Chapter 20 which is dedicated to @neerunni :) Check out her story Circle Of Trust for the #justwriteit #NaNoWriMo in wattpad :)

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“A friend may be waiting behind a stranger's face.” 
― Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughter

EVERETT P.O.V

Once we checked out of the airport, we hired a minicab that took us direct to the docks. Keith, Terence, Myron and his mate accompanied me to Rómvos, to meet Adio, the leader of Khepri tribe.

There, we hired a sleek, white luxury speed boat. Genessa already told us that the island Rómvos didn’t have any landing strip in it because it was too mountainous and rocky.

Dropping our bags on the deck, we got into the speedboat. “Let’s go” Myron said to Terence, who turned the speedboat back into the wide ocean.

“Is it far?” Terence asked Genessa, who was giving directions to him.

“About forty minutes” she replied with a smile.

It was five thirty in the morning and sun, was just coming. The wide canvas of sky was changing colors to different shades of yellow and blue, every passing minute. The water glistened like gold and it was quite a sight for our eyes.

My wolf whined softly and I knew Templar would wake up soon.

They had to sedate her yesterday too. Sveta had called to inform me that Templar was with them when during the sunset, she started getting a headache. Since they didn’t know how to help Templar, they sedated her.

I wasn’t happy with it, because it isn’t good for her health. But there was the also the thing that I didn’t know how else to stop it from happening. But my wolf suddenly perked up because he knew, to find a way to help Templar, I am going to Rómvos.

The boat bounced over the water as Terence increased the speed on the dancing waves. I wiped my face with my hands when we were showered with salt spray.

Thirty minutes later, Genessa squealed in delight, “Baby look” she said to Myron, pointing straight ahead. I craned my neck to see what it was. At first, all I could see was a triangle but then as we headed closer, a small island rose in the background of the wide sea. I reckoned out that the triangle visible earlier was an outline of huge, rocky mountains, with tall trees.

After few minutes, I figured out two tall pillars made of a single stone.

“You said they were completely opposite to us… in what way?” I demanded gazing at the pillars.

“Ways” Genessa corrected. “Let’s start with we worship moon, they worship sun. That’s like Goddess and God. Get the difference?” Genessa questioned and we all nodded. “Our tribes are actually a matriarch family type, while theirs is a patriarch one. They are out only when the sun is up in the sky while we are out when the moon is up in the sky. They don’t eat food, which grows under the surface of earth. Why? Because sunlight doesn’t reach them” she appended and I blinked.

“So they are vegan?” Keith queried.

“Not all tribes are, but Khepri is. Silver is precious to us and gold is precious to them. Our pack has large number of wolves. But their tribe has barely fifty members” she concluded with a shrug.

“Nice…. It’s like north and south” Myron sighed.

I didn’t care if they were completely opposite to us. All I wanted to do was talk to Adio and ask for his help.

“What’s that pillar?” Keith asked Genessa.

“Obelisk. They have that in front of their temple.”

“Have you visited their temple?” Myron asked his mate.

Genessa scoffed as a reply. “The last time I have been here, they didn’t even let me take my bag off the boat” she said and I furrowed my brows. “When I tried to fight, they shot my leg, leaving me no option but to return” Genessa added with a frown while Myron growled. “That’s why I learnt archery” she stated proudly. “This time, I am going to shoot them back” she hissed.

As we drew closer to the island, Terence slowed the boat and pulled in alongside the jetty. There were many boats beside the long jetty built of wooden planks.

Dropping my bag on the dock, I got down of the boat and then went to help Terence secure the boat to the jetty with a rope.

When the task was done, I bent down to pick my bag, at that very moment, a spear hit right next to my bag. Taken by surprise, I took a step back.

“I told you… they will not help us” Genessa spat in anger and picked up her own bow. “I am not going to let them get away this time” she muttered and placed an arrow on the string. I looked around but I couldn’t find anyone nearby. As I inhaled, I could catch a faint scent which was almost like six hundred yards away.

