Chapter Fifteen

Lillian

I rush to the bathroom and try to wash up. It feels good, but I keep finding random twigs in my hair long after I’m finished bathing. As I run the brush through again, I find at least three more small ones.

I run my fingers through my long blonde locks after setting down the brush, only to realize what time it is. “Oh, shoot. I’m going to be late. She’ll be so worried about me. I haven’t seen her in a couple of days.”

I rush to get my clothes on and pack the basket with whatever I have left in the refrigerator. It doesn’t quite smell right, but I’m in such a hurry that I don’t have time to even think about it. It’s not much anyway, but she’ll probably fuss about it because she’ll know I haven’t cooked it recently.

As I leave the house, I run all the way to the narrow path between the trees. I don’t think of the monster in the woods or about anything, for that matter. At least, not until I reach the door.

Lily. His voice is breathless and my wolf whines.

Mate. She cries and my jaw drops open.

"No. This isn't right. Stop talking like that. You know what they will do to me if you are speaking the truth.”

Warm breath blows across my neck and I feel the familiar scraping of teeth on my flesh. I bang on the door for grandmother to come open it. “Hurry! I need you to open this door.”

I nearly crumble at her doorstep at the sensations from his teeth scraping and right as I’m about to fall to my knees, the door swings wide open.

“Why are you banging on the door so loudly? Don’t you think you owe me an explanation? Where have you been?”

“Been? Grandmother, I can explain everything,” I say as she lets me brush by her into the cottage. “You see, I got into trouble with Nigel and was thrown into the cells for the night. I apparently passed out the next morning and Corbin and his mother took care of me. I just left and crashed at home for the night.”

“What did you say Nigel did?” She asks, her voice becoming louder. “I will end his life and bathe in his blood. You becoming Corbin’s mate was supposed to keep you safe, but apparently you’re still not safe from him. If he wants to act like this, then I will beat his -”

I shudder as the memory of the beast's teeth scraping down my neck is fresh in the front of my mind. Falling to my knees, I lean over and place my palms against the floor.

"Lillian, what's wrong? Is it something I said?”

I feel her hands on my back, but I can't move. "What is happening to me?"

My voice is barely a whisper, and the words are hard to even say as my throat feels like it's closing up.

"Do you need to see the pack doctor? I mean, I know some cures for ailments, but I've seen nothing like this." She rubs my back up and down in a soothing motion as I rock on my hands and knees to subdue the odd feelings.

"Grandmother, I woke up dirty with no memory. My wolf forced me to shift and said something about her mate. I don't know what's happening. But I woke up in bed. I don’t know what’s going on and I didn’t want to tell you.”

Her hand quickly disappears. I look up, only to see her squatting in front of me, her cane still in her hand for balance. She slips her fingers under my chin and forces me to meet her gaze. "Lillian, you are about to make a choice that will impact everyone. That is all I can tell you. You must choose.”

“Choose what? Is this about my destiny again?”

Her eyes dart to my neck. “What is on your neck?”

"My neck?" I panic as I sit up on my knees and pat my neck. "I just showered, and I didn't see anything."

Sure enough, my fingers trace over a bite mark. How did I not see this sooner? It’s there as plain as day and I never once saw it, but I can sure feel it.

"Oh, Lillian. What have you done? Who left that on you?"

Shaking, I trace the puncture wounds again. "It's not a mate mark, but close. I don't know because I have no memory of last night."

"Darling, what day do you think it is?" She eyes me curiously and waits for my response.

Of course, I have no idea why she’s asking me what day it is. "It's Saturday. Why do you ask me that?"

Her eyes widen with alarm as she hears my answer. "Lillian, I haven't seen you in roughly a week and two days. The new moon was a week ago.”

I’m utterly horrified by her words. “What do you mean by that? No, that can’t be true. It was just a few days ago.”

I grip both sides of my face with both hands and sway back and forth in a slow motion as everything comes to me. How could it have been a week? I refuse to believe this.

