The only comfort she had was her grandfather's arm wrapped around her shoulders - other than that Elowen felt like she was going to fall apart.
She, however, kept up a strong face - held high and shoulders raised as she stood in the council room.
Her mother was off to the side with Clara, who was holding the older brunette to her side. Caroline gladly accepted the embrace that her best friend had wrapped her in, tears filling her eyes as she looked at her daughter who had avoided her gaze. Weylyn stood in front of them with David by his side - father and son both having their arms over their chest as they waited for the strange Alpha and his posse.
"Say the word and I will get you out of here." She heard a voice come from behind her and turned to face Elder Amelia - the older female's sapphire eyes staying into her own green ones. "You should not have to do this, dear."
"Oh shut your gob, Amelia - the sooner this pest leaves the better." Silas sneered and Amelia growled - only to be silenced by her mate's hand on her arm.
"Both of you are acting like pups." Octavian scolded from his spot beside Marcus. "What's done is done, it is time to move on."
Elowen turned away from the banter when a loud knock sounded from the door and with a flick of Octavian's hand the large piece of wood was pulled open. The loud creek that echoed through the room made the human cringe and earned a squeeze of reassurance from her grandfather.
She felt her heartbeat pounding in her eyes and she was sure every wolf could hear it. Her eyes widened when she watched the first wolf walk through the threshold.
His hair was spiky and matched his deep oak eyes. A five o'clock shadow covered his jaw - and his muscles shifted under his t-shirt that was covered by a black flannel. Elowen would say he was an Alpha, and while yes he had a powerful aura around him; his gaze was calculating. He was watching everyone in the room - assessing them as if he was making sure it was safe for his Alpha.
Warriors walked in behind him, all five of them tall and strong looking. The human knew just from the look of these six wolves that the pack she was about to enter was hardly one to play games with; and it did not sit well with her.
Then the warriors parted and stormy green eyes met cerulean.
The wolf before her looked as if he was crafted from marble. He was a living adonis - from his broad shoulders to large forearms and to his strong jaw that was ticking. Elowen estimated his height was over six feet, towering over her own height of five feet-two inches. His eyes, black hair (which was a combination of messy and curly), and stong physique was truly a sight to be hold. But what really caught her attention was his deep cobalt eyes.
They resembled a raging sea, a dangerous storm that would show no mercy as they watched the life drain from your body. His eyes held secrets, stories that Elowen couldn't help but be curious about.
"Alpha Darius." Weylyn stepped forward to shake his hand. The blue eyed stranger returned it with his own greeting - a smile making its way onto his lips.
"Weylyn, it's good to see you again." Darius greeted, his voice deep and proper as he talked. It was the type of voice she'd imagine a god would have - powerful, yet charming. Then his gaze turned to Elowen and she could see the wall going up, the trust and warmth leaving his eyes as he looked at her. "So is this the girl?"
"Yes, Darius this is Elowen James - daughter of the late Killian James." The older Alpha introduced - gesturing to the human, who bowed her head as a sign of respect. "This is Thomas Vanbrook, her grandfather and her mother, Caroline."
Darius nodded and stepped forward, examining her in a way you would look at an abstract art piece. His head tilted as he took her in, and Elowen couldn't help the way her heart skipped a beat.
* * * * *
The human in front of him was quite small, only a few inches above five feet in height. Her hair was a light brown and cascaded down her shoulders in soft waves. She had stormy green eyes, a small button nose, and pouty lips.
Darius had to admit that she was quite the siren, gorgeous and alluring. But he would not fall for it, she was a human.
Humans could not be trusted.
His head tilted as he watched her stand up straight with her head held high. Her face showed confidence, yes - but he could see straight through her mask. See the way her eyes flicked about the room and the way she shifted her weight from one leg to another. She reminded him of a skittish deer.
Little Bambi.
"It is a pleasure to meet you sir." The human, Elowen, greeted softly and Darius's inner beast practically swooned at the sweet fairy-like tone and he almost growled.
He couldn't blame the wolf inside of him for having an attraction to the brunette before of him, because yes she was gorgeous. Her face was delicate, beautiful - and her eyes were soft and comforting. He could tell her hips were strong and wide, perfect for carrying pups and raising them.
'Keep it in your pants, Darius' The ravenette scolded himself, with a slight wrinkle of his nose.
