Page 13 of Red's Beast

I’m met with silence as she accepts the truth.

Quickly, I straighten my skirt and run to the living area to grab my red cloak from the coat rack. I wrap the ties around my neck before darting out of the house. As I make my way out the front door, I survey the surroundings. My gaze moves to the exact spot he said he’d meet me at and there he is, standing there with his hands shoved in his pant pockets.

He’s about ten feet away from the woods and keeps glancing over his shoulder toward them as if something might jump out and eat him. It’s hilarious that he chose a spot in such a location where he fears for his life, yet there he stands. If he is that fearful of the beast lurking in the woods, then he truly picked the wrong spot to meet at.

I close the distance between us as I make my way off the porch and head toward him. Once I’m within a few feet of him, I stop and glare at him. “Well, what do you need, Corbin? I’m here as you requested in the note.”

“You know, I knew that you were an alpha born, but I never realized you were actually an alpha in waiting. You have never shown any signs and remain meek. Do you have any idea of what you have done?” He looks down his nose at me with a disdainful expression on his face, as if he is silently judging me for hiding my abilities.

“I only revealed myself to save your mother. You should be thanking me because you could be attending a funeral today instead. Trust me when I say this, but I won’t make that mistake again. None of you deserve me because clearly none appreciate what I have done.”

He eyes me from the bottom of my long skirt to my throat. It makes me wonder what he has planned for me now that he knows my secret.

“My father won’t let this go and even if he does, I won’t. It won’t be long until I’m the alpha of this pack. Honestly, it makes it all that much sweeter having you serve me on your hands and knees. I’m going to enjoy ruining you, little alpha.”

I chuckle softly under my breath and look at the woods. “What makes you think you’re going to ruin me?”

When I turn to look at him, I cock my head to the side as I study him. His demeanor screams confidence, but there is something else there.

Corbin saunters toward me and stops once his face is a few inches from mine. As I glare into his eyes, I notice orange flecks there. It’s not that he isn’t handsome. It’s quite the opposite. He has a strong jawline, with high cheekbones. Everything about him says he’s handsome and strong. It’s his personality that is ugly and one that is like rough paper against my backside.

His fingers slip under my chin when I start to look away from him. I watch as his lips pull into a smirk and he bites his lowerlip. When his gaze drops to my lips, I know he’s holding back from what he really wants to do.

“It will be my pleasure and greatest accomplishment to break you completely. I will watch you fall to pieces as we make the next alpha of this pack. There will be nothing in this world that you wouldn’t do for me.” He pauses as he exhales with a sigh. “I can see the fight in your gaze now, but here is the best part of all this. I love a challenge, so keep fighting me and see where it leads. One day, you will beg me to not stop.”

I yank my chin from his grasp and take a step to put some distance between us. “What about your darling Ophelia? Isn’t she expecting you to mate with her? You shouldn't even be talking to me like this when you have her.”

He looks away toward the lines of houses and then toward the alpha house. She’s probably waiting for him now.

I take a look over my shoulder and find her heading there now, but she hasn’t noticed that he’s standing here with me. When I look at his face and follow his gaze, he’s still watching her.

“Ophelia is a mere toy that I busy myself with,” he says, as he finally shifts his glowing orange gaze toward me. “You, on the other hand, are something else entirely and I can’t wait to get my hands on you.”

I shudder at the direct eye content. This is not what I want at all. The last thing I ever want is attention from him. I’d rather flingmyself into the woods and let the monster kill me than have this discussion.

Before I can utter a single word, Corbin walks off toward the alpha house.

“Lillian, you will be late!” His father’s voice booms from the porch in the background.

As if my day can’t get any worse, now I have him yelling at me. With my eyes locked onto the ground, I slowly turn around and start heading for the alpha house.

Alpha Nigel is standing there on the last step with his eyes on me. I don’t have to look up to know that a disgruntled look is on his face.

I keep my eyes on his freshly polished boots instead.

“Today, you will clean the bathroom and kitchen. Make sure you scrub them well or else you will have to do it again until it is to my liking.”

“Yes, Alpha,” I reply without looking up.

I ease up onto the first step where he stands and try to avoid bumping into him, but then he reaches out and snags my arm right above the elbow.

“You will never speak of what happened last night again. Do you understand? If you wish to keep your life and keep your grandmother safe, then you will do as I have asked.”

I shiver at his words, but try to squash the nervousness as quickly as it arises. “Yes, alpha.”

“Good girl. Now go clean up the house,” he says as he lets go of my arm.

I walk through the open front door and the first thing I smell is that same stench as before. It almost takes my breath away. The closest thing I can think of that smells like it is a wolf who hasn’t bathed in days and their body odor fills the room. Most never get that bad.

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