The Last Moon Goddess

Chapter 8

On Chandria’s second night in Ushguli, she thought she would finally get some sleep. Unfortunately, her mind was a mess with scattered thoughts and jumbled images like an unsolvable puzzle.

Despite her efforts to sleep, the events of the day kept replaying in her mind. She couldn't shake off the memory of Emma's frail condition, Nate's unsettling warnings, and the mysterious mountain story that seemed more than just folklore.

Chandria tried to count sheep to drift off, but a deafening howl interrupted her, sounding like it was inside her head. At first, she thought her mind was playing a prank on her, but when she opened her eyes, the howling continued, and she realized it was real – it coming from outside.

Filled with curiosity, Chandria got up from bed and walked over to the window, hoping to locate the source of the noise. As she peered outside, she spotted Coal, the welcoming dog that had accompanied her on her first day in Ushguli, standing a few feet away from her room and seemingly staring at her window.

Remembering Nate's words about the dog, Chandria felt relieved that Coal had found its way back to her. She couldn't resist going outside to greet it and make sure it was okay. As soon as she appeared beside Coal, she stroked its black fur, feeling the softness of its coat beneath her fingertips.

"So, are you here to explain why you left me alone?" Chandria asked Coal, half-jokingly. But she paused when she noticed something unusual about its eyes. They were shining in a golden color, something she had never seen before. It was a strange sight that left her feeling both stunned and confused.

Chandria wanted to make sure that she wasn't hallucinating, but Coal turned away from her and began to walk away before she even had the chance. "Wait! Where are you going?" she called out, her voice echoing through the silent night.

Despite her uneasiness, Chandria found herself following Coal, feeling a strange pull towards the dog that she couldn't quite explain. She kept calling its name, but it seemed as though it doesn’t acknowledge the name she had given it yet.

Going after Coal, the howling that she had almost forgotten grew louder and more distinct, sending shivers down her spine. She wanted to turn back and return to the safety of the guest house, but she couldn't seem to control her own body. Her feet continued to carry her forward, deeper into the mountains.

Chandria could feel the cold air biting her skin, and the darkness felt like it was closing in on her. The howling sounds grew louder, as if the mountains themselves were calling out to her, urging her to come closer.

Chandria continued to follow Coal, who was leading the way deeper into the forest. The darkness seemed to surround them like a thick blanket, and the howling sounds only seemed to draw her in. It was almost hypnotic. She wondered if she was dreaming, but the experience felt too vivid and real, her senses were heightened.

Lost in her own thoughts, Chandria was caught off guard when she looked up and saw that Coal had vanished into thin air. The howling suddenly stopped and she regained control of her body.

"Coal?" Chandria called out the dog’s name several times, but there was no reply, only the sound of her own voice echoing. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she spun around, trying to locate any sign of Coal.

It took her a while before she realized that she was all alone.

The trees towered over her, casting eerie shadows that made her skin crawl. Her eyes scanned the darkness, seeking out any hint of danger. But all she could see was the soft glow of the moon, casting a light that offered no comfort. The forest was still, as if it was holding its breath. Her heart pounded with fear and anticipation, as if something was about to jump out at her from the darkness.

And then Chandria saw it: a movement in her peripheral vision. Someone, or something, was watching her from behind a tree. She couldn't see its face, but she could sense its presence, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

As Chandria stood still, surrounded by the same setting, same air, and same uncanny feeling, she couldn't stop herself from imagining a werewolf lurking in the shadows just like in her dreams.

"Who are you?" Chandria asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

There she saw a pair of piercing golden eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness, similar to the ones she saw back in Rome. They were both attractive and unnerving, drawing her closer despite the chill running down her spine.

Chandria waited for a response, but there was only silence, except for the rustling of the leaves. She knew that she had to leave at this point before it was too late.

"Well, we might as well continue in the daylight so I can see you and have a proper introduction," Chandria said, trying to inject some humor into the situation despite her fears. She then added a goodbye in Georgian, "Nakhvamdis!"

But as she turned around, a sudden force wrapped around her from behind, causing her to gasp in surprise. A body, hot and hard, pressed against hers, sending an electric shock through her veins. It wasn't the fur of a werewolf that she felt, but the undeniable heat of a man's chest. Was it the werewolf taking human form? Her mind twisted with ideas, but one thing was for certain - she was in deep trouble.

"Stop tempting fate.” It was a man’s voice, low and commanding, almost like a growl. "Leave."

Chandria couldn't resist the sensation of his breath on her neck or the power in his voice. It was as if he was taking control, and her body responded instinctively. But his words snapped her back to reality, reminding her of the danger she was in.

