Chapter 71


    I had just opened the kitchen window when the sound of a vicious growl ripped through the air , making


    my heart thunder , seeing the flock of birds erupt from the trees and the unease that seemed to swirl


    around me .


    It took me a split second to recognise the voice that was barely recognisable .


    Liam .


    That was Liam ! I rushed out of the house , telling the guards to watch Azura and Monica as I raced in


    the direction of themotion , faltering when the sound of Raven’s scream pierced the air .


    No.


    Goddess no ! What has he done ?! ” Elijah , it’s Liam and Raven ! ‘ I called through the link to Elijah .


    ‘ I’m on my way .


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    ‘ His soothing voice came despite the worry that was consuming me .


    ‘ Raven ! Liam ?! ‘


    Nothing .


    I was hitting a wall .


    Fuck ! The wind was rushing through my hair as I broke through the trees , the smell of blood seeping


    into my nose .


    The sheer nket of something dark and evil that hung in the air made my blood run cold .


    I took in the horrifying scene before me , Damon was holding Raven , who was bleeding profusely , her


    heart beating far too fast as she choked on the blood that was pouring out of her neck and mouth .


    She was grasping at her neck , blood running down her fingers , making my stomach churn sickeningly .


    Worry and fear for her whirled around me , my heart beating fast .


    My eyes snapped to Liam , who was advancing on Damon as he was cing Raven down .


    That darkness … It was him , it wasing from him .


    His normal aura waspletely gone … Reced by this horrible , sinister darkness … ” HOW COULD


    YOU ?! ” Damon shouted , sounding angrier than I had ever heard him .


    He blocked Liam , who had just lunged at him , his canines out and anger clear on his face .


    Damon jumped to his feet , meeting him mid – strike .


    It was clear both were ready to rip each other to pieces , I was about to intervene when Damon’s next


    words made me freeze .


    ” YOU MARKED HER ! ” Reality came crashing down on me as the realisation settled in ..


    Her neck … Her neck ….


    Fear washed over me like a bucket of ice cold knives , piercing into every inch of my body .


    Marked .


    Fuck ….


    Memories from long ago shed to the forefront of my mind , the pain with them making it hard to


    breathe .


    History cannot repeat itself .


    ” No … NO ! ” I cried , staring at the blond male before me … His blond hair was matted with blood … So


    simr to his …


    I walked towards them , willing every fibre of my shaking body to move .


    Just as Elijah ran past me , a menacing growl ripped from his lips .


    In a sh , he was next to the two boys who were tearing into each other , ready to kill one another .


    Elijah mmed Liam to the floor , pinning him down , only for Liam to flip them as both men growled with


    all they had .


    The surge of their Alpha power and that darkness enveloped the area like a nket , their growls making


    it feel like the ground was vibrating at the intensity o f the sound .


    Raven’s whimper made mee out of m y thoughts and I rushed closer , not even realising I was


    trembling excessively .


    She needs a doctor !


    But before I could even reach her , Damon got there first , tears in his eyes as he scooped her up as if


    she was the most fragile thing on the .


    She was … Fuck Liam had done this … Guilt and anguish enveloped me as our eyes met for a second .


    I had failed them … Failed He turned , rushing from the scene , his only wish clear … To save his mate


    … Suddenly , I felt something snap inside of me and my mind seemed to be clear .


    This was not Zidane … My eyes zed as I spun around just as I felt a searing pain through the bond


    and turned to see Liam had ripped through Elijah’s side , clearly winning this battle .


    No one hurts my mate .


    I growled menacingly , rushing over in a sh and ripping Liam off Elijah .


    I pushed him to the ground , staring into those frightening ck pits of the man before m e .


    This was not my son … He had let his jealousy and anger fuel the darkness … Let it take over him


    completely .


    ” LIAM ! ” I growled , striking him across the face , letting my ws dig into his face .


    He hissed , attacking back , but I didn’t care .


    ” Liam , what are you doing ?!


    ” I shouted as my back hit the ground , growling as 1 flipped us over , pinning him to the ground .


    Nothing but blood , pain and agony .


    It was all I could see , smell , and feel .


    My only thoughts were that I did not raise a monster …


    I did not raise a monster … 1 did not raise a monster ….


    ” Scarlett ! ” Elijah’s voice came , and I felt myself being pulled away .


    I gaspeding to , my heart was thundering as I stared at Liam whoy on the ground breathing


    heavily , his eyes now his usual cerulean blue .


    A bloody mess , I had wounded him badly .


    I could see the wounds that I had made weren’t healing … They wouldn’t , because of my ability to slow


    down the healing of any wound I inflict upon anyone … ” He’s back … Calm down .


    ” Elijah murmured , rubbing my arms as he buried his face in my neck .


    ” He marked her ! He marked her against her will ! ” I screamed , pulling out of Elijah’s hold .


    How dare he ?! Did he think this was ok ?! Yes , he was cursed , but … He had let his own emotions fuel


    that darkness …


    He had let the curse take over … Tears blurred my eyes and I didn’t even realise I was crying until now ,


    the pain ripping me to pieces .


