Chapter Twenty Nine

Lillian

As Samson and Kase grip each arm tightly, I can’t help but feel a sense of unease. Both of these men have been close to Nigel’s family since they came and when their fathers retired from being betas, they took their place. Sure, I’ve dealt with them a lot recently, but right now, I’m on edge.

Oddly, I don’t see the other man who should have been one of the betas. His father was strong enough to be one, but his family stepped away. That didn’t stop him from hanging out with these two from time to time, though.

Kase is bloody. Samson doesn’t look much better.

Corbin steps forward and looks at both of them before his bright gaze drops to meet mine. “Did you know that the beast killed Cody? He ripped his head off when he entered the woods.”

I shiver as I realize that is where the other one went.

Corbin only laughs because of my reaction. “You seem surprised. Anyway, he nearly killed Kase as well. Ripped his tail clean off. Honestly, I should have him killed.”

I know little about the beast’s curse, but I don't think Corbin can free him, nor can he kill him. It seems like a trick just so the beast won't hurt anyone else, but what happens when he finds out?

What happens if Corbin truly believes he can kill him and he tries? How many more are going to die?

I'm already in a hopeless situation because Corbin is relentlessly pursuing me to be his mate, and I will go to any lengths to prevent the pack from suffering under his oppressive rule. Anything coming from his mouth sounds like he’s out of his mind. The poor beast. Even though I wish to free him, he is probably the only one who is in a better situation than the rest of us. He has the entire woods to roam.

We are stuck here, under Corbin’s thumb. Sadly, that is somewhat because of his curse, but even if he wasn’t in the woods, I doubt things would change.

"It's a trick. Don't accept."

I am about to say something else when a warm hand swiftly covers my mouth and stops me from talking. Looking back, I notice Samson, who has a tight grip on me and is not letting go. The fact that he is considered one of Corbin's most trusted men only fuels my hatred towards him.

Corbin chuckles under his breath as he casts me a quick glance. “I guess my little kitten wants to speak, but it’s not her turn.”

A growl rumbles in my chest, causing him to laugh louder this time.

“She sounds like she’s purring, too. Does my kitten like being handled roughly? I’ll have to remember that for our first night together.”

Oh, how I hate this man with all my being. My poor wolf is restless, just beneath my skin and begging to be set free.

I sigh as I realize anything I do now is pointless. If I choose to rebel, I don’t have the support and the beast can’t escape the woods to help me. We have to wait until the full moon when he can be free for one more night. If we can make it until then, we can finish this once and for all. It’s just a few more days.

My wolf mumbles something that I can’t quite hear. It’s almost like she’s in a barrel and her voice only echoes. Suddenly, I realize she’s talking to the beast through a bond I never knew about.

How long have you been doing this?

She freezes, giving me the impression she never wanted me to know about this. Oh, a few times. I let him know whatever I feel he needs to know.

You have been going behind my back?

Maybe. You know you don't love Corbin, and there has to be a way to fulfill your destiny and save the pack. I don't believe that's with Corbin.

I know she's right, but I'm still not sure how. The story my parents told me is so close to his story, but what does it have to do with me? The question floats across my mind again. Could I be the key to his freedom?

Shaking my head, I slump into Samson's hold. What good am I to him?

My wolf is useless and only surfaces at random times. I can’t even shift on demand like other shifters. How can I be the answer?

As my gaze finds Corbin again, he is stalking closer to the woods to taunt the beast. He now sees he can’t leave, so he has become braver and dares to get closer. I move my gaze toward the woods to look at him.

The beast is standing at the edge, but I can barely see his dark form. He is huge, from what I can tell, standing nearly as tall as Corbin at six foot four. His fur is dark colored from what I can see through the bushes. Finally, the beast shifts and I can see him better now.

A few spots of fur are missing, revealing scars that decorate his body like badges of honor. My breath hitches in my throat. I don't remember my time with the beast for that week I was missing, so to see him now is taking my breath away. His red eyes find mine and I instantly calm. They look almost human.

"You love her, don't you, beast?" Corbin's voice distracts me as he shouts at the beast. "This pack needs her as their leader. Can you not do one thing for this village, or do you only think of yourself?”

No answer. Not even a growl can be heard. Corbin takes that as his sign to continue. "You've haunted these woods all these years and have taken many pack members from us. I thought your issue was with my father, but here you stand. Can you not just stick to the woods and leave the village in peace? It's all any of us want."

The beast looks at Corbin blankly, but then his gaze finds mine again. I can see him weighing the options, but he doesn't want to let me go.

Part of me wishes he wouldn’t, but I know our options are limited.

