Chapter 79


    Two days had passed since the night of the rejection , I had spent it sitting next to Damon , refusing to


    leave him , because even if he was smiling , I knew he was hurting .


    We put a movie on , although I knew neither of us were watching it as we had soon fallen asleep on the


    sofa .


    I knew that it would take him time because he had held out hope .


    Somewhere along the line , I had given up , knowing that it wouldn’t work , but he had held on .


    I hope somewhere in the future we can look back and smile at this entire situation .


    Someday , one day .


    Today was the day of Liam’s trial .


    It terrified me to know that tonight he’ll be punished .


    This was the future Alpha of the pack , and although right now it felt like there was no hope , I was


    confident he would get there one day .


    As for the curse , it was clear Liam himself had to do something to end it , but what ? Even I didn’t know ,


    all we knew was the answer lies within .


    Moreover , the killer was still out there .


    The pack was still working on it , but since , Liam had been the one leading it , they were now set back .


    With him gone , they had to check over things he had already done , although from what Damon told me


    they were in contact with him to help where he could .


    He was even reviewing files in his cell .


    He had told me that Liam had ordered them to do a thorough check on the tracker and stealth wolves


    who had the ability to hide their heartbeats .


    As for no scent , sprays to hide them could easily be made or retrieved from the pack supplies , which


    were also checked , but none seemed to be unounted for .


    So either someone was making their own or getting them from somewhere else .


    Since I hadn’t felt anyone creep up behind me the night my mom was killed , we felt that a tracker wolf


    would be higher up on the list of suspects with a chance of being the killer .


    I was in the hall now , seated at the front once again .


    Today I wore a high – neck top , not wanting all eyes on my mark .


    Everyone was seated just as they had that day but this time the room was far more uneasy , and there


    were more pack members here than there had been on Dad’s trial .


    The doors opened and Liam was brought in .


    His scent wafted into my nose and I closed my eyes , trying to control my emotions .


    I watched him walk through the centre , unlike Dad who had two guards holding him , Liam led the way .


    Despite him being stripped of rank , he was clearly still an Alpha .


    His eyes were trained ahead and he took the seat that was awaiting him .


    The guards cuffed him t o the chair just as Dad had been , before stepping away .


    Uncle El stood up , his face emotionless , a frown furrowing his brow .


    I felt dreadful that indirectly because of mine and Liam’s situation , they were going through this .


    No , because of this stupid curse too .


    ” As you all know , we are here today to hold Liam Westwood ountable for the crimes he has


    committed … One that deserves capital punishment , for marking Raven Jacobs against her will and


    almost killing her in the process .


    ” Uncle El’s eyes Liam .


    shed dark cobalt and my gaze shifted to ” The room remained quiet , I knew everyone was unsure of


    what to make of it .


    My heart was squeezing as I looked at him .


    He simply nodded slowly , his face emotionless despite his eyes clouded with emotions .


    What were we ?


    ” Liam , do you have anything to say ? ” Uncle El asked .


    Aunty Red was frowning , the sadness in her eyes clear .


    Liam raised his eyes , staring ahead with those cerulean orbs of his , full of emotion .


    ” I allowed my anger to get the better of m e , and in the process …mitted a terrible crime .


    I don’t deserve any leniency and I don’t think any punishment can make up for what I did .


    ” He said clearly .


    Uncle El nodded .


    ” I’ve thought long and hard … Considering you are an Alpha … you are meant to be an example to this


    pack .


    An Alpha is meant to be what he wants his people to be ; a role model for the youth of his pack .


    If the Alphamits a crime , it is far worse , With this titlees great responsibility , one we must


    always uphold .


    As your Alpha , I sentence you to five hundredshes with silver in public .


    ” My eyes flew open in shock .


    Five hundred ?! That was worse than Dad’s ! And in public ? Why humiliate him ? I looked at Uncle El ,


    not missing the way his fist trembled by his side , or the way Aunty Red gripped his arm .


