CHAPTER 74: Final Piece
Jaidyn’s POV
2 years later……
‘Go, go where your heart belongs to’
My thoughts were filled with the words of the elderly woman who was my closest neighbor in the town where I spent two years and who helped me grow my plants. I glanced down at the photo I had just taken of her and her granddaughter Alice, who was then 20 years old, standing by my side. Behind us was my modest house and yard, which was bursting to the seams with tall, vivid flowers. The pictures resemble those of houses in fairytale images. It was very magical to look back again.
I put the picture in my wallet again and turned to face the airplane window, my lips curling in a smile.
I’m returning to the town and the man I made a vow to after a two-year absence. During that period, I travel alone, encountered amazing people, learned a lot, and gained new insights into life. I also succeeded in acquiring and moving to a little cottage in a rural area close to a lake and a forest for a year. That place captured my heart, so I made the decision to stay. I grew flowers and am good at cooking now. However, my cooking abilities are still not close to those of Traian. I read a lot of books and even found a new hobby-painting. But I am still not good at it. I read a lot of books and even picked up painting as a new pastime. But I still struggle with it.
My mind wanders back to the exquisite flowers I left behind. I have no doubt Alice will take good care of them.
“I’m almost there,” I whispered while simultaneously remembering how my parents and sister’s reactions when I informed them I was going back today. I am sure they are planning right now to fly to Grevis Town as well. I am excited to meet my nephew again-Jacob. Jaxon was overjoyed to find out that it was a boy.
My eyes caught sight of the flight attendant walking toward my seat. I waved her over. Before leaving, the flight attendant gave me a kind grin and nod. Soon after, the flight attendant came back with my vodka.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
“You have a beautiful necklace” the old woman next to me commented, peering down at my emerald necklace. “Is it a gift?”
I smiled, “Yes. It is”
The elderly woman gave me a warm grin, “He must be a special someone.”
I looked out the window while holding the necklace’s emerald stone, taking in the beauty of the sky and the clouds as they were illuminated by the sun’s golden rays.
I was able to start again, adopt a new perspective, and better understand myself over the two years I spent alone, traveling, and meeting new people. I have moved on from Anthony and we remain friends. He was also married to his childhood crush in his hometown and they were expecting a child soon. I am genuinely happy for him.
Now, it’s time for me to get the final piece of my happy ending.
………
After a few hours, I am once again crammed inside a car that is speeding down a winding, rocky road. I was able to loosen against the worn leather seat as the road leveled out. The driver had his eyes fixed on the road. I turned my focus back to the glass and scanned the thick grove of trees that we were passing by.
My phone suddenly started vibrating. I pulled it from my coat and saw the registered name shown on the screen.
On the other end of the line, someone screamed, “Jaidyn! Oh my God, are you already there?”
The overdone welcome from my best friend made me laugh. “I just landed,”
Anna replied with a tone that just overflowed with excitement, “How are you feeling?”
She knew about my history with Traian.
“Um…. excited? Nervous?” I chuckled, “I don’t really know”
In a soft voice that just made me chuckle, she urged, “Take a deep breath, take a deep breath.”
“You’re crazy”
“You’re the one who’s crazy. There’s nothing to be nervous about, Jaidyn. You will be meeting the people who like you and the man that you love. You will be fine”
I take a deep breath, unconsciously touching the necklace, “You’re right”
“But this event of my parents was a bummer! I should be there with you and witness that beautiful moment when you see him. And maybe had a soul mate hunting there! Arghhh” Anna ranted.
Anna was aware of my story with Traian and she just knows about them being a Shifter just five months ago. I asked permission from Traian if it was okay for me to tell her and he said that as long as I have my full trust in Anna, it’s alright. And I have that complete trust in this woman so I ended up telling her. It was one of the best decisions because Traian sometimes calls her whenever he can’t contact me or I have this sudden mood of not talking to him which only involves virtually. We haven’t met in person for two years. I even didn’t contact him for a year because I was trying to be independent and it was time for me to heal myself.
“I didn’t even get to meet this Cayden man. You don’t know, maybe he was my soulmate?!” Anna exclaimed with excitement.
This woman was really curious about Cayden and I wanted to be a matchmaker. I told her to come with me today but this woman got a sudden call from her parents.
“You can always follow them there. I will ask Traian about you coming to the town and I can tour you around”
“As much as I am thrilled to know that you will do that for me, don’t think about me yet, focus on yourself right now because you will be meeting him again!” she squealed on the other line. “I know how badly you miss him. I was there when you recited those corny lines about him when you’re drunk so make sure to confess properly now!”
