Page 127 of Red's Beast

The drive to take a mate is powerful and affects how you think, but I never thought that this would happen. I thought I had more time. Sadly, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

He takes another step closer, his paws crunching on the fallen leaves. I don’t run away yet. Instead, my wolf lowers her head.

I try to ask her what she thinks she is doing and to straighten her posture, but she’s acting submissive and doesn’t seem to want to stop.

I beg her to run or do anything other than stand here. Once again, she does nothing.

Even when I say that the beast is waiting for us, it’s like she can’t hear me. She’s trapped in a daze of lust and wants for it to all end.

He takes another step closer as he sees I'm not running away. She lowers her head.

I fuss at her as she does with me, but all I get is a low growl.

I've had to listen to you this entire time, so it's my turn, woman. You will not mate with him. The beast is ours. Remember what we are doing. You agreed to mate Corbin to get him back, but the plan is for the beast to intervene before it's too late.

She snarls again as she nudges me back.

Oh, really now? You don't like me pestering you? This is how it feels all those times you annoyed me and wouldn't shut up. Now you see how it feels to have thoughts invading your mind. Run the other direction before you do something stupid. I won't let you make this mistake. In the end, you and I are all each other has.

She sighs and takes a step away. It's like her clouded judgment is receding and I am getting through to her. Corbin finally reaches her and stops in front of her, slightly bowing his head, hoping she accepts him.

Oddly, she leans forward and licks him across the top of his head between his ears. He rears back in shock. I've never known of this happening to anyone and I'm not even sure what it means.

Grandmother opens the door again, which slams against the inside wall. This time, she doesn’t go inside the house. No, she stands outside with her jaw dropped. "What is going on? Oh, heck no. Corbin, get away from my granddaughter. Lillian, move away slowly!"

"I know the drive to mate is clouding both of your heads, but she can not mate with you until you fulfill the end of your deal. Now get away." She walks toward us and then gets between our wolves. "Corbin, go inside and start looking through the books about magic. There has to be something in there to help with opening a portal to the realm where the beast is. Lillian, you need to stay as far away from any male as possible. The need to take a mate will just get worse and you will regret it."

Corbin shifts to a man, snarling. "What do you mean by that? Why would she regret mating with me?”

"She will regret if she caves into her wolf before finding Lucian. Do you want that? For your mating to be spoiled because her wolf can't withstand the call? She's just trying to do what is right for the pack. Now move on."

He stomps toward the house, his mouth pulled down into a frown. I watch as he gathers his pants and shirt on the way.

Grandmother turns around and eyes me. "Would you like to tell me what on earth is going on?"

A soft breeze blows, carrying my scent with it toward the house. Corbin freezes on the step of the porch, inhaling deeply and turning around. His eyes are wild as the clothes in his hands drop to the wooden floor and I realize his wolf has taken over.

"Lillian, run."

That is all Grandmother can say. He shifts instantly, his wolf losing control.

"Run before he claims you!" She shouts again, but my body is frozen stiff.

My wolf has enough sense to turn after stepping out of the clothes and head into the woods, running at full speed. Corbin is hot on my heels as the drive to claim me is all he's thinkingabout. I can feel traces of him through the pack bond, but I don't dare dive into his head. Honestly, I don't want to know all the things that go on up there.

I jump across a fallen log, and he follows, never missing a beat. Darting between trees does nothing but irritate him.

Suddenly, his voice booms through the pack link as he breaks all the barriers I have in place.Stop running and let me claim you. You have always been mine and now it'll be official. You're just making this harder on yourself, Lillian, my kitten.

Disgust rolls through me at the word kitten. Why he nicknamed me that is beyond me and has always confused me.We can't do this, Corbin. You haven't fulfilled your end of the bargain and my wolf will never forgive you.

She huffs out a breath as I pick up speed, hoping to lose him, but he stays right on my heels and nips at my tail.

Come on, kitten. Let me claim you and this will all be over with. I can still open the portal and fulfill my deal after you've been properly claimed.

I laugh as I continue to run. He will never complete his end of the deal once he gets me, and we both know it.

He lunges, landing on my back, and we go crashing to the ground. My belly skids along the dirt and leaves before coming to a stop. He settles on top of me, pushing me into the groundand laying on my back. I'm completely pinned underneath him with nowhere to go.

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