Kevin’s POV
I gasped as I leaned down, placing my hands on my knees as I caught my breath. I looked back and noticed that we were no longer been chased. We had lost them.
It was no use trying to fight them off when they couldn’t outrun us in the open and we had a lot to do before nightfall.
“I think we lost them, my lord.” Cephas said.
“Are you okay, Kevin?” Ella asked, patting me on the back.
In response, I stood up and pulled her closer to me, kissing her softly on her lips for some minutes. I wanted to kiss her for more than that but had to consider the audience we had for.
“What was that for?” Ella breathed when the kiss was over, blushing when the men around us cheered. Even Dalsa gave her a naughty wink, making her blush go deeper.
I smiled. “I missed you. I have always wanted to do that ever since I saw you again at that banquet.”
She smiled. “I missed you too.”
My heart swelled with excitement at her admission of affection. “I love you, Ella.”
“Enough of the love. Where are we going?” Dalsa said, breaking into our moments.
I shot her a dirty look and she smiled back in response, proving to me that she had done that on purpose.
I was glad this was behind us. I would have killed the fucking Ronald if I had smelled his scent on her. No one dared to touch what was mine.
I brought out the map of Utopia tow I had found and scanned through it, trying to see which way we had to go.
There were three paths that led in and out of the town. The first one was the border, the second one was through a dense mass of forest and the third one was a path over seven mountains and through seven rivers.
The border was definitely off limits and I couldn’t let my people pass through a dense forest that seemed to expand for miles and didn’t know the creatures in it and how dangerous it was.
The only available path for us at the moment was the third one.
“We will pass the red boundary path.” I said, extending the map to my second in command.
Before Liam could reach out for the map, Ella leaned forward and yanked it from my hand. Her eyes widened as she pored over the map.
“Red boundary path?” She gasped in disbelief. “We would have to pass over seven mountains and seven rivers to get home?”
I groaned, closing my eyes. I didn’t want Ella to see this. Why did she have to be too forward? She should have let me handle it.
“We can do it.”
“I know we can. I’m just shocked at how long the journey is.” She breathed, passing the map to Liam who took it from her without a word and a bow.
“I hear something about seven mountains and seven rivers.” Dalsa said as she walked to where Liam was. “It sounds strangely familiar.”
Liam handed the map to her when she was straining over his shoulder to read through. “Here.”
“Thank you.” She smiled at him, taking the map from him. “I knew it sounded familiar. I know these landmarks. I’ve seen them before on a map when I was snooping through the elder’s study.” She smiled as she raised her head up from the map and looked at us.
“If only I knew that snooping around would save me one day, I wouldn’t have felt too guilty and blamed myself so much as I had done when I was caught.” She added with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
I hid a smile, loving her personality that I was getting to know. I was sure she was a troublesome one in her clan.
“What did you find?” Ella asked. “Did you find another way without us having to go through the mountains and rivers?”
Dalsa shook her head. “There is no other path on the map, is there? I found a way to my home.”
“You did?” Ella seemed surprised.
“Yes.” Dalsa nodded. “There is a bend before we get to the first mountain that I can take to my homeland. That one leads to a road that leads to three mountains and five rivers.”
Her home wasn’t far from the Utopia town but was far to ours. I could read Ella’s thoughts without needing to have an emotional connection to her wolf and moods. Her thoughts were boldly written on her face.
She would miss her.
Dalsa moved closer to her. “I will miss you too.”
“I will miss you but I know we have to part and go to our different homes.”
“I’m sorry I was a bitch to you when we first met.” Dalsa said.
Ella chuckled. “You weren’t a bitch, you were only trying to protect yourself after all you had been through. You only need other wounded and caged animals would have done.”
Dalsa chuckled. “Hope this caged animal wasn’t crazy enough to bite you?”
Ella grinned. “She didn’t bite but her bark was worse was than if she had bitten me.”
“Good bye, Ella.” Dalsa smiled. “Thanks for getting me my freedom.”
“There is no goodbye when you are concerned. It’s till we meet again.”
“Okay.” Dalsa smiled. “Till we meet again.”
“You are welcome to visit me at the blood moon pack settlement.”
“Don’t worry. I will find you.” Dalsa promised and embraced Ella.
I watched as the two ladies embraced each other and bid their goodbyes.
“It’s time to leave, ladies. It’s getting late and Dalsa shouldn’t travel late since she would be traveling alone.” I said to them.
They broke apart and held hands as we continued on our journey. We got to the junction that divided our paths. The two ladies embraced each other for the last time and Dalsa moved down to the bend while we walked straight up to the first mountain.