Page 31 of Red's Beast

I try to escape Corbin again, but upon hearing his father’s words, he grips me tighter.

“We will have children in a few months. I believe my mate is eager to start and I know I am. We won’t be apart for the next few weeks as we try to start our family.”

My wolf chooses that moment to rise to the surface and express her thoughts.I want a bath after this. Please tell me we can take a bath.

“Eager? What part of this looks eager to you?” I ask, my voice becoming high pitched.

“See, she can barely contain her excitement,” Corbin says with a huge grin.

I slowly glance in his father’s direction, wondering if he truly buys it.

That sorry dog doesn’t even care how I truly feel because there is a mischievous smile plastered on his face. It’s clear he knows my feelings about this.

“That she is. I wish we could move the ceremony up, but in order for this to be official and blessed, you two must wait until the full moon. Can’t risk anything horrible happening, now can we?”

Nigel walks across the living room into the kitchen and disappears out the back door, leaving us alone again.

I focus on his words. Couples always wait until the full moon so their union is accepted.

“Now that we are alone, I can have all the quality time with you I want. How about we get to know one another a little better?”

"I'd like to go see my Grandmother. It’s time for me to check on her.”

His hold loosens, but not enough to break free. "You just saw her. I'm sure she'll be fine while we go on a date."

"A date?" Though his words drip like honey and are just as sweet, Corbin is nothing but a snake, waiting to bite.

"I thought it would be a pleasant surprise.”

I turn in his arms with a look of disbelief on my face as I stare at him. “This isn’t like you.”

He looks up at the ceiling as if he's lost in thought, but it doesn’t last long. His dark eyes refocus on me for a moment before he leans down to plant a kiss on my lips. "Just say yes, mate.”

I stop him, my fingers over his lips, blocking mine from him. "Okay, I'll go, but please keep your lips off me."

He smiles as his tongue darts out between his lips, wetting my fingers. "Okay, wait here. I need to go tell dad something, but I expect you to be waiting for me here."

"Okay. I'll wait."

I watch as he disappears into the kitchen and hear the back door slam shut a second later. A date is not what I want to do, but it will give me a chance to figure out what their plan is.

Beast

Pain blooms across my chest, consuming me. That is all I can feel or concentrate on.

And all it has taken to upset me is the mere sight of Corbin’s lips against hers. It sets my soul on fire and nothing will ever extinguish it.

I want to howl with rage again and curse the witch who cast the spell on me to keep me in these blasted woods. But that isn’ta wise idea. Not after they already looked this way and seemed intrigued. If they had any doubts before today, I think I have settled them.

Once everyone is far enough away, I slowly edge closer to the tree line to watch from there.

She’s already in the alpha house and I dread to think about what he is doing to her.

My heart thuds in my chest so loudly I can hear it in my ears. She’s blocked off her thoughts, though I know it’s involuntary. I pick up random emotions instead, which aren’t much better.

The only one I really feel is disgust rolling through her. It makes me wonder what that sorry man has said to her or done.

Then I hear it all too clearly. It makes me so sick that I nearly wretch the rabbit I had for lunch onto the ground. Is she actually considering this as her option?

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