Chapter Thirty Nine

Lillian

Corbin leans closer, his hands making their way down my arms. "So, what do you say, Lillian? Be mine and save the beast or refuse and he stays wherever he is?"

My body shakes as I feel his hands rubbing down my arms again. The repeated motion should soothe me, but in his case, it just disgusts me further.

I don't like his touch and I don't want to be with him, but what choice do I have? If I say no, I'll never be able to free the beast from the place the witch sent him. Why do these things keep happening?

It should have become easier after Natalia died, but instead I keep facing more obstacles that drive me to the point of insanity, all because there are things no one can talk about.

I'm so lost in thought that I don't realize his lips are about to touch mine. Gasping, I move my head to the side, away from him. "That is not an invitation to kiss me."

He backs up, but doesn't move away. "It's not that hard of a decision. You either want to save the beast or leave him to rot somewhere else. Make your choice."

"I want to save him," I whisper. My thoughts are a tangled mess, but one thing is clear. I will save him and I will bring him home. Whatever it takes, that beast is mine, and even if it's the last thing I will do, he will be set free entirely. It just may cost me everything, though.

He chuckles. "Then the choice is simple. Say the words that you're mine and I will help you."

"I'm yours on one condition," I say, looking up at him with doe eyes.

"Are you in any position to ask for anything? I'm granting you something already." He pauses for a moment, licking his lips as he glances down into my eyes. "Fine, as long as it's reasonable, I think I can grant you one thing, since you are mine."

I wet my lips, my mouth suddenly going dry. Will he grant this one request? I have to play my cards right or I will blow everything that is running through my mind.

"All I ask is that you do not mark me as yours until the beast is safe in the woods."

His eyes widen as he considers my request. The way he's looking at me, I expect him to deny it. It is risky, especially for him. The moment the beast is free, he could mark me and Corbin won't be able to stop him. I know what I'm asking and honestly I'm hoping for that outcome, but I can't act like it's what I want.

He has to believe I'll follow through on this deal.

Corbin shoves his fingers under my chin roughly, tilting my head back until I meet his gaze. "I might consider this request if you tell me why I must wait."

"Consider it a security deposit of sorts. In order to save the beast, I must agree to be your mate, correct? Well, who's to say you'll actually help me once I'm marked as yours? So, this is my condition. To ensure you uphold your end of the bargain, the beast must be saved first, then you can mark me."

He leans closer, inhaling my scent as he drags his fingers down my throat. "A clever one, aren't you? Fine. I can agree to those terms, but as soon as he steps foot back into the woods, I'm claiming you then and there. No waiting, no complaining. I don't care who's watching. We will be mated that very second, with or without the full moon."

"You have a deal."

Corbin finally moves away from me, his gaze dropping to my throat. "Good, now that we are in agreement, we can look for the beast."

He snarls a little as he turns around and stomps off. I slowly sink to the wooden floors, shock flooding my system. What have I done?

This could blow up in my face in a matter of seconds. My only hope is that as soon as the beast sees me again, he claims me before Corbin has a chance.

Sighing, I stroke my face with my hand as the tears finally fall. Why can't this be easier?

Grandmother finally opens the door, peeking her head inside and finds me against the wall, right next to it.. "Well, what now, my child?"

My head falls back against the wall as I turn to look at her. "You heard everything, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did and now I'm asking you what now? You must have a lot of thoughts," she says as she steps in fully through the door and closes it behind her. "That was a deal of a lifetime to make. I'm not sure you're ready for what could happen in the end, either."

I move my finger over my lips to silence her before she gives anything away. Corbin is still somewhere close by and until we are alone, I can't say anything.

Even the pack link isn't safe. Even though I'm the alpha, if I don't hold up my guard just right, he might overhear my thoughts.

The only way to do this is verbally away from prying ears.

"Are you okay?" she asks.

"No, but I will be. He's agreed to help me find the beast." I reach up, drying my tears, and glance toward the stove. "Will you help me make some potato soup? The kind I liked when I was little. We haven't eaten that in years."

Her smile warms me as she heads straight for the kitchen. "Not a problem. Days like this, you just need some comfort food. Will Corbin be joining us?"

"I don't know," I whisper. "He left toward the spare room."

The house isn't that big. The kitchen and living area are an open layout with two bedrooms. I rarely slept in that other bedroom and usually chose the couch. Something about it has always given me the chills. Grandmother used it for a library mostly, but there is a small bed in the corner. She never questions why I don't sleep in there, though.