"Hmmm." He merely hummed at her greeting - inwardly wincing at his rudeness. If his mother had seen that she would have smacked him over the head.
Darius had to admit he was quite surprised to see that the human before him barely flinched at his response. Many of them would scowl at him, women would look hurt, while men would openly glare at him. But Elowen just kept looking at him, her hands going to rest on her hips.
"My Beta will escort you to the car, then we shall travel to the airport. From there we will fly to my pack." He gruffly explained, and the human nodded - slinging her backpack over her shoulder and taking her one suitcase into her hand.
A hand on her shoulder, however, had stopped her from walking to the other Beta.
Her grandfather narrowed his eyes at him, his upper lip pulling up to bare his mouth in a snarl. "If anything happens to her boy-"
While usually he would respond to the disrespect by flashing his eyes a bright gold, this time he let it slide, because he understood. This was the older wolf's only grandchild and he merely feared for her safety. Darius could respect that.
"No harm will come to her within my pack. If anything were to happen - then they will be dealt with." The Alpha assured him with a firm tone and the old timer relented.
* * * * *
Elowen returned the embrace her grandfather wrapped her in - breathing in the smell of cigarette smoke and peppermint. Her body shuddered as she took in a harsh breath and blinked back tears.
"Give 'em hell, Little Wolf." Thomas muttered into her ear and she gave a tearful chuckle. "And be back soon, I have so many more stories to tell you."
"I love you, Papa and I can't wait to hear them." She pulled away and wiped her eyes - looking to her left when she felt another hand on her shoulder.
David gave her a cheeky grin and hugged her tight. "Call me if you need anything, Winnie." He gave a sad smile and ruffled her hair - laughing when she whined.
Elowen rolled her eyes playfully and punched his arm. "Don't get into any trouble, Sinclair." He only laughed and Elowen resumed walking - her feet feeling heavy as she walked away from the only family she had ever known.
"Elowen?"
The human paused at the sound of her mother's voice and slowly turned around to watch as the older brunette approached. Caroline was hesitant as she came closer and Elowen gulped when the she-wolf lifted up a necklace.
"D-Dad's dog tags?" She asked, and gently took them from her mother - hands shaky as she did. "I had these made for him." Elowen muttered and Caroline nodded with a soft smile.
"He would want you to have them." Her mother said, then she paused and quickly kissed her daughter's cheek. "I'm sorry, Ella." Then she pulled away and returned to her spot beside Clara.
The chain in Elowen's hand felt like it was on fire - and she brought it up and slid it over her head - allowing the tags to slip under her shirt and to rest in the valley of her breasts.
With one final look casted to her old life she nodded and looked back to Darius and his beta.
The Alpha kept a stoic face and inclined his head to the brunette beside him. "Xander will take you to the car, I assume you have everything?" The ravenette asked with a raised brow and Elowen had to bite back a sarcastic retort.
Instead she gripped her backpack strap tighter, face pulling into a grimace-like smile. "Yes sir."
She could see the Alpha's lip twitch up just a smidge before it disappeared and the ever stoic facade returned. He brushed past her in order to talk to Weylyn and David causing Elowen to let out a sigh.
Xander placed a hand on the small of her back and guided her forward. "Come, the sooner we get to the car and to the pack - the sooner you can come home."
The human winced when the large mahogany doors shut and she knew that there was no turning back now.
'It's all downhill from here, Elowen.' She thought bitterly as she walked down the hallway with Xander.
Soon she found herself in front of a large SUV and her bags had been taken from her and placed into the trunk. Elowen thanked Xander when he held the door open for her, and she climbed in with the Beta following her.
The human's brow furrowed in confusion when the car started, but Darius was nowhere in sight. Surely he would be accompanying them.
Xander saw the confusion on her face and shook his head. "Darius will be meeting us at the airport, he has something to discuss with your Alpha." He then leaned back and took out his phone, mindlessly scrolling through it. "You might want to get comfy. We have about a two hour drive."
Elowen nodded, and reached for her own phone and headphones that rested in her hoodie pocket. With a few swipes and clicks - the voice of Johnny Cash filled her ears and she sighed. The human leaned back against the seat and turned her gaze to the window - watching as the trees and houses passed by in a mass blur.
There was truly no turning back now.