This time, the sofas and even a coffee table were already there. Even a few lamps for better reading. The women marvelled at Trixy's forethought, and she simply shrugged again, a shy smile on her lips. "Told you, I was practising." Trishanna sat on one and put her legs up. She looked down at her swollen ankles and groaned. "Sometimes I feel like a beached whale." The others just smiled. "At least your morning sickness is gone," Nicole stated. Trishanna nodded. Those weeks were terrible. She wriggled until she was comfortable, closed her eyes and focused on what she came to know. She'd asked Lorenzo a few times, but he had no new information. Hopefully, Trixy's library was more helpful to her predicament. The others wandered around before seating themselves. It seemed like they had a few concerns of their own, and she hoped that they could be close enough one day to share. That little meeting in Trixy's room showed her what she missed out on when she was at Bloodmoon: friends, girl-talk, being part of a group. But being mated to Goldmoon's Alpha, she always felt the gap between her and the others, whether it was jealousy or just the hierarchy of wolves, she didn't realise that she was lonely in that regard.
She shook her head; she wasn't here for that, but wanted to figure out if there was a way to be marked before the baby was born. She hoped there was, cause if she was mated to them both, before James and Bradley shared the news with the packs, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. She refocused, thoughts of her mates filling her mind. A book, a bit smaller than most of the others, floated off one of the further shelves. Its dull red cover looks like it has been worn from countless caresses, having landed in her lap. Trishanna opened her eyes in surprise, peering down at the book that may hold the secrets that she seeks.
She picked it up, noticing that it was a journal of sorts. Eagerly, she turned to the first page. There she noted a date including the day and month, but not the year. Her brows creased a bit, but she began to read. It was a diary of a woman named Claire, her handwriting easy to decipher. It seems like Claire realised that she had found her mate, but there was another claiming to own her. The pages were filled with brief encounters of her thoughts on things happening. It got to the part where she was forcefully taken by "M", the initial of the one claiming her, and he waited until she went into heat.
"M" planned to taint her so that her true mate wouldn't want her, as being pure was very important in her time. An impure female was often rejected by her fated mate, and the one who did the deed sometimes took her in but as a mistress or a slave, never doing right by her, causing her and her family shame and suffering. She tried to resist but he allowed her to suffer for hours until she shamefully begged him to ease the ache. He took her, hard at first, but during their joining, even in her half crazed state, she felt a shift, and "M" no longer felt like the life long tormentor. With the heat easing, he became more gentle, whispering words that soothed her mind, calling her beautiful and lovely even though he always said the opposite as they grew up.
They spent the night together, her waking to realise that she was held possessively and tenderly in his arms. Her movement must have woken him, for he whispered words of comfort, urging her to go back to sleep, his words and warmth sending her back to dreamland. When she finally opened her eyes, it was mid-morning, her body covered with his bites and scent, her hips and thighs carrying the proof of just how much he ravished her. The bed was empty, and she took this time to gather her things and escape. She guessed he thought he did a good job, for there were no guards, no locked doors to keep her. Her face fell, as the realisation that she wondered for just a minute that maybe he did want her died at the reality that he just didn't want anyone else to have her. Her eyes blurry, she quickly dressed, striking out into the forest surrounding the house, hidden deep in the woods. She had no idea which direction she was going, but anywhere would be better than staying there and facing the man who ruined her life. Guilt filled her as she recalled her wanton behaviour. Why would her mate even want her? She ran and ran, wishing she could outrun the thoughts of self-disgust and the feelings of guilt.
Sounds to her right came, and for a moment, she wondered if there were wild animals. She was in no position to shift, and the scent of sex and her faint trace of her blood of purity would lure any predator to her. She shifted more to her left, praying that her scent was upwind, but from the increased pace now behind her, she didn't think so. She was discovered. She ran, trying to find a tree, a cave or a hollow that she could hide in, maybe there was a stream nearby so she could lose them and the scent of "M" from her body. So focused was she that she didn't realise that sounds were coming from another direction. She was tackled to the ground, and with her hair in her eyes, she began fighting like a wildcat, desperate to live.
The voice that called to her was warm, concerned, and so very familiar. It was "T", her mate, and she sobbed out of relief and fear. He helped her to her feet, embracing her. He took a deep breath and stilled, scenting what had happened. His chest began to growl, his claws extending. Claire stepped back, fear filling her. He was mad, he had every right to be, and if he killed her now, she could understand. With sheer willpower, he stopped his shift, but his mouth and nose were elongated and his claws were still there. He grabbed her arms, shaking her. He demanded who did it, but her look of shame and guilt was enough. He lifted his head and howled, the pain breaking her heart. She closed her eyes in defeat and acceptance. "T" looked down and saw her, his body relaxing. He calmed down, returning to his human form. He held her once again, vowing that he would seek revenge while promising that he would never leave her. He knew it was not her fault, and he would claim her right now. He leaned in, his mouth wide, ready to mark her as his when a wave of nausea flowed through her body. She pushed him away, turning to vomit until her body was trembling. He stepped back, a look of shock on his face. "You're with child?" he asked, disbelief filling him.
