Jamal was surprised to hear Stella say that he has completed his task. He stared at Stella, happiness written all over his face. He had not thought that was his task. To be able to leave Alaska Arias without rejecting Pearl and also without having to go with her. And though he suspected Pearl might be among his task, he does not think his task will be as easy as it is now.
"A-are you being serious right now, Stella?" He asked, stuttering slightly, hoping Stella won't change her mind about the task.
Stella nodded. "I am. You've carried out your task without knowing and you passed. Congratulations, Jamal"
"Congratulations, Jamal," Jasmine said, hugging him.
"You did it, Jamal" Ariana said.
"Congratulations, bro," Jabal said.
"Congrats man," Kelvin said, patting him.
"Congratulations" Ryan greeted with a smile on his face.
Everyone was happy Jamal has succeeded to carry out his task without stress, just like the rest of them and they can now return to Alaska without any worry.
Rachel moved closer to them. "You all have done a great job, kids. It is time to return to Alaska" she said.
They stared at Rachel sadly. Though they had been looking forward to going back to Alaska, they will also miss Rachel and Gabrielle. To the rest, they will miss Gabrielle's food and Rachel's stories. They will miss going around the village. But Jamal is going to miss Pearl. He will miss the valley of prophecy, as much as he will miss Lilly too.
"Do we have to go home now?" Jasmine muttered sadly and the rest stared at her.
They all do not wish to go home yet but they have an important task ahead of them. They hugged Rachel, one after the other and after saying their last goodbye, they left Alaska Arias and returned to Alaska.
Rachel was the one who opened the portal for them. Just as they leave Alaska Arias, Pearl's wolf began to awaken and there is the possibility that she might be leaving Alaska Arias soon.
**
Stella's cave was looking different than it was the last time they saw it. They were happy to return to Alaska. Not only have they succeeded in returning to Alaska, but they were also able to get the information they needed. Jamal has been able to fulfill his task and that is more than enough for them.
"It's good to be back here," Jabal said, sitting on the couch.
Everyone nodded in agreement, showing how happy they are to be back here.
"You should go take your bath and get some rest, every one of you. " Stella said and they nodded.
They needed that, more than anything else. They are also hungry and needed some food. They decided to go take their bath and get back to the living room to eat some food first before they return to their room to get some rest.
"Can we get some food?" Jasmine asked and everyone frowned at her. They have all agreed to go take their bath first before coming down to eat. She chuckled nervously. "I mean after we are done taking out bath" she added quickly and their face softened while Stella laughed.
"Of course, I will get some ready before you come back"
They left the living room and headed to the rooms they had used before leaving Alaska some days ago, Ryan decided to ask Jamal some questions. He needed to know how he felt, about leaving his mate behind.
"Jamal?" He cooed and Jamal moved back to join him.
"You called me?"
Ryan nodded. "Yes, can I ask you a question?"
Jamal nodded. "Why not"
"How do you feel, leaving your mate back in Alaska Arias?" Ryan asked.
Jamal shrugged. He misses her so much but somehow, he feels ok, having her hairpin with him. "Leaving her, I felt like an important thing has left me and I feel really sad leaving her there but this...". He brought out the hairpin and showed it to Ryan. "Having this, makes me feel better"
"I am so happy for you," Ryan said sadly.
He wished he could meet his mate soon and forget about Jasmine, completely.
"What's your plan about Jasmine?" Jamal asked and Ryan sighed. "You are giving up on her, right?"
He nodded. "I have given up on her already"
Jamal patted Ryan's shoulder. "Everything is going to be alright, bro. Trust me"
They went into their rooms to take their baths and return to the living room to eat before returning to their room to have some rest.
**
It was soon time for the children to return to the earth witches' coven. Stella had told them to go and get their things ready and they had groaned. They wished they could spend extra days with Stella and maybe use that opportunity to visit places here in Alaska but they needed to return and began to plan on what next to do. With everything they had heard from Rachel, there is more wars to fight and more places to visit.
"You should head up now," Stella told when they did not attempt to move. She gestured with her hands and they knew immediately that they had no option but to go get their things ready.
As they headed upstairs, they murmured among themselves about how they wished they could stay a little while.
"Do you know that we haven't visited any place in Alaska before?" Ariana asked Jasmine when they got to their room and Jasmine nodded. They had all their things on the bed, arranging them in their bags. "I can't believe we never thought about that"
Jasmine shrugged. "Funny enough we never did"
"I really, wish we could visit a place or two" Ariana said daydreaming.
Jasmine's eyes brightened up. "What if we can?"
Ariana furrowed her brows. "You think we can?"
"Yes. All we need to do is speak to the rest and then all of us can speak to Stella"
"You think Stella will let us do that?"
Jasmine nodded. "It's not like we are staying for a day, you know? An hour or two should be enough"
"I don't think Stella will let us spend an extra hour here. Don't you think so?"
"How about we give it a try? You can't conclude without trying. What do you think?"
Ariana sighed. "Maybe we should give it a try as you said but where are we going if she finally agrees to it?"
Jasmine shrugged. "Anywhere. There will be a lot of places to go to. I am sure of that"
"When are we going to tell the others?"
"Let's get our things ready first, then we can meet with the rest and talk to them. I am sure their things would be ready by then. We won't want to give Stella a reason to stop us from going"
Ariana nodded. Jasmine had spoken the truth. "Then let's get our things ready quickly"
They quickly get their things into their bags and headed to the boys' rooms
**
They stared at Stella like lost puppies. They had spoken about their plans to meet and talk to Stella and right now, they stood in front of her but could not say a word. Stella stared at them, one to another, and sighed.
"Do you really, all have something to say? I am getting uncomfortable with your looks" Stella said.
