A surprised murmur ran through the room, but the Elder ignored it.
"Granted," the Elder announced, scowling at the increasingly noisy gallery. "Call your witness."
"Thank you," Drey rose and turned toward the door, gesturing to the bailiff. "I call Sebastian Tiernan, ward of the Coruscation pack in the United States."
The whispers grew louder as the courtroom door opened and the beautiful Omega who I'd so recently called mine strode into the room. Sebastian paused once when he caught sight of me. I saw the droop at the corners of his mouth, the clouding in his eyes, the slight sag in his shoulders before he drew himself back up to his full height and forged ahead, striding confidently to stand before the bench, his head bowed respectfully.
"Welcome, Omega," an elder greeted him gently. "Do you know why you are here?"
"I..do," Sebastian's voice was soft but steady.
The panel of Elders scented the air as Sebastian stood in front of them, checking for signs of distress. I followed suit, regretting that the distance from Sebastian combined with the crowded room kept me from obtaining a better sample. Still, it was enough to confirm that he wasn't distressed or ill.
"Would you be more comfortable speaking in our chambers?" The elder offered, treating Sebastian with kid gloves.
"No, Elder," Sebastian's voice was stronger, as though he'd pulled a reserve of strength from deep inside. "I can speak here."
"Very well." The Elder gestured for the bailiff to bring a chair and waited until Sebastian sat. "You can begin whenever you're ready."
Sebastian drew in a deep breath and, without looking at me, he began.
"I understand that Alrick..Alpha Braun, that is…turned himself in for.." Sebastian paused and then seemed to steel his nerves. "For taking advantage of me, for claiming me without my consent."
The elders nodded as one and waited.
"That..that isn't what happened," Sebastian's voice rose an octave. "He never took advantage of me. I was willing in every encounter." Sebastian's face flushed red. "I was..more than willing, elders. He never pushed me into anything."
Sebastian stopped talking, gulping in air as he waited for the elders to digest what he'd said.
"Omega," an elder midway down the bench began in a kind voice. "The problem is that sometimes an Omega can be influenced by an Alpha's presence without realizing it. You may not have known he was influencing you."
"No, Elder," Sebastian answered quickly, stopping when a gasp ran through the room. "I..I'm sorry," he apologized quickly. "What I meant to say was that I had been injured, my body was healing, I didn't respond to him that way." He raised his chin and met the elder's eyes straight on. "If I had been healthy, Elder, I would agree with you, but I wasn't."
The elder raised a curious brow. "How can you be sure about that?"
"I..," Sebastian choked out, covering his face with his hands for a brief moment, then dropping them as he continued. "I wasn't in heat, Elder." He blurted out. "My suppressants had worn off before we ever copulated. If I'd been well enough for his presence to influence me, if he had tried to, I would have fallen into heat pretty quickly." He huffed out a breath. "We were together several days without that happening. That's how I know that he didn't influence or take advantage of me. I wanted everything we did together."
The lead elder gave the gallery another angry look as yet another whisper raced through. "If you can't sit quietly, I will empty this room!" He turned back to Sebastian. "And the claim?"
"The claim was…an accident," Sebastian said softly. "A lack of coordination during the act of copulation when Alpha Braun's teeth slipped. He didn't have any intention of claiming me." He chanced one quick glance my direction before turning back to the bench, his fingers rising to worrying the now healed spot on his neck. "If..if he had wanted it, if he had asked, I would have been honored to be claimed by him."
"It was very brave of you to come forward on Alpha Braun's behalf," the elder complimented, favoring Sebastian with a small smile. "You're dismissed."
Just like that, Sebastian walked out of the hearing room and out of my life.
***
Sebastian's testimony turned the tide of the trial, and in less than twenty-four hours, I was standing in front of the bench next to Drey as the elders informed me that the criminal charges had been dropped. There was still the matter of the disciplinary hearing – Sebastian may have convinced the elders that I hadn't broken any laws, but sleeping with someone I was charged with protecting most definitely violated Brigade policy – but when it was over, I was handed a two month suspension and walked away a free being. For the second time since I'd known him, Sebastian had saved my life.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sebastian
I managed to hold myself together until I'd left the military compound and was tucked up against Harry's side in the hired car heading back to the airport. The cross-ocean trip was too far for the dragon to fly comfortably but, once they had heard about Drey's request for me to testify, he and Spencer had agreed that I shouldn't make the trip alone. Harry had met me at Clint and Trevor's house and insisted on escorting me to Germany on the commercial flight. Even as we boarded the flight home, I suspected that Spencer had told him to talk to me, hoping Harry could convince me to return to Terena de Dragoni. I wasn't disappointed.
"Sebastian," Harry's smooth voice pulled me back to the present as the plane taxied down the runway. "The Böxenwolf Brigade is gone. You don't have to return to the United States to avoid him. You're more than welcome to stay with us."
"They're gone?" I repeated. "Because of this?"
