Chapter 78
Chapter 78
Raven’s father was committed , and although I knew the Alpha had set his punishment , I still wanted to
tell Liam about it .
I’m angry at him .
So fucking mad at what he did .
But past his split personality , there was that part of him that I knew .
I wouldn’t be able to forgive him easily … If ever .
I don’t know if I could ever call him a friend again either .
Looking back , I think that ended a few years ago .
I was maybe just stuck in a fucking illusion that things would work out … It did fucking hurt … but life
was shit like that .
I entered the cells and unlocking the door , entered his cell .
He was sitting there , his eyes closed , his hair that he always had gelled and styled was lying messily
over his forehead .
His eyes opened and met mine , they looked … broken .
I knew he’d feel it , but maybe this is the punch he needs to realise that he can be in fucking control .
He needs to take control o f his own shit .
Neither of us spoke for a while , and Liam looked away first .
” What do you want ?
” He asked quietly . Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.
” Raven’s father was trialled today , he’s been given one hundred and fifty silver lashes .
He’ll then be placed under house arrest and stripped of any rank or status h e had .
I thought , despite everything , you might want to know …
” I said , clenching m y jaw .
” Thanks … ” He replied .
Gone was the cold arrogance that had surrounded him since his return .
All I saw was his emptiness .
” Who will deliver the punishment ?” He asked quietly .
” I thought I’d ask Alpha Elijah if I could .
” I said .
He nodded , with the tiniest of smiles that didn’t reach his eyes crossing his lips .
” Will you also deliver mine ? ” He asked , looking up at me .
An emotion in his eyes that I couldn’t read unnerved me .
My heart thumped and I stepped back , narrowing my eyes .
” What ?
” ” My trial is in two days , I don’t want Dad t o suffer .
What I did … I’ve caused him even more pain … My punishment won’t be small , and it shouldn’t be …
but I don’t want Dad to do it .
You can tell her it was m y wish that you do it .
” ” Don’t want me to look like the bad guy ? ” I asked , unable to hide the bitterness from my voice .
” He ” No , because you’re all she has now … ‘ said .
” What I did deserves capital punishment and I expect no less , so … be there for her .
” I sighed heavily .
He wasn’t making it easier to hate him .
” I never wanted you to step aside , I was willing to make it work , all three of us .
Raven is loving , she would have been able to treat us both well .
“
” That won’t happen because I always believed that it’s one to one , there’s no space for a third .
There’s no point in discussing it … I no longer deserve her , so good luck .
” He said .
” Not after what I did .
” You’re giving up because of what you did ….
but you still love her .
” I said quietly , hating that I couldn’t just hate him fully even if I’d not forgiven him .
” I do , more than anything , but what I did was unforgivable and it’s a little fucking late .
When we love someone … we do what’s best for them .
” He said , running his hand down his face and massaging his jaw .
His beard had grown too .
” Yeah , we do .
” I said quietly .
” I just kept her stuck in the middle … in this constant tug of war .
Not anymore .
” Our eyes met , and I nodded .
” I heard from her that you two were going to reject one another … ” He said quietly .
” Yeah … I realised that you would never accept it working between us and she was hurting .
You ruined it all .
“
He nodded , staring down at his hands .
” Thanks … for telling me about the trial … ” I nodded , looking at him .
Something told me that with this clarity … Maybe just maybe , this was the push Liam needed to defeat
the darkness inside of him .
I turned away and paused .
I needed to speak my thoughts and so I glanced back at him .
” Nothing is over until you let it be .
There’s goodness in you , Liam .
Find it … Embrace it and let go of all the negative crap . I said quietly .
‘ We will always be here for you , to help you through it .
‘ I added , through the link .
No matter how fucking hard it is or how angry we are at you .
‘ Our eyes met for a moment before I turned and left the cell …
RAVEN
Dad’s punishment was carried out the following day in the cells , at the hands of Damon .
Followed by being bandaged and returned to his home , where he would be kept under complete watch
.
From what I heard , he wouldn’t last longer than a few months at most .
Was it wrong that I didn’t really care ? There were some people who hurt you , but you can still love
them , but Dad … There was n o space for that when I felt nothing but bitterness towards him .
I returned to training today and it seemed everyone had been warned to behave , either that or the truth
about Dad had made a few people guilty .
Owen still acted like a prick but that was his nature and it won’t ever change .
After training , I had showered , got dressed and spent the afternoon pondering over everything .
What I needed to do and what I wanted .
I had now taken the photographs of Robyn and Damon and headed out to his i In the late afternoon .
I rang the doorbell , and he opened soon after , looking as handsome as ever .
I would always appreciate him , but I don’t know what the goddess wanted , it was a mess .
“
Hey .
” He said , pulling me tightly into his arms .
