Caged Between the beta and alpha novel Chapter 78

Raven’s father was committed , 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 silver lashes .

He’ll then be placed 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 fucking late .

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 accept 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 clarity … 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 glanced 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 under complete watch .

From what I heard , he wouldn’t last 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 the late afternoon .

I rang the doorbell , and he opened soon after , looking as handsome as ever .