Chapter 78


    Raven’s father wasmitted , 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 .


    ” Raven’s father was trialled today , he’s been given one hundred and fifty silvershes .


    He’ll then be ced 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 fuckingte .


    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 ept 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 rity … 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 nced 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 underplete watch .


    From what I heard , he wouldn’tst 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 thete 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 theshing 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 shed through my


    mind , and that familiar squeeze in my chest urned .


    Our happy moments , sad moments , painful memories … all shed before me .


    ” A picture of us kissing … I received something simr … .


    ” 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 simr ? 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 wasing .


    ” 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 iting … You … You seem different over thest 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 rity … 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 ept 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 .


    N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content.


    ” 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 waspletely 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 ced 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 , ept your rejection .


    ” I will always love you .


    We closed our eyes , feeling that painful pull that ripped through our chest .


    Our hands were stillbined .


    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 …..