I hugged him back , the tingles of sparks reminding me of our mate bond , but in life , there was a lot of
bonds aside from the mate bond … ” Hey , how are you ? Was the lashing ok ? I didn’t realise you
would have to do it .
” I said quietly .
” I wanted to .
” He said , closing the door behind me .
“ Ah … I see … Damon , I visited Liam the other day and he mentioned that he received a picture of us
kissing … ” I said , taking a seat on the couch as I took out the envelope I had received too .
” It’s what triggered him off before he came to find us The image of him marking me flashed through my
mind , and that familiar squeeze in my chest urned .
Our happy moments , sad moments , painful memories … all flashed before me .
” A picture of us kissing … I received something similar … .
” Damon said frowning .
Turning on his heels , he suddenly left the room before I could continue , I heard him run up the stairs .
My brows furrowed as I stared down at m y envelope .
Have we all received something similar ? Oh , how I wish I had mentioned this sooner .
Damon returned holding an envelope , now seeming to hesitate before he held it out to me .
” I got pictures too .
” I said softly , holding out the envelope of him and Robyn .
We took each other’s envelopes and I slid the pictures out , my cheeks burning as I realised what this
was …
Shit ! I quickly pushed the images back in .
The day Liam went down on me outside the Alphas ‘ home ! I looked up at Damon , who looked utterly
guilty as he looked down at his own pictures and pushed them back in , running his fingers through his
curls .
” I’m sorry you had to see these … I uh … guess it’s good that Liam only got a kissing picture … ” ”
Yeah … ” I said , shoving my pictures into my bag .
A tense silence followed before he spoke .
” Someone’s trying to cause issues … ” ” Owen ? ” I said , frowning .
There was no one else who hated me as much as he did .
” I don’t know … Maybe it could be him .
He is a piece of shit … Well , now that we know , we’ll work on figuring it out .
” ” Yeah .
” We both fell silent and I realised that somehow things really had changed .
” I went to see Liam too .
” Damon said quietly , making me look up at him sharply .
” He wants me to deliver his punishment .
” My heart thudded and I looked at him .
” Would you be able to ? ” He smiled sadly .
“ He doesn’t want Uncle El to do it , knowing it’ll be hard for him .
At the time I didn’t think of it , but … I think he knows how angry I am at him too , and this is probably
the only way I can vent my anger …
He is my Alpha and there’s not really a chance where I can vent my anger , so this is … it .
” He frowned , as if he had just realised what he had said and closed his eyes .
I looked down at my chest squeezing . Yeah , that sounded like Liam … ” His punishment won’t be light
, will it ? ” ” No.
” Damon said quietly .
I nodded .
I thought as much .
I now turned to him .
” Thank you for being an amazing friend and mate .
” I said softly , reaching out and taking his hand in mine , my heart pounding in my chest at what I was
about t o do .
He smiled , a glimmer of sadness in his eyes .
We both knew he knew what was coming .
” You’re no one’s second choice and I won’t treat you as such .
I love you and I always will .
We will remain friends .
We haven’t done anything that could make it awkward .
” I joked .
Damon nodded .
” I saw it coming … You … You seem different over the last few days … Smiling less , more lost in
thought … but you seem t o be … content .
” He brushed his fingers over my knuckles , sending a ripple of sparks through me .
” I seem to have gotten some clarity … How can I love anyone when I don’t even love myself …
” I said quietly .
” When I’m so concerned about others ‘ opinions and emotions ? Since the start I’ve felt like this thing ,
caged between the two of you , feeling guilty , torn and upset .
A king once told me that I need to stop trying to accept things , to think deeply about what I want – I
want to be happy .
” He smiled warmly and there was no sadness in his eyes this time , just a look of understanding and
pride .
” I’m proud of you and I love you .
I always will , and I’m still holding you to that chilling time as friends .
” I nodded vigorously , my hair falling in my eyes .
” Of course , you should ! ” I said , the glow o of the setting sun warmed the room , gracing his skin
beautifully , only enhancing the handsome man before me .
A man who was selfless and loving .
A smile that was completely genuine crossed my lips .
This time , there was no doubt or what – ifs .
I knew what I was doing and why .
I raised his hands to my lips and placed a gentle kiss on each hand .
For my happiness and for his .
” I Raven Jacobs , reject you , my amazing friend , Damon Nicholson , as my mate .
” I said softly , holding his hands to my chest .
But I will always cherish you as a friend .
” I , Damon Nicholson , accept your rejection .
” I will always love you .
We closed our eyes , feeling that painful pull that ripped through our chest .
Our hands were still combined .
I couldn’t breathe for a few moments from the pain that jarred my body as I felt something snap and felt
that emptiness settle somewhere deep inside .
Yes , it was painful , but once it was done , I felt better .
We opened our eyes slowly , gazing into each other’s , my eyes sparkling with so many emotions .
Then , under that setting sun , we smiled at one another …..