Page 113 of Red's Beast

Lily.I hear the beast's voice whisper my name in my ear.

I close my eyes, hoping to make this nightmare go away, but it's real and right here. His breath blows across my neck as he prepares to sink his teeth into me, permanently marking me as his as soon as I say the words. Of course, I have to mark him back, but my wolf might not resist this time.

My mind seems to wander off as I think about the possibilities. Will being mated to him be so bad? Can I learn to love him?

My wolf screams at the very thought.Are you losing your mind? This is Corbin we're talking about and here you are considering a future with him? The very one who treated you so horribly? I would ask if you are serious, but I know you are. This isn't good, Lillian. He is not the beast and he will never satisfy us. The beast is our true mate, and this guy is just an imposter.

Her words hit me deep and I know she's right, but do I have the will to say no? I don't know how to break the curse and what if it requires things I'm not willing to do? What if I have to die for it to work?

Can I really leave him in limbo just because I'm afraid?

Woman, you are making me lose my mind over here. It's Corbin, your abuser of all these years. Don't forget what he did just because he spouted off some pretty words.

Once again, she's right. His teeth scrape down my neck again, pausing at the base, waiting for me to say the little words he mentioned. Little does he know, they'll never come.

"No."

He pulls away, looking at me like I've just slapped him. "No? Why would you say that?"

"Because I can't do this. Not with the beast trapped for something he never did. He deserves to be free."

Corbin glances over at me with a look of disbelief. "You have a good heart. Fine, I'll help you save the beast, but on one condition."

Fear shoots through me as I wonder what he'll ask for. The way he's looking at me, I know it can't be good. Bargaining with him is like making a deal with the devil. Whatever he wants will only satisfy him and him alone.

"What is the condition?" I know I'll regret asking, but I have to know if it's something I can work with. In my heart, I already know what it is, but I'm hoping I'm wrong. He wouldn't be that low, would he?

"I'll help you find him, but once he's home, you must become mine." His hands freeze on my shoulders as he holds me against the wall. "That is my condition, and I will not change my mind. If you want him free, then you will mate me instead of him."

"That really isn't much of a deal now, is it?" I ask, tears lining my eyes. “I’m supposed to become his mate to free him, so what you are asking for is not going to work.”

"As I said, if you want him to be free from wherever she sent him, then you will agree to my terms. It's the only way he'll ever leave there and be back in the woods where he belongs," he says, his tone full of hatred.

“You want to bring him home, but not free him of the curse? That is what you mean when you say that you’ll free him.” My breath becomes ragged as the tears start to flow down my face. Of all the things he could have asked for, he asks for me.

Lucian

As I lie on my side, basking in the morning sun, I can't help but wonder what Lily is doing. The very thought of losing her plagues me, but what can I do except lie here and wonder?

Is she okay?

Has she moved on with her life?

Has she forgotten all about me?

A long sigh escapes me and catches Logan's attention. As much as I love seeing my family again, I long for home. I wish we could all just go home and live out our lives as intended.

"What made you look so gloomy, brother? I don't know that I've ever seen such a long face from a wolf. Er, well, you know this form."

It's hideous, I know. She took my wolf form and twisted it into something unrecognizable in some ways. I'm bigger than I ever was and now have missing fur from where I ran into the barrier.

He stares at me blankly. "I wish I could understand you."

I reply, even though I know he won't hear me.I wish you could too. It would make things so much easier and less lonely. Maybe we can figure out how to get home, if only I spoke words and not growls.

Suddenly, a knock at the door startles me, and I growl in warning. It's probably just the witch, but something about her is off.

When Logan mentioned she knew too much about what was going on outside of here, he was right. I listened to them talk about it all night as they filled me in.

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