Page 18 of Red's Beast

No matter what, I have to fight this. At least, for as long as I'm able before I lose myself to the feeling.

Lillian

Grandmother hums low in her throat as she begins filling her plate. If my words have caused her any kind of distress, she doesn’t show it. “I’m sorry, dear. I don’t think I heard you. What did you say?”

“My secret is out, grandmother. They know that I’m an alpha and things are about to get worse for us. Corbin has some crazy plans for me to serve him and mate with him and his father seems to want to forget it ever happened.”

I collapse into the wooden dining chair with an audible thump.

She sits down and takes a few bites of her food, mulling over her thoughts. “And why is it a bad thing for them to know?”

"Grandmother, you've told me for years to hide it and never let them know. Why are you acting like this isn't a big deal?"

“Well, like my mother always said, there is no use in crying over spilled milk. Did you reveal it for a good cause?” She asks, as she stuffs another bite of chicken into her mouth.

“I saved Alana, Nigel’s mate. She was dying and not answering his alpha call. My wolf took over and forced me to save her.” I nearly choke on whatever is rushing up my throat just as she takes another bite.

All thoughts of eating have left my mind. I’m too sick to even take a bite.

“Well, it sounds like you have made the right decision. There was a need, and you did what was required. I would have told you that you’re a sorry alpha if you had let her die when you had the ability to save her. Besides, they already knew you came from a long line of alphas, so it has probably crossed their minds before.”

I am completely taken by surprise by her words.

Then I hear a desolate howl piercing the air, causing me to turn my attention toward the window. “I wonder who is howling now.”

"What is what, child?"

I look at her as another howl sounds, this one seeming much closer. "Did you not hear that? This is twice now that someone howled."

She chuckles under her breath. “I haven’t heard a single howl. Now, are you going to tell me what was going on a minute ago? You looked like you had fallen, but your face was one of pure terror before enjoyment took over. It was a rather odd mix of expressions.”

I remember how the beast’s teeth felt dragging down the sides of my throat and blush. It felt so good. Just the mere memory of it sends a shiver down my spine. “I thought I was going to be eaten by the monster in the woods, but I’m not sure how you didn’t see him. He was right behind me, breathing down my neck.”

Of course, there is more to that story, but I’m not telling her that.

“When I opened the door, I only saw you, Lillian. You know what my thoughts are about what Nigel claims roams the woods. If there is a monster, he must not be too bad. He would have eaten you by now if that were the case.”

I cast a glance at the window and wait for another howl, but don’t hear another. “Well, I think something is out there, but I don’t know what it is.”

Right as I’m about to shift my glance to the table, I see a pair of glowing eyes in the distance in the woods. It holds my gaze, but only for a moment before disappearing.

Lily, you are mine.

"Lillian, are you okay? The color just drained out of your face."

One day, you and I...

"Lillian! Answer me!" Grandmother shakes me hard, snapping me out of whatever daze I’m in.

"I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

Apprehension and anxiety cross her features as our gazes meet. "What on earth has gotten into you? You were completely zoned out, staring out the window at nothing."

"I thought I saw something.”

As she returns to her seat, I fill my plate as full as it will go, but in the back of my mind, I wonder what the monster was about to tell me. It sounded important, whatever it was.

Once we have finished dinner, I take care of the dishes and put them in the basket to go home in the morning. Grandmother doesn’t utter another word the rest of the evening until we say goodnight at bedtime.

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