“We can’t change what has happened,” Edward said in a soft tone.
“But we can learn from it. Edward, can you take me to Jake?”
Edward looks at Albert for permission. Albert nods.
“Come with me,” Edward says and leads me to the prison.
I am now standing in front Jake’s cell. He is sitting on the ground with his head bowed.
“Jake,” I call out his name.
He looks up at me and asks, “Where’s Caleb?”
“He’s no more in this world.”
“Did Albert kill him?”
“No. Uncle accidentally stabbed Caleb with the wolfsbane syringe.”
“Why can’t you just die!” He exclaimed in a violent outburst.2
“Maybe my time hasn’t come yet.”
“I wish I could kill you with my own hand.”
“Why did the three of you embark on this journey of revenge?”
“So, only Albert is allowed to take revenge?” He taunts me.
I shake my head in disapproval. “Why did everyone think about revenge?” I say to myself. “It was revenge that killed Caleb,” I tell him.2
“We just wanted justice!”
“At the cost of other people’s lives?”
“Have you tried giving this moral lecture to Albert?”1
“Yes, I did. I even gave this lecture to his father. Jake, revenge doesn’t make lives, it ruins them. Alexander’s life was ruined, Caleb’s life was ruined. And now, your life will be ruined too.”8
“I don’t care. I’m glad that I was on the side of my brothers.”
“You’re blinded by hate. I wish I could do something to help you.”
“You can help me by dying.”
“How did it go with the former Alpha?” Lance asks once I’m back.
“It didn’t go well with him,” I answer. And I tell him and Steve what had happened at his house and at Albert’s pack house.1
“So, what now?” Lance questions me.
“I’m thinking about getting away from here for sometime. A lot has happened in my life in these past months. I want to explore places, gain new perspectives.”13
Steve puts his arm around my shoulders and says, “I’ll come with you.”
“I don’t want my irritating friend to accompany me,” I joke.
“Hey!” He complains.
I laugh.
“What do you think Albert will do with Jake?” Lance asks.
“I don’t know. But I hope he takes the right decision.”
It’s evening. I’m in my room with an open laptop. I’m looking for places that I can travel to and plan my schedule accordingly.
Lance knocks at my door and enters. He sits beside me on the bed and asks, “So, how is the planning going?”
“It’s going good.”
“Albert called me,” he informs me.
I look at him. “Why?”
“He’s holding a trial for Jake. All the Alphas of the pack will be in the jury. And he wants you to testify.”
“When’s the trial?”
“The coming Saturday.”3
“Okay.”
A chained Jake is standing in front of the jury. The trial would’ve gone the same way the human trials go but Jake refused to have a defence attorney. He expressed his wish of dying. All the facts, testimonies and evidences were presented in front of the jury. The jury unanimously decided to imprison Jake for life.
“Kill me! I want to die!” Jake screams as he is dragged back to the prison.
My eyes are on him. Albert comes to stand beside me.
“Did I do the right thing?” He asks.
“In my opinion, yes,” I say. “Do you think that justice was served?”
“You know what I think.”
I finally turn to Albert. “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.”1
After the court session, Albert and I decide to head back home together. There’s a brief silence before he says, “Now, what about us? Will we ever become a normal couple? Every time we try to take a step forward in our relationship, someone always comes between us and ruins the progress that we made.”
“I’m going away for a month,” I tell him.6
“Is it because of what happened?”
“Yes. I came to know the truth and it was overwhelming. I just want to get away from here. It’ll be good for my mind,” I say.
“Are you going alone?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“In about a week.” After a pause, I say, “I should go.”
Albert nods.
I start walking towards the door. At the exit, I turn around to face Albert. “Do you want to come and explore places with me?” I add as an afterthought.1
He takes a moment before he answers.
“Yes.”
THE END