Chapter Twenty

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.”

I can see Corbin, out of the corner of my eye, staring directly at me. He can’t hide the smirk tugging at the edge of his lips anymore. “And what have I asked of you? Oh, wait. Get down on your knees. You need to make it more convincing.”

Grandmother’s eyes plead with me not to give in, but I find myself falling to my knees before I can stop myself.

All to save her.

When I don’t say anything, Corbin growls low in his throat, which jerks my attention to him, but only briefly.

“What did I ask of you, Lillian Rose?” He speaks in a low and stern tone as he tries to emphasize his alpha command.

But it’s pitiful and still doesn’t affect me. Of course, I can’t say that it doesn’t. Not if I want her to live.

“To be your mate,” I whisper.

Corbin shakes his head and crosses his arms over his chest as Asella puts the knife closer to grandmother’s throat. “Say it louder for all to hear you because those way back there, at their homes, can’t hear you.”

“I am to mate with you under the next full moon in a week,” I say, much louder than the first time.

“Good girl. What else will you do?”

I lick my lips as my entire mouth goes dry as paper. This part I don’t want to say.

“Stand up,” he says with a growl.

Rising slowly, I get to my feet. I close my eyes and let more tears fall as he leans in and whispers in my ear, "Tell them what you will do for me once mated."

It makes me sick to even think about, but I finally manage to get the words out. “I will give you alpha heirs.”

He leans away from me, completely satisfied. Then he circles me and smacks my bare backside before coming to face me again.

“Did everyone hear that?” He asks with a proud smile. “She has declared she will be mine in one week. No one may challenge it since we have both said it.”

My heart sinks to my stomach as I realize there is no way out of it. He’s right. As long as the claim is made by both parties, it can’t be challenged. Not only has his actions been to humiliate me, but it’s making sure that our claim will not be challenged by anyone.

The beast.

Something tells me that my destiny is something they never want me to know about and it has something to do with the growing bond with the beast, but how can I find out what it is when I’m stuck with Corbin? Why would they not want me to explore it?

I suck in a breath as the wheels turn, but I don’t understand any of it.

Sadly, none of it matters now because I'm his, unless he dies miraculously before the full moon.

Asella slowly stands and backs away from grandmother, catching my attention. She tucks the knife in a small satchel attached to her belt.

Some of grandmother’s wounds are healing, allowing her to sit up, but only slightly. She’s very weak from all the blood loss.

"Go home, Grandmother, and I'll be there to care for you."

She rises to her feet and wobbles some before walking toward the path to the cottage. Her clothes are nearby, abandoned.

“You didn’t ask your mate’s permission,” Corbin says with a growl.

I look at his chin, trying to avoid looking into his eyes. "May I go care for her wounds, mate?"

The words are like sandpaper on my tongue. I hate the feel and sound of it.

"Much better. Yes, you may. After that, I want you to get cleaned up. I will see you for dinner.”

An involuntary shudder works its way down my spine before I turn to walk away. With each step, I feel my legs growing heavier. I snatch up her clothes and cane before making it to the path home.

Yes, I saved my grandmother’s life, but at my expense. Sure, I could have let them kill her, like she asked, so Corbin would die and I could become alpha, but I couldn’t live with myself if I had chosen that.

I’m not becoming alpha that way.

I make my way to the cottage without any issues, though I don’t pay attention to anything in the woods as I pass. Grandmother is already inside, in the kitchen. Her back is turned to me.

I leave her clothes on the dining room table and retreat to the bathroom to get supplies for her wounds. When I return, she’s moved to one of the wooden chairs at the table.

Her hair is a wreck and matted to her scalp. The wounds are crusted with dried blood. Everywhere I look, I find something else that I didn’t see before.

I lay everything down on the table and grab one of the cloths to dab at one larger wound that is uglier than the others.

"Why didn't you kill him? I've lived my life, child. You are young and have so much ahead of you."

I chuckle under my breath. “Here you are thinking of death and joining your mate, but I’m selfish. You are all I have. My parents are gone and the thought of losing you is enough to make me bend a knee.”

She reaches up and strokes my face with her fingertips. "Honey, you know what this means."

I try to fight back the tears threatening to spill. As I inhale sharply, I struggle to keep them from flowing down my cheeks again. “Yes, I know. I will be Corbin’s mate in one week and I have to bear his children. He will claim me for all to see. Yes, I’m well aware and don’t want to think what I’ve said I’ll do.”

