Page 82 of Red's Beast

Corbin grabs her chin roughly in his hand and forces her to meet his gaze. "Say the words, Lillian. You are mine."

My heart is hammering in my chest as a snarl forms on my lips, ready to pounce on him for daring to touch my Lily like that. The snarl dies as I realize again that I can't keep saying that. She isn't mine, and she doesn't want whatever is between us. There is nothing I can do unless she calls for me.

"I take you as my..." Shaking her head, her hand comes up over her eyes as if she's trying to clear her thoughts. "What am I doing?"

"What do you mean, what are you doing? You are becoming my mate, as you agreed to do. Now, say the words."

She looks up at Corbin with a narrowed gaze. "I know what I said, but I can't do this."

He grabs her shoulders and shakes her. "You already agreed, and he has started the ceremony. Be a good little mate and say the words."

A smile that I've longed to see spreads across her face. "No."

Grandmother becomes delighted and starts shouting from the back of the crowd. “That’s my girl!”

Corbin looks toward the crowd to where Grandmother stands, smoke floats on the breeze from the contents in her hand. Once he sniffs the air, he takes a step back. "No, this can't be happening."

Grandmother takes another step forward, shoving what's in her hand further toward Lily. “It’s time for you to rise, my darling girl.”

Lily grabs her head between her hands as if the smoke is causing her pain. "I don't understand."

As Grandmother comes to her side, she leans in close and lets her smell the contents fully. "I promised your parents that I would try to let it wear off on its own, but there is no longer time.”

As Lily straightens her back, I can see a shift in her demeanor. “I still don’t understand what you are saying.”

“Your parents obtained something that could suppress your alpha abilities so you could be hidden. I’m sorry, but it had to be done. Now, it’s time to awaken.”

Alana moves from the crowd and approaches them. "Don't be silly, my dear girl. That is just your grandmother spinning tails.”

Lily stares at her with a venomous gaze. "You aren’t Alana.”

Alana narrows her gaze at Grandmother. "What are you talking about, Lillian? Of course I am. Don’t believe your grandmother and her nonsense.”

“I told you things were never as they seemed,” Grandmother says with a huff.

Her mouth drops open, feigning hurt. "We have been gracious and allowed the prior alpha's family to live here in peace instead of killing all of you off, like most challenges are done. I will not stand here and take this. Lillian will be mated to Corbin. It’s been decided and announced in front of all the pack. Now, let’s continue as planned and stop with this stupid nonsense.”

I watch as Lily eyes Corbin. "I will do no such thing because I already have a mate."

Alana's gaze cuts through me. "I knew I should have killed you years ago. You only bring me problems."

Let the show begin. It’s about time and now I understand what that pouch was that Grandmother retrieved from the edge of the woods all those years ago.

I take one tentative step out of the woods right as the moon crests the trees. All eyes are on me as I come into view. The pack looks unsure of what they are seeing, but Lily is in awe.

"Beast."

Once Corbin's eyes land on me, he rushes toward Lily and grabs her. She collides against him with a gasp, her hood falling over to reveal her face. "Don't come any closer or she dies. Then how will your curse ever end?"

With a trembling breath, she asks, "Beast, why did you come out of the woods? Now you'll be forever bound to them after tonight. I told you not to waste it on me."

This isn't a waste. Wrong has been done and I will set it right. There is more to the story, my Lily. Much, much more.

Corbin drags her back a step. "Quit coming closer. I will kill her."

Grandmother stands strong in her position as she watches Alana like a hawk. "It's time the lies come out, Alana."

"What lies? I've never told any."

---