KEEPER OF THE DESERTED ISLAND

I DECIDED TO LOVE YOU

Avery kept sending people out to look for Hector when he was given report by the guards he placed on his tail that he went missing during the war but they all brought the news that they could not find both him and his mother no matter how they searched

“if that wench ended up taking him away from me, I will make sure she pay for it with her life” he growled as he paced up and down the room and Jerrick who had come to give him update about his missions found him restless

“Is something the matter? You look so restless my King” Jerrick said with a bow

“Have you heard any news about Hector? He has been missing since the war and I cannot find him no matter how I search for him, it’s not like I can hold a searching ritual just for someone like him” he complained

“I haven’t heard anything about him or from him, why should I stay in touch with him? It’s not like we are that close for such a thing” he replied with a nonchalant attitude

“Well, that’s true, it’s not like you two are that close but you do know you must keep him in check because he’s like a poison to you. You have to keep him near and monitor him well before he stabs you in the back” he calmly explained

“I will try looking for him too and let you know any update about him” Jerrick stated

“what about where you went to? You came to give your report didn’t you?” he asked taking his seat

“Yes, I came to give you the report about it” Jerrick said bringing out the book from his pouch and placed it in front of the king

They talked about what he brought and discussed various things before Jerrick excused himself and left the chambers to go and find the spy he sent to look for people for him

The spy Jerrick sent to the islands he narrowed down to check for Shirley and Convel brought back the news that he had found them on the deserted island.

“You found them on the deserted Island? But that island is meant for those special, it’s not a place for habituating” he asked with a confused expression

“I don’t know what they are doing there but they seems to visit the person on the island and will be staying for a few days” the spy replied

“Thank you for your work, I will send your pay to you and also make sure no one also hear of this. This should stay between me and you” he ordered before dismissing him

He decided to visit the island after so much thought but he already decided that he will not show himself, he only wanted to know how she was doing and if she was fine because deep within him, he was happy that she escaped the slave life and is now staying safe in another place.

He set out that fateful morning after telling his father that he wants to visit the borders and left the palace, tied his horse at the river bank and took the boat to the deserted island after asking for directions from both the spy and the boat men, he wanted to see how true it is and how she was coping by himself.

He got to the island’s shore and saw Gaia and Hector going home after school, he quickly hid in the bush to prevent them from seeing him and he gasped as he saw his younger brother also living on the island with them

“What is that brat doing here? I have been looking for him all around the city” he muttered to himself as he watched him race with Gaia towards the house

“At least, he seems happy here” he added and surveyed the area for a while before finally taking his leave before he gets noticed

****

Aurelia urged Shirley and Convel to stay behind so they can spend more time with Gaia and also form a bond with her since they have been separated from her for too long. She made sure to stick with her daughter every time she comes back from school while also getting used to Hector who was her daughter’s good friend.

Convel was outside on the shore on evening when Gaia walked up to him and sat beside him to ask him some questions

“father, why did you run away from your pack and meet my mother? She asked and he smiled

“You are suddenly asking that out of the blues?” he remarked as he turned to look at her

“I was just curious about that ever since I heard the story” She replied with a faint smile

“At my pack, there is this monthly shifting festival where all the wolves bask in the moonlight to draw out energy no matter the rank, everyone shifts to their wolf form for hours and tap the energy they could from the bright moon but there are rules guiding it. The alphas have the highest authority so they automatically possess powers that are higher than others, this gives them the upper hand over all other ranks, they draw their energies first and leave the rest to the other ranks to share among themselves. We the Omegas usually have to fight among ourselves to take energy so most times we don’t get enough energies. For months, I couldn’t draw up energy so I began to feel weaker than others but that was not put into consideration when we are working, they would flog us like animals if we cannot meet up with the work load, this continued with no intervention from the alphas or the betas’ family so I had to run away before I actually lose my life.

I hid in the mountains near the pack for more than two months and on this unfortunate night of the full moon, I had transformed earlier so I can tap out as much energy as I can. I think the alphas caught wind of it and they traced the place where it was coming from, I was so lost in the basking that I didn’t even realize that I was surrounded. When I found out, I fought my way through and ran for my life, I was attacked with arrows which plunged deep into my body.

