Page 51 of Red's Beast

Then I hear their conversation through our bond.

I've lived my life. End him.

No, Grandmother. I'm not doing this. I won't let them do this to you.

Lillian, do it. End this and take control of the pack.

"Time is ticking. What is your choice?" Asella raises the dagger over her Grandmother's heart, ready to strike.

Lillian

Everything within me says to listen to grandmother’s advice, but in my heart, I know I can’t do it. There is no way I can leave her to die just to kill Corbin, even if ripping his head from his body sounds perfect.

Oh, I’m just like the beast.

I let Corbin’s neck slip from my grip and he quickly moves away, his eyes searching my face for answers. He is unnerved by what I have done and how close I was to killing him.

I’d rather see him dead on the ground with his blood flowing freely as life drained from his eyes.

Sadly, I don’t have time to act on my thoughts or change my mind.

“Wise choice, Lillian. Now, shift back like a good little wolf,” Asella says, her lips twisting into a smirk.

All of this is for control. Every single thing they do is to ensure the pack runs the way they want it. But it’s not supposed to be like this.

Corbin shifts into his human form and begins rubbing his neck as he watches me out of the corner of his eye. “No, Asella. You aren’t going to tell her a single thing. She’s mine to command, and I’m going to enjoy every single minute of it.”

His glowing orange gaze finds mine while a smirk plays at the edge of his lips. His shaggy blonde locks hang partially in his face as his head tilts downward. There is something wicked there and I hate the look he is giving me. “Shift, now, little alpha.”

Nothing.

I feel absolutely nothing.

Instead of making a show and making him or Asella angrier, I allow the shift to flow over me. A look of disgust is on my face as soon as I take my human form.

I look down at my grandmother’s naked body as tears flood my eyes. Though she’s not pushing for it in the bond, I know she’d rather die than see what I’m about to do.

“That’s such a good girl. Now beg for her life, little alpha.”

I glance up into his eyes and sigh. He’s looking at me with a straight face, but it’s easy to tell that he is amused because of the way the corner of his eyes try to smile.

It makes me hate him that much more.

I can’t bear to look at him, so I chose to lock eyes with my grandmother instead. “Please let her live.”

It doesn’t sound pleading. It sounds more demanding than anything.

“Say it with more feeling. I’m not convinced you want her to live. You sound as if you don’t care which way it goes.”

Tears roll down my cheeks and drop onto my bare chest. Some of them are shed out of sadness because I may lose her, but the other part is from being angry.

I’m angry that Corbin is humiliating me.

I’m angry at how I’ve been treated all these years.

And I’m angry that I’m caught between saving this pack from ruin and chasing whatever destiny that is out there for me.

“Please,” I whisper. “I’m begging you to spare her life. I’ll do whatever you ask.”

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