When they got into the inn, they were welcomed by the receptionist, a female in her early twenties. "How may I help you, sir?" She asked, winking at Kelvin. Jasmine saw her wink at him and she scoffed.
An older woman flirting with him? That's funny.
"I think you should go talk to her about the rooms," Jabal said pushing Kelvin slightly.
"I..."
"Go, go. She might give you room 101 since she likes you. Remember that's the room Jasmine wants"
Kelvin groaned. "Can't you see she is trying to flirt with me?
"Use that to our advantage. Go"
Kelvin moved closer to the receptionist to talk to her while Jabal moved closer to Jasmine. "Don't you think Kelvin is hot?"
She scoffed. "I don't think so"
"You don't?. Even the receptionist knows that. Can you see her trying to flirt with him? I guess you don't have good eyes to see how cute and sexy he is"
She ignored him and sat down on the couch. "Can you get the keys to the room and let us leave?" She asked.
Jabal poked her. "You can't face seeing someone else flirting with your mate? Huh?"
"I don't love him, ok?" She yelled and everyone turned to face her. She groaned, feeling so embarrassed. "Sorry" she muttered.
Kelvin got the keys to the rooms. "Here are your keys and this is ours" he handed the keys to Jabal and Jamal.
"We will be leaving you guys here," Jabal said and held Ariana by her hand.
"We will leave too," Jamal said, dragging Ryan who had been staring dangerously at Kelvin with him, leaving Kelvin and Jasmine alone.
"Is there anything else you need sir?" The receptionist asked and Jasmine stood up.
"He doesn't need your help. So get lost" she yelled.
Kelvin was startled by her reaction and he loved it. To see his mate getting jealous and worked up over someone flirting with him is a good sign. Jasmine dragged the key from him and stomped upstairs. She couldn't tell why she was so angry right now.
Kelvin ran after her. "Hey. Wait up"
He caught up with her and held her. She dragged her hand away. "Don't you dare hold me" she yelled.
"Don't you think you are taking this too far?"
She scoffed. "I am taking this too far? Huh?"
"She was the one flirting with me not the other way round"
"How is that my business. I don't care who you flirt with or who flirts with you. You know what. You can go to hell!!" She yelled and walked out on him.
He smiled. Does she get angry like this? Or she is worked up because she is his mate?. He followed her to the room to see her pacing around. She was burning in rage and he could feel the change in the aura. Thank goodness she did not flare up completely in front of the receptionist or she might have hurt her.
"Hey. You don't have to be angry. I have no plan to cheat on you" he said hoping she will believe. He wasn't the type who go after women. She ignored him and sat on the bed.
He moved closer to her and squatted. "I'm sorry"
She scoffed. "I-i'm not angry at you and not angry at her. I am angry at myself for getting pissed off for nothing"
He stood. "Maybe you have fallen deeply in love with me," he said and she laughed but suddenly stopped.
"Fall in love with you? Never. I love someone else" she bloated out before she could stop herself.
"You love someone else?" He asked and she groaned. He heard her.
"Nevermind. Just pretend not to hear that"
"How do you expect me to pretend not to hear that? My mate being in love with someone else is something I should be worried about" he said.
"As I said before, pretend..."
"Who is he? Do I know him?" He asked cutting her short. She ignored him. "Is it Ryan?" He asked and her eyes widened in shock. He sighed. "I knew it. It's him"
"I-i d-did not say that" she stuttered.
"You don't have to. It's written all over you"
"I-i don't love him"
"You do. You're blushing"
"I-i'm not"
"Have you told him?"
She furrowed her brows. "What?"
"You should tell him"
She frowned. "Are you out of your sense? I should tell Ryan that I love him?"
He sat beside her. "He loves you too. I know you know that too. That is the reason you should let him know"
"Aren't you suppose to be pissed off?"
He smiled. "Of course I am. I am so pissed off right now but I can't stop you from loving him or being with him"
"But you are my mate. I should love you and not someone else"
"You fell in love with him before you knew me. It's not your fault"
"But why do I feel jealous seeing you with the receptionist?"
"The mate bond, I guess"
She stood. "I can't tell him". She turned. "He should not find out either"
"You are going to keep your love for him away from him?"
She sat down and held his hand. "It's the best option". She sighed. "After all, I will be getting married to you soon," she said sadly
"You should let him know"
"He can't find out. Promise me"
He sighed. "I promise"
**
For everyone, the night was a good one except for Ryan who was worried. He was worried Jasmine has fallen in love with Kelvin. Though he could not admit it openly that he is in love with her, he couldn't lie to himself about that.
When and how he fell in love with her remain a mystery to him. All he knew is that his love for her kept growing. He had thought of confessing his love for her after the battle but when the demon prince showed up and he happened to be her mate, he had lost hope.
He had thought and hoped she was his mate. The feeling he had the first day he saw her which he had shrugged off, had returned fully. He wondered why he fell in love with someone else mate.
