Chapter 76 - Spared for a Reason
As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, the village came alive. Wooden instruments, hand carved and beautifully worn from use, were brought out. The deep, resonant sound of drums echoed through the air, accompanied by the light notes of flutes and a harp like instrument made from wood and twine. The music was soothing yet lively, and it stirred something deep within Georgia. For a moment, she let herself be lost in it, the rhythm of the village, the warmth of the fire, the laughter of the people, and a smile slowly spreading on her face. And from a distance, unbeknownst to her, the Chief was watching her like she was a star from above.
When the food was ready, everyone gathered around the tables, their plates piled high with grilled fish, roasted pork, fruits, and vegetables. The feast was a celebration, and as the villagers ate, they shared sto
Chapter 77 - Where You Belong“You’ve got it, Georgia! Just like that!” Kaia’s excited voice rang out, echoing through the shaded area beneath the palm trees.Georgia was crouched down, her hands steady as she wove thick, fibrous ropes together, trying to mimic the exact movements that had been shown to her earlier. She furrowed her brow, concentrating, as she continued her work. Around her, the other women paused their work, watching with approving smiles as she carefully looped and knotted the rope.It was not perfect — not even close — but it was an improvement from her first attempts, where her knots slipped apart and her hands fumbled with the unfamiliar materials. Now, the knots were holding, and a section of the net began to take shape, even though it was still rough and a little uneven.“I did it,” Georgia murmured, more to herself than anyone else, an evident surprise in her voice. She glanced up, catching Kaia’s beaming grin, and for a moment, she felt a small swell of pride
Chapter 78 - Arrival of Merchants“Are they here yet?” a young boy asked, bouncing on his toes as he tried to get a better look over the villagers headed by the Chief gathered near the shore. Their eyes squinted against the glare of the sun, searching for signs of the merchant ships on the horizon. “I can see their sails! Look!” another voice called out, pointing excitedly toward the open sea.The villagers of Havalu had been preparing for days, setting up makeshift stalls and tables made from sturdy wood and palm fronds, each draped with colorful fabrics and woven mats. The annual trade event was a time of excitement, a rare opportunity for the islanders to exchange their handmade crafts for goods from other countries or faraway islands. Every year, merchants from different regions arrived with their ships laden with exotic items, bringing with them stories and products that added a touch of the world beyond their isolated island.Women and children continued arranging woven baskets,
Chapter 79 - It’s You, the Silver-Eyed“What is this?” a villager asked, picking up a small wooden box intricately inlaid with silver.“That, my friend, is a puzzle box,” the merchant replied with enthusiasm. “A gift from the Pau Kian region. Solve the puzzle, and it will open. Many secrets could be hidden inside.”The villager’s eyes lit up with curiosity, and soon a small crowd had gathered around the stall, watching as the merchant demonstrated how the box worked. Next to him, another merchant was offering small, colorful stones that glowed faintly in the sunlight, claiming they were charms to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. Other stalls displayed an array of products that ranged from delicate pottery and handwoven fabrics to strange and exotic trinkets. One stall had rows of small glass vials filled with vibrant, swirling liquids — potions, perhaps, or perfumes. Another had bundles of dried plants and spices. At a nearby stall, two merchants were haggling over a collec
Chapter 80 - Fear and Cruelty“I-it’s you,” the man stuttered, fear and surprise evident in his eyes as he took a step closer. “The silver-eyed, the —”Before the merchant could finish, Yenari moved swiftly, positioning himself between Georgia and the man. His expression was calm but firm, a silent command for the merchant to back off.“You are mistaken,” Yenari said. “She is one of us, here in Havalu, nothing more.”The merchant’s eyes darted nervously between Yenari and Georgia, his mouth opening and closing as if searching for the right words. The recognition had sparked something within him — fear, and panic, as he knew, he recognized, he was sure, it was Georgia, the silver eyed werewolf who annihilated pack
Chapter 81 - A Decision To Make“Are you okay?” Yenari asked Georgia as they stood on a higher ground that could oversee the trading area near the beach. The sun was high yet the air was cool, mingling with the sea breeze that was blowing Georgia’s hair. With her encounter with the Westerners of Le Roma, her mind had drifted her back to everything that she had left back there. Her parents were dead, her house burned, and the only thing that was left behind now for her was her mate — Maxton, the Alpha King of the West Region. She wondered how he had been, was he doing good now? The time she left, he was struggling, at the brink of death; but after seeing the merchants from the West Le Roma, trading, it just meant that the war had been over, and the region was doing well for it to be able to send the merchants along with the other merchants from the other regions of Le Roma. ‘The King must be doing well now,’ she thought to herself, the West was back to its normal operations.Georgia
Chapter 82 - A LegendYenari remained silent as he listened to their stories, a silver eyed wolf, though indeed Georgia’s eyes were strikingly silver, they could still be mistaken. But Yenari had already heard it from her and Tehani before, the statements that Georgia made, the sins she had committed, the guilt that she was carrying to the point that she even regretted having a second chance at life. Despite all these, Yenari did not confirm or deny anything to the Le Roma merchants, instead, he just simply tilted his head slightly, encouraging the merchant to continue.“They say she was dangerous, powerful,” the merchant continued, his voice was almost a whisper, as if it would be a dangerous crime to speak about the silver eyed werewolf. “She was used by Harrion Bergmont, a traitor who tried to overthrow the Alpha King of the West. She led raids, massacred packs, destroyed everything in her path. They called her a perfect weapon, a beast... She was feared in Le Roma.”The two other
Chapter 83 - The Choice She Made“You have been staring at them all day.” Yenari’s voice cut through the gentle hum of the evening tide, catching Georgia off guard.She turned, startled, her eyes widening for a moment before she relaxed. “Yenari… I was just—”“Thinking,” he finished for her, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I could tell.” He took a few steps closer, joining her by the rock she had been perched on. “But it is not about the sunset or the sea, is it? It’s about them.”Georgia looked back toward the distant, dwindling figures of the merchants, their silhouettes fading as they worked around their stalls. “I don’t know what you mean,” she said, but her voice lac
Chapter 84 - Stories from the Merchants“Saw who?” someone asked, only half interested as he took another gulp of his beer, and slammed the pint glass on the wooden table as he waited for an answer, expecting a story about a rare treasure or an unusual creature from a far off land.“The silver-eyed one,” the merchant replied, lowering his voice further, making the others at the table lean in. “The girl who vanished after the war. Georgia.”A silence fell over the group, and then, like a wave crashing against the shore, came a chorus of disbelief and confusion. “Georgia?” another merchant repeated, frowning. “The one who served under Harrion, the one who was rumored to have been killed?”“Yes,” the first merchant said, his