Caged Between The Beta & Alpha
Chapter 80

RAVEN

Damon raised the whip, I flinched when it struck Liam’s back. He didn’t even move, another followed, each lash made my heart squeeze. For his mistake … It’s for his mistake … I had to tell myself that, my heart thundering as each lash struck him, slicing through his skin and letting b***d drip to the ground. Not once did he even flinch, despite his breathing becoming harder.

But each lash was biting into me, the pain of watching him face this … Thirty … ” Raven … ” Uncle El said and I realised I was shaking. My heart was beating far too fast. ” Step outside. ” No. ” I said as I saw Taylor coming over . No doubt Uncle El had mind linked him. ” I’m staying. ” I stared at Liam as Damon continued.

The emotionless mask on Damon’s face was gone, pain and conflict on his face too as he frowned deeply continuing the punishment. ” That’s enough now. ” I said suddenly, flinching as the silver cut into Liam’s back was a mess of lashes, torn skin, and b***d. ” Raven. I told you, you can’t change this. ” Uncle El said softly.

” No I can, because he marked me, I have the right to. ” I said standing up, I saw Damon glance towards us but he continued his dealing. Each lash felt like I was the one being cut open.

My heart was screaming in pain. The fear and anguish inside of me were messing me up. He made a terrifying mistake, and one that would take time to heal, but let him have the chance to redeem himself! Not do something so painful like this! ” Take her outside. ” Uncle El said quietly to Taylor and Zack, ” Your emotions are clouding your judgment, Raven. ” ” 1 No, No … I love him …

Taylor wrapped his arm around my shoulders, leading me firmly towards the exit. No! I stared at Liam’s mutilated back, his shoulders heaving, his head hanging yet not once did a sound escape him . ‘ I’m fine, Raven. Please leave. ‘ His voice came through the link. No matter how much he tried to hide it … I could hear it.

My eyes stung with tears as I shook my head at his back. How can I turn my back on him right now? The darkness inside of him was feeding on all negative emotions; fear, loneliness, and regret were part of that. This was not the right way! ” Fifty. ” Damon said, breathing hard as he lashed him again.

I couldn’t breathe …. My heart was ringing in my ear … The smell of b***d … I spun around in a flash, but Zack was ready. His arm was wrapped around my wa!st as I struggled against him. ” Stop it! ” I cried out, my heart was breaking as if someone was ripping it apart inch by inch ” Raven, come on. It’s compulsory.

” Zack said quietly. ” Please stop it! If this is for marking me, I was going to let him mark me anyway! ” I sobbed, not caring for once that I was crying out in the open. Damon hesitated, turning to me. Our eyes met and I realised his eyes glistened with unshed tears. This was hurting him too. ” That doesn’t make the way he did things right.

” Zack said quietly. ” I know! And I won’t forgive him easily, but brutally whipping him like this ?! I don’t like it! Two wrongs do not make a right! ” I shouted. ” Alpha Elijah! As the victim, I demand that you let him go! ” ” That cannot be done. Take her away. ” Uncle El said, his eyes flashing. ” Liam! ”

‘ I’m fine love, please go. ” ” Let go of me! ” I shouted as Zack carried, me out of the hall and into the corridor. No. I will do what I feel is right! Twisting in his hold I rammed my elbow in his face. Sorry, Taylor. His grip loosened as he grunted in pain, I took the chance to knock him back and ran back inside.

” I SAID STOP IT! ” I cried out running onto the stage and wrapping my arms around Liam from behind, the strong sparks of the bond rushed through me as I tried to shield his back, but I didn’t even cover half of it. ” Please stop it, this is only hurting me more. ” I whispered in the room that was now completely silent.

” This isn’t easy for anyone. ” Uncle El said softly. ” But a punishment is- ” ” He’s had over fifty lashes. Please stop! ” I shouted. The pain in my ch3st was growing, my eyes blazing as I stared at the Alpha. ” Raven, I’m fine. ” Liam said, his voice was hoarse despite trying to sound as normal as possible. ” I’m not ok with this.

” I said slowly letting go of him, flinching at how deep the wounds on his back were. ” Please … I love him …. Please stop this … ” I joined my hands together in front of my face, unable to stop the tears that streamed down my cheeks as I looked at Uncle El. ” Please … I beg you … This is causing me more pain than good.

” My voice broke as I stared up at our Alpha. He stood there; the conflict clear on his face. ” We make mistakes in life … and some may be unforgivable, but this is between Liam and I and we will work on them …

We also know he has no memory of what he did … he wasn’t just fuelled by rage alone. ” I said quietly, the pain in my ch3st was overpowering everything. ” Give him one chance to redeem himself! If he messes up again, then you can punish him. Please. ” My hands were shaking as I pressed my joint fingers to my l!ps, closing my eyes as sobs wracked my body.

