Chapter 66: Decision

Chapter 66: Decision
Marcus POV


As the huge white double doors have opened, and the sounds of two sets of footsteps approaching, Olivia and I both looked behind us at two people approaching us.
My eyes narrowed when I saw Samantha and Tyson approaching us with their heads held high.
I knew it! I knew those bastards had their filthy hands in this mess.
Tyson looked me in the eyes and smirked for a second as a nasty gleam passed over his eyes. Samantha was looking at Olivia with so much disgust and hate showing in her feature that even shocked me for a moment.
The Elder Attard that was leading this court spoke, “Welcome Alpha Bennet and Samantha Baker.”
Tyson and Samantha approached closer and greeted all the Elders of the court. They were seated to their appointed seats on the side, watching at us.
Elder Attard said, “These two are the main witnesses of the injustice that is happening. Of a huge betrayal to all of us as they ignored the Law on purpose.” He spoke looking over at every member of the court, turning then towards Tyson and Samantha, he continues speaking to the court, "Alpha Tyson and Samantha saw these two breaking the Law, and like every other decent shifter that follows the rules and the Law, they approached me and spoke up what was happening with Alpha Marcus and Olivia.”
The noises of dissatisfactions sounded through the room, coming from the rest of the Elders as their eyes looked down at us with judgment clear showing in them.
“Is that true?” asked another Elder, looking at Tyson and Samantha.
Samantha looked over my way while Tyson didn’t even glance as he looked straight into the eyes of that Elder and said, “Yes it is true. Olivia and I are close friends since childhood and I know her like the palm of my hand. She cannot hide or lie to me and that is how I know that they have been secretly seeing each other and more.”
I couldn't hold in the growl that escaped my lips as the sounds of snorts and disappointment sounded through the room.
Olivia shivered next to me, coming closer to my side as I wrapped my arm around her, to protect her.
“You see dear fellow members of the Council court, the Law and the rules have been broken and they even tried to deceive us by hiding their relationship and their bond.” Elder Attard spoke to the Council.
“We need the proof that they overstepped the boundaries.” One Elder said making Attard to look at him.
“And what would you suggest Elder Brown?” Attard asked the one that wants proof.
The one that is called Brown thought for a moment as other silently waited and when he came up with an answer he said, "Well a dragon shifter would be of great use in this matter but due to the circumstances and the fact that their community is celebrating the new crowning of their Alpha and with that, unfortunately, Elder Forman is away and not present, we have no other choice but to call the second option given.” Elder Brown concluded.
“And what might that be?” Elder Attard asked.
“Well, we need to summon a dark powered witch or a wizard for that matter." Elder Brown said to all, making everyone nod their heads as they listened carefully.
Elder Attard smiled hearing that as he looked towards me for a moment then back to the court, "I have taken the opportunity to be free to do just that already in advance knowing the full situation of not having the respected Elder Forman present today, so to not wait and let this matter waste anymore further on I summoned the one I am sure everyone has heard about." He said making the court looking pleased with this development as one asked, "Just to be clear Elder Attard, who did you summon to come?”
Attard looked over at the man who asked the questions as he simply answered, “Randall Riddle.”
The gasps followed the moment Elder Attard said the name, some were pleased while some unsure.
I heard the name before, and nothing good followed the name's reputation, but I never meet to say I knew who that was.
Elder Attard raised his hand up, pointing to the door, and soon after followed the sounds of locks as the doors opened.
Everyone’s eyes were looking at a person walking slowly behind Olivia and me, making me turn my head and see a tall man, sandy blond hair, brown eyes, and pale skin.
He walked casually, with his head held up and confidence seeping through his every pore.
I felt Olivia stiffened the moment she saw him making me wonder why?
I tried to mind link her but somehow our link was blocked, so I asked her, whispering, "Is everything, ok love?"
She took her eyes off of the person slowly approaching us, and whispered, “He was in the forest that night of a Rogue attack…h-he tried to k-kill Mandy and me.”