Before Genessa could even aim at a target, an arrow flew past her ears, which spooked Genessa, causing her to drop her own bow. Myron growled and stood defensively in front of her. I snarled and looked around to find who the person who shot was.

“Show yourself” I bellowed in my Alpha tone, which I knew without doubt would intimidate the person.

I heard faint sound of rustling of leaves, followed by footsteps.

With confidence, I marched ahead and walked on the shore. At the end of the shore, there was their temple which was surrounded by woods. The trees blocked my view and I couldn’t make out anything clearly beyond those trees.

“I said show yourself” I repeated in the same tone.

Few seconds later, I saw a figure approaching us. When the figure was closer, I could make out that it was a man. He was holding a long, wooden spear in his hand.

Once his face was visible, I realized that he was just a boy who looked to be fresh out of his teens. He was tall, almost as tall as me. He was lean, bald and had coffee-brown skin. He was dressed in a tan shorts and a grey printed shirt. But his eyes… they were gold.

His eyes scanned me once before drifting towards someone behind my shoulder. At a point, he narrowed his eyes and then smirked wickedly, “You have brought friends” he said to Genessa. “Why?” he demanded.

“I want to meet Adio” I pronounced tactfully, taking a step ahead.

“You cannot” the boy said with a smug expression and I snapped my jaws. My wolf was at the forefront and he would do anything to make this boy submit to him.

The boy blinked and gulped. I was overjoyed to see that. My alpha power affected him and he didn’t expect it.

“You are an Alpha” he whispered in a soft tone and I nodded. Something flashed in the boys eyes and he gazed at me through narrowed eyes. After few seconds, he whistled and soon three boys stepped ahead from behind trees while three of them climbed down from tree branches.

They all looked to be the same age as the boy who spoke earlier, and they too had shaved head and the same coffee-brown skin and golden eyes.

I noticed that all the boys were wearing a golden chain, the locket of which was concealed by their shirt and holding spears in their hand.

The boy, who looked like the leader of this small group, spoke to others in a language I couldn’t understand. The other boys nodded and then faced us. The leader looked at me once more, before running into the woods.

“What did he say?” Keith asked Genessa in a very low voice.

“To keep an eye on us” she replied.

“Can they hear us?” Terence questioned and Genessa replied with a yes. So they have sharp eyes and ears.

“Well, this is certainly a progress” Genessa imparted and I turned to face her. “We have reached the shore and earned that boys attention” she remarked.

I agreed with that. I wanted to see why that boy stopped arguing after he came to know I was an Alpha. Was he expecting me to come here? Actually, was Adio expecting me to come here?

Around thirty minutes later, the boy was back but he had a woman with him too. The woman, who I guess was in her late thirties, was very beautiful to look. She had chocolate skin, dark curly hair and golden colored eyes. She was wearing a beige colored gown and she had a warm smile on her lips, which I was surprised to see.

There were three more men standing a safe distance away from her, but they were tall and athletic built. I suppose they were her guards.

The boy, who spoke to me earlier, whispered something to her.

“She is his mother” Genessa said and I blinked in surprise. But as the woman approached me, I stiffened and my wolf growled lowly.

“Welcome to Rómvos” the woman spoke, with accented clarity, standing at least six foot away from us. I merely nodded as a reply. “My name is Dalila and I am Adio’s wife” she introduced herself and I blinked in astonishment.

“Everett Green” I introduced myself.

“Mr. Green” she imparted with a smile. “My apologies for my son’s behavior but he was only doing his duty” she said gently.

“I understand” I said and pursed my lips.

“Your pack members?” she questioned looking behind my shoulders and I introduced them to her.

“Another Alpha?” she questioned raising one perfect dark brow, when her eyes clashed with Myron’s.

“A friend” I replied and he merely nodded.

“Shall we go to our house?” Dalila asked us.