    My son , my son had done this … The pain o f the entire fucking situation hurt .


    Zidane’s blood would forever run through my veins … in the veins of my children … H e was gone , but


    his shadow hadn’t .


    ” F Elijah held my arms tightly , staring down into my eyes with sadness in his blue ones .


    ” I know baby … He made a mistake and- ‘ ” MISTAKE ?! HE RUINED HER LIFE ! ” I screamed .


    Was just marking someone a ‘ mistake ? ‘ It was so much more … I still awoke with the nightmares of


    that man … ” What hap … “


    Liam whispered coughing u p blood , rolling to his side as he tried to sit up .


    He was losing a lot blood .


    ” Kitten … Calm down , I know- ” ” Don’t tell me to calm down ! ” I shouted , hitting Elijah’s chest .


    History was repeating itself .


    History was Elijah’s lips crashed against me , kissing m e hard .


    I struggled for a bit , but he held me in ce , one hand in my hair and the other around my waist , until I


    finally began to calm down .


    The sparks of the bond coursed through me , soothing the storm within me slightly .


    Just a little …


    ” I’ll handle this .


    ” Elijah said quietly when I stopped struggling .


    I could see the pain in his eyes , as he let g o of me and walked over to Liam , who was getting to his


    feet .


    I was shocked he still could , considering the injuries ,


    but he was a strong Alpha .


    My son … I had hurt my son … he hadmitted an unforgivable crime … but it didn’t stop a mother


    from feeling that pain .


    The pain of his injuries , but more than that , the pain of his sins … and the pain that he had no idea what


    he had just done …


    ” You marked Raven without her consent .


    Elijah said , his voice ice cold ,ced with sadness , regret and burning anger that he was doing his best


    to control .


    The look of horror and shock that crossed Liam’s face made my stomach twist and m y heartbreak .


    He didn’t know … This was going to break him … ” What ? No … No … ” He looked around , as if trying


    to see where he was , or what had happened .


    ” Fuck … No.


    No.


    No ! ” He staggered back , staring at the blood on the ground , swallowing hard .


    Blood that belonged to all five of us … He must have caught sight of the scent , staring at the blood that


    belonged to Raven .


    Any colour he had left in him was gone , his ashen gaze turning to Elijah , who nodded gravely .


    ” I know the curse has given birth to this darkness , that you have lost to it … allowed your emotions to


    let it consume you …


    I am your father Liam , and I will help you .


    You are not alone , you will never be alone , but you havemitted a heinous crime and for it , you will


    be punished .


    I love you and I will be there for you , but you need to pay for what you have done .


    “ I watched the anguish in Liam’s eyes , watched his entire worlde crashing down around him …


    And it was at that moment that I realised what this curse had cost .


    Not only had Liam be unhinged ….


    he hadmitted a crime that was equal to rape in ourmunity …


    One that Raven may one day forgive him for … but one he himself never would … His gaze flicked to me


    , looking over my body before his gaze snapped to his father’s bloody body ….


    I watched my son crumble before me , that young boy who had nothing but love for others … who would


    hide his own pain and give away everything he loved for others ….


    My smiling , little Liam … ” I understand and I agree … ” He swallowed ; his breathing was ragged .


    ” I Liam Westwood , renounce my im as Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack to my father , Alpha Elijah


    Westwood , and am ready to pay for the crimes I havemitted under thews of this pack and the


    council .


    ” Liam said , falling to his knees as the surge of power shifted .


    I felt the power of bing the Luna once more course through my veins .


    Neither of us was expecting this .


    My heart pounded a s I realised that he was giving up , on himself and life ..


    ” Liam … ” Elijah said , shocked .


    ” I have one request … ” Liam said , his chest heaving as he tried to breathe .


    He was losing too much blood … My vision was blurred with tears , the urge tofort him … The pain


    he had caused both shed against one another inside of me , but he still needed someone …


    Before I could even move , he tumbled sideways , losing consciousness .


    I rushed over , my heart pounding .


    Yes , I wanted him to pay for his crime , but he was still my son , cursed by the wretched gods for his


    ancestors ‘ crimes .


    ” He needs a doctor .


    ” I said , my voice shaking .


    Elijah looked at me , his eyes pained before he sighed heavily .


    ” His final request , he mind linked me it .


    ” ” 1 ” What is it ?


    “ I asked , my heart thundering as I pressed my hands to the long gashes that I had made through his


    chest trying to stem the blood loss .


    ” No one is to heal him , he made me take an oath upon you I won’t break it .


    ” Elijah


    said , pain and sadness in his eyes .


    My heart squeezed in pain .


    He was punishing himself … I pulled my shirt off and pressed it to the wounds .


    ” Then at least get some bandages !


    ” I screamed .


    I stared down at my son , my heart pounding .


    The image of Raven’s neck shed to the forefront of my mind … A brutal bite that had almost killed her .


    Was she ok ?


    ” And get someone to call Kiara , we need her ! ” What have you done , Liam ? There’s no going back …


    I kept my hand firmly on his stomach and chest , but i my shirt was already drenched .


    I knew my son was deep down in there somewhere … and I knew that he would never be able to forgive


    himself .