Page 61 of Marcus-stiltskin

Two young men that have the Lamar look to them move up to the front to stand with the three Lamar brothers I know–Zach, Zander, and Alyssa’s boyfriend, Zane. Red, Zach’s fiance, reaches out for his hand as she moves through the crowd. Zander has a protective arm around a very pregnant Nolig, while the other Lamars stand close by.

“Bailiff, I’m ready.”

The bailiff locks the door and proceeds to the front of the room. “Please form a single file line. Once your wrist has been tested, you need to sit in the very front row of seats until you are called.”

Obediently, the Lamars men and their women form a line, stepping up in turn so that the arbitrator can register their scent. The arbitrator finishes her testing, a neutral expression on herface and turns to the bailiff, “Will you bring the current Alpha and Luna back in here, please?”

“Would you like me to take the baby back to Mr. Jones?” the bailiff asks the arbitrator.

She shakes her head. “I’m baby borrowing, Neil. Leave me to it.” The bailiff chuckles and calls Zelda and Randy back in. Everyone settles into their original spots, except this time, all the Lamars who can’t fit at the table nearest to the arbitrator fill the front row.

“Zach Lamar, obviously, I’m not a wolf, and I don’t pretend to understand pack dynamics, but I feel like a lot of this could have been avoided had you been more involved in your pack. I cannot make decisions for you, but your uncle and mother have carried this burden far too long. It is perhaps time to have a talk about a transfer of responsibility. You should be the leader and example for your pack. Pregnancies, even unplanned ones, should not be a surprise to you at all. I’m almost certain had one of the employees of your establishment–what is it–the Wild Hare?--fallen pregnant, you would have known right away. That this happened in your own pack is inexcusable.”

She takes a breath and looks down at the baby. “Should you decide to have children of your own one day, you’ll understand how guidance and education in matters like sex is vitally important. All the young people of your pack should understand how pregnancy happens and how to prevent it, long before they have found a girlfriend or boyfriend.”

Zach tilts his head as she speaks and my gut drops as it dawns on me what she’s talking about. I can’t believe I missed the signs–the non-stop peanut butter sandwiches and the crochet blanket–how did I not know Alyssa was pregnant?

I turn to look at Zane as everyone else’s eyes are focused on the Gobelin. He’s either got an amazing poker face or has absolutely no clue.

“Please let the record show that the scent match is that of Zane Lamar. Zane, do you have a mate?”

He stands up, looking stunned. “I, uh, have a girlfriend.”

“Where is she?”

He turns bright red and swallows hard.

“Where is she, Zane?” Zelda asks.

“I, uh, took her to the cabin. Her dad kicked her out on her birthday.”

The arbitrator raises an eyebrow. “How old is she?”

“Eighteen.”

“Were you aware that she was pregnant?” the arbitrator asks.

He shakes his head. “No, ma’am. She never told me anything.”

“Not to be crass, Zane, but I’m presuming you have a sexual relationship with her? You never noticed changes in her body?”

“No, ma’am. I mean she never looked pregnant.”

The arbitrator sighs and says nothing for a long moment, leaving us in suspense.

Finally, she turns to Zach. “As there is no indication that this was a medically assisted birth and the father of the child wasn’t even aware, I’m going to presume that a teenager gave birth on her own. Mr. Lamar, I have had three children myself as an adult woman in a hospital with a full support staff and my husband by my side. She delivered alone. I cannot imagine the absolute fear and pain she endured. Alone. It is a miracle they are both here, alive and safe. This is what I want you to think of as you take on your role as Alpha.”

She turns to the caseworker sitting at the desk. “I’m granting physical custody of baby Jane Doe for ninety days to Zelda Lamar with joint legal custody to her father, Zane Lamar. DNA testing will be set up to confirm maternity and paternity, so we can have it on file when they come before the judge after the holidays.”

“I expect that the Lamar pack will have proper accommodations arranged for the mother of this child by the end of the day. We will see mom, dad, grandma, and Zach Lamar in family court in ninety days. That should give you some time to get your pack sorted, Mr. Lamar.”

She takes a deep breath. “I have one more matter before me and that’s the hopefully less dramatic matter of the destruction of property charge against one of your employees.”

“We will not be pressing charges, your honor. Randy and I feel she was defending herself and her mate,” Zach says from his table.

“Be that as it may, uncontrolled displays of power from adult witches cannot be unaddressed Steely? Sarah? Which is it? Were you the person referred to in the note left with the baby? The one she knew would help her baby?”

I stand uncertainly. “My legal name is Sarah. Steely is my stage name, and, yes, ma’am, I’m the one she was referring to.”

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