I can’t help but chuckle at the memory. My parents, sister, and Anna visited me in the town where I stayed. And I don’t know why, but I always got drunk when she was with me and one time she took a video of me blabbering about how I miss Traian so much. Honestly, the first two months were hard for me because I badly wanted to go back with Traian and call him but I held back. And I am proud of myself because I successfully did that.
We only contacted each other a year ago. And I didn’t tell him that I would arrive today.
“Well, it will not happen again,” I joked.
“Yeah, I get it because you will be with him finally!” she said excitedly. “Don’t forget to send me a video when you two meet! I know someone will do that”
“I will”
“Good. Now, off you go to your man” she giggled before hanging up.
I shake my head with a smile on my face. Anna was really crazy sometimes. I tucked away my phone in my coat pocket. Then my attention shifted to the familiar forest in the distance. I drew a deep breath in anticipation of seeing the beautiful neighborhood once more as a little town with a prominent Grevis Town sign came into view. It looked exactly the same when I first stepped foot here.
After a few minutes, the driver slowed down. Until the car came up close to the cabin that might have served as a model for a fairy tale castle situated in the middle of a beautiful forest, the feeling of familiarity flooded over me as I observed the buildings and shops on each side of me as well as the people walking down the streets. I had previously stayed in this cabin when I first arrived.
After paying the driver and giving him a sincere thank you, I got out of the car. Then, with a duffel bag in one hand and my backpack slung over my shoulder facing the neighborhood houses where Claire and the others resided, I stood.
“Jaidyn?” a familiar yet startling voice uttered.
I looked back, and there was Cayden. His ponytail-styled, dark blonde hair had grown longer. While his eyes opened in shock, I grinned and waved at him.
“Hey, Cayden”
When he quickly hugged me, my lips extended into a grin.
Cayden pulled away from me, “Gotta tell everyone, you’re really here! I thought my nose was playing tricks on me for a second.”
“Not to Traian,” I said as I lifted my hand to stop him.
He smirked and nodded suggestively, “Of course, of course,”
Just like two years ago, he seemed to be looking blankly at space for a second before he blinked and gazed at me again.
I can’t help but comment, “Did you mind linking the others?”
His eyes widened and his mouth turned into an O shape, “Woah, you knew that thing? How come?”
I shrugged, “Well, my sister brings me books to read and I kind of call him whenever I have questions so I am pretty confident in your culture now”
Traian wanted to deliver some books about Shifters to my sister and pack them for me because I still hadn’t told him my address for the past two years but I refused. I am afraid someone might have opened those books and read the contents. I don’t want to risk anything. Instead, my sister brings the books she has to their house. That’s what I read and I finally know about Traian being a Lycan. I still find it hard to believe that I am mated to a Lycan-a superior kind from Shifters. They are stronger, have lived longer than the others, and have a distinct pure black wolf that is bigger than the average.
He shakes his head, “Such a bookworm”
“Proudly,” I said smugly, “By the way, how’s Claire and the others?”
Cayden smirked, “My sister, despite the fact that she constantly advises me to wait until I meet my soulmate before getting married, was already wed to Evan a few months after you left, and has already a one-year-old daughter”
“It finally gets real” I chuckled, recalling Claire’s explanation of how the wedding she had promised me two years ago was only a ruse to keep me in the town.
“It is. Sally and Adam also married just six months ago while Kate just recently found her mate”
“Really? Oh my gosh! That’s really great to hear” I clapped in pure joy and exclaimed, “I missed a lot”
“You are but they have vids for you”
“Now I’m super pumped up to settle and watch videos!” I giggled, “How about you? What’s new about you-Cayden Filloti”
He sighed disappointedly, “Here still mateless”
“Um… Are you open to meeting someone?”
He arched a brow, “Of course. I’ve been on dates a lot these past 2 years. Another one not gonna hurt”
My eyes lit up, maybe introducing Anna and Cayden would be a good idea. “Okay! I know someone that wants to meet you”
“Really?”
I winked at him, “Yup, my best friend”
He shakes his head at me just the time we are near their house and suddenly the door flutters open revealing Claire and Evan cradling a cute baby in his arms.
Claire screamed, “Oh my gosh! Is that you, Jaidyn?!” and rushed up to me.
I laughed, “Yeah, it’s me”
When Claire jumped to me, engulfing me in a big and strong hug that I nearly stumbled on my feet, I heard the familiar voices of Sally, Adam, and Kate from a distance.
I wrapped my arms around Claire with a big grin on my face.