Page 97 of Red's Beast

I make my way toward the door and grab my mother’s red cloak hanging on the hook. The edge of my lips pulls up in a smirk. "I'm ready for anything.They can challenge me all they want, but I know I can win."

The journey to the village seems to take forever, though it's the same thirty feet I've walked hundreds, if not thousands, of times.

"Do you think they will rebel?" I whisper, hoping no one will overhear me.

I cut my eyes over at my grandmother, uncertain of what will happen next. My wolf is certain we will win, but I'm exhausted and really don't want it to come down to a challenge.

She huffs out a breath. "If they know what's good for them, they'll show their respect and accept you."

"Grandmother, you know you can't help. I know that look on your face."

Her eyes glance up at mine, and I instantly see the fire in them. "I know that, but oh, how they ruffle my feathers. But my bone to pick with them goes back years."

As we come into the village, the few who are out and about glance up at me. It’s like a chain reaction after that. The pack comes out of their houses, all with forlorn expressions as if they were summoned by me, but I did no such thing.

I don't make them come close. They'll be able to hear me loud and clear.

"There have been a lot of changes since the full moon. My body had to deal with shifting multiple times and becoming the alpha I was always meant to be. I stand here before you all today as your new alpha. I am the granddaughter of the old alpha, Finn, and I’m taking what is rightfully mine.”

It's so quiet, I can hear a pin drop. Nobody says a word as their eyes are glued to me, so I continue.

"I'm claiming this pack."

I nervously glance over at my grandmother, unsure of how this will work because it's not like I've been trained for this. Without a second thought, my wolf takes over for me, causing my eyes to wince as the power flows out of me. Within seconds, everyone’s knees hit the ground with their necks bent in submission to me.

"No challenges?" I whisper as I glance around, but no one utters a word.

"No challenges, Lillian. The pack is yours, unattested.”

It all feels too easy, but then again, I have a hard road ahead of me, even with the pack’s submission. I roll the power back in and they all rise. "Now that this is settled, I need to ask some questions. Can anyone tell me anything about Corbin? Have you seen him?"

Several exchange glances before nodding silently. I look to my right and get the same response.

"Well, this is going to be difficult. What do we do now?"

Grandmother leans over and whispers, "Maybe he's just not here. You don't know what the witch did to him or if he got up and snuck away."

I turn and ask again. "Are you sure none of you have seen him or heard where he went?"

Once again, I'm met with the same look from each pack member I make eye contact with. Sighing, I look at Grandmother over my shoulder, completely exasperated.

"Why couldn't this be easier? I just need to find him and I do not know where he could have gone."

I rub my face out of frustration as Grandmother tilts her head back and inhales.

She stops and seems dazed. "We will find him, Lillian. Unless the witch banished him somewhere. If that is the case, then we'll dig through the books again."

"I know, but I just have this feeling he's right under my nose in the village. He's her descendant, and she was so determined to have him mate me. I don't think she would banish him or make him go far."

"Maybe so, but where?"

I turn and look around. The wind suddenly changes directions and blows the smells from the pack's barn. At first, all I can smell are the animals, but something catches my attention.

Underneath all the animal smells is Corbin's scent.

I follow his scent all the way to the barn, leaving the pack behind, but once I arrive, he is nowhere to be seen. "Odd, I just smelled him. It's like he's all over the place, but not."

Grandmother excuses herself to go walk around the barn. After a minute, she returns with a confused expression. "I smell him everywhere, but he's obviously not here. Maybe he left."

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