She forced herself to turn around, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to catch a glimpse of the man who had just spoken to her. However, he had disappeared without a trace, leaving her feeling more perplexed and anxious than ever before.

Chandria didn't waste any time wondering or questioning what had just happened. Instead, she turned on her heels and took this opportunity to ran back the way she had come, determined to escape whatever danger lurked in the shadows of the forest.

However, as she struggled to find her way back to the guest house, Chandria noticed a faint light in the distance. As she came closer, she realized what it was: a fire, coming from the direction of the village. A feeling of dread crept up inside her, and she quickened her pace, imagining all sorts of possibilities of what could be happening.

Who was that mysterious man in the forest, and why was he asking her to leave? Was the fire related to him in some way? The uncertainty and fear that enveloped Chandria made her heart race and her palms sweat.

When Chandria finally reached the village, she saw that the fire was coming from the guest house, specifically the room beside hers – Nate's room. She gasped and covered her mouth in fear as she watched the villagers desperately attempting to put out the fire. Their foreign language made her feel even more helpless and lost. Chandria couldn’t help but assume that something dreadful must have happened to Nate!

Chandria was about to go near the fire when Nate appeared out of nowhere, seemingly relieved to see her. Without a second thought, she threw herself into his arms, relishing the feeling of his strong embrace.

"Thank God you're here," Nate breathed against her ear, his heartbeat matching the frantic rhythm of hers. It was as though he was more concerned about Chandria than himself.

"What happened?" Chandria asked him, her heart racing with relief and concern as he caressed her hair.

"I was outside when I came back, and my room was already on fire," Nate explained, sounding less nervous than expected.

"Well, it's probably a good thing that you don't like staying in your room at night," Chandria let out a faint laugh, but then she realized that her words might have given away that she saw him outside during the night. Chandria decided to be honest when she saw Nate’s serious face.

"I actually saw you last night when you were looking for Emma's husband. I'm sorry," she admitted.

Nate looked at her with a question in his eye who seemed to be thinking about something else. "Where were you tonight? I checked your room and you weren’t there."

"I saw Coal and followed it, but it disappeared again," Chandria replied casually. However, she couldn't help but think about the man she had met in the forest. She wondered if he was aware of the fire – was it the reason for his warning? or was it his way of turning her away from the village?

***

The smell of smoke still lingered in the air as Nate settled down on the floor beside the bed, his eyes fixated on Chandria who was lying on it. She felt her heart skip a beat at the intensity of his gaze, but quickly regained her composure.

There was no more fire, and the villagers had claimed that the fire was an accident, caused by faulty wiring in the guest house. But the idea of sleeping alone in her own room now filled Chandria with dread, as if disaster could strike again at any moment.

"I can stay somewhere else," Nate insisted, knowing that his presence made the small room even more cramped.

Chandria spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Where would you go?" She remembered their first meeting, how she found him sleeping on the streets. " "Just stay here. It would make me feel more comfortable if you're around."

Nate's disappointment was noticeable. "Well, I’m not quite sure if I like that you’re comfortable with me," he said, hinting at his true feelings for her. His eyes softened as he looked at her, his voice calm and kind. "I'll stay. If it's what you really want."

Chandria couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest at his words. She knew she cared for Nate more than just as a friend, but she couldn't stop thinking about the man in the forest and the passion she had felt with him.

As the first rays of sunlight filtered into the room, a golden glow cast over the two of them. Chandria turned to Nate, breaking the silence. "That beautiful mountain I can see from Ushguli, that's the Shkhara glacier, right?" she asked, her voice soft and curious.

Nate's eyes never left her face as he answered, "Yes, it's on the slopes of Mount Shkhara."

Chandria smiled, the thought of hiking up to the glacier filling her with excitement. "Can we hike later?" she asked, her hand inching closer to his. "Maybe visit a few tourist spots before that, which I can cover for my vlog?"

Nate paused before responding, his gaze flickering down to their hands. "Yes, we could also visit the Shkhara glacier on a horseback riding trip," he replied, his voice warm and inviting.

Their eyes met, and Chandria felt her heart flutter. She couldn't resist the urge to reach out and touch his hand in excitement, feeling a spark between them. But before she could pull away, Nate held her hand back, intertwining their fingers.

"Your hands are so big," Chandria murmured, trying to make small talk to ease the tension.

Nate's eyes glinted with amusement, his lips curving up into a small smile. "Compared to yours, maybe," he replied with a chuckle. He leaned in and kissed the back of her hand, sending shivers down her spine with his gentle, sweet gesture.

Their eyes locked for a moment, and they knew that the connection between them was growing stronger with each passing moment. However, they both knew their time together was limited, with Chandria leaving in just a few days.

It seemed as though neither of them was ready to do anything that might ruin the time they had left.