Her Forbidden Alpha novel Chapter 74

　　Elijah entered the cells after telling Scarlett he’d be back late tonight. He didn’t want to tell her exactly where he was or what he was going to do, but Fiona had done enough damage and he was the one who would deal with her.

　　He walked to the end of the hall, to the end cell where he could hear her crying. His anger emanating from him. The two warriors at the doors lowered their heads to him. One of them handed him a pair of gloves and he put them on before taking the silver chain whip.

　　“Open it.” He said, seeing Fiona wearing plain white clothing - her arms hooked up, her back facing him.

　　“Alpha! Alpha you’re here to save me, aren't you?!” She said, her voice shaky. Elijah walked around until he stood in front of her.

　　“You really are delusional.” He said coldly. “I regret ever having anything to do with you.”

　　Her eyes widened in shock, her lip quivering. “You don’t mean that.” She whispered. Elijah didn’t bother correcting her, she was too stuck on her ways.

　　“Do you know how many men we lost? In total 143.” He said coldly.

　　“P-please don’t, A-Alpha D-Daniel... I only did what he wanted!” She whimpered.

　　“Don’t! Don’t fucking lie!” Elijah snapped, his eyes flashing. “I checked your phone records, you contacted him after searching for his number.”

　　He didn’t care nor did he have time to entertain her. He walked around her letting the whip trail on the floor, the metal scraping against the stone floor. Making the fear within Fiona grow. “For every man we lost… you will get 1 lash. We won’t stop until you're unconscious and then when you wake, we’ll start against from 1. This will continue until you die.” His voice was a low dangerous growl, the anger bubbling around him. “Not only did you assist the enemy, you tried to kill your Luna.”

　　He raised the whip, his eyes hard. He was Alpha and as Alpha it was his duty to give out this punishment. Although deep inside he knew it was a side of him he never wanted Scarlett to see.

　　“Start counting, if you lose count, I’ll keep going.” He said icily, Fiona shivered in fear turning just as she saw him raise the whip.

　　“Please don’t. Please!” She screamed in agony as the first lash hit her back. Elijah’s eyes were cold. He didn’t ever want to resort to this but the woman had attempted to get Scarlett out of the picture.

　　“Count.” He commanded.

　　“O-one.” She sobbed.

　　“Good.” He said icily as he struck again, zoning her screams out, not even affected by them. Each lash made her scream louder, the shrill sound echoing around the empty cell. The guards outside remained silent. Elijah stayed true to his words. He didn’t stop, even when her back was a bloody mess, he didn’t stop. She stopped counting and he didn’t bother reminding her.

　　At one point he heard some commotion, her father had come to beg for her life but he didn’t even turn to look at the man who was screaming as his daughter was lashed. Elijah frowned. He would never condone such behaviour but when someone was responsible for so much over a petty infatuation… and when they targeted their Luna. He would do anything to make a statement.

　　100 lashes later, Elijah was sweating. Fiona’s screams had long since died out, he wasn’t even sure if she was still conscious. Raising the whip again he stopped when he heard the sound of footsteps running towards him, accompanied by the sweet intoxicating scent of his mate. It overrode the smell of blood and sweat.

　　“Open it!” Scarlett snapped at the guards before she stepped inside. She took in the pool of blood, the limp body of the woman who was suspended by her arms, her back torn open. Then looked at Elijah, blood was splashed over him, his eyes were hard and cold.

　　“Why are you here?” Elijah said looking into her eyes. The moon shone from the small window at the top of the cell. Barely a hand span wide, her heart thumped at how cold his eyes looked.

　　“Don’t do this… this isn't you…” Scarlett said closing the gap between them, she locked her arms around his neck. Elijah frowned feeling her trembling in his arms, her heart was thudding, when the realisation hit. He was doing something her father would have done... But he still thought Fiona deserved it. Zidane tortured the weak and innocent but he was giving a punishment fitting for a traitor.

　　“I’m sorry…” He said dropping the whip before he hugged her tightly. She didn’t move back, not until her racing heart had calmed down. “Sorry for how you’re feeling. She’s the reason you were kidnapped. The reason you had to suffer at that bastards hands.”

