Chapter 42 Redemption
Redemption
Raven
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 was 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 hoped somewhere in the future, we could look back and smile at this entire situation. Someday, one day.
It was the day of Liam’s trial. It terrified me to know that that night he would be punished. He was the future Alpha of the pack, and although right then 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 that 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 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 unaccounted 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, seated at the front once again. I wore a high-neck top, not wanting all eyes on my mark. Everyone was seated just as they had that day, but the room was far more uneasy, and there were more pack members than there had been for 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 had two guards holding him, Liam led the way.
Despite his 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 to 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 Liam’s and my 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 accountable for the crime 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 flashed dark cobalt and my gaze shifted to Liam.
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 me and, in the process… committed 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 alpha commits a crime, it is far worse.
With this title comes great responsibility, one we must always uphold.
As your Alpha, I sentence you to five hundred lashes 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. It 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 that. 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 becoming Alpha… if the title is meant to be yours, then it shall be if and when the pack deems you worthy of it. Raven… do you want to add anything?”
“Yes.” I stood up. For my happiness and what I felt was right… “I don’t like the punishment,” I said.
“It’s befitting,” Liam said, glancing at 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? 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. No, 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 place amongst the pack. However… due to his… temper, he will be on wolfsbane until it’s under control. He will, however, reside in the Alphas’ home,” Uncle El continued. I knew he meant the curse.
That was better, Liam needed support, and I knew they said the Alphas’ home so he wouldn’t be completely alone. It was still better, but he needed more than just two people there for him.
“If that-”
“The lashes. I want the punishment lessened,” I said quietly, my heart thumping. I wasn’t stupid, I wasn’t going to let my emotions take over completely, but I didn’t like it.
“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 whom 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 pleaded 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 time 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 giving up and just accepting 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 it together.
Our eyes were locked. I wished he’d understand. His brows furrowed, and I knew he was thinking about what I said.
I understand, and I will do all that, but…
for me… let me have this punishment, Bite-size, he said, his eyes full of pain as he looked back up at me.
Goddess.... My heart clenched, and I realised he needed it, 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 his lashings,” 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 knew that, 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 at his back, my heart clenching in pain.
Seven o’clock couldn’t have come sooner. My nerves were a mess. I was advised not to go see him receive his punishment, but I wasn’t able to avoid it.
The bond wasn’t completed because, as I was a werewolf as well, his mark alone didn’t complete it; I would need to mark him, too, to complete our bond.
That meant I wouldn’t be able to feel the pain of his lashings, 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’s lashing had occurred in the cells. I looked around. It was like one of those illegal underground arenas, cold, gloomy, and with that deep sense of foreboding.
Damon was nodding at something Uncle El was saying, his gloved hand around a silver chain.
Liam wasn’t there yet. Uncle El patted his shoulder before giving me a nod and walking away.
Aunty Red wasn’t there, but as Alpha, Uncle El had to be.
I walked over to Damon, knowing that it wasn’t easy for him either.
“Hey…” I said. He looked up, surprised to see me, before placing the whip down. I hugged him tightly, and he hugged me back.