Page 23 of Red's Beast

How could I have been so careless?

I know what lurks in these woods, though my grandmother denies it. There is definitely something here, watching us in our day to day lives and just waiting for the chance to take one of us.

Now, running from Corbin is the least of my worries. I am going to become another one of the wolves who goes missing, never to be found.

I swallow the lump forming in my throat as I slowly turn to look at my surroundings. Leaves continue to crunch nearby, but nothing ever comes from the bushes.

“Nice, beast,” I say in a whisper. “I’m sorry for coming into your territory.”

A menacing growl echoes from behind the bush to my right, but the monster stays hidden.

Beads of sweat form on my brow, which I hastily wipe off. My eyes stay trained on the bushes just in case he chooses that moment to lunge. The sound of his growls are growing louder as he moves to the left.

I turn as he gets behind me to face me.

“I know you are the one I hear in my mind, though I’m not sure how it’s possible. Are you also the one who haunts my dreams?”

Lily.

His voice fills my mind, causing me to shudder. Oh, how I love how he says my name.

“What do you want from me?”

Oh, little wolf. There is so much I’d love to do with you, but now is not the time.

“I don’t know whether to be happy about that or start dreading the day you decide it is time. Why do you take people from the village, anyway?”

There’s a slight pause as I wait for the answer to the one question I’ve always longed to ask.

Have you seen me take them from the village or is that what you have been told?

He sounds so offended when he answers, which makes me think something more is going on.

“Are you not behind the disappearance? Is that what you are trying to tell me?”

Another pause.That doesn’t matter, little wolf. Shouldn’t you be running in fear away from me? You’re the one in my domain, aren’t you?

I chuckle low under my breath. “Why should I be afraid of you? Dying would be better than what I have to face daily. Maybe grandmother would finally believe me that you’re real.”

“Lillian!” Corbin screams from somewhere behind me.

Idiot.

I turn around toward where I think he is standing behind a bush. “At least we agree on that.”

A laugh escapes me as I realize he is more like me than I first thought. Maybe he is just misunderstood.

Right as I’m about to scan in the other direction to see where Corbin is, my wolf pushes her way to the surface.

When can I see you again, handsome?

My mouth falls open as I try to think of what I can say, but there is no hiding her words. The rough chuckle that comes from him tells me he heard.

“Oh, my gosh. I’m so sorry.”

Wait, why am I apologizing to him?

The monster’s voice is in my head again as he laughs.Soon, my little wolf. Soon.

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