Page 12 of Red's Beast

I take a step back and peer through the bushes at her home again, only to see that she is no longer in the window. It’s hard to pull myself away from here. There is just something about her that calls to me and I’ve waited so long.

But what if she isn’t the one? Maybe my dreams are just wishful thinking and those of a lonely cursed man who only wants to be free.

Something keeps telling me that she is mine and I feel it in my bones, but I can’t confirm it. I really hope that she is the one I’ve been waiting all these years for.

Even my wolf seems to think so and keeps telling her she is his.

I slink into the darkness of the woods to keep myself from losing my mind. It’s not like I can go see her.

There are only two nights I’m allowed to escape from my prison as part of the curse’s terms. It’s driving me insane, because if I could just get loose from here, then I could see her and maybe bring out her wolf.

If she is meant for me, then it will work.

I sigh heavily and then turn to glance at her house. As I stare at it for a moment longer and linger, something catches my attention toward the alpha house.

Corbin is outside, walking around. The idiot.

A smug expression blooms across his face, and it makes me irritable. I’d love nothing more than to come out of these woods and show him what a real alpha is.

But it is not my time nor can I escape yet.

I roll my eyes as I catch more outside their homes. Most are still worried about Alana’s injury, but it’s not even what they think it is. Right now, they are blaming me, like always.

The funny part about it is I have never killed anyone. All the killings they say have happened were done from within, but no one is the wiser.

My gaze wanders across the village to her house and I feel something tug at my chest. I glance down at the ground, noticing the leaf covered ground.

There is only one thing that can make me feel like this.

One day, my dear Lily, you won't be able to resist. It's only a matter of time. You and I will cross paths and when we do, it will be forever.

With a sigh, I turn and head deeper into the woods. She won’t come back to her grandmother’s cottage tonight. Not with it already being dark out.

And I really need to get myself together and stop thinking these things until I know for certain.

Lillian

Throughout the night, I’m filled with racing thoughts, which makes it difficult for me to sleep. The two thoughts that seem to plague me most are the ones concerning Alana and the pair of red eyes that stared at me from the bushes in the woods.

There’s just something about them, like they are calling out to me, but I don’t know what I’m going to do about it. Can anything be done?

I roll to the other side of the bed as I pull the covers up with one quick flick of the wrist and sit up. The morning light is just streaming in through the windows, but it makes me anxious.

Corbin asked me on the note to join him this morning at the edge of the woods, yet I can’t stop thinking about whether I should go or not. My gaze travels around the room until I eventually spot the trash can where the note still is.

It’s crumpled on the top, just waiting for me.

I stare at it a moment longer before deciding I really should go meet him. “Fine, I’ll go see the idiot and find out what he wants.”

Throwing the covers off me, I get up and stretch for a moment before making my way toward the other room where Grandmother keeps my clothes. I look through the various outfits and decide on a simple skirt and blouse. They’re honestly some of the plainest clothes I have and are a shade of tan and dull brown with stains dotted on the skirt from cleaning. I carefully slide them on after shrugging out of the others.

My heart rate starts rising and beads of sweat form on my forehead as I think about what I’m going to do.

“I hate this with all my being and I don’t want to do this.”

If he does something, we can take him.

I scoff in disbelief at my wolf’s words. "And then his father will probably end my life. Smart, real smart. I can’t even shift, so what makes you think I can actually take him when he does?”

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