Page 144 of Red's Beast

“We washed it until it all came out. It’s just fine and will look so lovely on you.” Tears line her eyes as she hands it to me. “Also, Lucian has one more surprise for you.”

“A surprise? What kind of surprise?”

Her hands cover her mouth as tears roll down her cheeks. “Come on in.”

In walks a man and woman. I don’t recognize them at first, then everything clicks. “Mom? Dad?”

Mom blinks her eyes as she fights back tears. “Honey, we’re so happy to see you.”

Dad gets choked up as he walks over to hug me. “We’ve missed you so much.”

“But how? You were dead. All this time, I was told you were dead and thrown into the woods.”

Dad pulls back, trying to clear his throat. “We were thrown into the woods and taken to the Night Walkers after getting a suppressant for you. Lucian found us and made sure we were taken care of until a time like this would come to pass. Oddly though, neither of us remembers being here until a few days ago. It’s like a veil lifted over our eyes and we finally remembered who we were.”

Mom walks forward and hugs me as well. "We wanted to come right away, but held off for a day or so to gather everything, so we can move here. Lucian came, though, to the edge of the woods and explained everything. We will never be able to repay him for what he has done and helped keep you safe.”

After all this time, my parents have been in a village next to ours and are alive. Tears roll down my face as I look at both of them. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

Wolves howl as the ceremony is ready to begin. Dad offers me his arm. “Are you ready to have your ceremony?”

I smile as I take his arm and head out of the room. “Yes, I’ve been waiting for a long time for this moment. Today, I’ll officially be mated to my beast, the big bad wolf.”

Dad chuckles. “What kind of nickname is that?”

“Oh, dad. If only you knew.”

He leads me to the field where the ceremony is being held. Lucian’s eyes widen as he spies me coming down the makeshift aisle.

Everyone glances over at me as we walk between them and finally dad gives me away to Lucian.

“Take care of her like you have all these years.”

Lucian smiles. “I wouldn’t dream of any other way.”

As he takes my hand, Grandmother moves in front of us with a sly smile. “I’m presiding over this. We gather here today to witness our alpha’s mating ceremony. They have already claimed each other, and it is visible on their throats. Are there any objections?”

Crickets chirp in the background as everyone grows quiet. I keep waiting for someone to try to stop us, but nothing happens.

“Good, no objections. You two are officially mated.”

I laugh at how quick she does this. “Did you put her up to this, Lucian?”

He waggles his brows. “Maybe. I told you a week was going to feel like forever, and I didn’t know if I could wait that long, so maybe I did. You can punish me later for it.”

Before I can protest, he reaches forward and throws me over his shoulder. I land against his back and gently run my hands down his shirt. “Lucian! What are you doing?”

“You are finally mine and I’m taking off with you before anything else happens. We are not giving anyone any time to do a single thing to interrupt us. I’ve waited entirely too long for this moment and you are mine.”

“Lucian, what about the rest of the ceremony?” I ask as he breaks out at a full run toward some unknown destination.

“They can party without us. I have waited two hundred years for you and tonight you are mine.”

I laugh as his hand collides with my backside. The nerve of this man, but I wouldn’t have him any other way.

“I like this cape. Maybe you should keep it on, and you can be my little red riding hood.”

He sits me down outside of what has become our home over the last week. The alpha house still doesn’t feel like home, even though we have all new furniture and have scrubbed everything to get out the smells. “Well, I’ll be that if you’ll be my big bad wolf.”

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