Hearing that my head snapped to the man now standing close to us as loud growls left my chest making him chuckle.
"I see you remember me, dear." He said, looking at Olivia making me push her behind my back as I stood in front of him, "DO.NOT.LOOK.AT.HER!"
He chuckled, “The famous Alpha Marcus I presume.”
The air around us instantly filled with tension, making some of the court members feel uneasy as they sat there and watched our exchange.
Elder Attard spoke next, “If you do not step back from one another you will not be giving me any other choice but to use force and do it.”
Randall Riddle looked at him and reluctantly took a step away from me as I felt Olivia trying to pull me away.
“Now Mr. Riddle, can you look into their memories and confirm to us that they have broken the Law and mated?” Elder Attard asked as all other members leaned forward to watch.
“Of course honorable Elder Attard. Should I look into both or…?” Randall Riddle asked him.
I took a step forward, I will not let Olivia go through whatever shit they have set us to go through. If I can I will jump and let them do whatever they want with me and not let them hurt her.
"Do it on me only," I spoke fast making everyone look at me as I heard Olivia gasp hearing my words.
Randall Riddle looked at me with a smirk on his face and a raised eyebrow, so I turned towards the court and spoke to them, “If we are to be undergoing through such treatment then I would like to ask of you all to do all you need only on me and leave Olivia out of it please.”
The silence was deafening only for all to hear her words as she spoke to me, “I can’t let you go through this all alone.”
I turned my head towards her and smiled down gently at her. She had no idea how much I would give and do for her because of the love I have for her.
“It is ok my love. Don’t worry.” I said gently to her as I looked back at Elders and waited for their answer.
They were talking among themselves and finally Elder Attard spoke, “The Council court has nothing against your wish and we all grant it. Let the process proceed.”
Two guards stood closer to Olivia as I walked in the center with Randall Riddle. He turned towards me and smirked as I felt the rush as dark shadows were like crawling inside my brain, trying to break down some invisible barrier.
“This might hurt a little.” Randall Riddle said with a nasty smirk plastered on his face, and in the next moment, I felt something like an excruciating pain, clawing at that barrier, forcing to break it and breakthrough it.
Loud growls sounded inside of my head, as Shadow was up and in full alert, ready to take over and fight.
“Don’t give up!” Shadow said to me in our link.
I knew he was right but the power was too strong to hold on tight.
"He is too strong!" I told him back. I felt Shadow ready to shift as he prepared making me jump and say to him, "No Shadow! Don't! We might get Olivia in danger if we deny this. I know you don't like this but if we don't let him through he will try it on her and I can't stand on the side and watch him roam through her mind and for her to feel pain."
Shadow growled as I tried to reason with him, and thankfully he let down the barrier and the surge of dark kind shadows crawled its way through to seek for the answers.
Few moments passed and finally, the dark shadow claws retracted and I was free from Randall's grip of his power.
“What did you see?” Elder Attard asked him.
Randall looked up towards the court and said, “It is true that these two are mates and have mated. They have been secretly seeing each other for months.”
“Anything else?” Elder Attard asked him.
Randall was quiet for a minute, “No my lord, I couldn’t see anything else but that.”
The court was again talking among themselves as I stood with Olivia wrapped in my arms, her head buried in my neck.
The discussion they led among themselves subsided and Elder Attard turned to us as Randall Riddle walked away and took a seat in the corner, silently waiting.
“We have decided that you have two choices.” Elder Attard said, narrowing his eyes on us as we stood there silently waiting.
“One is that you will proceed as the Law says, reject each other willingly, and sever the bond by yourselves as thankfully you didn’t complete the ritual fully so things are still reparable.” He continued on.
A gasp escaped Olivia and I could feel her distress as I felt anger, wanting to rip them all up for even just thinking of such a thing.
He leaned over the desk as his eyes narrowed into tiny slits, and he said, “Or if you reject to do it willingly then you leave us no other choice but to do it ourselves by force.”