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Wonderful.
“I’m sorry.” I looked from Magnus to the five Alphas. “I don’t know why I did that.”
A small crease appeared between Alaric’s brows. “You have no cause to apologise, Lady Elowen. Your affection was most welcome.”
The certainty in his voice steadied something inside me.
Magnus extended his hand towards me again, and I placed mine in his before he looked towards Alaric.
“Alaric Stormforge.”
Alaric stepped forwards.
“Lady Elowen has been received beneath the protection of House Vaelor. Until she makes her choice, that protection shall remain absolute.”
“Yes, Father.”
Magnus lifted my hand between them.
“Then receive your prospective mate into your care.”
Alaric held out his hand, and Magnus placed mine into it.
“With honour,” Alaric said.
His fingers closed around mine.
The soldiers roared.
Chapter 15
Elowen
My heart was still racing when the doors closed behind us, cutting off the soldiers’ deafening roar. Alaric held my hand as we walked down the wide corridor, with my other four Alphas close around us. My whole body was trembling, and I could feel the crash coming after all that adrenaline. It was like getting off a rollercoaster, only much worse.
I tried to act like nothing was wrong, but Alaric must have noticed something because he suddenly stopped.
“Elowen, what troubles you?”
The others gathered around me before I could answer, and seeing all five of them looking so concerned somehow made it even harder to keep myself together. A deep sob escaped me, and before I knew it, I was clinging to Alaric like a complete madwoman, my face buried against his chest as sobs shook my whole body.
He wrapped his arms around me straight away and held me so securely that I cried even harder.
“It’s all right, sweetheart. You needn’t hold it in,” Leon gently whispered close to my ear.
“I’m sorry,” I managed between sobs. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s happening to me.”
A low rumble began beneath my cheek, so deep I felt it through Alaric’s chest.
He is purring for me.
The sound was so soothing and peaceful that I slowly melted into it, pressing even closer to him as my fingers tightened around his coat. Little by little, the gentle vibration calmed the awful trembling inside me. I could hear the others speaking quietly in Kottarsht, their voices passing back and forth above my head, but I was far too overwhelmed to care what they were saying. I just stayed where I was, listening to Alaric’s purr until my sobs finally quietened and I could breathe properly again.
I had no idea how long it took, but once I was calm enough to leave Alaric’s arms, I lifted my head and found Leon waiting beside us with a neatly folded white handkerchief.
“For you, sweetheart.”
“Thank you.” I took it and dabbed at my cheeks and beneath my eyes.