His question reverberated around and around in her mind. Her? with child? She wondered, but knew the chances were higher since she was in heat that night. She shook her head, though, knowing that even with her moon cycle, one night with someone other than her fated mate, conception was not guaranteed. He stepped closer once again. "I can't be", she whispered, "T'was only one night." "T" shook his head. "You've been gone for three days." Her head snapped up at that admission. Three days? It couldn't be, but she was so lost in the heat filling her that she didn't know when it was day or night. Another wave of revulsion rose, causing her to throw up, until there was nothing left, yet her body still heaved with the effort.
A roar filled the forest, and the sounds of large paws tearing through the trees was heard. "T" stood in front of her, his hands already shifting, ready to defend. She caught of whiff of the approaching threat and she knew who it was. The roar came again, filled with anger, rage, and a bit of regret? No, there was no way that monster cared for her. He spent his life torturing her at every chance he got, pulling her hair, tossing her precious books and scrolls into the pond, throwing mud at her. There was no way he cared about her or anyone else bu himself.
"M" burst through the trees, his jet black wolf huge and panting, drool dripping down his exposed canines. He looked like he was mad, and mad he had to be if he thought that "T", one of the most skilled fighters in all the land, would back down. "T" shifted, his light grey coat shimmering in the sunlight streaming through the trees. Even though she was still human, their emotions were so strong, she could decipher their growls and grunts. "M" claimed her as his, mocking his rival, boldly stating that he deliberately waited until her heat, ensuring that he planted his seed inside her so many times, he only stopped when he knew she was with child. His child.
That admission made Claire's knees grow weak and she fell back on her butt, her mouth opened in disbelief. It was worse than she thought; not only did he take the one thing a female has, but he destroyed any chance of escape. With this child in her womb, he can claim her, the truth shattering the warm and hopeful dreams she had just a week ago. Her body began to shake, she felt so cold. What on earth was her crime to be given such bad luck?
Their growls brought her out of her musings, and she saw them circling each other. "T" had no intention of giving her up, declaring that he would still mate with her and raise the child if that is what she wanted. "M" laughed, and that small moment of his pride was an opening that "T" took, lunging at his throat. The two wrestled fiercely, blood and fur marking the ground beneath them, their yelps and grunts filling the air. They seemed evenly matched and gravely injured, yet refused to give up. They lunged again, rolling, snapping, biting, the sounds terrifying. Claire shut her eyes, covered her ears, and prayed that they would stop. It seemed like the gods heard her, for there was a streak of blue light soon after, its force striking between the two wolves bent on death. The light was so strong that it forced them apart. Both turned to see who dared to interrupt their fight, and when Clair looked up, she saw her nanny, Marissa, standing there. She walked between the men, heading straight for her charge, her hands still glowing. She knelt, taking off her cloak and wrapping it around the still trembling girl. One look was all it took for Marissa to know exactly what happened to her, and she wanted to use her powers to fix things, but she couldn't. She was a witch, one who hid her powers for all these years, only using them secretly to entertain the young Miss when she was a child. Now she wanted to protect her. She gently gathered Claire into her arms as she did when she was a child, cooing softly to her until her body stopped trembling. they stood and with a look filled with disgust and a promise of retribution, Marissa led her charge away.
Claire felt like all the shame in the world couldn't rival what she felt. She was tarnished, pregnant and doubted that her parents would want her home. As if sensing her thoughts, Marissa whispered in her ear, words of comfort. She waved her hand, a portal appearing, the door to Marissa's quaint little cottage before them. They walked through and in minutes, Claire was chin deep in a bath of hot water, her favourite lavender scented soap next to her. Marissa gently bathed her, shushing Claire's protests. "I've been doing this since the day you were born, my little chipmunk. Let me do this for you now." She places healing herbs in the water to provide relief to the marks on her body. Claire closed her eyes, the tenderness and familiarity conflicting with her guilt and shame. Marissa shushed her once more, urged her out of the tub, and dried her. She gave Claire one of her night dresses, led her to the table and gave her a hearty stew with a crusty loaf of bread. The smell of the food made her stomach growl. Marissa chuckled, commenting on how she was still the same. Claire sat and began eating, her thoughts on how that was no longer true filling her, but she kept those thoughts to herself.
Surprisingly, she ate all, feeling refreshed and fortified. Marissa then led her to her bed and gently urged her to lie down, promising that life would look better after some rest. Claire doubted her, but Marissa's familiar humming made her eyes close and soon she was fast asleep.
Marissa sat at the table with a quill and a scroll. She bit her lips, wondering if this was the right idea, but Claire's parents were so kind to a stranger and an outcast like her. They took her in first as a maid, then as Claire's nanny, without knowing anything about her. She never told them of her past, or how she came to be in their county, but they trusted her so now she will trust them. She informed them of what happened, letting them know that Claire was with her and they will return in a few days. She indicated in the letter that Claire will need some time, and that is what she will give her. Marissa promised to send word if there were any changes, but pleaded that they will love their daughter the same, as what happened was not her fault. If they could not take her back, then she would be willing to keep her charge and help raise the child if that is what Claire wants.
After sealing the letter, she summoned a raven and, with specific instructions, tied the letter to its leg, sending it on its way, hoping that her letter would be received and her wishes respected.