Flashes of running through the woods, my white paws hitting the ground beneath me. There is a large, dark gray wolf running next to me. He’s so large and intimidating, but he doesn’t scare me in the slightest.

He crashes into me, causing us both to go sprawling across the dirt. We play for what feels like forever. The moment becomes heated and I remember his teeth against my throat.

“Honey, I’m telling you the truth. It has been a week since the new moon. I had no idea that you lost track of the days. Nigel told me that you were fine.”

When I look into her eyes, an involuntary shiver runs down my spine. "Grandmother, I always come here. Why did Nigel even come here and tell you that?”

Her gaze slowly drops to the floor in front of me. “Well, Corbin stopped by and asked me about mating with you. He said you were busy getting things ready, and that you were happy. They also delivered my meals. I honestly had no reason to worry or come looking when they came and told me you were fine. Now I know they were trying to figure out where you were and knew you were gone.”

Then it all hits me. They hid that I was gone for a little over a week from her.

“Grandmother, I don’t care how busy I am, I will still come see you daily or almost daily. Corbin is insane and I don’t know what is happening to me.”

She chuckles low in her throat as her gaze meets mine. “You are stubborn enough, but I don’t have the answers you seek. This is one time you have to figure it out and choose what is right. Your destiny depends on it.”

“My destiny.”

She nods. “You’ll see in time, but I have a question for you. If you weren’t with them, then where were you and who left those marks?”

I sit there quietly, remembering the feel of his biting as his teeth slid into my flesh. Butterflies sprawl across my stomach at the mere thought of him touching me. But is this how it's supposed to be?

I’m not even sure how to tell her how I got these marks. If it is the monster in the woods, which is what my memory shows, then I can never tell anyone.

“Lillian, you are scaring me. I need to know what happened. What aren’t you telling me?”

My gaze meets hers. “I have no memory of anything that happened while I was away. The last thing I remember is going into my room and then everything went dark.”

It’s a lie, but I hope it’s one she will believe. A silent moment passes between us before a knock on the door fills the air. It catches us both off guard and we quickly stand.

“Don’t open it,” I whisper.

She pauses for a moment in front of the door, leaning heavily against her cane. “Why wouldn’t I?”

"What if it's Corbin? Don't you find it strange he didn't report me missing for an entire week? Why didn’t they tell you?”

Her eyes narrow as she glances toward the door. "Who is it?"

"Nigel. I am just checking on you and bringing you something to eat." His voice is calm, nothing like the voice I'm used to. Normally, when he speaks to me, it's angry and rough. With my Grandmother, he almost seems kind.

"Hold on a minute. I'm not exactly dressed for company this early." She turns to look at me and nods for me to leave. I scramble to my feet and make my way toward her room. As soon as I'm enclosed in the bathroom, a feeling of dread washes over me.

My scent will be all over the door and in her living room. Surely, he won’t notice. I gravitate towards the shut door, hoping to catch some snippets of their conversation.

"I thought you might enjoy some blueberry muffins this morning. My wife made these and they're still warm."

"Oh, that's lovely. Blueberry muffins are one of my favorites.”

I hear her cane as she moves closer to the door. Then it sounds like she heads to the kitchen. Nigel’s boots thump heavily against the floor and the door shuts.

"Have you seen Lillian yet this morning?"

Panic sets in as I realize that he might have caught my scent, and I become frozen in place. It’s an odd question for someone who says I have been with them all week.

"No, I'm afraid I haven't. I thought she was with you all and planning her upcoming mating ceremony,” Grandmother says calmly.

"Oh, she is. I just hadn't seen her smiling face this morning yet. It probably wore her out last night with all the planning, and she's still asleep. I’ll have Corbin wake her when I get back.”

Planning? Ha. I almost let out a snort out loud, but clamp a hand firmly over my mouth.

Suddenly, my Grandmother's voice chimes in, breaking the silence. "Well, tell her I love her and tell your wife thank you for these muffins. I enjoy a good blueberry muffin from time to time."

