The Crown's Entrapment

At Keen Manor, Silver Crescent Pack Territory

Gilas arrived at the mansion just in time for dinner. Likewise, Nasser also arrived not soon after and had dinner with the rest of them. Seated along the table, the air was tense despite the thin veneer of courtesy blanketing the room.

"I'm glad that you and my son are getting along well, Clara," Nasser noted with a smile.

"He's my mate," Clara straightforwardly replied.

Gilas raised an eyebrow at what Clara had just said. He was surprised to hear that coming from her. He didn't expect that she would just suddenly declare it like this, and while Nasser was already aware of the fact, the same couldn't be said about his mother.

"That's great!" his mother burst out, her eyes welling up with happiness. "I'm so happy for both of you!"

Gilas didn't know what to think. He could see the genuine bliss shining through his mother's eyes.

Nasser scoffed and pointed out, "If that's the case, then why are you still participating in the tournament, Lady Clara?"

​ Turning to Nasser, Clara flashed a faint smile as she boldly declared, "I simply don't fancy any of the other participants coveting the throne, notably your niece, Pinra."

She held an inward scoff as she gave the man a level gaze. "I'm sure you're well aware of that, Elder Nasser, of how I don't want any undeserving people to hold important positions within our Kingdom."

"So you're saying that you're simply participating because you don't want Pinra to win?" Nasser questioned. "But in the same vein, you'll be supporting the Princess?"

Clara didn't answer. She kept her composure, allowing her silence to be her answer.

"What if the Princess wouldn't show up then?" Nasser further questioned with a frown. "Will you covet the crown to become Queen instead despite knowing that my son is your mate?"

Clara smiled at Nasser. This time, her expression was that of brightness and confidence as she stated, "I won't. The Princess will show up without fail, I'm sure…"

[Does she know? I think she already knows about the Princess's angelic blood,] Ham noted from the back of Gilas's head. [Maybe Darius told her already?]

Gilas paid no attention to his wolf's words. It didn't matter to him whether or not Clara knew the truth. Right now, he was more than satisfied with her answer. She said she wouldn't covet the crown, and that was what mattered to him. Because of that, his lips unknowingly stretched themselves wide into a beautiful smile.

"But what if she fails the trial inside the forest?" Nasser pressed, having no intention of letting this topic slide.

"Why are you insisting on that to be the case, Elder Nasser? No matter what happens, the one thing that I can assure you is that Pinra will never become our Kingdom's Queen," Clara coolly answered. "I will not let a psycho killer like her rule this kingdom. I can consider some of the others, but not her…"

"So are you saying that you won't consider yourself for the crown?"

Clara shook her head at the Elder's incessant questions and firmly stated, "As I've said, Gilas is my mate, and I have no intentions of rejecting him thus far. So rest assured that I will become his official mate once this tournament is over."

Nasser scoffed. "Words… Hah… It's so hard to rely on words alone these days, milady. Knowing your answer, I feel bad for my son for his lack of security. Don't get me wrong, Lady Clara, but-"

"Then tell me what I can do to put you at ease, Elder Nasser," Clara leveled out to the Elder, cutting the old man off without batting an eye.

By the sidelines, Gilas has finally had enough. "That's enough, Father. Please don't push Clara too. I trust her, and-"

"This is why you haven't progressed at all!" Gilas paused upon the sharp glare Nasser threw at him, his father snapping at him with a pointed squint. "You never fail to hesitate. Just like during the Battle for the Throne against Darius! You hesitated, and you lost!!!"

"Please… We're here to have a meal, not to quarrel…" Gilas heard his mother try to interrupt with a stutter. "And we have a guest…"

Taking a glance to his side, Gilas saw Clara holding her mother's hand on the table.

Clara smiled as she reassured the old woman. "Don't worry about me, Lady Shila. I mean, it's not like I don't know of Elder Nasser's nature," she let out a thinly veiled scoff as she added, "Besides, I don't see the point of talking like none of us on this table knows of the other's true nature."

Clara then looked at Nasser and said, "So tell me, what is it that you want from me? While I might like Lady Shila, and I can find myself accepting Gilas, that doesn't mean that will change the way I look at you, Elder Nasser."

She truthfully stated, "I still don't trust you. And frankly speaking, I doubt that I will ever do so. However, I trust Gilas. I am his mate, after all… And I also trust Lady Shila, knowing that she's innocent from all of your wondrous works."

"Hah! How vulgar of you to mock and slander me in my own house!" Nasser arrogantly barked aloud. "But since you're eager to know what I want, then I might as well tell you! If you really won't covet the crown to become Queen, then you must let Gilas mark you. That way, you won't ever be qualified to wear the crown!"

There was a bout of silence, the tension rising with each passing second…

Nasser scoffed, "Hah! I knew-"

"Do it then…"

Clara's voice interrupted Nasser's words. Gilas turned to her, and their eyes met as she repeated, "Do it. Mark me."

"Nasser, please… Let's stop this now," his mother pleaded. "Isn't this enough? She's already willing to get marked, so please let's not push the issue and let them discuss these matters privately. Let's not-"

His mother flinched, her words failing her under Nasser's glare.

Seeing the argument about to escalate, Gilas gritted his teeth as he stood up. "Let's go. We've had enough!"

Gilas didn't bother looking back as he grabbed Clara's hand and pulled her out with him out of the dining hall. Once they were outside, Clara quickly shook her hand out of his grasp. Feeling Clara free herself, Gilas turned to her with knitted brows as he whispered, "I'll bring you back to your manor."

Despite his words, Clara didn't reply. Instead, her shoulders moved as she let out a mouthful of air. Staring at him, Gilas shuddered at how intensely her eyes were currently boring into his.

"I mean what I said, Gilas. If you marking me is what it will take for Nasser to fully trust you, then I'll let it happen," Clara declared. "It'll happen sooner or later anyway right after the tournament ends, so you might as mark me now and get it over with."

"But…"

He was speechless. He didn't know exactly what to say at that point.

[Just do it,] his wolf quickly supplied. [It's already consensual, right?]

"It isn't like we're going to mate just yet, Gilas. It's just a mark," Clara shrugged, stepping closer to him while tilting her neck to the side. "Just do it. Sink your fangs into my neck."

Seeing her neck being this exposed to him, Gilas's eyes sharpened as his instincts suddenly took over. In that instant, he circled his arm around Clara's waist and pulled her closer, boring his nose into her skin.

"Once it's done, there will be no more turning back, Clara."

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