"Maybe you should investigate what he is doing in that room?" she asks, her brow raised.

"Fine, I'll go check." I rise from the floor and make my way toward the back bedroom. Approaching slowly, I stop at every sound coming from the room. What is he doing?

When I open the door, I find him with a book. He's smiling as he turns the page. "Looks like you have been doing your own research and know more than you realize."

“Grandmother told you that I know some things. Of course, you all can’t tell me who the bonded person is that I need to end.”

“You will figure it out soon enough,” he says as he slams the book. “But I’m sure you are very frustrated with everything. Don’t worry. I will help you alleviate some of those frustration symptoms soon.”

"In your dreams."

He chuckles low. "Not my dreams anymore. It's part of our deal and is happening."

A sigh escapes me as I realize the consequences of the said deal. This is going to be a very rough few days as we find a way to reach the beast.

Time ticks by and before I know it, days are gone and I feel like giving up.”

Corbin is the most annoying man I have ever met and is constantly in my space, begging for attention. It is driving me to the point I have contemplated murder. Surely, an alpha can do it and get away with it?

The pack will forgive me, right?

My eye twitches as I consider it again. Once again, he's at my side, his face touching my upper arm as he leans on me. My claws extend as I consider ripping his face off, so I don't have to look at him anymore.

He reaches out, his hand caressing the top of mine. "Worked up, aren't we? All you have to do is ask for relief and I shall give it to you. Ask me and it’s yours."

My self-control snaps.

In one instance, I'm staring straight at the wall in front of us and in the next, my hand is wrapped around his throat, the tips of my claws pushing into his skin.

"I made a deal with you, but that doesn't mean you can act like this," I snap.

He chuckles low as he traces his fingers up my arm. "I like it when you're like this. So dominate and everything I have ever imagined you’d be. Please choke me as much as you like.”

I jerk him forward, leaning close to drive my point home. "You won't like me much longer if you don't tell me what I need to know. I'm sick of this. It's been days, and I agreed to our deal, so why aren't we further into this?"

He eyes the books on the table and shrugs. "I don't know. You tell me. How come you don't know the man who is your fated? Shouldn't you know his name? That sounds rather concerning to me."

I let him go, releasing him roughly as I turn to face the books again. "He never told me his name, but I know he is either Logan or Lucian. Now, find him.”

"Aww, such a shame. Maybe we'll never find him. You can't escape our deal regardless," he says with a smirk. "I'm helping you, so that counts, even if we never find him."

My sanity slips a little further and my claws extend again. This time I control it though, and don't lash out. "You are lucky I am controlling her or your face would have been gone by now.”

"Maybe I don't want you to control her. Just maybe, I want you to ravage me. Let go, Lillian, and accept your fate. It's always been me from the start and you know it."

Snarling, I turn to stare at him with a venomous gaze. "It has never been you and me. I was your servant, remember? What was it you've told me? I was to serve you on my hands and knees? Well, not any longer."

He strokes his thumb across his bottom lip as he moves his eyes up and down my body. "Well, it was a good idea at the time, but now I see how wrong I was. I prefer you like this.”

"I am the alpha now, Corbin, and you will do as I ask,” I say as I stomp my foot on the floor.

He looks amused as he looks down at my feet. "Foot stomping, are we? Does that make you feel better? Isn’t that unbecoming of an alpha?"

"You are impossible!" I scream as I finally let him go and make some space between us on the couch.

Corbin is quiet for a moment, watching every move I make. I feel like I'm getting worked up again and rub my hand across my eyes. This man is going to be the death of me.

How am I supposed to find the beast and figure things out if he is driving me up the wall from his actions?

"I can help you with that, you know? You'd feel a lot better if you weren't so flustered," he admits. "Why not have a little fun while we hunt for the beast?"

"Because that's not our deal. You agreed to help me find him, and then I'd mate you, so do your part and stop this madness," I yell.

He shrugs as he accepts defeat. "Suit yourself."

Grandmother continues to pull book after book from her library and yet, we can’t find anything about the other realms.

As I open the book for the hundredth time, I trace my fingers over the notes about Logan and Lucian. Which one is the beast?

"Grandmother, what can you tell me about Logan and Lucian? Do you know anything other than what is in this book, like which one could he be?”