“Sure” I replied and looked through my shoulders at Myron and Keith who approved with it. “Lead the way” I told her.

The house was nearly twenty minutes away from the beach. Their house was almost a small palace and the structural design of the building was quite rare and eye-catching. Beside the long driveway, there was a large curved pool where three little girls were swimming.

As soon as I climbed out of the car, I could hear loud ruckus. Few boys, who looked below thirteen years of age, came running out clad only in their shorts.

Dalila shot us a look of apology and then conversed with those kids in their language. The kids, immediately kept quiet and then standing one behind the other like a train, they went to the backyard of their house.

“They all are her children?” Terence asked wide-eyed while Genessa bobbed her head. I was surprised to hear it too because there were ten of those.

“Please come in” Dalila invited cordially and we followed after her.

The living room of their house was spacious and was decorated in shades of gold, red and green. Placing my bag on the limestone floor, I sat on the sofa and thought about Templar.

It was already six-thirty and I think it’s best if I call her now.

Pulling out my cellphone, I excused myself and strode towards the door, while Dalila went to get us breakfast.

Templar answered the call after the first ring. “Rett” she voiced out in a relieved tone. “I was about to call you but I thought you might be sleeping” she added softly.

“No. I woke up almost an hour ago. How are you feeling now?” I asked her in a whisper.

“Better. Sveta sedated me yesterday and I was asleep the whole night” she said and I gulped. She really didn’t know what was happening to her. “My head feels way better now” she mumbled.

“I am glad” I sighed.

“Are you out?” she probed all of a sudden.

“Yes. Why?”

“I can hear children shouting in the background.”

“They are my client’s children” I exclaimed smoothly. I couldn’t tell Templar where I was and what I was planning to do. Atleast not yet.

“So you are not in GreenRock?” she demanded and I knew she was frowning on the other side.

“No. I am in his place.” I was walking and going where, even I didn’t know.

“Who else is with you?”

“Terence and Keith” I replied.

“Keith? What is he doing with you?”

“I needed his help.”

“But you shouldn’t have asked him. You know Trudy’s due date is close” she reprimanded.

“It’s just for a day Templar.”

“But you said, it might take more than that” she pointed out.

“If it does, I will send him back. Okay?”

“Okay” she said and I smiled.

“You can spend time with Trudy until then. She might feel lonely” I suggested.

“Yeah… that’s what I am going to do. I will breakfast with her” she imparted. “Did you have your breakfast?”

“Not yet.”

“Okay, just go and have your breakfast and remember to call me when you are free” she added and I agreed.

After I killed the call, I stopped on my tracks and looked around. I had unknowingly walked far away from their house, towards the shore, because the sounds of the waves were closer, from where I was at. 

I was just about to return when something gold, shining in between the thick canopy of leaves, caught my eye. I walked slowly to find out the source of that gold light, because it certainly wasn’t the sunlight.

At the end of the woods, I came to a dead halt after finding the source of that light. I had to crane my neck to have a proper look at it. And when I finally saw it, I was speechless.

There he was, Adio, sitting on a rock at the top of a hill, which was at least a hundred yards away from where I was at. He was sitting with his legs crossed, in the lotus position, just like Templar. His back was straight and his hands were placed on his lap. From where I was standing, I couldn’t see his face because he had his side towards me.

Adio, was meditating, just like Templar does. While Templar had a blue ring around her, protecting her body, Adio had a ring which was a mix of orange and gold. It was more like fire.

I was mesmerized by the sight and I just stood there, staring at him. My wolf growled and then slowly craning his neck, howled loudly because at that time, he knew Adio will definitely be able to help us.

“Amazing isn’t it?” a voice asked from beside me and I just realized that I had a company. It was the same boy, who was holding a spear and who had stopped me earlier. “I am Tarik, Adio’s eldest son” he introduced himself when he saw me looking at him questioningly.

