Two weeks later, Claire walked into the large room used for public debates and judgements, her parents by her side, Marissa trailing behind them. The murmurs and hushed whispers telling her that there was no chance that people didn't know. She felt the embarrassment wash over her. When she turned to her right, "T" was already there, standing with a strong look of determination, making his face look like it was carved from stone. His hand rested on his hip as if he still had his sword, which was taken before entering, to ensure there were no violent attacks. The building was enchanted so that those inside could not use their powers or abilities. "T" won't be able to shift, but he was still trained in physical combat. He just hoped that the elders would see reason and grant him his request. If all goes well, he will leave here a bonded wolf, Claire, by his side. He had placed his petition a few days before, his position and the many favours he had curried over the years, allowing him to have it addressed the same day as this ridiculous meeting. He smiled at his mate, hoping that she could feel his love.
Claire smiled back, glad that he was here, yet worried about what he would do if they didn't win. All too soon, the council members entered and sat on the raised podium several feet above the rest. The guard knocked his staff on the ground, gaining everyone's attention. After the council sat, everyone who had seats sat as well, most of the crowd were just spectators, standing and filling the rest of the room. There were even people gathered outside, heads moving back and forth as people shifted for the best angle to see the case.
Claire leaned and whispered to her father, asking if they could request that this be a private matter, but he shook his head. Rare cases are always held as public events, as many times these are now the rules are made or adjusted. Having it a public affair helps with sharing the new laws and makes the job of those in charge of educating the public that much easier. She glanced to her left, but saw no one seated at the other table. Why would "M" make such a claim, then not show up? Claire perked up. If he were not here, then maybe she could convince them that he was wrong. Maybe she could say that he ate some weird mushrooms or something, and have this case dismissed. Hope fluttered in her chest, its tiny wings unfurling, preparing to soar when the large doors opened behind her. The hairs on the back of her neck tingled, and she didn't need to turn around to know that "M" had just entered. He walked in with the cocky confidence that made Claire wish she could shift and claw it right off his stupidly handsome face. That thought made her pull back. Since when did she think he was handsome? She looked at him under her lashes for the first time, not through the lenses of her intense dislike due to his torment, but the way a female might size up a male. While "T" had that golden glow of a celsital being sent from the gods, "M" had those dark looked that would make any female, young or old, take another look, forbidden thoughts of dark nights and tangled limbs flooding her brain, and considering that she personally experience those, she knew that one would not be disappointed.
She saw his nose twitch and his head snapped to her, his eyes twinkled, yet in its depth there was a flame burning - desire. Claire felt like she could not turn away from his gaze, feeling herself being drawn in, like a moth drawn to a candle, the heat a magnet she knew could be dangerous, yet unable to resist. "M" licked his lips, the way a cat does when spying a bird perched right out of its reach, Claire's eyes tracing the movement. She remembered how soft those lips were as he kissed and tasted every inch of her, his growls of pleasure at her sweetness flooding her memories. She shivered, clenching her thighs together, trying to stop the tingling that was beginning at her core. "T" growl of fury behind her broke her out of whatever spell "M" had cast on her. She turned, her head bowed in disgust at herself. She glanced up at her parents, who glanced between her and the two men, thankful that direct family members couldn't smell when you were aroused or in heat, and aroused she was, for her attacker. Marissa placed a claiming hand on her shoulder, the action grounding her to the present. The doors opened again, and a small, older man entered carrying files, pages and scrolls, his hair unkempt and his glasses crooked. He took a seat next to "M", and with a nod, the elders called for the doors to be locked and the trial to begin.
The trial began, first with Claire's parents demanding that the case be dismissed. They held no ill will toward their daughter and will accept the child, even if it means she was an unmated mother. The man provided to them as their defending counsel, provided documentation and written testimony of "M"s past behaviour to Claire, denying any claim of being fates mates as children. He also submitted "T"s formal request to be bonded with Claire, claiming that they are fated mates and he has every intention of seeing the ceremony happen. He swore that he would raise the child as his own, never letting his feelings for the man who tried to steal his woman interfere with raising the young one with love and direction. Everyone murmured as most males would have refused the bond, or they thought he would have requested that his mate give up the pup at birth. "T"s esteem grew in his eyes, even though some considered him a fool. "M" simply sat there, listening to all the evidence that lay before the council.
It was three hours later when the Council turned to "M", asking if he had anything to add. He slowly stood, asking if he could speak instead of his lawyer, who tried to stop him by placing a hand on his arm, sensing that the tide was against them, and "M" should bow down gracefully and let go. The little man feared that if they pushed their luck, he would be charged, and Claire's family as well as her mate could demand retribution, maybe even "M"s life. The fool shook his head and smiled at him, before standing and slowly walking towards the large table on its raised platform. He cleared his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Council, please know I am glad that you took my request. Today, I will prove that Claire is my mate." He walked closer, his steps sure, and for a moment, Claire's heart stopped beating. His steps were too sure, too confident despite all the evidence stacked against him, denying his claim. "M" stood before them, choosing a spot where the sun streamed in through he high windows. He leaned his head to one side, unbuttoning his first few buttons and pulling the collar to the side. A faint silver scar lay at the base of his neck, old and raised. He touched it gently, a small smile on his lips. "This," he said, lovingly touching the mark, "is the reason why I know Claire is my mate, for she was the one who claimed me first".