Nothing works out in my favor. It seems like no matter what I choose, someone is going to die.

If I choose the beast, I will lose my grandmother. The pack will never get behind me and Corbin will rally them. I’ll most likely end up dead. If I chose Corbin, then I don’t fulfill my destiny and the beast will stay trapped in the woods for eternity.

I’m literally doomed.

The beast seems defeated as he hangs his head for a second. If someone had told me this would happen five years ago, I would have never believed them. He was painted as some mindless beast, but this shows the opposite. He may be able to not speak with them, but you can tell he is thinking about the deal.

Lily, is this what you want?

His voice fills my mind suddenly, causing me to jump. Why would he ask my thoughts about this? Does it matter what I say?

Yes. It matters. If you want to save your pack and keep Corbin in line, I will let you. It's your choice.

My choice. There are those words again. Why is it up to me?

Because it has to be you. It always has been you. So, please decide.

Panic causes my heart to race, and Corbin turns to look at me with a wary stare. "What is wrong with you?"

My head snaps up as our gazes meet. I shake my head and try to act like nothing's wrong, but the way he looks at me says he doesn't believe me. "Remove your hand, Samson. I don't believe my little kitten is telling the truth. You can hear him, can't you?"

"No," I reply quickly.

Corbin bites his bottom lip and looks at me with a look of disbelief. "You replied a little too quickly, kitten, and you forget I can smell a lie."

My eyes widen for a moment before I can control my facial expression. "I can't hear a thing. You are mistaken."

"More lies." Corbin's gaze moves toward the beast, a feral snarl on his face. "I can just kill him and be done with this, but what will it do to you?"

"No, let him live. I will do as you ask and become your mate." I'm sorry, beast. You have to go. I don't want my village to suffer his wrath or for you to lose your life over me. I also can’t risk my grandmother’s life.

The beast looks at me with a straight look before nodding and disappearing into the woods. Corbin looks stunned as he keeps checking between me and where the beast was. "I guess it's been decided."

"You got what you wanted,” I say as I hang my head in defeat. This is not how I imagined my life, but there isn't much of a choice.

Corbin saunters over, his smile growing with each step he takes toward me. "Oh, this is only the start, kitten. With the beast out of our way, we can rule this pack in peace. You will have everything you ever wanted and be my queen."

Silence. That is my only response to him.

"I love how you smell," he groans as he gets closer. Corbin seems pleased and leans in to smell me again.

"I smell like you."

He chuckles under his breath. "I know, and I like that. It's so much better than smelling like a beast."

I swallow hard as he finishes closing the gap between us. Once he's standing in front of me, he stands still and takes me from Samson's hold, pulling me into his arms. The hug is tight as he buries his face where he marked me.

His hand snakes up my side to cup my cheek. Once our eyes meet, I can sense the change in him. The predator comes out, and he is not happy. "Lillian, it's time you stepped up into your role as alpha female. That means you will listen to me from now on and not embarrass me by calling out to another man or lying to me. Do you understand?"

"I understand," I mumble.

My eyes wander off to the side, and his grip tightens on my face. "I don't think you do. You are mine and I will have no one, or anything, interfere. This full moon, you will become my Luna."

“I know.”

He takes me to the alpha house, and that is sadly where I stay until the next day. As time passes, it feels like a blur and then I realize that it’s only two days until the full moon. Two short days before Corbin will mark me before the pack.

Two more days until I’m stuck like this forever.

Swallowing hard, I look at the calendar and wish for more time, or maybe an answer.

The beast has been silent, even though I've called out to him every so often, hoping for an answer. Sadly, he never does, and I'm left all alone in my sorrow. Once we returned to the house yesterday, Corbin sent my Grandmother to her home, leaving me even lonelier.

He is keeping me cut off from everyone and I hate it.

A soft knock at the door startles me, and Alana enters. "May I come in? I figure you might need someone to talk to before the big day."

As she closes the door behind her, I see something in her arms that appears to be a garment bag.

"What do you need, Alana?"

She sighs, shaking her head because of my rudeness. "Well, my dear, I brought you a dress since you never got to go shopping for one."

I think back to when Corbin said we were going shopping and realize we never did. "Oh, we never got to go. That's right."

"Yes, it seems like father like son, and he threw you in the dungeon."

I turn around to look out the window, wishing she would just leave. "Yes, he did. At least until I agreed to be a good little mate."

