It's been a few days since "M"s raw confession. He stopped coming by, claiming that it was due to unforeseen circumstances. Claire felt a bit lonely on those days. Her father reached out to "T", inviting him to visit her, which he gladly did. He hugged her so tightly when he saw her, not caring who witnessed his embrace. He cupped her face and kissed her, pouring all of his concern and fear of losing her, and how much he'd missed her. Claire felt his sincerity, and tears seeped through her closed lids as she returned his kiss, wrapping her arms around his waist. This was their first kiss, and she wanted to enjoy it. There was the usual connection she always felt between them, confusing her, for how could she feel it for both men? "T" slowly released her lips from his and, without a word, took her hand and led her outside. He headed for the oak tree with the swing, but instead of taking her to sit as they sometimes did, he passed the tree, heading for the treeline a few feet away. Claire went with him, feeling that he had something to share with her, something important.
As soon as they would not be so easily seen from the house, he whirled around, trapping her between his chest and a sturdy tree trunk. This time his kiss was deeper, more demanding, more passionate. He gathered her in his arms and kissed her like his life depended on it, for he felt like it did. He was terrified of the Council's ruling, afraid that he would have to let her go. That thought made him restless, and he bent his knees, picking her up and pressing her back against the tree. His hands cradled her hips, sliding under her dress to cup her bare behind, his mouth never leaving hers. Claire moaned, the feelings overwhelming her, fanning the flame of desire she'd been fighting for weeks. She could feel his heat at her core, making her rock her hips in a silent plea for more. "T" tore his lips away, his breathing harsh. "I want you, Claire, even if this is the only time. I will take this memory with me to the grave, for I know there is no one else. Please..." he begged, rocking his hips against her.
Claire bit her lips. She knew that they should wait for the final ruling in their case, but the ache that had been whispering is now a raging storm within her. She had thoughts of asking "M" to soothe the itch, but he was not here. With hooded eyes, knowing that this could be a bad idea, she nodded. "T" paused, peering down at her, "You're sure?" he asked, his chest pounding with more than just desire. She nodded again, and he gave her a quick kiss. He used one hand to unzip his pants, his manhood jumping out like the hungry bastard it was. Holding himself, he rubbed his tip against her wet folds, both of them groaning at the pleasure. He made small circles around and around her centre, making Claire shiver and shift, trying to ease the ache she felt. "T" wished that he could take her somewhere, strip her naked and enjoy every delectable inch of her. The scent of Claire's arousal was going to his head, and all he wanted to do was drown in it forever. He pushed in just the tip, her lower lips sucking him in, making his head spin with pleasure. He felt like it would be over before it began, and he didn't want that. He adjusted her so that his entire length now rubbed against her folds. He slowly began lifting her, trying not to slip inside her, yet wanting to give her pleasure. Claire's legs tightened around his hips, her head leaned back, lips parted in small moans and gasps of pleasure. She looked so beautiful, drowning in the pleasure that he gave her. "T"s hips began to move faster, his hands gripping the soft flesh more tightly. Claire called him, a plea in her voice, and he knew she was close. He moved faster, her folds slick with her desire, making it possible. All too soon, she cried out her release, her juices coating him, her body shivering, and he couldn't hold back. He came, his seed coating her belly, running down and mingling with her essence before sliding down their legs.
"T" felt like his chest would explode, his arms shaking, but he tightened his grip, not wanting to let her go. A wave of self-loathing washed over him as his senses returned, and he cursed at himself. How was he any different from that bastard? He almost took her standing up, against a tree like she was some common trollop, and not the love of his life. He never imagined that their first moment of intimacy would be like animals in the woods. He scoffed at himself, at least "M" had the decency to take her in a bed, even if she was not fully in her right mind.
He slowly let her down, ensuring that she could stand on her shaky legs before he stepped back. He looked at her, the look of pleasure still on her flushed face, a wry smile forming before it fell as he took in the rest of her. Her beautiful dress was now badly wrinkled, her legs coated with their juices and his scent on her. His wolf was pleased, the primal beast he was, but "T" was not. He clenched his jaw, disgust for himself rising, yet he took out his handkerchief and began to gently wipe away the evidence of what had just happened.
Claire could sense the shift in his mood and wondered if she had done something wrong. Was he not pleased? The whispers she'd heard when she'd first returned came back to her. How mad "T" was, how he would reject her and even if she gave herself to him, he would never really be pleased, for she was taken by someone else. Claire felt a wave of cold replace the warmth she'd felt just moments ago.
"T" stood, his eyes never meeting hers, cleared his throat and suggested that they head back. He turned and began walking, not even glancing back. They made their way to the house, "T" grabbing her hand to stop her as she sailed past him. Her head held high, even though her heart felt like it was in her shoes. "I think I will take my leave now. You should head inside and take a bath". He wouldn't even look at her, his gaze darting this way and that, making Clarie's already sunken heart sink even more. The maids were right. He didn't want her, and this was probably some type of revenge against "M". She tugged her hand away, and without one word, she gathered her skirts and ran into the house.
