It's been a month, and the council still has not sent word for Claire and her family to return, so that the matter could be finalised and put to rest. After "M"s story, the room went into an uproar. "T" shifted and lunged for him, causing him to be placed under arrest and held in confinement for at least three weeks. He could have been hanged if not for Claire's father pleading for mercy, reminding them that he was her mate and everyone knew that. The Council has never had a case like this before. It was one thing for two males to lay claim to one female, but never that they were both her mates and she was already pregnant by one of them. They needed to seek higher knowledge, so a small group went up into the forbidden mountains to seek the wisdom of the Sage.
The rumours say the Sage is a witch, cursed to live for eternity; others claim it to be an elf who fell in love with a human, but since elves live much longer and her beloved was taken away at a young age, she made a vow to wait until he was reborn. Others claim it was just a madwoman, octricised for her gift of foresight. Whoever they were, their knowledge was enough that the Council sought it. There was no fixed date on when they would return, so until then, her bonding ceremony was postponed. At this time, Claire awoke every morning to a fresh bouquet of flowers in her room. The first week, she thought Marissa, or one of the maids, wanted to cheer her up, yet on the third day, when she tried to thank them at breakfast, a strange look crossed their faces. Marissa took her hand, and told her that the flowers were sent by "M". At first, she stood in shock that her parents accepted them, however her father explained that as "M" is the father of her unborn child, and with his testimony in court, verified by the truth serum he agreed to take the day after, the Council determined that he had all rights to spend time with the mother of his child. He could not claim her, for that was still to be decided, but they could not deny a father wanting to bond with his child.
A letter arrived from "M", stating that he would visit her in a few days, wanting them to know each other as he has no intention of not being in his child's life. Claire wondered what crime she had committed in her past life to deserve such misery. She left the table then, storming to her room, slamming the door. She tried not to come down, but by evening, her babe became very demanding. At dinner, she tried to convince her father to deny that man, but he shook his head. To do so would be disobeying a direct order from the Council, and he could be imprisoned for a very long time. He got up, heading back to his office, placed one hand on her shoulder, his touch expressing his dislike for the current event, but a warning that she should behave. Claire just nodded, and he sighed, relieved, walking away, praying that the group would return soon.
"M" showed up as he stated, a few days later. By then, Claire had made the resolve not to do anything to aggravate the situation. "T" was still in prison, and her father's hands were tied. He came mid-morning, and she led him to the sitting room. A maid brought in tea and biscuits, and after she'd left, they sat in awkward silence for a while. Claire took a cup and sipped, delighting in the fruity taste. "M" followed, his hands shaking so much that a few drops spilt on his leg. He grabbed a napkin, wiping it away, muttering apologies, and calling himself a clumsy fool. Claire had made no attempt to help, just lowering her lashes, but his behaviour was different from what she'd known all her life. She looked at him, at the same time, he did. When their eyes met, "M" turned beet red and turned away, blushing. He was blushing? Claire's hand dropped, and so did her jaw. Thankfully, her cup was empty. This man, this tyrant who made her younger years a living nightmare, blushed just because she met his gaze. So he was telling the truth in court. He really did believe that they were mated.
Embrassed, "M" stood abruptly, quickly making some excuse before he bolted out the door. He was blushing so hard that even his ears and the back of his neck were red, causing the mark to appear almost silver. Clarie sat there in shock, her mind replaying all those times when he would pull her hair... no, the truth was even though he grabbed at it often, it never really felt that painful, only when she pulled away, did it hurt just for a bit, but he's always let it go quickly. All the times he tackled her, he would sniff at her, telling her that she smelled, but never actually said that she stank. Memories after memories came back, the haze of hate lifting, making her see the plain truth of those events.
She went back to her room, lost in the realization that "M" was telling the truth about what he believed, although she didn't think he was her mate, but if she did mark him by accident, then what would that mean for her and "T". She knew with every fiber of her being that they were meant to be together, but could her childish action jeprodise that?
It was night, and she was getting ready for bed, when there was a knock on her door, a maid requesting entry. She allowed it, and soon she held a hurriedly written note in her hand, the paper clearly torn from a book. "M" begged for her forgiveness for showing her his clumsy side, and informed her that he would be better behaved on the morrow. The maid shared that he had returned less than an hour later, his cheeks still flushed and handed her the note, but asked that Claire receive it right before bed. Claire chuckled, finding him silly indeed, wondering if he was always like this. She thanked the maid and, with one more chuckle, closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.
