Roslyn run towards him and engulfs him in her arms. “It’s not your fault,” she says with teary eyes. She can feel the pain that he’s feeling. She runs her hand on his back in a consoling manner. After he’s somewhat stable, she pulls back and says, “I want your help to kill Katherine’s offenders.”
Everyone present in the basement has heard her. Lance and I exchange looks.
“An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind,” Alpha Eric says in a calm tone.13
Roslyn sharply turns around. “Four of your pack members hurt my friend! I want justice for her!” She exclaims in protest.2
“And you think that killing Katherine’s molesters would serve her justice?” He questions.
“Yes!”
“No!” Gale immediately shouts after Roslyn. We all turn to look at him.
“What do you mean?” Roslyn asks.
“Killing is a very small punishment for them,” Gale says. “I want them to regret what they did to Katherine for the rest of their lives.”2
Katherine comprehends his words and asks, “How are we going to do that?”4
Everyone is impatiently waiting for his answer.
“It’s simple. We castrate them.”87
“Castration as a punishment is immoral,” Alpha Eric steps forward while expressing his disapproval. By the look on his face, I can tell that he would never give permission to execute Gale’s plan.8
“And what they did to Katherine wasn’t immoral?” Gale challenges with an angry tone.
“What they did to Katherine was immoral but that doesn’t mean that we should also commit an immoral act. Why should we stoop down to their level? I know you want to avenge your mate but castration is not the solution.” Alpha Eric tries to reason with him.17
“Then what is the solution, Alpha Eric?” Roslyn demands as she crosses her arms. “And don’t you dare say life imprisonment,” she warns.4
He purses his lips which is a clear indication that he was thinking about that. “We can all think about the solution when our minds are not clouded by anger and vengeance. A decision taken in anger is never a right decision.”
“Answer my question with complete honesty; what would you do if it was your sister in Katherine’s place?”
I can see anger in Alpha Eric’s eyes. He’s trying his best to be composed but everyone can see his blood boiling as he imagines his sister in place of Katherine.
“Why aren’t you answering?” Katherine pesters.8
“I would tear their limbs apart, crack their skulls open and crush their hearts under my feet,” Alpha Eric responds.29
Gale smirks as he asks, “Now, isn’t that immoral?”
Roslyn has her eyebrows raised as she says, “I was expecting such response from you but I never imagined you to give such a detailed reply. I really like your version of punishment.”
Alpha Eric remains silent. He let his anger get to head.1
Roslyn walks towards him and stands in front of him. She crosses her arms and questions, “I asked you my question because I wanted you to step into my shoes for a minute. I wanted you to get a feel of what Gale and I are going through at the moment.” She uncrosses her arms as she continues, “Have you looked at Katherine? Have you really looked at her? Didn’t you see the terrible condition that she is in? Didn’t you see the wounds and bruises on her body?” She pauses. Silence fills the basement. “If her molesters are given a punishment which is less than an execution then it won’t be fair to Katherine. It won’t be fair to all those girls and women who have been victims of sexual assaults and had to see their offenders easily walk away from their crime. Life imprisonment is such a small punishment for what they have done, don’t you think so?”4
After comprehending her words, Alpha Eric questions her in a serious tone, “What do you want?”2
“I want them dead,” Roslyn replies.
“It would be such a small punishment for the brutal act that they did,” Gale speaks up.
“Gale, I’m not completely against the idea of castrating them but if we go ahead with castration then that would mean that they get to live and they don’t deserve to live. I don’t want them to walk on this Earth ever again. I don’t want them to repeat their crimes. It will be best if they are dead.” She says without facing him.
Gale remains quiet for a moment before he opens his mouth to say, “But I don’t want to give them an easy death.”1
“Trust me, they won’t have an easy death.”