CHAPTER FOUR

𝐁etrayal is a horrible emotion to experience. When you experience it because of family it is far more devastating, especially when it was someone who is supposed to protect you. You feel as if you are drowning and the hand you are desperately holding onto to keep you above the surface just disappears - leaving you to sink to the bottom as water fills your lungs.

Elowen had not spoken to her mother since the council meeting and had avoided her like the plague. Her grandfather was openly angry with his daughter's decision, leaving the brunette to listen to the loud arguments they would have.

David was also angry, going as far to attack his father in his beastial form. Both him and her grandfather were trying to find a way to get her out of this situation, but so far they had come up with nothing.

"Ella?" Her mother's voice came from behind her door, drawing Elowen away from her packing. "Ella, please can we talk?"

The human mulled it over in head, before slowly making her way to the door and opening it. She watched as her mother made her way into the room, eyes taking in everything as she went.

Caroline licked her lips and allowed her gaze to follow her daughter as Elowen resumed packing. She could see how stiff her daughter was, the way she locked her jaw in a slight irritation as she fought to ignore her.

When Elowen had returned from the Council meeting she had only brushed past her mother. The older brunette was confused and hurt by the action, until Weylyn had uttered a sentence that made her pale.

"She knows about the contract."

And now she stood in her daughter's room trying to save their relationship before it was broken beyond repair.

"Ella, I know you're upset - but please say something, speak to me." Caroline pleaded, and Elowen stopped packing. The human clenched her hands into tight fists as she turned to face the woman who had raised her.

A glare was set on the human's face and her shoulders were tense. "What do you want me to say?" The younger brunette finally spoke. "Do you want me to thank you for trading me like property? For selling away my freedom? Yes mother thank you so fucking much for giving me the oppurtunity to be some Alpha's slut!"

Caroline flinched at Elowen's yell, and stammered slightly. "Elowen it is not like that-"

"Then what is it like? Huh, what could have possibly been going through your mind when you thought this through?" The daughter spun back around, shoving clothes back into her bag, more forcefully now.

"I am just trying to keep you safe! Why can't you see that? I am not trying to be the bad guy here!" Her mother snapped and Elowen gave a cold laugh and turned to look at her with a mocking smile on her face.

"Keep me safe? Yes mother I can see you are doing such a damn good job! Sending me off to a strange pack, yeah that is the best plan I have ever heard!" Elowen shouted back making her mother growl - but the human didn't flinch at the sound. "Congratulations mother, you have just signed my death sentence."

"Elowen, please be reasonable here." Caroline huffed, putting a hand on her daughter's shoulder - only to have it shrugged off. The older brunette sighed when Elowen did not meet her eyes. "This is for your own good Elowen and I hope you will come to see that."

And then Elowen was left alone in her room, eyes glaring down at her clothes while her whole body shook with angry tremors. She wanted to scream and let all of her frustration out, wanted to hit something hard, but she knew it would not help anything. So she just sat on her bed, placing her head in her hands.

When she looked up she was met with a picture taped to the mirror on her dresser. Killian James had his arm around her shoulders, sporting a silly face while her head was tilted back - eyes closed as she laughed. That had been her twenty-first birthday, a day full of joyous laughter and happy smiles.

She found herself in front of that photo now, finger tips running over her father's face. A sad smile painted her lips as she gently removed the picture from the reflective surface. Gently, she tucked it into her favorite book - before placing it in her suitcase.

"I really need you now dad." Elowen uttered before shutting the bag.

* * * * *

Weylyn Sinclair was not one of Elowen's favorite people at the moment, so why she was sitting across from him right now was beyond her. The alpha had called her a day before it was time for her to leave, and he was still sporting a scratch on his cheek - a result from the fight with David.

"I am sure you wondered why I have asked you to come here, Elowen." When he was met with a blank gaze and silence he sighed. The werewolf leaned forward clasping his hands together on his desk. "You father was my best friend Elowen, his dying wish was for me to keep you safe."

"You have a funny way of keeping your promises, Alpha." Elowen grumbled bitterly and Weylyn gave her a look of warning.

"Silas was out of line of at the council meeting, I should have objected when I had the chance-"

"No." She stopped him, arms crossing over her chest - eyes narrowed. "You should have never signed the document. You should have kept your promise to my father - instead you broke it."

