Eric nodded, his movements brisk. “Understood, Alpha.”
Josiah turned to me, her eyes wide with panic. “Sophia, what’s he going to do?”
I gave her a reassuring look, though even I wasn’t entirely sure. “He’s going to make sure Victor never hurts you again.”
A few minutes later, Eric returned, dragging Victor into the room. The man’s defiance had been replaced by fear as he stumbled forward, shoved to his knees in front of Lirian.
“Alpha, the man is here,” Eric announced.
Victor’s eyes darted around the room, desperate and searching for a way out. “Wait, I didn’t mean to—”
Lirian didn’t even let him finish. His voice was low, but the authority in his tone silenced everyone. “Do it.”
Eric didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Victor by the collar and threw him to the ground with force. “Hitting a woman? What kind of man are you?” he spat, disgust evident in his voice. “You’re a disgrace to your kind.”
Josiah stood by silently, her expression cold and unfeeling. The man she once loved was unrecognizable now, and as she watched Eric deliver blow after blow, she felt no sympathy.
Victor cried out in pain, each punch breaking down what little pride he had left. “Stop! Please, stop! I didn’t mean to—”
Eric cut him off with a growl. “Didn’t mean to? You don’t get to plead for mercy now. You thought you could do whatever you wanted because no one would stop you. Well, guess what? That ends today.”
When Victor was nothing more than a crumpled heap on the floor, Lirian raised a hand, signaling for Eric to stop. “That’s enough.”
Eric stepped back, his chest heaving with restrained anger. “Coward,” he muttered, glaring down at Victor.
Lirian’s voice was calm, almost indifferent, as he addressed Eric. “Take him for treatment. He’s of no use to anyone dead.”
“Understood,” Eric replied. He grabbed Victor by the arm and dragged him out of the room without another glance.
The room fell silent once more, the weight of what had just happened settling over all of us. Josiah’s shoulders sagged, and she took a shaky breath, her guilt giving way to relief.
“It’s over now, Josiah,” I said gently, squeezing her hand again. “You’re safe.”
She nodded, her eyes filling with tears again, but this time they weren’t tears of sorrow. “Thank you, Sophia,” she whispered. “For everything.”
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