Her hand reaches up to grip mine. “There is another way out of this.”

Her gaze drift down to my throat and lingers there.

“It doesn’t matter now. I have claimed that I will be his mate for the entire pack to hear, so I can’t get out of this. All the other options I may have had before that moment are gone.”

One brow raises. “Nothing is sealed in stone until he marks you and even then you could get out of it if he dies. Put Corbin in the dirt where he belongs.”

I bow my head and move my hand away from hers to clean up another wound. “How would I gain the respect of the pack?”

She chuckles low under her breath. “Do you think they will ever respect you? You are the granddaughter of the fallen alpha, my mate and husband. The only thing Nigel has taught them is to fear who is in charge. So, if you become alpha, you will have to make them fear you to get them to obey.”

I slowly take the cloth I’m using and walk over to the sink to rinse it as I consider her words. “I made a choice and saved you. They may not be honorable, but I’m the granddaughter of the previous alpha, who ruled with respect and integrity. I will deal with the consequences of my actions.”

Grandmother raises up from the chair and turns to look at me over the back. “You have another choice. I know you have been lying to me about those marks and not remembering. You know exactly who gave them to you and where you were. It’s him -”

Her words trail off as if she can’t dare say the words. My gaze narrows as I study her face. It’s like she is literally bound and gagged.

I want to ask questions, but shake my head as I dismiss them. It’s no use.

“It’s not like it can change. The pack heard my claim, so now I have to follow through.”

Grandmother eases out of the chair and comes to stand next to me at the sink, still naked and uncaring. “You are the mate to someone else. The beast. It’s plain to see. You should choose what makes you happy and forget the pack.”

“Choose? I have a duty to this pack to save them because this belonged to my grandfather, your mate. It’s rightfully ours. They deserve to be free and live in happiness. But they’re trapped by Corbin and his family. My fate is sealed.”

"That isn't what I meant, and you know it." She eyes me again as she runs her fingers through my hair. I'm enjoying the feeling, but my mind is a mess.

My eyes open wide as I realize what she said. "You just admitted the beast is real."

"I've known, yes, but that is all I can say. There are other things afoot that keep me from spilling the truth to you.”

"You denied it all these years. I believed I was crazy because of you and you knew he was real this entire time. Why?”

“There are things that can’t be said. This is one of them.” Grandmother grabs my face between her hands and plants a kiss on my forehead. “Remember these words if you don’t remember anything else. You must choose your own fate. It’s up to you to save them, and I mean all of them.”

“All of them? Do you mean the beast too? How can I save him and the pack? It’s not like I can back out of the ceremony and take him as my mate, if that is what you mean. That wouldn’t save the pack. Corbin would also come here and kill you. I don’t know how I’m supposed to do all of it.”

She smiles as she gently runs her fingers through my hair again. “I’m bound, so I can’t tell you what to do. All I can do is hope that you make the right choice, because that is what everyone is counting on. Now, how about we make some food? The shifting made me hungry.”

As she turns to walk to the table, I notice all of her wounds are closed, leaving her skin red and angry looking. I drop the cloth into the sink as I try to figure out how she has healed this quickly.

She grabs her clothes and cane to head into her room.

Part of me realizes that I might have been played by my own grandmother. I was certain she was at death’s door, but now she is moving like nothing is wrong. Could her healing really be that quick?

To make matters worse, I’m completely confused by her words. She has emphasized that it’s my choice. I know mating with Corbin will save the pack and hopefully I’ll gain the pack’s respect.

Well, it’s more like their fear.

But if I’m meant to be with another, how will that save everyone?

What will mating with the beast gain me besides heartache and death?

I sit down on the floor next to the cabinets. My thoughts are a wreck as I try to figure out what I’m supposed to do.

A few minutes pass before grandmother returns to the kitchen, looking like she always does. “Are you just going to sit on the floor all evening? Come on, now. Let us fix food and rest.”

The rest of the night is quiet and as we part ways to sleep, I’m even worse than earlier.

But it doesn’t stop sleep coming for me.

The next thing I know, morning has arrived and the sun’s rays are streaming through the window as a rough knock on the door startles me. I rise from the couch and move to the door as I rub my aching back.