My sarcastic tone doesn't go unnoticed. She comes to stand beside me, the garment bag clutched close to her chest. "I apologize for his brashness, but I promise you he will be gentler from now on. We had a talk about how one should treat a mate, and I should have sooner. The thing is with Corbin and his father, they expect the female to obey, even if they are close in rank. If you respect him and are compliant, then things will go much smoother for you."

"I'm sure he'll be fine." My gaze never moves from the window. The longing for freedom is driving me insane. My wolf is restless and wants to be out of this room. The woods have never looked so beautiful as freshly fallen snow dusts their leaves. "It's going to be a cold full moon."

"That is why I brought you this. Of course, you'll have to strip to shift after the binding vows, but at least this will give you some cover from the cold while you're in your human form." She walks over to the closet door and hangs the bag on the hanger. I watch as she grabs the zipper and pulls it down to reveal a beautiful long sleeved white dress.

"It is gorgeous." My mouth falls open as I move from my seat to go examine the material. Though it doesn't look like it's very thick, it will be perfect for me.

"I wore this when I mated with Corbin's father. You should wear your mother’s red cloak with it."

I'm surprised that she even mentioned it. "My cloak. Yes, I will need to get that from my house. We had a warm few days, and I had hung it up so it wouldn't get dirty."

She steps up behind me and leans in close to whisper in my ear. "It would be a fine addition to the dress. I will send for it immediately."

"Thank you."

Alana moves from behind me and heads toward the bedroom door. "I will come back and check on you. We're having steaks for dinner, and I'm sure you'd like some."

With a smile, she leaves the room and I'm left to wonder why she is being so nice to me. I may not know her that well, but I know Corbin and how he operates. He and his father were never nice, unless for a price. His mother told me how to survive with him, but I don’t know if I can.

To be compliant and obedient is like a slap to the face. I'm an alpha and meant to lead. To be his mate meant defying everything that I am and becoming something I’m not nor will I ever be.

I pick up the sleeve of the dress and admire it for a moment. It makes me feel weird inside, though I don't wish to wear it to mate with Corbin. Letting go of the sleeve, I fall to my knees on the floor. It feels all too real, and I realize I'm out of time. Two days is all I have to finish this.

Can I kill Corbin and save my Grandmother? What of the pack then? Will they forgive me and follow my lead or will they rebel against me?

Sighing, I know I can't go through with it. If I do, the pack will rebel and probably kill my Grandmother, then me. There is no true simple answer, even though I wish there was.

Another knock on the door distracts me, and I look toward it. I can already smell him standing on the other side. "Just a minute."

Corbin replies cockily, "You know, I don't mind if you aren't dressed."

I snarl my nose in disgust and rush to stand, clearing my face of all emotion. "I'm ready."

He swings the door open and takes one look at where I stand. After quickly eyeing the dress, his gaze returns to mine. "I've come to fetch you for dinner."

I walk over without complaint and take his arm. "Your mother mentioned steak, and I'd love some."

Corbin ensures he keeps my arm wrapped securely in his as we walk to the dining room. I'm trying my best to heed his mother's words about being compliant. Little does she know that I will use that to work things in my favor.

I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to pull this off, but I have to fulfill my destiny and save my pack from his family. As the old alpha’s granddaughter, I must bring the pack under our family again.

Good luck doing that. You know the answers and you refuse to listen, so you won't receive my help.

My wolf lets out a huff and recedes to the depths of my mind. She hasn't been in the best of moods since the beast left. My decision to do this doesn’t help matters. It's not like I've dreamed of mating Corbin, either. So, now she is furious and done with me.

I peer out of the corner of my eye at him. It's not that he isn't handsome. He's tall and well built, a very sturdy mate and alpha. He wears his blonde hair a little long, but it's neatly styled in a messy sort of way. His eyes are more honey than dark brown, especially when his wolf takes over. He's a man most women would love to have and coo over, but his attitude is where he loses me.

I'm an alpha in my own right, and he refuses to respect me, so how can I give him mine?

We arrive at the table, his mother full of smiles as she takes in my arm wrapped in his. "Lovely to see you came to eat with us."

"Yes, I feel it will be good since we will be officially family in a few days." I plaster the fake warm smile on and hope he doesn't sense my tension.

He escorts me to a seat, but then sits down. It's not that I expect him to pull out my chair first, but I feel like an idiot standing here because I thought he was going to. I grab the back of the chair and start to pull it out, but he places his hand over mine.

"Stop. I have your seat already pulled out."

I look around the table, but his mother is seated in the only chair pulled out beside him. He chuckles low and pats his lap. "Right here, mate."

Resisting the urge to bite him, I step closer and lower myself onto his lap. It's downright embarrassing and my cheeks show it by turning flaming red. "Thank you for such a warm seat."

