Page 27 of Red's Beast

Nigel’s eyes dart between my grandmother’s eyes and mine. He opens his mouth a few times and then shuts it before he finally speaks. “She needs to know.”

His words capture my attention. “Know what? Grandmother, what is he talking about?”

Suddenly, a scream erupts from somewhere on the other side of the village. I turn toward the sound and try to find who is making all the noise.

Nigel moves around grandmother and leaves, without another word.

“It’s always something with this pack,” I say as I look at Grandmother. Her eyes are still red. “What are you not telling me? I thought you were going to stop the mating, but the last part didn’t sound like it.”

She only nods, then motions for me to follow her. As she begins running, I try to follow, only to realize where we are headed.

Directly to the chaos.

The closer we get, the more the cries intensify. I quickly scan the area for any signs of anyone with injuries, but everyone seems fine until I look down.

Ophelia is lying on the ground in a pool of her own blood. Her eyes are lifeless.

“My baby!” Her mother screams as she holds her in her arms.

I take in her paleness and realize that she is too far gone for anyone to save her.

“It has always been you. You are the problem!” She screams out, but it takes me a few seconds to realize it’s me who she is talking to.

“Me?” I ask as I point to myself.

She cackles with tears wildly pouring down her face. “Don’t play dumb with me. We all know what you are and you have caused this. You are that beast!”

Nigel steps between us, blocking me from view. “Take her away. She is spouting nonsense.”

“I haven’t done anything, and I wasn’t even around her or anyone, for that matter. Deaths have happened often since before I was born, so how can it be me?”

I look around at the pack, but realize some believe what she says.

Nigel turns around, smiling softly. “I know you have nothing to do with it. There is no way you could have done this, especially since it has gone on for years. She is just upset by her daughter’s abrupt passing. Please overlook her as she grieves.”

I move around the alpha just to look down at Ophelia’s broken body. Her mother had been blocking her stomach and now Isee long claw marks that mark her flesh. What in the world happened to her? Did the beast in the woods truly do this?

Why would he?

And more importantly, why does Ophelia’s mother claim the beast is me?

Lillian

The day passes as everyone prepares for the funeral. Well, the pack has, but not me.

All I have to do is show up in three days, or at least, that is what I have been told. As night falls, I feel restless. I’m basically a ball of nerves until the day of the funeral arrives.

As I turn to walk toward the funeral pyre, I feel conflicted. Ophelia has never been my friend and has tormented me for aslong as I can remember. I see her laying on top of the straw and wonder if I’ll be able to shed a single tear for her.

Grandmother nudges my arm while facing forward. We take our places near the front line, off to the side, and stay there. I turn to glance at her, only to realize she is looking at me from the corner of her eye.

A ragged sigh escapes me as I realize I don’t look sad, but I should. Otherwise, they’re going to think I’m guilty of something I didn’t even do.

Corbin approaches slowly from behind us. I can feel him even without seeing him. As he passes by me, I can see him looking my way, though I never turn to look at him.

He takes his place near his father, near the pyre.

“Whenever one of our pack members passes, it is a sorrowful moment. Ophelia had her entire life ahead of her. She was bright and promising. I express my apologies to her family for the loss of their beloved daughter. All of this was caused by the horrible actions of the beast. Ophelia will be missed.”

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