Ariana poked Jasmine slightly. She should be the one to speak up, being the mastermind behind the plan. Jasmine looked away quickly. Though she is the mastermind behind this, she suddenly felt the urge not to speak.
There was silence and Stella got tired of it. "It seems you all do not have anything to say, so I guess I should get going," Stella said, standing up.
"Wait!!!" They cooed in unison.
She sighed. "Are you ready to speak up now?". They nodded. "Then start speaking"
"Well, Stella, we have a little request to make. We don't know if you can spare us a few hours to look around Alaska before we leave. I will like to see a few places and I am sure the rest will like that too" Kelvin spoke up in everyone's stead and everyone nodded in agreement.
Just like Kelvin, they will like to see some places in Alaska before they leave.
"I think that is a good idea" Ryan supported Kelvin.
"Come to think of it we never thought about that ourselves," Jamal said.
"Haven't we been here twice?" Jabal asked. "How come we never thought about that?"
Jasmine smiled. She loved that Kelvin covered up for her and everyone supported him. "I almost thought..."
"Whose idea is this?" Stella asked and they stared at one, then at another. "Start talking. Whose idea is this"
Jasmine brushed her hair backward. "Actually, it is..."
"It's everyone's idea" Ryan spoke up quickly. "While we were getting our things ready, we realized we never visited any place in Alaska. So we decided to speak to you about it"
Stella eyed them suspiciously. "Everyone's idea, you say?" she asked and they nodded. She sighed. "You have just an hour. I am sure you are old enough to take care of yourselves or am I wrong?" she had a smile on her face and they chuckled.
"Of course, you are right" they cooed in unison.
"Are your things already arranged?". They nodded. "Go bring them downstairs then you can leave. You might not have to travel a long journey to return home. I might need to send you off through the shorter cut"
They rushed upstairs quickly to get their things downstairs before heading out on their tour.
**
After walking for a while, they all stopped walking. They had gone to a few places and they had not seen much. There were not many places to visit either or maybe they are the ones who had not gone far.
"Where do you think we should head to?" Ariana asked. "Alaska doesn't seem to have many places to visit"
"The main reason I miss Alaska Arias," Jamal said.
Jabal winked at Jamal who groaned. "Are you sure that is your reason for liking Alaska Arias? Or..." he asked.
Jamal frowned. "Do you think I have another reason for that?"
Jabal chuckled. "Everyone knows you have"
Jamal brushed his hair backward. "I do not..."
"How about we go to that mysterious village we followed through the last time?" Jasmine asked trying to stop Jamal and Jabal's argument.
"You mean that mirage village?" Kelvin asked and Jasmine nodded.
"Yes"
"What if we get lost?"
"I don't think we can" Jamal answered.
"Even if we do, Stella will find us," Jabal said.
"I don't like the idea of getting lost," Jasmine said rubbing her hands against her skin. "It feels creepy and makes me feel chills run down my spine," she said and the rest busted into a series of laughter, except Kelvin who wondered if Jasmine has been kidnapped before. Jasmine frowned at them. "What is funny here?" She stared at Ariana who was laughing so hard. She frowned. "Ariana, I can't believe you're laughing with the boys. Are you not supposed to support me?"
"Sorry," Ariana muttered, still smiling
"Have you been lost before?" Kelvin asked and Jasmine furrowed her brows at him.
"Is that supposed to be a question?"
Kelvin looked lost. "You said it..."
Jasmine laughed. "It's just a feeling, nothing more. I just do not like the thought of getting lost. I haven't gotten lost before"
Kelvin sighed. "I thought you've gotten lost before"
"Maybe I have when I was little. But none I can remember now"
Ryan rolled his eyes. He is already tired of hearing the two lovebirds talk. "Are we going to waste the one hour given to us for nothing?" he asked.
"Do I smell jealousy?" Jamal whispered to him and he scoffed.
"Of course not. Why would I be"
"Well, I don't think you are over her, yet. And I don't think she is over you either"
Ryan groaned slightly. It doesn't matter who is over who yet and who is not. "We should head back to the cave since we have no more places to go"
"We can't do that yet. We have about thirty minutes more before we return" Ariana said.
"But we have no more places to go," Ryan said.
"Are you trying to end our journey because of Jasmine and Kelvin?" Jamal whispered.
"Can you stop whispering to me? You are making me feel uneasy"
"How about we go over there" Ariana pointed. "I can see a garden there. Let's check it out" she said and they headed towards it.
**
It was time to return to the earth witches' coven. After visiting a few places including the garden Ariana saw earlier, they return to the cave to join Stella.
"We're you able to visit some places?" Stella asked.
"Yes. Though there were not many places to go, we enjoyed every place we went to" Jasmine said and the rest nodded.
Stella smiled. "Then I guess you can leave without regret?"
"I guess we can," Ariana said.
"Are you ready to leave now?"
"I can't wait to go home," Jamal said.
"I can't wait either" Jabal answered.
"Kelvin where do you plan to go when you get back?" Stella asked.
"I will stay in the Munar pack for a while before heading back to the demon realm. Ryan said I can stay in his packhouse" Kelvin answered.
"That is so good of us, Ryan. I am happy you made that choice" Stella said. "Do you have plans on how to bring the vampire Queen pack?"
"There is no plan yet but we will come up with one when we get back" Ariana answered and Stella smiled.
"Why does it feel like I am missing you already"
Jasmine ran to her and hugged her. "I am missing you too and I know the rest are missing you too"
One after the other, they hugged her and she smiled. She stood up. "Time to go home, guys," she said and the portal began to open slowly. When the portal finally open up, Stella spoke up. "Go, now," she said and they wave at her.