    This was hurting them too … Yet they were doing the right thing for the pack … A whisper of shock went


    through the room , and from the snippets I could hear , I knew people were shocked that the Alpha was


    subjecting his own son to something like this .


    But Alpha Elijah was always known for his fairness and equality .


    ” You will remain under house arrest at our home for the next six months .


    As for bing Alpha … If the title is meant to b e yours , then it shall be , if and when the pack deems


    you are worthy of it .


    Raven … D o you want to add anything ? ” ” Yes .


    ” I said , standing up .


    For my happiness and what I felt was right ” I don’t like the punishment .


    ” I said .


    ” It’s befitting , ” Liam said , now ncing a t me .


    My heart skipped a beat and I shook my head .


    No , it wasn’t .


    It wasn’t just an external factor .


    Yes , marking someone against their will was bad , but was everyone forgetting the curse too ?RêAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only


    Yes , he got angry , but the darkness was still there .


    ” Let him at least walk around the pack and carry on as usual .


    The killer is still out there and Liam is needed on that case .


    Yes , he doesn’t need to have his Alpha title , but the pack needs him , rather than keeping him inside


    where he can’t be of any use .


    ” I said , looking at Uncle El .


    He frowned , pondering over my words .


    ” Very well , he will be allowed to take his ce amongst the pack .


    However … due to his … temper , he will be on wolfsbane until 1 it’s under control .


    He will , however , reside in the Alpha home .


    ” Uncle El continued , I knew he meant the curse .


    That was better , Liam needed support and I knew they said the Alpha’s home , so he wouldn’t be


    completely alone .


    This was still better , but he needed more than just two people there for him .


    ” If that- ” ” Theshes , I want the punishment lessened .


    ” I said quietly , my heart thumping .


    I wasn’t stupid , I wasn’t going to let my emotions take overpletely , but I didn’t like this .


    ” I can’t do that .


    ” Uncle El said quietly .


    I’m bending the rules- ” ” I know what he did was wrong .


    I know that I could have died .


    I also know of every factor that contributed to it ; mistakes were made , and although it will take me time ,


    I don’t hate him .


    I’m angry at what happened , hurt too , but as the one who it happened to I have a right to- ” ” I also have


    a right to this .


    This punishment won’t take away what I did , but I’ll feel a little better .


    ” Liam said quietly .


    ‘ Liam , don’t do this .


    ‘ I said through the link .


    ‘ I fucked up big time , Raven , I can’t ever forgive myself .


    ’ ‘ You want to know how you can make up for this ? ” I asked , my heart pounding in rhythm with his as


    we stared at each other from five metres apart .


    ” There’s nothing , that can change the past .


    ‘ ‘ I know , but if you want to do something for me , then do something that will actually make me happy .


    ‘ I said .


    I knew people could tell we were mind linking .


    ‘ Anything .


    ‘ He said quietly .


    ‘ Fight this curse , fix the bonds you have destroyed and let’s make things right Liam .


    I love you , but by giving up and just epting things , that’s not the way to go .


    I want to see the true Liam shine through , I believe only then can we get rid of this darkness .


    Let’s do this together .


    ‘ Our eyes were locked , I wish he’d understand .


    His brows furrowed and I knew he was thinking about what I said .


    ‘ I nderstand and I will do all that , but … for me … let me have this punishment , bitesize .


    ‘ He said , his eyes full of pain as he looked back up at me .


    Goddess … My heart clenched and I realised he needed this too .


    The people need to see this too .


    What I did was fucking messed up .


    Not only did I mark you , I fucking ripped your throat out .


    ‘ I looked down before nodding and slowly sat down .


    ” If that’s decided … Tonight at seven pm , Liam Westwood will get hisshings .


    ” Uncle El said before dismissing the trial .


    I sighed heavily as everyone began leaving .


    Aunty Red came over to me , wrapping her arms around me tightly .


    ” He is a Westwood , he has the strength to take his punishment .