I heard the clang of the whip hitting the floor, opening my eyes to see Damon had dropped it. He pulled me into his arms, stroking my back. ” I agree with her Alpha …. I think it’s enough. ” He said quietly. Uncle El sighed heavily. ” Alpha … I’m with Raven and Damon … Liam regrets his actions and he will prove his worth.

” Zack said, quietly wiping b***d from his nose. A murmur of agreement passed through the people watching, and I hoped Liam saw that we were not giving up on him. We would defeat the darkness, together.

LIAM

” Let him down! ” Her voice made my heart clench, her words ringing in my head. I don’t get how she could even consider forgiving me at a time when I couldn’t forgive myself … I had almost killed her … I was unlocked and I staggered, holding my stance. I turned to look at her.

Tears streamed down her beautiful face as Damon embraced her. How many times would I make her cry? Our eyes met and she pulled out of Damon’s hold as she looked at me, stepping closer.

There were still bridges to build between us … She should have let me receive my punishment … ” Get him cleaned up and then I expect him at my place after being given a dose of wolfsbane. ” Dad said, his eyes meeting mine. I looked away, knowing I had disappointed him. I had never wanted to ever cause him pain, but I had … I turned to Damon, I knew it hadn’t been easy on him.

The first few lashes had held anger in them, but after that, each one had been hard for him too. Raven’s words from earlier were still clear in my mind. Fix the bonds I had destroyed. For her and for me.

I had a lot of work to do, with myself, Raven, Damon, Mom … My stomach twisted and I felt sick. I knew, what her father had done and unknowingly, I had done the same thing. I could only imagine what she was going through. Everyone was leaving and I was led into a side room by Zack, who was supporting a bruised nose, I had a feeling it was courtesy of Raven.

” I’m sorry, Taylor. ” Raven was saying as Damon pushed me down onto the bed. I glanced up at her as she pouted at Taylor, who looked as sad as Raven. ” I won’t hit him again. ” Raven pleaded quietly, ” Sorry Zack.

” I raised an eyebrow, glancing at Zack, who simply nodded. ” It’s f*****g understandable, but don’t f**k the nose up next time. ” He said. ” There won’t be a next time! ” Raven promised, ” Do you forgive me, Taylor? ” ” Since it was for your mate … ” He said giving her a hug.

” If I wasn’t in so much pain, I would have probably found their exchange a little amusing. There was a lot Raven did that was just cute … a cuteness I didn’t f*****g deserve to even witness … I didn’t deserve having her in my life.

I looked at my Beta and Delta- not mine anymore … but … they were still here. ‘ Arms up . ”. ” Damon said, I held back the hiss of pain as he splashed something on my back. ” That burns. ” I muttered, making Raven turn to him. Her face became serious, she came over. Her scent enveloped my senses, and as much as I wish I could just wrap her up in my f*****g arms forever …

I no longer held hopes for that. I didn’t deserve her … ” I’ll do it. ” She said, taking the bandage from Damon, who nodded. We were halfway done, her fingers often grazing my skin, sending off a rush of pleasure as she wrapped the bandage around me firmly when Damon swore, staring at Zack. ” What is it? ” Raven asked, her heart thumping.

” There’s been another death. ” Damon said, frowning. ” The body was discovered ten minutes ago. ” 1 ” F**k … ” I said. ” Who is it? ” Raven asked with worry in her eyes. ” One of the elder wolves, Arnold. ” Zack muttered. The room fell silent as the five of us stared at one another. This needed to end.

” We have to do something … Maybe we need to search everyone’s houses, the teeth and eyeballs have got to be stored somewhere. ” Raven said, reaching up and brushing my hair out of my eyes.

Our eyes met and my gaze dipped to her neck, my ch3st f*****g squeezing as I looked at it … half – hidden … She moved away, a flash of pain in her eyes before she turned away. ” I agree … But isn’t that what Liam kind of wanted? How do we do that without making the pack restless? ” Zack asked.

We all fell into thought, how do we get the pack homes empty? Taylor snapped his fingers. ” We party! ” The rest of us frowned at the question, but Raven gasped as if understanding.

” A party for the entire pack … So the homes are empty? ” She asked. Taylor nodded, a small smile on his lips. ” Exactly, the Alpha can say it’s just due to everything going on, a party for everyone would be good … I mean, I’d say his birthday would be ideal, but we can’t delay this until then. When everyone is at the party, those at the top of our list of suspects, well … we search.

” He explained. ” You’re pretty smart. ” Zack said, wrapping his arms around Taylor’s neck, pulling him against him, and k!ssing his forehead. I sure missed a lot.

” You two together? ” I asked. ” Mates actually. ” Zack said before looking away … ” I fvcked up… So, it took a little time. ” We all mess up at times … We just got to work on it.

” Taylor said, looking at Zack and then at me. I nodded. Yeah. ” Well then, I think it’s time we started planning this party. ” Damon said, smacking his hands together. ” Can I help search? ” I asked quietly. ” Sure. ” Damon said. ” We can use whatever help we can get. ” This killer had been on the loose for far too f*****g long …