　　Scarlett cupped his jaw, knowing he felt her pain. She pressed her forehead against his, pulling him down slightly.

　　“I know… but we don’t need to do waste our time… let's go home baby.” She whispered. Elijah closed his eyes taking a deep breath.

　　“I need to finish this…” He said, opening his eyes he looked into her pain-filled green eyes. He kissed her lips softly before moving back. He saw the slight movement in Fiona’s hand and knew what he needed to do.

　　“You’re lucky Scarlett came.” He said coldly as he now walked around and stood in front of her. Her face was pale, her hair limp and soaked. Her eyes were half-open as if too lost in the pain she was in. “I’ll make this quick.”

　　Not waiting for a reply or action, he reached forward and snapped her head with a sickening crunch making Scarlett gasp as Fiona’s head dropped forward on her chest and her heart stopped beating.

　　“Leave her there until tomorrow.” He said to the guards as he took the gloves off, tossing them to the ground before he took Scarlett’s hand and led her away from there.

　　“Elijah… promise me something…” She said softly. He looked at her grabbing a towel from the rack near the entrance to the cells, wiping some of the blood of him.

　　“I’ll try, what is it?” He said leading her up to the ground floor of the packhouse.

　　“Stop blaming yourself.” She said quietly, he froze in his tracks. He had been about to reach for the front door but now looked at here.

　　“What do you mean?” He said although he knew what she meant. It had been the one thing on his mind. If he hadn't been involved with Fiona all this could have been avoided.

　　“Stop acting stupid, you know what I mean.” She said now wrapping her arms around his neck, placing a soft kiss on his mate mark making his breath hitch. “She was a part of your past; we all have one. What she became was from her own choices. Whatever happened has happened. Let’s move on from this baby please.”

　　Elijah held her tightly, his muscular arms tight around her tiny waist. He caressed her waist thinking she was so tiny, yet so strong.

　　“You’re right.” He said quietly, sighing deeply. Taking a deep whiff of her hair to calm himself, letting her scent fill his senses. Tomorrow was the funeral and then they could move on from all of this.

　　“Let’s get you cleaned up.” She said softly. They returned home, it was now silent, and Elijah realised he had been down there for a few hours. “Shall I run you a bath or do you want a shower?”

　　“Join me.” He said quietly. She looked into his eyes and nodded, she had splatters of blood on her now too. Letting him take her hand he lead her to the bathroom that they shared. Although they were mostly in his room as it was the furthest away.

　　They stepped into the shower after stripping, their eyes appreciating the other. Scarlett blushed lightly seeing his gaze fall to her now bare pussy. His eyes darkening as her stomach fluttered. Elijah turned it on, pulling her close as the warm water poured over them both.

　　“Red…” He said quietly as they simply stood under that water, she looked up into his eyes. His gaze was fixed on her breasts but she knew it wasn’t because he was distracted for some reason, he couldn't look her in the eye. Concern filled her as she pressed her body against his and tilted her head up.

　　“What is it?” She asked cupping his face, forcing him to look her in the eyes.

　　“When Liam… before he died… he said you were his only dream…you kissed him.” He said. She could feel the anger from him, although he had his emotions blocked off, that much she could tell. She didn’t speak knowing he wasn’t done. “If things had turned out differently or if Liam had turned out to be your mate. Would you have chosen him?”

　　She didn’t miss the guilt in his eyes, knowing he felt terrible to even be asking about his dead friend like this but she also knew he needed to.

　　“I won’t apologise for that kiss. It was all I could give him, at least something to cherish before he passed away.” She said softly, seeing the flash of anger in his eyes. His grip on her hips tightening possessively, “But if he had been my mate or anyone… I would have still chosen you, you’re the one I love. It’s your every touch, every gaze, every word that makes my body and mind get lost within it. There was no pleasure in that kiss, from my side it was just a pure simple farewell kiss.”

　　He watched her knowing she wasn’t lying, he understood why she had done it, even if he didn’t like it. Her words always calmed him.

　　“I love you Elijah and I always will.” She said, with so much conviction there was no space for doubt. He didn’t reply pulling her into a passionate kiss, fuelled by all his emotions. Needing her like the very air one needed to breathe…