Chapter 1

• Abstract From Book 1
• It was time for them to return to Alaska. Everyone carried their bags and was ready to leave. Jamal walked up to Stella to ask when he would carry out his task but Rachel stopped him.
• "Jamal, you should speak to Pearl first," she said.
• "I want..."
• "I know, Jamal. But you should speak to her first" she said and he sighed.
• He stared at Jasmine who nodded. Every one of them seems to be in support too. He went to meet Pearl who was pacing around. She was beginning to worry she might not be able to do what she was told.
• She is his mission. If he chooses her, then he chooses to stay back and that means he has failed his task. If he chooses to leave, he would have to reject her and that means they will never be able to meet again.
• She knew how difficult this task will be for the two of them and wished there is another way to carry this out without any of them getting hurt.
• "Pearl?" Jamal called, jolting her out of her thought. She sighed. "I am leaving, I thought I should say goodbye"
• She sighed. "Do you have to leave?" She asked and he stared at her. "You can stay back, right? You don't have to leave" she said, hoping he won't change his mind and stay back.
• Though she wished he could stay back, she hoped he would make the right choice and leave. Even when she knew, his leaving will affect her, she still wants him not to forfeit his quest for her.
• "What do you mean?" Jamal asked, folding his arms.
• "You know if you leave, we won't be able to see each other again and you can't return here either. Are you going to leave me here?"
• He sighed. "But I can't stay here either"
• "And you can't leave me"
• Jamal groaned. "Pearl..."
• "You want to leave, huh?" Pearl asked. She had this serious look on and Jamal was worried.
• "I wish I don't have to leave but..."
• "But you have no choice, right?" She asked and Jamal nodded. "Then you have to reject me" she replied, folding her hand and Jamal batted his lashes.
• Is she being serious right now?
• "A-are you been serious?" He stuttered slightly.
• "I am very serious Jamal. We can't be together if you leave"
• Jamal brushed his hair backward. This was the last thing he had expected from her. That she would be the one to suggest being rejected.
• "I can't reject you, Pearl. I..."
• "You should understand me better, Jamal. I can't leave here. I don't even know when my wolf will wake up completely. If it doesn't, I will be stuck here forever and if you choose to go, you won't be able to come here again. So tell me, what is the point?"
• "There will be away. We just have to think of a way"
• She sighed. "You still don't get it, Jamal"
• "Make me understand, Pearl"
• "There is no point. All you have to do is reject me right in front of everyone and you will be free to leave"
• "And you think I want to do that?"
• "It doesn't matter, Jamal"
• "Do you even care about me?"
• Pearl stared at him in shock. She had not expected him to ask that. "Does it even matter?"
• "It does. Just tell me, do you care about me?"
• She sighed. "I am sorry, Jamal. That does not matter" Pearl said and turned to leave but Jamal held her. She pulled her hand away from him and made to leave.
• "I won't reject you Pearl," he said and she stopped moving.
• "Y-you have to"
• He moved closer to her. "I don't want to"
• "Why?"
• "B-because I am in love with you"
• She blinked. "Y-you've met me for only a few days. You can't be in love with me"
• He sighed. "You think so?". She nodded. "Well I don't think so. I guess you don't believe in love at first sight"
• She stared at him and sighed. "I do believe it and I am in love with you. That is the reason why you should consider staying back. I need you and you know that"
• "But I can't stay back. They need me. The rest needs me"
• She held his hand. "They don't need you, Jamal. Because, with or without you, peace will return to the world. You don't have to put your happiness In line for the peace of the world. Jasmine and the rest can do it without you. Just stay back. It will cost you nothing"
• He release her grip from his hand and moved away from her. "Y-you are not Pearl"
• "Of course, I am"
• "No. You are not. Pearl won't ask me to ditch the rest for my happiness. She won't ask me to stay back and do nothing. That is the Pearl I know, not you"
• She stared at him. Tears were already dripping down her face. She is sorry, she has to be harsh on him. That she has to sound selfish to make him believe she needed him to stay back.
• "But you have to go and you know what that means to me," she said and he moved closer to her.
• "You can come and meet me when you can finally leave this place," he said and she stared at him in surprise.
• He is really, serious about her coming to meet him when she is finally out of here?