Page 47 of Red's Beast

Once she is finally off the path and in the village, she stares at the people gathered. "What is the meaning of this?"

Corbin shoves Lily behind him, and another growl escapes me. I get as close as I can to the edge of the woods without revealing myself.

"I am the new alpha, so we are sorting things out. Go back to your cottage.”

Grandmother cuts her eyes to the headless body of his father. "I see. Why is my granddaughter being manhandled?"

"She is being held responsible for my father's death. I will do as my father wished and join the bloodlines." Corbin holds his head high as he looks at Lily's grandmother with a straight face.

Like that will save you from her or me. Grandmother is just as bloodthirsty as I am.

"So, you are telling me that my granddaughter tore that man's head from his shoulders and made his body look like that?" She points at his body, and I can't help but smile proudly at myself over my handiwork. “Lillian would never do such a thing.”

I did a good job.

"Well, no, but she controls the beast who did this for her,” Corbin retorts.

I scoff, but Grandmother is ahead of me. "She does no such thing. That beast is his own thing and makes his own choices.”

I roll my eyes at how true her words are. Lily doesn’t technically control me as in commanding. What I do is for her and I’d do anything to keep her safe. We also share a fated mate’sconnection, and I look forward to exploring that for the rest of our lives.

Lillian

Corbin grabs my arm roughly, which causes Grandmother to growl low in her throat.

Although I do not control the beast and have nothing to do with his choice to kill Nigel, Corbin believes that I command him. Maybe the beast sensed my desire from long ago to free his shoulders of his head.

Honestly, that was for me to do. Not him.

I never asked for him to do this for me.

Corbin yanks me again toward him. “Why would the beast kill my father if she didn’t control him? She was running to your house when he jumped from one side of the path to the other, which means he can cross the narrow path through the trees to your house. He never harms her, but the second my father was in the woods, he attacked. She must have asked him to.”

Grandmother cocks a brow as she stares at him, her eyes turning the color of blood. “You should go to the woods and speak with the beast himself to see why he did it. Oh, that’s right. He can’t speak.”

Corbin’s entire body begins to shake with rage, causing his grip to tighten on my arm. “That won't be necessary. Lillian will control him and if she can’t speak to him, then I will just use her to make him obey. But one thing is certain, he will never be free of those woods.”

“Corbin, he doesn’t answer to me. I’m so tired of being called a witch and accused of doing things. If you want answers, then go find out for yourself. You’re not using me to do it.”

In one swift move, he allows his claws to slide free at his fingertips, digging into my skin. With his other hand, one long claw touches underneath my chin. One wrong move will be the end of me.

But he’s abruptly interrupted when a loud bellow from the woods is heard.

Everyone looks toward the woods once more. I eagerly scan the tree line, hoping to see the beast. After a quick glance out of the corner of my eye, I don’t see him and feel disappointed.

Instead of slashing my throat with a claw, he leans in close to my face as he allows them to retract and grabs my chin harshly. “Your words and his actions don’t match, little alpha. Why is he upset if you aren’t his master?”

“Let go of my granddaughter, you monster,” Grandmother whispers.

Corbin drops his hand from my throat and I feel like I can finally breathe. “My point has been made, you old crone. He is upset, so obviously she means something to him.”

When he releases my arm, he pushes me toward my grandmother. She catches me and holds me closely with one arm while her other hand is on the cane. “It doesn’t matter what point you think you have made. She isn’t a witch, nor does she control the monster in the woods. You are stupid to think otherwise. Now, you have what you wanted. You are the alpha of the Dark Moon pack. Lillian should be left out of it.”

My head turns swiftly to look into her red-eyed gaze, then I look at Corbin to see his reaction. I wish I had never looked. He has other plans on his mind and it’s clear to see.

And I know he will carry them out by whatever means necessary, including killing to get his way.

“That’s just it, grandmother,” he says in a whisper. “I haven’t gotten everything I want.”

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