Weylyn had the decency to look guilty. "I know Elowen, I tried to talk your mother out of it, but she was persistent. She was going to have you sent to the human's world - but I told her how you would be ridiculed there even more. So I decided a different pack would be best, and this is only temporary."

Elowen supposed he was right about one thing. If she went off to live with the humans she would have been killed on the spot. She was a human, sure, but she was of werewolf blood and humans hated werewolves and vice versa.

"What do you mean, temporary?" Elowen asked, with a tilt of her head and the Alpha bit his lip.

"I am offering you as a tribute, Silas was being a bit exaggerated when he said you were now property. You will go to the Ravaging Waters pack, and become a tribute. You will do what Darius wants you to do, and when the time is right, he will send you home." Weylyn explained, waving his hand as he spoke.

Elowen ran a hand over her face as she took in the information, she was being borrowed. Borrowed. The word did not sit well with her, nor did the situation - but she supposed it was better than being the permanent property of this strange Alpha. "And when can I come back?"

Weylyn leaned back into his chair, hand caressing his chin in thought. "When this whole Beta mess blows over." When she gave him a dark look, he returned it with a stern gaze. "Don't give me that look. Elowen, I have no issue with you becoming Beta, but if you were to become it - you would only be putting a target on your back. Other packs will kill you just for the sake of it. You would be a sitting duck, I am just trying to keep my promise to your father, and if you hate me for it then so be it."

Elowen was torn and ran her fingers through her hair. Finally she stood and bowed as a sign of goodbye as she turned to leave.

"I also have something for you." The human stopped and watched as the ravenette pulled an envelope from his desk. "It's from your father, I found it when I was cleaning out his office."

Her hands shook as she took the paper from the Alpha and nodded before scurrying out of the room. She ignored Clara when she called her name as she rushed past her - desperate to get out of the house.

When Elowen got to her car she wasted no time getting into the vehicle and shutting the door. She slumped against the seat with an exhausted sigh, eyes shutting softly as she placed a hand on her forehead; praying this oncoming headache would go away.

Elowen could see the envelope out of the corner of her eyes, sitting there mocking her. With a shaky breath she picked it up and opened it pulling out another piece of paper, her father's hand writing standing out against the alabaster sheet.

Dear Elowen,

If you are reading this then I have died and I'm sorry I couldn't be there when you needed me, kid. But know something, sweetheart: you never truly needed me. You are so smart, and so strong, even if you can't see it.

You will do great things Elowen, you will make history. I am sure of it! And I only wished I could be there to see it - but now I will be watching over you - guiding you in my own way.

I know you and your mother don't always see eye to eye, just know that she means well. She only wants what is best for you, so please keep an open mind - because I can no longer be there to mediate your arguments.

But if you ever need to get away, I have placed cash in a separate account at our bank for you. There is almost 300,000 dollars in there so don't go crazy - it is for emergencies only. I have listed the information to access it on the back of this letter.

Keep your head up, Little Warrior - and make me proud.

Love,Dad.

Damp spots began to cover the paper as it shook in Elowen's grip. Small sobs worked their way into her throat, and there in the solitude of her car she let the gate open.

Ugly cries left her lips and she covered her face with her palms, dropping the paper onto her lap - sobs wracking her body over and over again. She didn't feel the soft hands on her shoulder as the door opened or hear Clara whisper soothingly in her ear.

All she heard was the blood pumping in her ears as she broke down, the dreaded truth finally falling down on her.

Her dad was dead.

Her and her mother's relationship was hanging on by a thread.

And she was being given as tribute to a strange alpha.

Elowen's whole world was being turned upside down around her, and if someone didn't save her - she would be crushed under the weight of it all.

She wanted to stop crying. The brunette felt pathetic crying in the arms of the Luna. So she took deep breaths to calm down - and finally all she was doing was panting, while small tears trekked down her cheeks slowly.

"T-tell Alpha Weylyn-" She cut herself off with a deep breath, trying to stop her panting and Clara only wiped her tears away. "Tell Alpha Weylyn I am ready to meet his request - I accept to be Alpha Darius's tribute."

And just like that she had sealed her own fate.