can save me.

It doesn’t even matter if I see her in my dreams and have my way with her. I’m beginning to think it is only in my dreams that she is the one who can finally free me.

I grit my teeth together as she stalls near the woods. Fear flashes in her gaze before she sucks in a breath to come down the path.

I dismiss the thoughts rolling around my mind as my mouth pulls up in a toothy smirk.Oh, here she comes for another round.

Lillian

I quickly put together a meal of some baked chicken and sides that I know she will love and carefully pack those into the basket. My eyes move to the wall where my cloak hangs. I head toward the hook it hangs on before putting it on and covering my head.

With the basket in tow, I take one last look around the room and sigh. “It’s time to go.”

I head outside and shut the door behind me, casting one glance toward the alpha house. There isn’t a single member of that family in sight, so I turn to head around the side of my house, straight for the woods. A wave of nervousness washes over me as I take the route I know so well. The sun may not have set yet, but it will soon, leaving the path in darkness to grandmother’s cottage.

Yet, though the sun is still shining dimly, the path ahead has an atmosphere that causes the woods to feel more eerie than normal.

It’s going to be okay. There are thirty feet of path before I can get to the house. We do this every single day and nothing ever happens to us.My wolf encourages me from somewhere deep within and I feel she is ready for whatever happens, though I don’t know what good she will do if there is an emergency.

Oddly, one question remains in my mind that I know I’ll never get the answer to. Why does the beast kill everyone near the woods, but doesn’t snatch me from the path between the trees to her cottage?

Right before I venture down the narrow path between the trees, I hesitate and almost falter. One breath in, one breath out. I take a moment to adjust myself, righting my posture and straightening the basket on my arm. It is only a rumor, nothing more than that. Nothing is going to get me while I walk down the path.

Sometimes I think Nigel has made it up because no one has seen the beast. It is only heard. Could it be a trick to keep us in line?

I shake my head and dismiss those thoughts. Those kinds of things could put my grandmother in danger and she is the only family I have left.

As I take my first step into the woods, everything appears to be going as it normally does. The birds and squirrels are playing in the path, but move out of my way as I approach. They are loud this evening, which is a good sign.

But then, out of nowhere, a wind picks up, and a chill is in the air. The woods grow dimmer as the sun hides behind the horizon, casting an even dimmer glow than before.

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