The Last Moon Goddess

Chapter 5

The man had snatched Chandria's bag and finally released his grip on her. She stumbled back, gasping for air, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to make sense of the situation. Her mind raced with questions and possibilities of what could happen next. Would he rob her? Hurt her? Kill her?

Despite her instinct to run, Chandria found herself frozen in place. Her eyes fixed on the man as he searched through her bag. She squinted her eyes as she watched him take out something – it was the bread she bought from the airport! The man looked at it as though he had found a treasure.

"I thought you were dead, but I might kill you myself," she cursed under her breath, realizing he had just caused her to have a panic attack over a piece of bread! He could have asked her nicely instead, she thought.

Chandria grabbed her bag from him, the anger in her eyes matching the intensity of his gaze.

The man's blank expression slowly transformed into amusement, the corner of his lips turning upward. "Well, that's unfortunate. You'll find it hard to explore this village without me," he suddenly spoke in clear English. "Can I have this? I’m really starving."

Chandria didn't hesitate to respond. "Yeah, you can have it—" But then she paused, a late realization dawning on her. Her eyes widened as she pointed at him, her heart racing. "You can speak English!"

The man found her even more amusing and adorable. He stood up and straightened his clothes, brushing off the dust and fur from the floor as he responded. "Yup, I can. I also know that you disturbed my sleep."

Chandria was taken aback. "Sleep? So, you were just sleeping here?!" she exclaimed, her hand on her forehead. "I thought you were dead!"

"Dead? Why would you think that?" he asked, clearly amazed by her imagination.

Chandria rolled her eyes, feeling embarrassed. "I don't know, maybe because you were lying on the ground like a corpse? You look ice-cold. And you were not breathing at all."

The man chuckled. "Well, I assure you, I'm very much alive. I just had a drink last night and passed out here," he replied casually, as if it was a normal incident in his life.

"Then what about the dogs that I saw lurking around you? They were barking so loudly! Didn’t they hurt you?"

"No need to worry, those are just the village dogs. I actually asked them to wake me up this morning," he explained, a sheepish grin on his face. "They can be a bit territorial with outsiders, but they won't cause any harm as long as you give them their space – and well, food if you have any."

Chandria’s jaw dropped. She couldn't believe that she almost cried for this stranger! She felt a mix of emotions - embarrassment, relief, and annoyance. After wasting her time and emotions on this stranger, she turned her back on him and began to walk away. However, the man followed her through the streets and quickly grabbed her arm, facing her.

"What? I don’t have other food with me aside from that," Chandria snapped, pointing at the bread that the man had taken hostage. "I don’t even know how in the world were you able to smell my bread!"

Chandria's cheeks immediately turned red as she recalled how the man had sniffed her earlier. She suddenly felt self-conscious about her scent, wondering if she smelled bad. If only she had known that they would cross paths, she would have freshened up before setting out to explore the village. But then again, she scolded herself. Why should she care about what a stranger thought of her?

The man, reading her face, immediately figured out what she was thinking. A soft chuckle escaped from his lips. Chandria whipped around, feeling even more frustrated. However, before she could take another step, he stood in front of her, blocking her way.

"I'm sorry about what happened earlier," Nate said, extending his hand for a handshake. "I'm Nate, Lasha's friend. She told me someone needed assistance for a week,” he formally introduced himself.

Chandria was shocked at his revelation. She had no idea that he was the one she was waiting for from the moment she arrived at Ushguli. Despite their first meeting, she felt relieved that she would finally have a companion. She wanted her stay in this beautiful village to be as comfortable as possible, and she hoped he could make it happen.

"She didn't tell me that someone was a beautiful woman,” Nate added, letting out a mischievous smirk as his deep brown eyes locked onto hers. Chandria’s heart skipped a beat. When he took her hand and kissed the back of it, a rush of electricity coursed through her body. She noticed the fullness of his lips and how they turned a soft shade of pink now that he was awake.

As they stood facing each other, Chandria couldn't help but let her gaze linger on Nate's chiseled physique. Towering over her, his shirtless body appeared to radiate in the sunlight, emphasizing his lean and athletic build, complete with a defined six-pack. Despite encountering many men throughout her travels and dating history, she had never seen anyone quite like him before.