A gasp rippled through the crowd, eyes darting between him and Claire, who wrinkled her brow in confusion. Just what was this madman thinking? For surely he was not right in his head. "M" fixed his clothes and began explaining their shared past. He admitted that he teased her relentlessly simply because she bothered him in a way that he couldn't understand at that young age. He shared that she was always in his mind from the first time he caught a glimpse of her at a festival, how the stars seemed to shine in her eyes, and he wanted to know what her curls felt like. The first time he saw her was at a village festival, and he spent the rest of the night just following her around, stealing glances whenever he could, and when their eyes met, he felt like lightning struck his very soul. From that day on, she was in his heart and mind, even though at the time he didn't understand what was happening.
He explained that he hated seeing her play with anyone else, and he only wanted Claire to look at him and him alone, so he did what he thought was a sure way to ensure that, he began gaining her attention in any way possible. He did try to give her flowers at one of their earlier meeting, at school, but everyone loved the flowers, and Claire, being the kind person she was, gave his flowers away. So he made sure that the attention he gave couldn't be shared.
The day he was "claimed", they were nine years old, the stirring of his wolf beginning. They were playing hide and seek in the woods. As his senses would sometimes be enhanced whenever his wolf's presence was closer to the surface, he traced Claire, his heart racing at the thought of being alone with her, as she was always with friends. He found her further away from where they were allowed to go. He snuck up on her and tackled her to the ground, his wolf the closest to the surface of his consciousness whenever he was with her. She fought him, but he was bigger and she ended up beneath him on the ground. He had pinned her hands, as she was trying to claw at him, which he found so cute. He leant in to smell her hair, something he's wanted to do since that first day. He buried his nose in her loose curls, their rolling around loosened it from its ribbon. He felt her heartbeat pick up; his did too, at the thought of finally being so close. He had closed his eyes, her scent making the connection to his wolf the strongest it had ever been at that time, and he gave his beast the chance to come to the surface.
"It was at this time", he shared, a blush, an actual blush on his face and neck, making Claire's jaw drop open. He looked like he was talking about his first crush, and if what he was saying is true, he was. "This is when she raised her head and bit me on my neck. I felt my whole body tingle and get hot, the pain and what I now know to be pleasure coursing through me. I smelled my blood, and that jerked me out of the haze I was in. When I pulled back, I saw her lips stained with my blood, and I felt so happy seeing that. I didn't know what had just happened, but my wolf fully came to be at that moment. He urged me to bite her back, but I was confused, not wanting to hurt her. As I debated with my animal, she huffed, pushed me off, wiped the blood off her face and left. Thanks to my wolf being there, my wound healed, but I've had this mark ever since."
Clarie frowned at his words, her mind trying to recall this day. Her father looked at her, his face begging her to say that "M" was lying, or at least exaggerating the truth. Her shocked gasp filled the room as she remembered that day. Her anger and frustration that "M" always chased her at first, claiming it was because she was so small and so slow. Claire had no idea that his wolf was present. All she remembered was how mad she was when he tackled her to the ground and dirtied the new dress she'd got as a birthday present. How fed-up she'd felt at his constant picking and poking, and she just snapped, instinct taking over and she went for the throat. Claire recalled that it was actually another voice in her head at that time, telling her what to do. At first, she recoiled, knowing full well that even when play-fighting, as pups, they were always taught to NEVER bite anyone on the neck, as it would have serious consequences. Her hands trembled as she raised them to her lips, her face pale, as her stomach roiled with what he indicated. She had claimed him when they were children.
"M" continued, "I thought that the scar would soon fade, but it didn't. I hid it, not wanting my parents to know, and for some reason not wanting Claire to get into trouble for breaking the rules, but one day I did ask my father about what would happen if a girl bit a boy on his neck. He said that either she was defending herself, attacking him or marking him. I didn't want to believe, yet as I got older, I found all females annoying and repulsive. One time, a girl kissed me and I felt sick for three days, guilty as well. My wolf kept asking for his mate, wanting to claim her before anyone else did, but I didn't know what to do or what to say to Claire, so I soothed my wolf by always finding ways to touch her. I know I was a jerk, but I just needed to touch her, her hair, her skin.
That night, when I took her, it was because my wolf had had enough. We ran into each other at the market two days before, and it took all of my control not to shift as my wolf scented that she was going into heat in a few days. The thought drove him mad, especially with another male circling what he considered as his. He took control of me that night, but I will admit that I didn't mind. I was actually glad of his plan, so we both took her and brought her back to the woods, to the house I'd built at the spot where she'd marked me all those years ago. I admit that in my haste and excitement, it being my first time, I might have been a bit rough, but I had no intention of hurting her. I'd hope that after my wolf and her heat had calmed down, we could talk, but she left when I went out hunting.
So, members of the Council, I simply ask that Claire take responsibility for claiming me, for now I cannot be with anyone else but her, and having her mate with another would drive me mad. Plus", he added, "My wolf made sure that she's carrying my child."