I look over at his mother, and she looks proud of how I respond. My hunger suddenly vanishes as Corbin wraps his arms around my stomach and pulls me closer to his chest. My back is stiff, and I tense up further.

"Lillian, why are you so stiff? It’s like hugging a board.”

"I'm not used to this yet, but I'm sure I will be in time." I offer him my best smile, and he bites his lip.

Oh, this being compliant stuff is for the birds.

Suddenly, he reaches over with his knife and stabs the steak on the platter. I watch as he brings it onto his plate. "Would you like the first bite?"

I glance toward his mother and then at him, unsure of what to do. She is too busy cutting her steak to see my worried gaze as I plead with my eyes on how to answer this. Corbin seems to realize what I'm doing and softly grabs my chin. "I offered you the first bite, Kitten. This means you are more than welcome to take it."

He cuts the steak, jostling me as he reaches around me to do so. Once the piece of meat is on the fork, he brings it up to my mouth. "Open, Kitten."

I slowly open, and he places the steak right behind my teeth. Slowly taking the steak off the fork with my teeth, he eyes me greedily. He pulls away slightly, watching me intently as I finish chewing. I have to admit they make a good steak, but it's unnerving how he watches me.

"Is it good, Kitten?" His thumb finds my lip, and he wipes away a little of the juice that fell from the steak as it went into my mouth.

It would be even better if you stop calling me kitten. I’m not a cat. I’m a wolf.

I nod and glance toward his mother. When my gaze shifts to him, he looks at his mother with a narrowed gaze. "Leave us. I believe you are making my kitten nervous."

Her eyes meet his, and she takes her plate as she rises from the table. When he turns his attention back to me, she gives me a wink and takes off into another room. I want to cry out not to leave me in here with him, but I won't out of fear of what Corbin would do.

"Now that we're alone, you can relax and enjoy this meal. Open up, here's another bite."

Corbin feeds me forkful after forkful until I'm sated. I'm astonished when the plate is clean, and he looks up at me with amusement.

"Are you full, my Kitten?"

"Yes. That was wonderful and one of the best meals I've ever had." His arm tightens around my waist as he readjusts me on his lap. I hadn't even realized that I had grown relaxed and was slipping.

But I really wish he would stop calling me that pet name. It’s driving me insane.

"There is plenty more from where that came from. Now it's your turn to feed me." His eyes light with his wolf's and grow brighter. I look at the fork laying on the table and shudder, which he mistakes with excitement. "Well, what are you waiting for? Feed your mate."

I reach over to where the fork lies and slowly pick it up. The knife is directly beside it, and I grab it with my other hand. Slowly, I cut the steak up into bite-sized pieces, feeling like I'm feeding a child more than a grown man, though he had just done the same for me.

With the meat on the fork, I slowly bring it to his open mouth. He bites down over the fork and pulls the steak off with a satisfied moan. "So delicious. Won't you wipe the juice off my mouth?"

I take my thumb and gently wipe his mouth just as he had mine moments ago. He captures it with his lips and sucks the juices off. I freeze at the sensation, unable to process why this man would torment me like this.

Months ago, he hated me and caused so much pain in my life. Now, to see him like this and vulnerable is shocking. I trace his face for a moment once my thumb is free from his mouth. He seems to revel in the sensation. "So beautiful."

He leans up and kisses me, the taste of steak still on his lips. I sit there for a moment, lost in it, as he shifts me onto his lap. My hand trails down his chest, feeling the hardness of his muscles. He shifts me again and tugs at his jeans as he settles me more over his other leg. He breaks the kiss abruptly and pauses for a moment, panting for breath.

"You are up to something."

I grab his face between my hands, hoping to distract him once again, but he pushes me back a little and looks at me with a confused expression.

"Why are you doing this? Just yesterday, you wouldn't look at me. Now you are kissing me as if you are in love."

"Corbin, I've accepted my fate. You and I will be mated in just two days' time. I have been childish by not accepting my duty as the Luna of the pack, so I'm trying to do better."

I'm more disgusted than you could ever know. How could you betray your true mate by sitting on his lap and devouring him as if he was the steak itself? I will never forgive you for betraying our mate.

My wolf slams the door shut between us and I feel cold, as if I had been standing in the snow outside. A shiver makes its way down my back and Corbin looks toward the steak still sitting on his plate. "Won't you feed me some more, then?"

With a trembling hand, I get him another bite and put it in his mouth. He chews and watches me as if to study me. It makes me nervous, but he seems content just like this. For once, he isn't pushing me into the mating mark before the full moon.