    ” She said softly .


    I nodded , wrapping my arms around her tightly .


    I know , but it didn’t mean I liked it .


    It wasn’t only going to be hard for me , but for his family too .


    I watched him being taken away , staring a this back , my heart clenching in pain .


    Seven o clock couldn’t havee sooner , my nerves were a mess .


    I was advised to not go see him receive his punishment but I wasn’t able to avoid it .


    The bond wasn’tpleted because , as I was a werewolf as well , his mark alone didn’tplete it .


    I would need to mark him too toplete our bond .


    Which meant I wouldn’t be able to feel the pain o f hisshings , only his emotions and a sense of


    unease , but that was already happening .


    I was a restless mess with each passing moment .


    I entered the lower hall , which I hadn’t really been in before , I knew Dad’sshing had urred in the


    cells …


    ” I looked around .


    It was like one of those illegal underground arena’s , cold , gloomy and with that deep sense of


    foreboding .


    Damon was nodding at something Uncle E I was saying , his gloved hand around a silver chain .


    Liam wasn’t here yet .


    Uncle E 1 patted his shoulder before giving me a nod and walking away .


    Aunty Red wasn’t here , but as Alpha , Uncle El had to be here .


    I walked over to Damon , knowing that this wasn’t easy for him too .


    ” Hey … ” I said .


    He looked up , surprised to see me before cing the whip down .


    I hugged him tightly and he hugged me back .


    ” Hey , why did youe ? ” He asked quietly .


    ” Moral support ? I actually have no idea … I just … I need to be here .


    ” I whispered .


    He frowned and nodded .


    ” And how are you feeling ? ” I looked around .


    It was so dark and dreary in here … I noticed Robyn , Zack , Taylor and even Owen were here .


    That bastard ..


    ” Ok , I guess .


    ” He replied quietly .


    No , he wasn’t .


    ” You got this .


    ” I said , ” Just don’t think .


    ” He nodded just as Liam’s familiar scent hit my nose .


    I turned to see him being taken to the centre , my stomach twisting a s they hooked his wrists to the


    chains that dangled from the ceiling .


    Chains that would keep him upright even when his body could no longer take it .


    The sound of heels echoing on the stone floor made me turn and I saw Aunty Red enter .


    She looked around , her heart thudding as she broke into a quick run , rushing over to Liam who was


    already chained up .


    ” Mom ? ” He said , sounding surprised .


    I could only see his chiselled back towards me as his shirt had now been removed .


    ” Liam .


    ” She said , cupping his face as she pressed her forehead to his .


    ” I’m fine .


    This is nothing .


    ” He said quietly .


    Everyone fell silent and I knew this was hard for Aunty Red … She had been through so much and what


    happened had brought back her own traumatic experience.


    They switched to mind link , Aunty Red nodded and ced a kiss on his forehead , although he had to


    bend his head for her to reach .


    She stepped back , taking a deep breath , and walked over to m e .


    I smiled gently , as she came over and hugged me tightly .  ” I’d stay … But I can’t see this , I’m sorry .


    ” She whispered .


    I nodded , I understood .


    She turned and walked away , casting a final nce at Liam and Uncle El before she did .


    Damon walked forward , and any murmurs that urred died down .


    My heart was thumping with every step Damon took .


    His hand twisted around the whip , Uncle El sat down next to me .


    ” Why are you here ? ” ” I … I wanted to be … ” ” People onlye when they want the victim to be


    punished .


    You won’t be able t o do anything .


    ” He said quietly , making m y heart thud .


    I dared not look at him .


    ” I … I wanted to … just … ” I mumbled .


    I knew deep down I was scared of what was happening and I wanted to make sure things didn’t go too


    far … but …


    I looked at the man next to me , not Uncle El but the Alpha of this pack , an Alpha who needed t o uphold


    thews … He didn’t say anything .


    Holding out his hand , I looked down at it .


    cing my own in his , he gave it a gentle squeeze as we looked ahead .