“Does he always meditate?” I questioned staring at Adio, who looked to be out of this world.

“Yes. He communicates with his father” Tarik replied. His father- The Sun God.

Sighing, I turned to look at the teenage boy, “Why did you stop arguing when you realized I was an Alpha?” I had to know the answer to that.

“I was told by my father, to only let an Alpha come to talk to him” Tarik replied with a shrug.

“He was waiting for me?” I had already guessed that part.

“Since the last twenty three years” he disclosed and I furrowed my brows.

“I am sixty years old” Tarik announced with a smirk, startling me.

“But you look-”

“We age gracefully” Tarik incised with a casual shrug. “To humans and even to you, sixty is when people are considered old, but to us, it’s the time we turn into adults” he supplied.

“Your siblings?”

“The triplets, who are the youngest are twenty five years old” Tarik imparted. My God! Those little girls who looked around seven years of age are even elder than me.

“So what else is different in your kind?” I inquired curiously.

“We don’t have speed” Tarik said and then lifting his spear, he pointed it towards the woods. He narrowed his eyes and then threw the spear with full force. Immediately, hundreds of birds flew away from the trees, flapping their wings but there was one bird, that was lying on the ground and squawking in pain, because Tarik’s spear had hit one of its wings, “but we have excellent accuracy” Tarik concluded ingeniously.

The bird he had shot, I couldn’t even see it from where I was standing.

As soon as he finished speaking, a girl who looked to be around fifteen years old rushed ahead and gently picked up the whining bird. She then turned and glared at Tarik and spoke bitterly in their language. I suspected, she was rebuking him for shooting the bird.

“My sister, Sabah” Tarik told me with a smile. I watched as the girl, Sabah, placed her hand on the bird and then closing her eyes, gently rubbed it on its wounds. Within seconds, the bird was healed and then Sabah released it.

“We can heal others” Tarik adjoined quietly and I nodded. Taking a deep breath, I turned to look at Adio and hitched my brows together when I saw that he wasn’t there, where he was sitting earlier.

“Where is your father?” I asked Tarik.

“Come. I will take you there” he said and I followed after him.

We came to a stop at the bottom of the hill, where Adio was meditating earlier. I sighed when I saw the stairs in between the rocks, leading to the top of the hill.

My eyes which were trailing on the stairs came to a pause, when I noticed someone’s bare feet. My eyes drifted upwards until it clashed with Adio’s golden ones. He was staring at me, with those curious golden eyes that felt like they were piercing my soul. It was like; he was trying to figure me out.

My wolf stood up and raised his head in supreme confidence and matched his stare. He eyes gave nothing away. No sort of emotion at all.

As Adio descended the stairs, one after the other, his eyes never left mine. He was tall, athletic built and had coffee-brown skin. Just like all the other males here, Adio too had clean shaved head.  He looked to be in his mid-forties but I knew he was nearly two-hundred years old.

I noticed that he was dressed in a beige color slacks and his upper-body was loosely wrapped by a golden color traditional shawl. He had a thick golden bracelet, enclosed around his wrist and he was wearing a golden chain, with a sun locket.

After descending the stairs, he directly marched towards me until he came to a stop, at least three feet away from me.

I knew he was tall, but I didn’t expect him to be taller than me. I was six-two, but I guess Adio is six-six or six-seven. I had never met someone taller than me and so, for the first time in my life, I had to crane my neck to look at someone in the eye. In front of Adio, I felt like a Lilliput and that was quite embarrassing to me.

Adio took his arms down behind his back, raised his chin and scanned me. I let out a low growl and he narrowed his eyes. Just then, I knew that my Alpha powers would have no effect on him.

He oozed power and authority, which made my wolf respect him, without any question.

“Baba” Tarik called his father. “This is Everett Green….” he began.

“The White Wolf’s mate” Adio finished dexterously.

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I know this is short but next which will be posted on 5th will be long :)

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