It has now been twenty days since "M" started to visit her every day. "T" was released, but was ordered to stay at home. Only if he was called for duty could he leave his house, and he was always accompanied by one of the Council's guard. He was there to ensure that "T" did not break any of the Council's instructions regarding the matter of Claire's mate, and that "M" was not harmed or killed. He wrote to Claire every day, and she responded. "M"s lips had tightened when he learned of it, for she told him, but he said nothing. Their meetings have been pleasant so far, and the babe was growing well. A doctor came by one of the days, and he was there, learning of the appointment. He asked to be in the room, and her father gave permission, much to Clarie's annoyance. Marissa was there as well, and "M" had to wait until she was lying in the bed, covered in a way that only her slightly rounded tummy showed. "M" hovered around like a mother hen, asking her and the doctor all sorts of questions. The doctor just smiled and answered them, marvelling at his knowledge and curiosity. "M" shared that he had been reading everything her could find about pregnancy and birth, even asking some of his family and friends who had children about their experiences.
The doctor finished his exam, declaring that everything is progressing well, just the way he likes, and Marissa walked him out. Claire lay there, not wanting to get up, exposing more than he needed to see, although a part of her whispered that he'd already did. She was busy scolding her thoughts for going down that road again, a path it visited more and more, even entering into her dreams, that she missed "M"s request. He cleared his throat, asking again, "Can I touch the baby?" Claie was stunned, not sure she'd heard him right, but his hopeful look made the instant denial die on her lips. She nodded, lying back, hoping that Marissa would return soon.
"M"s hands shook as he hovered for just a moment before making contact. Claire sucked in a breath as his hands were large and warm, stirring up those pesky memories she'd been trying to ignore for days. He gently cupped her belly, his thumb stroking the gentle dome, a smile of wonder and delight on his face. He used his other hand to pull the chair he was sitting on closer, leaning down to place the gentlest kiss on her belly. Clarie just stared at him in shock, her eyes failing to believe what she saw on his face, a look of pure bliss. He leaned forward, and she braced for his lips, but they stopped just a hair's breadth away. He began to talk to the baby, saying how happy he was, excited for them to meet, instructing that he should not give his mommy any trouble, all the baby babble expectant fathers do. This was a side that she never would or could have imagined in a thousand years. He seemed genuinely happy, promising that he would teach the little one all that they need to know. He demanded that it be a boy, for if it was a girl, half as beautiful as her mom, then he would have no choice but to destroy the world to keep her safe. Claire chuckled at his nonsense, this moment erasing the wall she'd erected years ago. She teased him, asking what if their son wanted a sister. He shook his head, declaring that he only wanted boys, at least five. For just one daughter would drive him mad with worry. He's seen how his cousin, who has three daughters, scowls at everybody, especially those little devils, as he calls them, the boys his daughters play with at school. They were all under the age of ten. Clarie laughed, the sound ringing out, making Marissa smile. She had been standing just outside the door for a long while, and she realised that it has been a while since she saw her charge laugh. Maybe things won't be so bad between those two.
Shk knocked and entered, asking for the young man to excuse them as Clarie got her clothing in order. Soon they were both walking in the garden, the afternoon sun shining on their backs. "M" led her to the swing under the large oak tree, while he sat on the ground next to her. The talked, mainly about people they knew growing up, and what the doctor had said. He looked up at her, his face open. "I love you", "M" declared, "I've loved you from the day I saw you even though at the time I didn't understand why my heart raced. At first, I thought it was a sign that you were dangerous, and I guess in a way you were, as you'd stolen my heart before my eyes. Then I grew angry everytime you smiled at someone else and I felt like you would turn them against me. When you marked me, I was unsure what had taken place. Getting used to my wolf's voice in your mind at first is difficult, but all he begged for was you. All he talked about was you. One night, the first night I got a taste of my heat, he drove me to come here. Your parents were having a party, the house ablaze with lights and music. I smelled a few females that were close to their heat cycle, most of them older than me and clearly unmated. The scent made me so sick to my stomach that I puked. I wanted to leave, but my wolf wouldn't let me, begging for a look of you, so I went around the other side. I saw you then, you would have been fourteen at the time. You looked so beautiful, like a heavenly being. The wind blew your scent to me and that calmed my wolf. I wanted to approach, yet when I saw other males around you, it broke my heart. It also made me realise that I was now your mate, and I couldn't be with anyone else. I went home angry at the bond, at fate, at myself for being a fool to reconise what I've felt for years. But," he added, looking at her once again, "I have accepted my fate. I want to stay with you, not just because of the bond, but because I truly love you. You were my first and you shall be my only. This child might be the only one I can have, so please, don't let my child be raised without a father, for I will not live for long, if I am forced to let you go, but I would if that is what you want."