Page 99 of Red's Beast

Grandmother bursts out laughing. “Corbin, as a goat, must be a terrible thing for these poor animals. Just think of how he was to you and think of them. That pig has to be tormented to hide behind an alpha wolf without fear. Honestly, I’m not sure why he was turned into a goat, though. A pig seems to suit him so much better, considering his record.”

I snort out a laugh and look at the gray colored goat. “Very fitting indeed. But right now, I need a man, not a goat.”

Grandmother mumbles something under her breath about him being an arrogant pig, but I dismiss her ramblings and stare at the goat with an unwavering gaze. He looks like he’s up to something, but I’m not sure what.

I take a slow step forward, testing the waters, but all he does is lower his head as if he is going to ram me with his head.

“If you ram me, I hope you can run faster than me. I have sharp teeth now and don’t mind shredding you a little to get what I want.” I allow my teeth to elongate into canines and flash them at him. He stops and stares, uncertain of how to proceed. "Good little goat. I’m the alpha now.”

He snorts and shakes his head as if he doesn’t believe me.

"Can you hear him through the pack bonds?" Grandmother asks.

"No. Either they don’t work with him, or he hasn’t submitted. If he's smart, he'll choose the latter." I shoot him a stern look as he paws at the ground like he’s about to charge at me. "I take that as a sign of defiance, goat. Let’s go.”

Sighing, I stand and walk over to him. He leans back his head to look up at me and lets out a loud bleat. It sounds angry, but coming from him, I can't help but laugh.

His mouth shuts promptly as he glares at me.

The pig scurries off to where the other pigs are, which is the corner of the barn, trembling with fear. It keeps casting a glance toward me and then the goat, as if relieved he won't be a problem anymore.

"Alright Corbin, let's go. You can’t traumatize the barn animals anymore."

I turn to leave the barn, but he doesn't follow me. Looking over my shoulder, I notice he hasn't moved an inch. Instead, he is just staring at me.

"Corbin, let's go." Once again, I'm met with his stubborn resistance. It finally sinks in that he doesn't want anyone else to know what has become of him. "I get it. You don't want the pack knowing. Fine, but you're wearing a rope and coming with me."

As I scan the barn, I finally glance over at one of the barn stalls and find a rope hanging on the wall, just waiting for me. I rush over without a second thought to grab the rope off the wall andcome running back to get it around his neck before he runs off. I doubt he’ll allow it any other way.

Sure enough, he catches sight of me grabbing the rope and takes off running across the barn.

"It's futile to escape, Corbin. This is the only way. Well, unless you want me to chase you as a wolf.”

He lets out a bleat and runs to the far corner of the barn where the boxes are stacked. That explains how he got up in the rafters in the first place, but this time he’s not getting up there.

When he reaches the top box, I finally grab the back of his neck like picking up a kitten and haul him down the boxes. He bleats loudly, causing all the other animals to run for cover.

He tries to turn and paw me with his hooves, but I hold him far enough away from my body to where he can't reach.

"Will you calm down? It'll be fine. I don't think they'll recognize you like this and if they ask why your scent is all over you, I'll just tell them you apparently slept here, and it rubbed off on the goat. No big deal. I’m sure it’s something you’d do anyway to throw people off. They’ll believe it.”

He bleats once more, then quietens as he stares at me with beady, black eyes.

When I sit him down, I fully expect him to run, but he just stands there with his head hung low as if he’s been defeated.

Grandmother chuckles low. "I guess he has submitted to you, but I have no idea what we are going to do with him.”

“I guess he has. Even though I don’t like him and I honestly hoped for the beast to rip his head off during the ceremony, something about seeing him as a goat makes me feel bad.”

He lets me slip the rope over his neck and we start out of the barn.

As I lead Corbin through the pack territory, all eyes shift to him as they scent the air. I give them a nod with a smile and hope they don't press this further. I promised I wouldn’t out him and I intend to keep it, even though I’m completely amused at his situation.

When we are almost on the path that leads to my grandmother’s cottage, I sigh in relief with each step we take toward it.Almost there.

Then someone from the pack calls out from behind me."Why does the goat smell like Corbin?"

Just great.

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