There’s a thud as he heads to the door and it creaks as he swings it open."You take care now. I'll send your dinner soon and take it easy."

"Will do. Have a wonderful day."

Everything is silent for a few minutes before I emerge from my hiding place. Grandmother finally calls out for me a second after I start moving.

I make my way into the living room at a slow pace and as soon as I’m in her line of sight, we both sigh a breath of relief.

“It’s going to be okay. Let’s sit down and eat the muffins.”

“Grandmother, you know he knows I’m here. He smelled me.” I slowly head to the dining room table and plop down in one of the wooden chairs. “He was trying to see if you’d lie for me.”

"So, what if he did? He knows better than to charge in here and think he rules this roost. I will show him a thing or two." She shakes her head as she unwraps the plate full of muffins. "These smells great."

"Are you sure they aren't poisoned?" I look at the one closest to me, wondering if maybe Alana did something to them.

If they wanted to get my attention, they might have. I have been gone for a week and I’m sure they’re furious.

"I've been eating the food they've brought all week, so I'm sure it's fine." As if to prove it, she grabs one and pulls the wrapping down before taking a huge bite. She smiles and moans about how good it tastes. I finally reach over and take one, hoping to fill my empty stomach.

The first bite is delicious, the second bite is even better. Before I know it, the whole muffin is gone and I'm reaching for a second.

"You're starving. Eat all you wish."

"I feel like I haven't eaten in days.” As I take each bite, I savor them all.

Slowly, I lift my gaze to look out the window near the kitchen and my mind goes back to the feeling of freedom I had. I was finally free.

"So other than them acting like I didn't disappear, what else have I missed?”

“Nothing else. It has been quiet and you only have a week until the ceremony during the full moon.” She glances across the table at me and motions with her hands for me to clean my face.

I probably made a mess from devouring the muffins. Leaning forward, I snatch a napkin from the table and brush the crumbs off. Even after wiping, I still feel like they are stuck to me. Eventually, I give up and figure I’ll need another bath.

“Grandmother, I can’t mate with Corbin. I don’t know what they are thinking, nor do I want to know. That entire family is crazy. They treat me horribly, then as soon as they realize I have an alpha hiding beneath my skin, they decide that I need to be with their family. Now, I can’t even step foot into the village to get anything at the house or someone will see me. That means they’ll see the bite on my throat.”

Grandmother tilts her head to the side to look at my neck and grimaces. “You’re healing already. I don’t know how you didn’t see it this morning, though. It’s rather large and too big to be just anyone’s bite.”

"I guess the most important thing is finding out where I went for a week and what bit me,” I say with a laugh.

Just as I am about to continue speaking, I am interrupted by laughter, which causes me to pause and look around, but I soon realize that my Grandmother can’t hear it. She takes in my state and eyes me curiously. "What's wrong, Lillian?"

"Nothing, Grandmother. I thought I heard something.”

Hiding from me, little wolf? Let them see that mark on your throat and let them all know who you belong to.

I swallow hard as his voice fills my mind. Why would I show them that? If I do, then I’ll be dead.

Don't you wonder where you have been for an entire week? Maybe I have the answers to that.

I stare out the window again, my mind drifting off to thoughts of the beast out in the woods. Well, I hate to tell you, but I remember bits and pieces. You were with me, weren’t you?

He's quiet for a moment and just when I think he has disappeared, he finally responds. At least you remember. You seemed to enjoy yourself and the freedom you had as well.

Another deep laugh rumbles through our connection, sending a shiver down my spine.

It was your scent, wasn't it? Your scent was in my bed and triggered my shift.

His low growl is addicting as another rumble escapes. I told you, little wolf, you're mine. My scent calls to you. It was necessary.

I bite at my lip right as my eyes lock with my Grandmother's. She gives me another concerned look. "Lillian, what is going on with you?"

"I'm just trying to remember where I've been the last few days, that's all. I promise everything is fine."