Chapter 70

I frowned as I stared into the bathroom mirror , styling my hair , remembering Raven’s rush in the morning to get going … ( FLASHBACK ) ” You’re in a hurry .

” I said .

” Yeah , training and then I have stuff to do .

” She said , towelling her hair after her morning shower .

” What stuff ? ” I asked casually , handing her a smoothie I had just made .

She smiled and shrugged .

” Stuff .

” She repeated .

Damon .

If she couldn’t tell me , it meant it included him .

( END OF FLASHBACK ) Since then , that irritating flare of anger wasn’t subsiding … I wasn’t fucking enough … First in my fucking arms ….

then i n his …

My chest heaved , my nostrils flaring as I combed my fingers through m y hair , swiftly styling it with some hair wax .

Watching my eyes turn from cerulean to magnetic navy blue .

Breathe Liam … Maybe it’s not Damon … I stepped into my bedroom , I needed to get to my office .

There was some crap I needed to … My thoughts vanished when my eyes caught sight of the brown envelope that had clearly been shoved through the bottom of my door .

It was thin and flat i and , from what I could tell , blank .

Frowning I walked over to it and picked it up .

Nothing was written on it either .

I ripped it open , wondering what the fuck this was .

A photograph ? I tilted the envelope , shaking it a little , making the single photograph that was inside slip out .

I stared at it for a few seconds , my anger flaring up inside .

My heart thundering in my ears and the surge to destroy everything in my wake burning like the fires of hell needed to be released .

Lies … It had all been a fucking lie … Both of them were playing me ….

I stared down at the image with burning hatred , a picture of Damon and Raven kissing … From her clothes , I could tell it was the day her father had been brought t o me …

So they had been at it since the beginning … So all that fucking shit about waiting … He kissed what was mine … 2 As for my little mate … How could someone so innocent play such a fucking game … ?

Her smiles … fake … Her struggle fucking made sense now … How long were these two at it behind my back ? It was worse than if they had done it fucking openly … They had both mocked me … If they wanted to see me fucking lose my shit , well , congratulations , they just fucking got it …

It was high fucking time that I showed them exactly who was in charge here … I crushed the image in my hold , tossing it aside as I headed to the window , not even bothering to open it as I ran right through it .

The shattered glass scattered everywhere as I jumped to the ground , feeling the pain rip through my knees at the impact , shards of glass cutting into m e .

I relished in it , the smell of blood … I needed more .

” Alpha ! ” I didn’t stop to listen to anyone , as I broke into a run , the anger enveloping me consumed me entirely .

The urge to let it all out and tear every fucking living thing around me to shreds fucking consumed me .

I wanted to destroy it all , to unleash carnage upon every single fucking person i n the vicinity … Liars …

Cheaters … and above all else – perfect fucking actors .

But I would save this wrath for the two who deserved it foremost ….

DAMON I held her tightly , the pain of what I knew was to come breaking me .

But … I knew it was for the best .

I had been given an anonymous envelope o f her and Liam kissing and making out just the other day outside of the Westwood home … even one with Liam on his knees .

Sure you couldn’t see anything , but it was clear what was happening … It fucking hurt … So so fucking much ….

It was like someone had ripped my heart out , scrubbed it over a field of broken glass and then stabbed it with a thousand fucking knives.

I had told her to move on with Liam , but clearly , she wasn’t able to forget me completely ; I was just holding her back .

She couldn’t enjoy being with Liam if I was there , lingering in her mind and making her feel guilty for it .

I had held hope that maybe there was just a glimmer of a chance … but there wasn’t .

Liam … he would never be happy until he had her completely .

He wouldn’t trust me This was something that we would both d o for our Alpha , our friend ….

My brother … Her mate … There were many types of bonds in life , and each one was special … The bonds of family , of Alpha and Beta , of friendship … and of mates … Sometimes we had to i sacrifice something for the betterment of something else .

I looked down at her , as she sobbed into my chest .

