Chapter Twenty Two

Beast

As Corbin’s lip touches hers, I feel myself losing hope that I’ll ever be free of these woods. She is mine and I don’t want his dirty mouth on her.

She doesn’t like it either, from what I can tell. A howl tears free of my lungs, causing them to stop immediately.

As soon as Lily hears my command, her eyes grow wide. A small shudder works its way down her spine, which isn’t noticeable to anyone but me. It would make me smile if I could.

This smile looks more like I’m ready to kill everything in my path.

Her eyes drag across the woods greedily as she searches for me, but I remain hidden. Corbin notices her gaze moving and shoves his finger under her chin, turning her face toward him.

“What are you looking for, little alpha? Should I ask who has captured your attention instead of me?”

"I just wonder what made that sound and am looking for the source.”

He leans down and turns her so the woods are blocked from her view. “Why do you insist on doing this to me? We both know you are controlling that beast, and who made that sound. Stop lying to me, Lillian.”

I can’t see what is going on, but her feet move away and I assume it’s from yanking herself free. “Corbin, let go of me. I don’t control the beast, so your words are complete nonsense.”

“Not this again. If that is the case, then my father’s head wouldn’t have landed at your feet like a present. Does the beast love you? I need to know,” he says as he finally gets a hold of her and drags her back.

Lillian’s face drops as she hears his words. I try to break through, so she can hear me, but she still has me blocked out.

“Awww, how sweet. You think that a beast like him is falling in love with the likes of you? Well, he can’t have you. You’re mine and in under a week, you’ll be mine in all ways.”

My mood sours quickly when I realize the full moon is only days away. It doesn’t seem like it should be that soon, but she stayed in the woods for a week after the new moon. A long week filled with love and happiness that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.

But this isn’t the end for us. It can’t be.

I’ve waited two hundred years for her.

Letting out a long huff of frustration, I try to think of ways to stop this madness. But it has to be her choice, even though I don’t want to stand by and let him claim her.

My attention is pulled to the present as she screams. Corbin has her by the arm and is pulling her to the alpha house. Unless he comes near the woods, there is nothing I can do.

The invisible barrier keeps me trapped here and the only other time I can get out is during the full moon.

The door slams after he disappears with her inside.

Lily, just hold on a little longer.

Please, you can't leave me alone with him. Her cry for help brings tears to my eyes.

Baby, hold on.

With nothing left, I turn and head to her grandmother’s cottage, a path that I’m very familiar with.

When I reach the edge of the wood near the house, I see her outside, fumbling with some pieces of wood. She has her cane in one hand while fussing over the log.

But then she hears me and drops the wood to the ground.

"Hello, big, bad wolf. What do you need today?”

I whimper and whine, trying to get my point across. No one else can help her. I know how Lily feels about having her grandmother brought into this, but there’s literally no one else.

“You aren’t acting right.” She looks down the path leading to the village. “It’s Lillian, isn’t it? Your day is coming, beast. I promise I will leave you something to tear apart once your curse is broken.”

Lily's voice breaks through. Beast, please help me.

Another low whine of pain escapes me as I hear her desperate pleas. No, no, no. This can’t be happening.

Grandmother walks down the path faster than she has in years. “Tell her I’m on the way. Use that connection of yours and tell her I will save her until you can.”

Suddenly, she throws the cane down on the ground and lets out a whine as her wolf surges forward. A beautiful white wolf takes her place with a black spot on her chest. She shakes out her fur and runs at full speed toward the village.

Her clothes are left in tattered pieces right beside her cane when I look back. All I can do is hope that she’s not too late.