Why was I so concerned? I had no logical reason as to why my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. Why my palms felt clammy with anxiety and stress. Why in the back of my mind I was worried that something bad might happen to him.

Him of all people. Eleo.

This man had forcefully taken me away from my life. Taken me with unjust reason. Away from my loving father, the one person who meant more to me than anything in the entire world. This man held me captive, I had been physically and emotionally thrown around without a single reasonable explanation. He was a monster, a tyrant, a sociopathic cult leader.

But ... this man, he was protective of his people. They were his family. This village was their home and every move he makes is to protect the place that they all love. Monsters aren't capable of love. Tyrants don't care about others. Sociopaths don't feel. And cult leaders have evil intentions.

Something in me stirred. I was finally able to see a little clearly in what seemed like forever. I still had no idea what was going on in this off the grid village. Why the people of this village were being hunted by mysterious outsiders. I had no idea why I was taken and held captive. But what I did know was that part of me cared. And honestly I had no logical explanation for it, only that I knew that deep down these people weren't evil. No, they were good people.

I cared about Sophia, she had warmly accepted me from the moment we had met. She was a real friend who cared for my well-being, something I had never had before. I cared for Aura, the woman treated me like I was her own. She tended to me every time I had been hurt. And I cared for Keith in a strange way. Even though he had been so unkind at the start, he was deep down a good person and his love for his partner seemed pure and endless.

And in some weird sick twisted kind of way that stemmed from deep down in the very pits of my being, I knew Eleo wasn't really a monster. Everything he does is not to benefit himself but his people instead. Monsters aren't capable of love...

I ripped myself from Sophia's grip and ran back down the stairs. I couldn't let him get hurt because of me. I wasn't worth it.

"Eliza!" Sophia roared but I didn't listen. I pushed my way through the crowd of village members that were in uproar and panic to leave the house. As I bolted through the doorway of the kitchen I was met with an unsightly scene.

A black wolf larger than any animal I had ever laid eyes on was crouched blood lusting for Eleo who stood facing it unfazed. The two wolves from before were crouched effortlessly on the black wolves heels growling menacingly and in unison. Ravenna stood with blood pumping down the side of her face where she must have cut herself upon impact with the kitchen cupboards.

Beside Eleo stood a beautiful white wolf and a familiar wolf that I recognised instantly. A gouge still missing from its shoulder where it had defended me from a rogue wolf just hours ago, the wolf from the forest.

How was this creature standing before me? We left that wolf recovering back at Aura's infirmary. Where was Keith and Aura? Where was Alpha Ezek? And where had these wolves come from? My brain reeled with so many questions I began to feel almost sea sick.

The black wolf placed its paw forward growling and gnashing its teeth toward Eleo. Eleo didn't even blink. Nor did he even flinch. The man was insane.

"Stupid pup look what you've done !" Ravenna shouted stepping forth to take her place next to the black wolf. "You will pay for your disrespect."

The white wolf growled loudly and stepped forward towards the unwelcomed woman. Ravenna ushered backwards slightly gulping at the sight of it. She did not seemed feared by any of the other wolves, but this one obviously unsettled her. The large black wolf made another step forward.

"Eleo." I spoke in panic gaining the attention of all in the room.

"What - You shouldn't be here get out of here!" He ordered shouting at me. Horror and dread instantly stained his face as he looked back and forth between myself and the wolves before him.

The black wolfs attention was now solely focused on me and in a split second Eleo was over to me ushering me behind him in protection. Eleo gripped me so I was flush against his back. A strange heat began filling my body from where his hands remained firm on my arms. His skin was like fire to touch but it didn't hurt, it was strangely comforting.

"I will not say it again, you will not hurt her. For if you kill her, you kill me." Eleo berated but the black wolf only grew angrier. The situation wasn't defusing but Eleo's grip began to relax as did his stance. Did he feel weirdly comforted by my touch also?

"MOVE." Ravenna bellowed wiping away the blood that was dripping down into her eyes. She was growing more and more frustrated with every second. "The order -"

Ravenna stopped mid sentence and her head turned upwards, pointing her nose into the air like a dog. The others simultaneously froze too. The black wolf's ears perked up and I swear it was grinning sinisterly.

"That smell ... What is that?"

"Human." Eleo mimicked smelling the air. I tried inhaling to see what they were talking about but all I could smell was the food cooked for the feast that was currently going cold and sour.

The next words to leave Eleo's mouth made my entire world visibly stop.

"It's your father."