Nate cleared his throat, interrupting her thoughts. "Need I remind you that I'm not one of the attractions in this village?" He winked at her playfully, causing Chandria to look away, feeling like a teenager caught staring at her first crush.

Trying to change the subject, Chandria quickly asked, "Do you mind telling me now where the nearest rest room is?" realizing she had almost forgotten her business. Nate couldn't hide his smile as he shook his head.

Chandria knew that her time in Ushguli would be wild and unpredictable, but now that a lot had happened in just one day, she was beginning to question whether she was truly ready for everything that was yet to come in the following days.

***

Seated on his towering throne in the Apex Chamber, the Alpha Prime Val exuded an air of absolute authority and power. The chamber was adorned with elegant banners, each depicting the fierce emblems of the various packs that pledged allegiance to him. Warm light illuminated the room from several fire posts, casting flickering shadows on the walls.

The Alpha Prime's eyes were a startling shade of blue, so intense and piercing that they seemed to glow even in the dim light of the room. As he reviewed the reports sent to him, he read each page with laser focus, analyzing every detail and formulating strategies. His mind raced with thoughts, and the only sounds in the room were his heavy breathing and the rustling of papers. Beyond the walls, the faint noises of intense training could be heard.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the tall door. Alpha Tamaska of Nature's Fury pack entered, her long purple hair tied back in a braid that almost reached the floor. The length of a she-wolf's hair was a symbol of her power and position in the village. She bowed low to the Alpha Prime before speaking. His eyes bore into hers, assessing her every movement and thought.

“Alpha Prime, we have received news from a moon runner that there’s a new guest in Ushguli. A woman named Chandria Eve Lothaire. Should we perform the ritual to protect our village?" Alpha of Nature’s Fury asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

The Alpha Prime's expression was unreadable as he leaned back in his throne, his fingers steepled under his chin. The tension in the room was palpable as Tamaska waited for his decision.

"The intention of this woman is yet to be revealed. It would be unwise to draw attention to ourselves,” he said, his voice carrying a weight of authority that left no room for argument. “As long as she stays where she is, put the ritual on hold."

Tamaska's heart sank as she listened to the Alpha Prime's decision. She knew the dangers of letting a stranger wander freely close to their territory, especially with the secret she held. But despite her reservations, she couldn't question the Alpha Prime's authority. No one dared to question him.

Chandria's presence in the village was unsettling. She wasn't supposed to be there, at least not yet. Thus, Tamaska knew she needed to find a way to make her leave without alerting anyone else.

***

As they walked towards the guest house, Chandria couldn't stop marveling at the stunning towers that surrounded them. She whipped out her camera and started recording, unable to resist capturing the beauty of Ushguli. Nate noticed her camera and began pointing out the most noteworthy towers, relaying the history and significance of each one with pride in his voice.

"Check out this one," Chandria exclaimed, capturing the tower on camera as Nate shared its unique story. "This place is incredible," she added, in awe of the impressive structures that had survived the test of time.

Nate nodded in agreement, his eyes scanning the surrounding mountains. "The Svans have been able to protect this village for centuries because of these towers. Ushguli means 'Fearless Heart,' and it really does take a lot of courage to live in a place like this."

Chandria listened attentively, fascinated by Nate's stories. She then turned the camera towards him and playfully teased, "So Lasha told me you'd be promoting the village to everyone."

Nate laughed, feeling a bit self-conscious in front of the camera. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. As long as it brings more people here to appreciate the beauty of this place, I'm all for it."

As they continued to explore the village, Chandria and Nate's banter became more comfortable and natural. Chandria felt grateful to have found such a knowledgeable and friendly guide, and she was excited to share their adventure with her followers.

As they walked, Chandria caught a glimpse of a black dog in the distance, reminding her of Coal, the dog that had guided her earlier. "Hey, do you know any black dogs around here? I saw one earlier. I named him Coal. He disappeared while we were talking," she said, still looking around.

Nate's expression changed, and he remained silent for a moment, his eyes distant as if lost in thought. "You'll see him soon enough," he said cryptically, leaving Chandria even more curious. She decided to just shrug it off, thinking it was probably just Nate's way of saying that Coal would eventually return to her.