Chapter 24

The next day every wolf was absolutely buzzing with excitement. The emissary from the elves had finally arrived. I watched in awe from an upper window as the small group entered the through the stone wall. Autumn had abandoned me and now the air had a bitter cold bite that seemed to not touch the elves as they made their arrival. Snow flurries clouded the air and landed in the fur of the guards standing watch but melted on the thin garments worn by our visitors. A servant noticed me as they rushed down the hall,

"C'mon everyone must go down to greet our guests. Hurry!"

he called as he turned down the stairs. As much as I hated facing the cold I desperately wanted a good look at an elf. I pulled on my brown wool coat and followed the others outside into the cold. 

My breath steamed in the morning air and the frosty grass crunched beneath my boots. I tried not to push to the front of the crowd as five elves slowly processed up the stone path towards the huge wooden doors. The Alpha stood in the front. He wore some sort of cloak that looked to be made from the skin on a large brown bear and he ran so hot that steam rose from not only his breath but his shoulders. Appreciating a good ceremony, the elves did not pick up their delicate pace just because everyone was waiting. Those who live for ever see know reason to hurry. 

Even the shortest elf was taller than most werewolves so it wasn't hard to spot them over the heads of the pack. They stood straight and the expression on each of the elves faces was a mask of perfect serenity. They're hair was long and flowed down their backs almost unaffected by the wind. Their wore loose flowing robes of green and yellow that his their footsteps so that they appeared to float up the path and to the patient alpha. 

"Welcome honored guests" Alpha greeted them with booming authority. The elf leading they're party replied with something I couldn't quite hear. His hair was a warm blonde that he kept long and straight like the other elves and his eyes wore a striking forest green. He shook hands with his long delicate fingers and I saw the light flint off of his jewelry even though the sun was weak. The Alpha must have commanded someone to lead them to their rooms because suddenly people started dispersing and going back to their own business. Nobody back home will believe me when I tell them about this. 

"Wow." Rayven said in awe beside me, "You can almost see their magic just by looking at them."

I nodded my eyes still glued to their backs as they walked away to find their rooms.

"I've never been so excited for dinner, she said.

I turned to her and caught her dark brown eyes.

"You're not going to try and switch teams are you? I'm not sure if we have much of a chance of charming and elf." I told her.

Rayven giggled and her dark eyes gleamed. 

"I wouldn't dream of it," she said.

"Good," I replied. I remembered how the Alpha had warned me that the last thing we needed was some kind of scandal while he tried to negotiate an alliance. Wolf and Elf relations were already turmetulous enough without one of the Alpha's own suitors attempting to seduce an ambassador. And yet Rayven had accidentally planted the idea in my head and I could hardly help myself from dreaming a little. I wondered what it would be like to get physical with someone so powerfully magic. Would I be able to feel the magic on my skin like a caress? Perhaps he could use it to sneak us away and magically charm our clothes away. What would an elf body look like if it wasn't hidden behind the layers of flowing clothes. I think he'd be leaner than most of the wolves I had ever seen. All long muscles and careful well practiced movements and confidence. I pushed the traitorous ideas away and turned back to the mansion. I needed to get out of the cold and find something more productive to occupy my mind with. If I were the Luna I'd probably climb on top of the Alpha. He'd done such a great job and in just a few weeks I will be able to show him how I feel about him and all thoughts of other strange men won't even cross my mind.