Ravenna took a step forward, her eyes narrowing like slits with concentration. My father was close. He was here. He had finally come for me at last! I knew he would find me eventually. But .. how did they know it was him?

"The hunt is on pup." Ravenna smirked forebodingly.

"Ravenna.." Eleo warned, concern lacing his tone. What did she mean by hunt? No...she couldn't possibly mean what I think she did?

"The order must be maintained. Any threat must be eliminated. You know what to do, otherwise we'll do it for you. Either slay him or follow the law of order!" She chastised and the black wolf retreated back to her side. I was now visibly shaking in Eleo's grip.

"Slay him?" I stuttered out almost inaudibly. They were going to kill him.

So I did the only thing I could think of. I tore myself away from Eleo and ran for the front door in a frenzy. It felt as though all the blood in my body was rushing to my head as I reeled over those same words they had just said. Images of my father flooded my mind like a reverie of thoughts.

I burst out through the front door and frantically looked in all directions. The snow masked any clear sight of what was around. Though not a soul was in sight. So where was he?

"DAD!" I screamed at the top of my lungs and the echo carried through the frosty landscape before me reverberating between the trees. "DAD!"

Instantly, my body was pulled backwards and I fell flush against a warm figure. A tight hand gripped my face surrounding my lips preventing any further sounds to escape. I thrashed in my capturers hands.

"Let me go" I screamed, even though the noise was muffled. He needed to know I was here.

"Shh." Eleo whispered gently as he intently scanned the area laid out before us. Ravenna approached slowly imitating Eleo's wary stance and slow analysing stare.

"He is close." She whispered. I stopped thrashing, my eyes growing wide with suspense. Can he see us?

"His smell is masked by what smells like forage, I can't quite place his musk." Eleo responded.

It was then that I realised Eleo's hand was placed firmly on my lower stomach as his grip tightened ever so slightly. My face grew hot and I began to grow ever more self conscience of how my body began to react. I was sure I had ultimately stopped breathing. My mind void of any other thought as heat spread through every inch of my body like uncontrollable wildfire.

"I've lost the scent. He's gone." Eleo announced, his grip slightly loosening on my stomach. As if our minds were connected by something far greater than just physical touch, his body turned rigid realising the position we were both in. We were so close I could feel his hot breath fanning the back of my neck. His breathing slowly started picking up its pace as I felt the vibrations of his chest heaving on my back. As though an animalistic urge overtook him, his head lowered just ever so slightly near the crook of my neck and he breathed deeply taking in my scent. He grew closer and closer. I froze.

"PUP!" Aura shouted from behind us. As if cold water had been splashed on us both, Eleo let go instantly jumping away from my body as we both snapped back to reality. My breathing came out in heavy rasps. I looked over at him and his gaze was concentrating hard on the floor, eyes wide realising what he had nearly just done. As if though he had no control. His fists were clenched with betrayal, turning as white as the snow around us from the pressure.

Alpha Ezek approached menacingly from behind us and I inched away slowly trying to put as much space between us as possible. My sole focus now on him.

"What have you done, you filthy human?!" He roared and I instantly cowered trying to grab a hold of my body to stop myself from collapsing to the ground.

"Stop!" Ravenna shouted shocking us all. "What's done is done."

"She is right." Aura acknowledged, looking deeply concerned. "We must act quickly."

I remained rooted to the spot absolutely horrified. She was agreeing with her? This sadistic lunatic of a woman! Moments ago she was going to rip Eleo apart and now Aura is complying with her?

"Keith.." Eleo spoke quietly and before I knew what was happening I was lifted into the air.

"NOOO!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as Keith carried me back towards the doorway of the mansion behind everyone. "NO! ELEO PLEASE!"

Eleos gaze locked with my own and for the first time I could see pain written all over his features as our eyes connected. He was betraying me. He was going to kill my father. They were going to hunt him down and murder him!

"There's no time for delays, he may have seen the garou. We'll have to split up." Aura announced and they all nodded their heads in complete compliance.

My eyes remained locked on Eleo as tears streamed down my face in utter devastation that there was nothing I could do. There was absolutely nothing I could do to stop them now. To stop them from killing my father.

"NO! PLEASE DON'T DO THIS! PLEASE" I continued to wail fighting off Keith's unfailingly tight grip as he carried me through the doorway to the mansion. The others set off running in various directions, and right before the door shut I caught Eleo's gaze once more through the snowfall.

What seemed like a glimmering tear stained his face. Before I could even make out if what I had seen was real or not, he too ran off into the white panorama of trees leaving me alone screaming and crying at the top of my lungs.