When I open it, Corbin is standing on the other side and brushes past me quickly to get inside.

“Good grief, what took you so long? Can’t you answer the door faster than that?”

I rub the sleep from my eyes and yawn. "Why?"

Corbin looks appalled as his jaw drops open. "Do you want me to be eaten by the beast?"

My brow raises involuntarily, amused by the idea of the beast consuming him whole. "Well, if you're asking for my honesty, I'll gladly oblige, but I don’t think you want that.”

He gives me a look that says to drop it before he makes me pay for those words. Then a slight smile appears. "I came to gather you for our date."

“A date? Well, I didn’t know that we were going on one.” I look down at my clothes and realize I only threw whatever I had on last night after dinner, not caring how it looked. I don’t know if I even got all the blood off, either. “Grandmother will need me first, then I’ll go home and get changed.”

He huffs. “You didn’t come for dinner last night, and I forgave you. So, you better make sure you don’t miss this. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand,” I whisper as I realize I completely skipped dinner last night.

I had focused on grandmother and then when she mentioned food; we ate and washed up. That was it for us.

Slowly, I turn and head to grandmother’s room to check on her. She’s still sleeping soundly. I move to her bedside and make sure the wounds are better before turning away.

She reaches out and grabs my hand. “Where are you going?”

“Corbin is here. I forgot that I was supposed to show up for dinner last night, so I can’t miss this. Will you be okay for a little while?”

She nods and closes her eyes again. “Yes, I’ll be fine, dear. Just don’t forget to kick him hard if he does anything stupid. Better yet, use your wolf and sink your teeth into him. That will make him stop.”

The thought of shifting again is scary and I need to talk to her about it before I do it again, but that will have to wait.

I chuckle under my breath as I slip away and walk into the living room. Corbin is waiting by the door and I pass him without thinking twice about it.

As I saunter outside, I hear Corbin shut the door behind us, but my gaze is locked on the woods. I’m completely unbothered by the beast in the woods now that I know there is more to this than I originally thought. He may scare everyone else, but the fact he sent Nigel’s head flying toward me brings a smile to my face.

The beast will never harm me.

A shiver runs down my spine as I enter the narrow path between the trees.

"Earth to Lillian. Are you not listening? You seem like you're somewhere else,” Corbin says as he catches up with me.

Oh, how I wish I was somewhere else, like wrapped up in the arms of the beast.

Blush creeps into my cheeks and Corbin notices. "Is that pretty tint in your cheeks for me?"

He eases closer and brushes his thumb across my jaw. "It won't be much longer, and I will satisfy every dream you have, kitten."

I become outraged and my wolf rises to the surface, bristling. Kitten? Who does he think he’s calling Kitten? I’m not a cat. I’ll chew him up and spit him out before he can blink. Better yet, I’m going to call the big bad wolf lurking in the woods to take care of him, just like Nigel.

I try to hide my surprise and clear my throat before erecting a wall between us. She may believe he is ours, grandmother may echo that sentiment, but right now, I don’t know how it will ever work. Doing anything to Corbin will lead to my grandmother’s death.

If she is safe, I will shred this village apart and end all of this once and for all, but that isn't an option right now. I sigh and close my eyes to fight the tears that threaten to fall. "Okay, what were you saying? I'm sorry I zoned out."

It's not exactly what I want to say, but I know that will smooth things over with him and hopefully keep him calm.

"I love when you speak like that. It makes me want to reward you for being a good girl." He reaches up and runs his finger down my neck, causing me to shudder in disgust. Corbin mistakes my actions as one of excitement. "Is my Kitten excited?"

"Yes, very. So, what is on the agenda for today?" I'm not excited at all, but I plaster a fake smile on my face, anyway.

"Well, I'm taking you shopping for your dress. One of the women in the village makes the most beautiful pieces and I think you will love it.”

I feel completely dumbfounded by his words. Why do I need a dress?

“Our mating ceremony is only six days away. Don’t you think you need something nicer besides all the rags you own?”

"Oh, I know that. I wasn't even thinking about a dress. There is just so much to do."

Satisfied with my response, he gives a nod and heads for the door of the alpha house, while leaving me at my house. "I'll be at your house in forty-five minutes, so be pretty for me."

“I’ll be ready, Corbin.”