As our eyes meet, her face changes and I can tell she can't speak. At first, it's odd, but then I realize the deeper meaning behind it.

Corbin looks up, his eyes locking with mine briefly as he slams the book he's holding shut. He slumps in his chair and stares at me.

"Why are you both looking at me like that? You can’t tell me which one became the beast.”

As they continue to say nothing, the air leaves my lungs.

Grandmother shakes her head, clearly exasperated. "Child, I wish I could, but you have to figure this one out.”

Corbin looks guilty before he reaches for another book and averts his gaze.

"You know where he is, don't you?" I stand from the table, leaning over it and eyeing him closely. "Corbin, spill it."

"I never said I knew where he was, though I have ideas. The part you don't understand is the amount of magic it will take to get us there and we might be stranded after," he says as he looks at me over the top of the book. “What if I can’t get us back? It’s not like I’m a full-blooded witch. I’m more wolf than anything. My great grandmother was the witch and I don’t know how far back it goes on my father’s side.”

"But you can do it? You can take us there and save him.”.

He sighs and throws the book down on top of the table. "Little red, you do not know what you are asking. Do you know how many realms there are? If I take us to the wrong one and we're stranded, you won't be able to see him again. What part of this am I not making clear for you? The amount of magic is dangerous and I'm only a half-breed. My wolf shifter side is more dominant than the witch side I possess. I couldn’t even use magic until I was a goat and changed back. What you are asking for is possibly more than I can even do. If we end up in the wrong place and I can’t get us back, then you are stuck with me regardless, so why not mate now and just forget him?"

My heart sinks in my chest as I realize he's not lying. The magic in his blood is weak. If we choose the wrong realm, we might be stuck there for no telling how long until his magic returned, if he even had enough to begin with. There is no guarantee.

He notices my silence and continues, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you know I'm right. This mission is stupid and pointless. You don't know the realm she sent him to, nor do we know if I have enough magic to get us there or back. It's not like I've played with spells. Father didn't allow me around my false mother’s things, either, to even explore.”

I collapse into the chair, completely disheartened. "So, there is no chance of finding him?"

Grandmother scoffs. "Where there is a will, there is a way. Move over Corbin."

Grandmother scoots Corbin out of his chair and takes his place. "Now, what I believe he is trying to say is it's going to be difficult, but not impossible. Isn't that right, Corbin?"

He growls at her, looking down at her loathingly. "Woman, what are you trying to do? Get us both killed? You know if I take her to another realm, we're as good as dead if we are stuck there. Well, we can have some fun before that point, but still."

"Oh hush," she claims. "I know there has to be a way to bring the beast here. For your sake, I hope you fulfill your side of the bargain you made with Lillian. You think you know my granddaughter, but I know her better. You'll be gutted and laid out on the floor dying as she laughs during your last dying gasps covered in your blood. That is your fate if you can’t do your part."

My mind immediately paints the picture, and a smile comes to my face. The wolf in me relishes in the thought of slitting his throat and letting his blood pour out.

This is the first good thing I’ve heard in a while. Can we do it?

I catch Grandmother eyeing me and try to hide my smile. She scoffs and points at me. "See, she's thinking about it. If I were you, I'd become the help she can't get rid of instead of standing there being a pain in the tail."

Laughing, I shake my head in agreement. "My wolf wants to see you bleed. You tormented me for all these years and she won't have it any other way. Even if you save the beast, she's going to make your life a nightmare."

He looks between the two of us and shakes his head. "When you become my mate, she will fall over like an innocent lamb and beg for me. I'm not worried. The mate bond works very well and she’ll love me, even if she despises me now.”

Grandmother rolls her eyes as she opens the book in front of her, trying to not give in to his banter. We could sit here and argue all day at this rate. He definitely loves to argue, that much I can tell.

"Anyway," she continues, "here is a book of spells. There is a spell for transportation, but since we're not sure of the realm, we can't use it yet."

"Well, this is a start," I say as I lean over the table to grab the book she offers. "At least we have this. I'm sure Corbin can figure out what realm Natalia sent him to. I’m guessing you couldn’t tell me about this sooner?"

When I eye her, she looks rather sheepish. Either she just remembered having it or it was one of those things she had to be led to because of the binding.

He throws his hands in the air in defeat. "Oh, there's about a thousand different realms. Should be simple, right?"

A thousand? He has to be joking.

