Page 114 of Red's Beast

How could she know that if she had been trapped here all this time? How is she getting her information? Is there someone who crosses the magical line or something?

"Well, I can tell you are thinking about something. What is it?" Logan asks, but I hear that witch's voice as she enters through the door.

"I am just stopping by. Thought you all would like some more muffins," she coos.

Looking over my shoulder, I watch as my mother takes the basket from her with a smile. "We love muffins. You can come in, if you'd like."

Emmeline glances over toward me, a smirk pulling at the corner of her lips. Whatever she's thinking, I don't like it all. That looks just screams trouble.

"Oh, if you don't mind, I think I will. It'd probably be good if I checked on Lucian over here. I'm sure he's growing tired of being stuck in wolf form."

Why are you here, witch? I know you can hear me and you're ignoring me, so what is your game? What are you playing at?

Ma shuts the door behind her softly and glares at her while her back is turned. If I could smile, I would. At least they are on my side.

"How is it going, Lucian?" Emmeline drops to her knees in front of me, reaching out to stroke my fur, but I jerk away. She bites at her lower lip as she lowers her hand. "In a cranky mood today? Well, I thought you might want an update about your mate."

Pa steps up behind me, his boots hitting hard against the floor of their home. "Well, he obviously can't say anything, so I will. What about her?"

"She's decided to take Corbin up on his offer and become his mate," Emmeline says plainly, without emotion.

I wish I could read her thoughts as she reads mine, but I don't know that I'd like what I find. This blank look is slowly killing me. There is no way Lillian has chosen Corbin unless she has no other choice.

She reaches out again while I'm too lost in thought to notice and strokes the fur between my ears. "I'm so sorry she did that. She couldn't be bothered finding you and helping you break the curse. It's really sad she would do such a thing."

No. I don't believe you. That can't be true. I whine, catching everyone off guard. You're lying to me.

I snap my teeth in her direction to get her to stop petting me, but all she does is smile before hiding it away.

"I'm so sorry Lucian, but it's real."

Dread fills me and overflows.How can this be my reality?

The one person who could set me free chooses another. Something about this situation feels so wrong.

My family gathers around me, my mother the first to lean down and wrap her arms around my neck in a show of support. "I'm so sorry, my child. Things will be okay."

No, they won't. Nothing about this is okay. This can't be real. I'm never breaking my curse. That witch is haunting me from the grave and now her descendant is taking my freedom all over again.

Emmeline stares at me, a smirk slowly appearing. "I'm sure everything will be fine."

Ma looks up at her and I catch a look of hatred across her delicate features before she pushes them back. "What about his curse? What could break that? We'd love to have our son back so we can talk to him and I'm sure he's tired of this form."

Emmeline shrugs her shoulders. "My sister cast this curse, and there are only certain ways it could break. Sadly, I am not privy to the details."

I lunge for her, my teeth gnashing in her face.Liar! You know how to free me. I can see it in your eyes. Tell them the truth.

Pa grabs me around the neck and hauls me backward. "Son, stop it. Hold on."

No, she's hiding something from all of us. She knows how to free me and she's fulfilling her sister's wishes for me to be this monster forever.

"I believe being the beast for so long has upset him," Emmeline suggests. "Maybe we could see what's in the books here to help alleviate his distress."

I turn just as my parents exchange a look, but Logan is my saving grace.

"You know what? We don't want to look through your books," he says calmly. "I believe you know exactly what happened to him and what would free him. I also think you are hiding things because you know way too much about what happens outside of this cursed realm. How about telling the truth for once?"

As my gaze shifts in her direction, I notice the way her face changes. The smile she wears fades slowly into a grimace. "I've been nothing but kind to you all these years and now you doubt me. What have I ever done to cause this distrust?"

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