Ella’s POV
The walk home after we left the villagers was as eventful as a stone dropping in water. It was a silent journey with nothing much to write about. We walked gently and steadily through the field, crossing the rivers when we got there and climbing the mountains.
I missed them already but there was nothing I could do about that. It wasn’t likely that I was going to see them again. There were times I was amazed at the advanced technology that the people in the utopia town enjoyed and wished I had something like that. It would be nice to have the gadgets they use to communicate so I wouldn’t have to miss someone too much, worry about them and without knowing how they were.
If I could have that, I could find out how the people were all doing, if they had gotten the freedom they desired, if Avila had succeeded in making more slave mark cleaning potions and if they were blending in back in the society.
I could reach out to my angel friend to know how she was doing. She should have gotten home by now and met her family. I hoped so for her sake. After all, we had left the same time she did and hadn’t gotten home. I itched to get home but the delay was still bearable because I wasn’t alone. It would be hard for her if she had to face delays in her journey and suffer through it alone.
I truly hoped that her journey home was smooth unlike how ours had been. I hoped that the rest of our journey home was also peaceful and we didn’t encounter any misfortune again. I was tired of the drama we constantly had to go through.
I couldn’t get the answers to all those worries in my head. I knew when I was leaving them that I couldn’t so all I could do at the moment was hope that they were going to be all right.
As much as I admired the technology in their land, there were also days I hated it and longed for the simple, peaceful living of my people. What was the essence of the technology and exposure they had if it came at the expense of the lives of others? Their exposure meant nothing if their minds weren’t enlightened and they enslaved one another, feasting unhealthily on power and behaving like cavemen.
Even werewolves wouldn’t behave the way they did.
I almost jumped out of my skin when I felt a hand on mine. I turned to see the person who wanted my attention and blinked when I realized that it was Kevin. Of course, it would be him. Who else did I think it would be?
I smiled at him, loving the answering smile in his eyes. “Is there a problem?”
The men chuckled at my words and I looked around in confusion, wondering what was funny to them.
Kevin had an amused look in his eyes. “I should ask that, if there is no problem. Your mind doesn’t seem to be here. Where is your mind?”
I sighed. I had been so lost in thought that I didn’t think the others would have been able to pick up on my mood.
“Don’t mind me.” I shrugged off the question.
He snorted. “That is definitely hard to do. If I don’t mind you, I’m afraid you would miss your road. You’ve been walking slowly for the past twenty minutes and we’ve had to slow down to match your pace. You were going in another direction three minutes ago.”
I blushed at his words, feeling strange that I had been so far gone I had lost focus. That was bad. I couldn’t afford to be distracted.
Get over yourself, Ella. Lucy snapped at me.
I nodded. She couldn’t have been more right. I had to stop acting like it was the end of the world because I was going far away and might never get to see some people again. I wondered why I liked to get easily attached to people.
“I’m sorry.” I whispered.
He shook his head. “You don’t have to be. I’m only watching out for you to make sure that you are safe.”
“Thank you.” I smiled at him. Deciding to be a little spontaneous and naughty, I added. “I guess I was comfortable zoning out because I know you are here and would keep me safe.”
The men grunted and some of them rolled their eyes and cackled.
“It seems like the two of you will need to get a room very soon.” Damien chuckled.
“I don’t mind if you can find an inn for us. I know I miss my Luna as much as she misses me.” Kevin smiled.
“She is right there with you.” Liam snorted.
“Don’t pretend like you don’t know what he is saying.” Andre scoffed and then laughed.
“You are making me embarrassed.” I said, feeling my face flame up.
“You started it.” Kevin winked at me.
“You shouldn’t have started what you weren’t comfortable with the ending.” Loki chuckled.
I nodded. He was right. I shouldn’t have started what I couldn’t finish. I wished I could get some alone with Kevin. Damien was right. Maybe we really needed to get a room like Damien had said. I couldn’t wait to get home. That was all I could think of.
“Stop teasing my girl.” Kevin said and that sent the men into another fits of laughing.
I also joined them in laughing, hoping that we had nothing but laughter till we got home.
“We take a turn here.” Kevin said, breaking the laughter as he raised his head from the map.
I sighed, getting calm. Let’s go. I was ready to climb the other mountains and wade through the other seas. I could feel home pumping in my blood already.