When she got to her room, the first thing she did was order a bath, the hottest one she could take. Next, she took off her dress and flung it in a corner. If she could, she would have tossed it into the fireplace. When her bath was ready, she called for Martha, asking her to take her dress and burn it. Then she stepped into the steaming water that quickly turned her skin pink and sat, covered from her neck down. She took the soap, the one used for washing clothes and not her scented ones and began to scrub at herself with the ball of wool they use when bathing. She scrubbed and scrubbed, her skin feeling raw, but she couldn't get his scent off of her. She tossed the wool and then dunked her head in, wanting every inch of her clean and rid of his scent. She stood and, using the cold water from the pitcher left by the tub's side, she poured it on her head, the contrast from warm to cold, making goosebumps rise on her skin. As she stepped out, Marissa came back, a simple nod indicating that her request was completed. She got even madder at "T" for that was one of her favourite dresses. Marissa dried her hair and brushed out the curls, but Claire had no interest in combing it further. She got dressed in one of her simple gowns and asked Marissa to leave her. She had no appetite and just wanted to be left alone. The older woman nodded, a look of concern crossing her features, but she held her tongue and left, closing the door behind her. Claire fell on her bed, covered herself with her blanket and cried, silently wondering why this was her life.
Marissa stood at the closed door, her heart aching at the soft cries heard. She had a pretty good idea of what had happened and prayed that these young men were not as foolish as they had been acting. She thought of reporting it to the Master, but shook her head. She'd done that before, to do so would be risking Claire's trust and right now she needed as many people as she could trust in her life. All Marissa could do was lift her head, a prayer that the Council's resolution be made as soon as possible.
It seemed that Marissa's prayers were heard, for two days later, there was a letter from the council, requesting the presence of all involved. Claire had been dispondent in the past two days, eating only because of the pup, no longer smiling and humming. She'd spent all her time in her room, sitting on the rocking chair her father had taken out of the attic, caressing her belly and staring out the window. Neither of her alleged mates has been there, no word of what happened or an explanation of their absence. Claire wished that they would just stay away, both of them. She would raise the child with her parents' love and support. In fact, she wanted to petition the court for the right to be the sole parent, if that was possible. She had no idea if the men would show up, and she did not care to see either one. Claire felt like she had to grow up overnight, the feeling of being used and rejected making the hope she had all but disappear.
The ride in the carriage was quiet, everyone in their own silent thoughts. Claire's parents looked at her, concern in their gazes. They've noticed how she has been feeling down, but their little girl wouldn't open up. It took her mother a lot of convincing to stop her father from confronting the young men and ripping their throats out. She prayed to the stars that whatever the Council decided would make her daughter's life finally have peace.
They arrived at the Council's head office, but this time, they were led into a much smaller space, reserved for private meetings and settling of small disputes. They sat in a few of the chairs provided, nodding at the two lawyers present as well. Soon the doors opened behind them, the hairs on Claire's arm and neck standing, but she refused to turn around a look a the two men who made her out to be a fool. She was disgusted with herself, how trusting she was, thinking that their whispered words of love had any real meaning. She could feel their glances, but she kept her eyes fixed front, her spine straight. She was tired of the way her life was going, and she would not stand for it. As soon as the Council nodded for the doors to be closed, she wanted to stand, to express her rejection of them and her wish to be left alone with her child, but the head Councilman stood.
He cleared his throat and began speaking, outlining the reason why their response to this case took so long. "After careful deliberation, it is with full agreement of everyone having granted the permission and authority of their seat on this council, taking in the wisdom of the Great Sage, that we declare that Claire's bond to both men shall be honoured." There was quiet in the room as the judgment sank in. When the truth finally made it through the wall of shock, she stood, outraged at their ruling. "How can that be? There has never been such a thing." The elder shook his head. "Actually, my dear, many, many years ago, this was not so strange. Now, in your case, you've already made a partial bond with one of these men, meaning that as long as you are alive, he cannot, nor will he ever find another mate. The good thing is that it happened when he was too young, so that there was no chance that what could have been his true fate bond could have formed with someone else, freeing that person from remaining single as well. As for the other male, your bond will be honoured as you were an unmated female when it began. Taking these factors into consideration, it is this Council's final decision that you are mated to both men." Clarie slowly sat, her mind numb with the result. The Council's final ruling can not be challenged or overthrown. She was now expected to mate with them both? How?
Another Council member stood up, this one a woman. "We have prepared written instructions for the three of you." She gestured, and a guard gave a letter to each of them. "Please read it carefully and follow its directions without fail. This is a delicate balance you all must agree to, or else there can be devastating outcomes. Have a discussion and decide which option will work for you, but I encourage you not to wait." With those words, Claire looked down at the sealed envelope in her hand, knowing that its contents would change her life forever.
Trishanna awoke to Trixy shaking her, "Hey, Luna, are you okay? We've been trying to wake you for a while." Trishanna blinked and opened her eyes. Where was she? The last thing she saw was herself holding a letter in her hand, but as the sleep cleared, she came back to the reality of where she was and why she was here. She looked down at her lap, seeing the diary now closed. Gently, she touched the old cover and nodded. "Yes, Trixy, I'm fine. Guessed I just dozed off for a minute." She yawned and stretched, smiling at the girl. Trixy frowned but nodded, tossing over her shoulder, "We should get going", as she walked away. Trishanna stood, stretching, the book strangely falling to the floor. When she bent to pick it up, a folded paper fell out of its pages. She picked it up, a strange yet pleasant feeling filling her as she held it in her hands. El perked up, responding to it, but before she could open it, the doorway appeared, everyone heading out. Trixy turned to look at her, and Trishanna hid the hand holding the letter behind her. The diary floated out of her hands and returned, while Trishanna discreetly slid the note into her pocket, praying that Trixy won't be mad or her choice won't affect the fabric of time and space in here. She walked out, her heart racing, but when there wasn't any beeping or alarms or explosions behind her, she sighed in relief, silently promising that as soon as she could, she would return the letter back to its magical space.