Page 130 of Red's Beast

Emmeline had grabbed her hands and took her home, telling her she had all kinds of things to tell her. Natalia was hesitant at first, but realized we couldn't go anywhere, so where was the harm?

I returned to my parents' with Logan and my parents. There was nowhere else to go, and it's not like they couldn't find us. It is their realm, after all.

Huffing out a breath, I lie down on the wooden floors as Ma places some vegetables in the large pot on the wood stove.

"Lucian, honey, it's going to be okay. We will foil whatever they have planned and come out victorious. They'll reveal it soon, I'm sure. Emmeline is very chatty and can't keep secrets. We’re going home.”

Logan sits down at the table with a hard thud, scooting his chair closer to me. "Ma, this can't be good. There is no telling what all they have planned and didn't hint at. Look at what Natalia has done to poor Lucian. We can't even understand him, and he's trapped in his wolf form." He looks down at me and grimaces. "Well, a version of his wolf. He has a mate back home and they will not let him have a happily ever after."

"That is probably true, but we don't know what to do unless they slip up. Maybe we can get Emmeline alone and see if she'll say something. Natalia is frightening and the brains of the outfit as it is." Ma stirs the pot and adds a few chunks of meat from what Pa just brought in. "But getting her alone is going to be the issue. As much as I want to say, let's do this, I'm hesitant. There are so many things that could go wrong, and we can't risk dying."

Pa scoffs. "That's probably what they want. If we die, then they think they can do whatever they want to Lucian. My gosh, Ma, he's stuck in this form and can't even shift. He's been like thissince we were last home and that was how many years ago? Poor Lucian has been roaming the woods since through all the storms and weather, all alone." He glances down at me. "Am I right?"

I nod my head up and down, then return to lying on the floor in my gloomy state. All their talk is just making me feel worse. I already know all of that, but to hear it out loud is so much worse.

It’s been two hundred years like this. Forever trapped as my twenty year old self.

All I want is my Lily. My mind wanders to when she tripped over a branch sticking out from the ground. I thought of approaching her from behind, and the bond did the rest.. My teeth grazed the back of her neck, and if it had been physical, I would have claimed her right then. I could hear Grandmother shuffling around inside the house. There were only seconds to hide and ensure she didn’t catch on to what was really going on.

Lily was too lost in the sensation to even realize I wasn't behind her when Grandmother swung the door open. I'll never forget the way Grandmother stared at her, and Lily went into a state of shock. It made me laugh.

After Lily was inside, Grandmother looked out toward the woods, searching for me as she shook her head. She knew I was the one responsible for her flustered state, but she didn't dare admit it.

No, Lily had been brainwashed by Nigel into fearing me, though she had never been taught to.

Sighing, I hear Logan calling my name again.

I raise my head up from the floor. What could they possibly say to me? It's not like I can talk to them or provide any kind of input.

Can't they just leave me to my daydreams about her? I just want to be home with her.

"Lucian, how soon do you think your mate will come?" Logan asks, then realizes I can't really answer that. "Well, do you think she will come?"

I nod my head yes.

"If she comes, does she have any powerful friends or witches?" He glances around, hoping for some good news.

I sit there for a moment, thinking about it. Lillian is a loner and only had her grandmother. If they think that is enough reinforcements, they are wrong. This time I shake my head no.

The hopeful smile turns into a frown. "This isn't good at all. I wish I could ask who all she has, but you won't be able to tell me a thing. Have I said how much I hate this curse lately? Because I really do. This is the worst."

He covers his face with his hands as he lies his head down on the table. I feel sorry for him, but I am used to this. The only person I can talk to was Lily, and she has made the loneliness disappear.Now, without her and the constant feel of her, I am all alone again, though I am surrounded by my family.

Ma continues to stir the stew absentmindedly as if she's trapped in thought. Pa sits at the table and leans back in the chair.

"As much as I'd like to have a solid plan, there's not much to plan. Lucian can't talk to us nor can we hear him, so this makes things very difficult. Without a way to plan everything, we're screwed. Emmeline and Natalia will eventually come back to gloat about their grand plan. All we know is that it has something to do with the curse that was cast upon them before they came to us." He props his elbows on the table and glances down at me.

My ears pin back to my head as I look up at him.

Logan looks behind him, his head still on the table. "If only we knew what you were thinking. You could write on the floor again, but I know it's difficult forming letters or drawing with your paws."

He had that right. Any type of drawing on the floor or dirt is hard to do with these enormous paws.

As if on cue, Emmeline bursts through the door carrying a basket full of freshly baked goods. "Hello, my lovelies. I have returned bearing gifts."

Ma turns with a look of disgust on her face. "Like we would accept something from the likes of you."

Emmeline's jaw drops open, feigning hurt. "Why would you say such a thing? It's not like I'm my sister. She's at home, by the way. It's not like there's anywhere for you to go, so she was fine hanging back and letting me come talk to you all."

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