Honestly, there is so much they are hiding that I’m no longer surprised. Next, they’ll tell me unicorns exist.

My wolf rises to the surface, my fingertips turning into razor-like claws as she begs to take over. "I hope you're joking with me."

He looks down at my hands and smirks. "Oh, the places I'd like those claws. I can see it now. Those will leave some lovely marks on my back.”

"Corbin," I growl out between clenched teeth. “Now is not the time to test me like this. They won’t go where you want them to.”

"Fine, I'm not joking with you. There are about a thousand realms. He could be in any of them and some aren't small. It won't be easy."

I slump into my chair, once again feeling defeated. Every time we make a step in the right direction, we're thrown several steps back. My hope is fading and I don't know how much longer I can hold on to it.

As I glance up at Corbin, he's staring at me again with this knowing look. We both know what is coming, and I'm dreading it.

My wolf will lose control again and I won't be able to be the lone alpha forever.

If we don't find the beast, I am doomed to be with Corbin.

The rest of the day is spent digging through books about the realms. Sadly, I'm not any closer to finding the beast by nightfall than I was this morning, and it's driving me insane.

My wolf rides me hard as I lie down for the night. I once again take the couch, while Corbin takes the small bed in the library. Space is what I need right now, and I can't think when he's right here hovering over me.

I hate to even admit that he might be right.

Eventually, I'll lose the fight, and he'll be to blame because he's the only one strong enough to be with me. The pull to take a mate will become irresistible as time goes on, taking over all of my senses and leaving me rabid until I fulfill my duty.

My plan to save the beast, and hope he claims me before Corbin can lay a finger on me, is all I have left. If I can hold on just a little longer.

My eyes grow heavy as darkness settles in fully and I drift off to sleep, only to be sucked into a dream.

"Where am I?" I whisper. The surrounding trees look nothing like home, and I feel lost.

As I scan the perimeter, I find a cottage that looks almost identical to my Grandmother's, but not exactly. It intrigues me enough to step closer.

My wolf jumps for joy as she threatens to shed my human form and take over, but I fight her back. Now is not the time to go rushing into this. It may not be safe.

The door bursts open, a large, hulking wolf stepping out and looking straight at me.

"Beast?" I ask.

The knowing look in his eyes says it's him and my heart pounds harder in my chest.

"Oh, my gosh, I found you. You're here, but where is here? How can I help you? I need to find you or Corbin is going to become my mate," I cry.

He cocks his head to the side, studying me. I watch as he moves slowly toward me, his eyes never leaving my face. Falling to my knees, he comes even closer, sniffing me even.

His snout rubs the back of my neck and stops at the base of my hair.

"My Lily, but how? How are you here?" he asks, his tone one of shock. "I've dreamed of this moment, but I didn't think it would come."

I jump for a moment at how clear his voice comes through. It’s almost as if he is speaking to me, though his mouth never moves.

"Beast, tell me what realm Natalia sent you to or I'll never be able to bring you home."

Movement catches my attention in the house. My gaze drifts toward it, wondering what could be moving inside. Wasn't he alone here?

A man and woman step out, with another boy who looks about twenty, if that.

"Who are they?"

The beast looks back and lets out a huff. "My family. I’m not the only one she did something to. When you bring me back, they'll need to be brought back as well. They've been trapped here all these years."

I hear the woman say the name Logan as she speaks to the younger man, and everything clicks. "You're Lucian."

The beast looks at me with knowing eyes and nods his head. "You know my name.”

"Oh, Lucian." I throw my arms around his massive neck and let out a cry. "Corbin has magic, but he doesn't have much. I don't know how to do any of this or what realm you're in, but I need your help."

He stares at me for a moment and opens his mouth, but he's cut short. A blast of magic sizzles through the air, causing me to gasp.

"Well, what do we have here? A little girl, coming to play the hero. How charming."

When I glance behind Lucian, I finally see her. She's not a very intimidating looking woman, but the sneer on her face makes me wonder what she is up to.

Her long wavy light brown hair moves in the wind as her deep chocolate eyes land on me.

"Emmeline," Lucian growls.

"Emmeline? Who's Emmeline?" My mind draws a blank, and then I remember."You're her sister."

She smiles wickedly before muttering a few words to herself. As she straightens her posture, she sighs. "You're not supposed to be here and I don’t know how you got here, but you won’t be for long.”