I love you so fucking much but I’m not worth it … Not worth you hurting yourself over … I held her , telling myself it was not the last fucking time I’ll see her or hold her , but who was I kidding ? This was the last time I’d hold her as my mate …

My precious , perfect mate … For a fleeting moment , I saw us happy ; mated … content … But that was all it was , a fleeting moment that was gone like a whisper in the night … We could never be … She was his … She would always be his .

We sat there for a while , the pain in our hearts fucking powerful …

Her tears slowly came to a stop , and she moved back , wiping her eyes .

” Sh – shall we do it ? ” She whispered .

I nodded as she slowly moved back and sat on her knees before me .

Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks , but she was staying brave .

” Want me to do it ? ” I asked , not wanting her to be in any more pain than she already was .

She reached for my face , wiping my tears away .

I closed my eyes , letting myself relish in those sparks for the last time …

I opened my eyes slowly .

The sun shone down on her , a beautiful goddess with a heart as pure and dazzling as the first rays of the morning sun .

I didn’t want this … I didn’t want to lose m y mate … How many more people that I love will I lose ? Fuck … But I couldn’t be selfish , for her and Liam .

Seeing them happy , that would be my happiness …

” I’m so sorry .

” She whimpered , her hands trembling .

” Don’t be … ” I said , taking hold of her hands .

One last kiss … Please ? I glanced at her lips and she nodded , trying to smile as she understood my silent last wish …

Her beautiful eyes were full of pain and sorrow .

I leaned over , our eyes meeting , and she tilted her head slightly as I pressed my lips to hers … The salty taste of her tears coated her pouty soft lips , and I knew it was the last time that I would feel them .

The tingles of the mate bond coursed through us , but there was nothing passionate about this kiss … It was deep , full of love and sweetness .

I moved my lips slowly , trying to etch the memory of this moment in my mind .

I love you , Raven … I moved back , taking a deep , shuddering breath .

I would do this …

” I Damon Nichol- ” A menacing animalistic growl ripped through the air , making every animal in the forest run .

Birds erupted into the sky , alarmed from their resting places , and every hair on my body stood on edge .

An enormous surge of darkness swirled in the air , covering the entire area with a feeling of pure blackness and foreboding , making us both jump to our feet , both turning to the source , our hearts thundering as one .

Shit … Liam had seen us kiss … Fuck … He stood there , his claws and canines out , but it wasn’t that that chilled me , it was pure blackness that covered his entire eyeballs .

His expression was one that was filled with so much hatred , he was unrecognisable .

” Liam this- ” Raven began .

Another growl cut her off and in a flash , that was far too fast for even an Alpha , he was before us .

Before I could even react , his claws ripped through my chest ,followed by a bone – breaking fist that connected with my face , knocking me back with such force that I was thrown a few feet into the air .

Before I hit the floor , pain lashed through my body as I tried to get up .

” Raven ! ” I shouted , worry for her safety filling every fucking nerve of my body .

I got to my feet , the urge to protect her screaming at me to go to her , he had his hand twisted in her hair and from there everything felt like it was far .

away … ” You will only ever be mine , love .

” He hissed , just as I began running towards them … But … I was too late … I watched as if in slow motion as he yanked her head back , tilting her head upwards … She mouthed his name , trying t o get through to him , but … it wasn’t going to work … Fear had me in its grip as all I could do was helplessly watch him sink his teeth into her neck brutally .

The sound of Raven’s scream of pain filled the air , a sound that I knew would haunt my dreams for years to come…

I pushed him away but I knew I was too late … I shielded her body from him , my heart was pounding with an anger towards him that I had never felt before , and with worry and fear for the tiny precious woman in my arms , whose neck was bleeding far too deeply from his brutal assault , that had ripped open half her neck .

She was gargling up blood , clutching at her neck .

Her eyes looked blank as she coughed up blood .

There was no fucking force on earth that could reverse what he had just done .

Not only had he marked her against her will , but he had ripped away what should have been one of the most sacred and special moments of her life .

Blinded by his untameable anger , Liam had ruined everything .