"Hey" Jamal poked him, jolting him out of his thought.
"Y-you called me?"
"Thinking again?" Jamal asked and he sighed.
"Not really"
"You are worried about Jasmine?"
"N-no"
"You don't have to lie. Every one of us knows you love her"
"I-i don't" he defended.
"You do. It's obvious. Your jealous attitude made it more obvious"
He sighed. "Did I make it that obvious?"
Jamal nodded. "You did. Why don't you just tell her? To know if she feels the same way too"
"I can't do that. She has a mate. Even if I tell her, it has no use. We can't be together"
Jamal held his hand. "It will help you know your place and move on"
"Don't let me do that"
"What if she loves you too?"
"That will be bad. Loving me will be detrimental to her and her mate"
Jamal sighed. "Then what will you do?"
"I will just keep loving her"
"Have you tried finding your mate?"
He shrugged. "I can't"
"You can't?"
He nodded. "Jasmine love has clouded my heart, I can't love someone else"
Jamal sighed. "I hope you can move on Ryan. I hope you can"
**
It was time for them to leave. Everyone left their room and met at the reception. As usual, the receptionist tried to flirt with Kelvin.
"Did you have a good night's rest, sir?" She asked, smiling seductively.
"Yes, I did. Hope you slept well too?" He answered and she smiled.
"Yes"
He dropped the keys on the table. "These are the keys. Can we check out now?"
She nodded. "Sure"
After doing all the necessary things, they headed to where their car was parked. Jasmine tried as much as possible to avoid Ryan who seems to avoid her too. He had decided to stay away from her, maybe that will help him stop loving her. Everyone noticed the awkwardness between the two and wondered what was going on.
"Do you think Ryan has confessed his love for her?" Jabal asked.
"Did she not spend the night with Kelvin? Why did Ryan do that?"
Jabal chuckled. "I am just curious. Can't you see the way they are acting towards each other?"
"Do you think Jasmine finds out Ryan loves her?" Ariana asked.
"If that is the case, Jasmine should be the only one acting strangely not the two of them"
"Or maybe he finds out she loves him too"
Jabal furrowed his brows. "She loves him too?"
Ariana raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?"
"I don't know. I thought the feeling wasn't mutual"
"Sorry to burst your bubbles, mister. It is. She loves him as much as he loves her"
"Then what will be their fate?" Jabal asked.
"Ryan has decided to move on" Jamal answered.
"He did?" Ariana and Jabal asked in unison, furrowing their brows. Jamal nodded.
"I told him to tell her. But he wouldn't. He said it will be detrimental to her and Kelvin"
"Aww, that's so cute of him," Ariana said blinking.
"If the feeling is mutual and Ryan had confessed to Jamal about his love for Jasmine, then it means..."
Ariana gasped. "Jasmine has also told Kelvin"
"But why is Kelvin acting indifferent?" Jamal asked
"Maybe to hide the truth" Jabal answered.
"Don't you think we are already jumping to conclusions so soon?" Ariana said
"How about we find out the truth?" Jabal said
"How?" Ariana asked
"What are your plans?" Jamal asked.
"Ariana try to find out the truth from Jasmine and I will find out the truth from Kelvin since Jamal has already found out the truth from Ryan" Jabal said
"Then what next?" Jamal asked
"We meet together to weigh the situation and see if we can find a solution" Jabal answered.
"And if we can't?" Ariana asked.
"We let them do their things their way" Jabal answered.
"Why do you suddenly have an interest in Jasmine's love life?" Ariana asked
"She's my sister and wants the best for her" Jabal answered.
"Which is?" Ariana asked and Jabal furrowed his brows. "I mean which of them do you want for her? Ryan or Kelvin"
"I see them both as my brother but I..."
"What are you guys talking about?" Jasmine asked from behind folding her arms.
"About our love life," Jabal said.
"And you want me to believe that?" Jasmine frowned.
"Then do you think we had gathered here to talk about your love life?" Jabal asked
"Whatever" Jasmine muttered. "We should leave. We have a long way to go"
They joined Ryan and Kelvin in the car and zoomed off.
**
The journey of the first three days to Alaska finally came to an end. They will have to pack their car here and walk the rest. For Ryan and Kelvin who are just visiting the place for the first time, Jasmine took her time to explain what the place they are going to, look like and the possible test they might encounter. She explained how important it was for them to be courageous and truthful. Although her mom had told them they had access to Alaska and won't be carrying out any test or puzzle, she couldn't help but prepare them, since it is their first time coming here.
"Make sure to pack all the things you need in your bags. The journey is going to be a long one" Jabal said, arranging his bag.
"Pass me the water please," Jasmine said and Ariana did.
After a while, Jabal asked. "Is everyone ready?"
Jasmine nodded. "I am set. I think everyone else is"
"I am set too," Ariana said
"Me too," Jamal said
Jabal stared at Ryan and Kelvin and they nodded, showing they were ready too.
Everyone carried their bags on their back and off they went.