I ran till daybreak and wanted to shift but my energy was not enough and I only shifted half way, I fainted by the river and the princess happened to find me. She was kind enough to treat me till I was fine and I could transform again to my full wolf form, she saw that and was wowed about how full my furs were, she admired my form and I think it was one of the reasons she fell for me. We ended up feeling bonded to each other and you came to be” He narrated

“There are many wicked people everywhere, why did they not make the energy available for all? It’s not that hard” she remarked with a sigh

“that is the way this world works, there are people who doesn’t want others to live or even have access to whatever good things that is available to share. The world is filled with different wicked and selfish people, they make it so difficult for others to survive” he replied

“the world is not really fair to people like us, I wonder when humans will leave behind their greed and make the world a better place for all” She responded

“It will start from you and I so make sure you are also a good person to the people around you, the change can start from us” her father advised and she nodded with a wider smile this time around

“I heard you are also good at archery from Aurelia” he said looking at her

“Yes, I am still learning but it’s safe to say that I can aim at a target and shoot it accurately” she answered with a hint of pride making Convel chuckle

“I guess it flows in the blood, your mother is also a master of archery. She is so excellent and only has a rival which is Prince Jerrick” he said

“Prince Jerrick? Who is that?” she asked titling her head since the name was not familiar

“Prince Jerrick is her childhood friend who grew up with her, he is also good at archery and they have carried out different competitions against themselves, they take turns in winning though because they are both so good” he explained to her

“That means I will have to practice more so I can beat both my mother and the said Prince Jerrick so that I will be the best the earth has ever had” She concluded

“then you should not be here if you really want to be the best” her father joked and she spring up immediately

“I have to practice like you said, see you later Father” she said and turned to run away

“She’s so bright and cute just like Shirley” he remarked as he watched her hop away in happiness

She ran back home to play with Hector and they went out to the training ground together to train. They trained with the sword before she finally agreed to teach him about archery even though he was terrible at it during the entire practice

“Why am I not getting it right? You seems to shoot it easily though” Hector said with frustration

“I already told you that it is more difficult and needs extra skills unlike the sword but don’t worry, we still have so much time to spend together so I will teach you till you become good at it” she assured him and he nodded with a smile

“Are you not going to see your fiancée though? You told me that your father already betrothed you to someone, will she not be waiting for you all her life while you stay here?” she asked with a sad expression

“I have decided to stay here with you, I thought about it and I realized that I was given another chance to live right and also run away from my father. Thankfully he doesn’t even know that I am here, there is no reason to stay faithful to someone I never loved or was committed to, I should just follow my heart for the first time in my life” he replied and she opened her mouth in shock

“oh oh!! You are grown up now. You are even thinking of going up against your father and going after your heart” she exclaimed making him blush

“will you support me when the day to choose comes? I will not leave you so it is up to you not to leave me” he said with all seriousness and the expression of confusion was on the face of Gaia

“You didn’t have to be so serious about it, why are you making my heart race all of a sudden?” she said holding her chest

“it’s because I am serious about it” he said before drawing closer and placed a peck on her cheeks making her stiff for a minute

“what do you think you are doing?” she blushed and ran off from his presence towards the house while he ran to follow her too

“Wait for me” he said with a giggle

Unknown to them, Shirley saw them discussing and even witnessed him pecking her on the lips which made her gasp at the sight, she immediately knew they were both in love which made her laugh a bit at how cute they were. She saw Hector fighting with the bow in front of the house while Gaia helped out Aurelia in the kitchen

“Do you want me to help out?” she asked with a smile moving closer to him

“Do you also know about archery? Gaia is really good at it” He said with his eyes lit up

“I am still practicing too but I might be able to help out” she said before settling down beside him and gently retrieve the bow

She picked an arrow from the bag beside him, set it and aimed at the coconut on the tree in front of the house. In a flash, the coconuts were rolling on the floor to his surprise, he was shocked that she didn’t even target one but she was able to bring many down with just an arrow

“Woah! How did you do that? You are so good” he almost shouted in admiration

“I think Gaia is better though” she said with a smile

“Although she is great at it, I still think you are better than her but do not tell her I said it though” he remarked and she burst into a laugh

“You are so cute” she complimented as she stared at him

“do you like my Gaia?” she asked with a wink and he raised his head in shock immediately

“I.. we.. I mean I…” he stammered while she watched him trying to control her laugh

“It’s okay, you are up to twenty years and she’s eighteen so you are technically adults” she said motioning for him to sit down

“so do you know your family? I mean who are your family?” she asked trying not to offend him

“my mother is not here right now but my father is the prime minister who has now become the king” he replied and the smile playing on her lips dropped immediately even though she tried so hard to keep her expression hidden from him

“You mean you are Jerrick’s half brother?” she asked with surprise

“You know my older brother?” he asked looking at her but she was too stunned to speak

“Excuse me for a second” she said and hurried out of his presence making him confused