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Chapter 71 - Chapter 71 - What Am I?

Ambervale Island

The boat gently rocked beneath her as she caught her breath, the familiar sights of the island coming into view. It had been a whirlwind-a mission that took her to another island to rescue those in peril, and now she was finally home. But it was more than that; she was in Blaze's arms, a place she never imagined she would be.

Blaze's strong embrace felt like a shield against everything they had endured. She could still hear the echoes of the chaos, the desperate cries of those they had saved. Yet, wrapped in his warmth, she felt an unshakeable sense of safety. He had been her rock throughout the rescue, always at her side, his unwavering confidence bolstering her own.

"Are you okay?" he murmured, his breath warm against her ear.

"Yeah, just... processing everything," she replied, pulling back slightly to look into his deep, thoughtful eyes. They had been through so much together, and she could see the mixture of pride and concern etched on his face.

But as they stepped onto the sandy beach, she noticed Alex trailing behind them, his expression tight. The junior volunteer had always looked up to her, but lately, something had shifted. She could feel the tension in the air as he watched the two of them, his excitement dimming as he witnessed their closeness.

"Hey, Alex!" she called, forcing a smile. "You did an amazing job out there. We couldn't have done it without you."

"Yeah, sure," he replied, his voice lacking its usual enthusiasm. He glanced at her and Blaze, and she caught the fleeting shadow of jealousy in his eyes. But she pushed it aside, thinking she must be wrong. She valued her bond with Alex, but something deeper was blossoming with Blaze, and she couldn't ignore it.

Savannah felt trapped in an awkward silence, the weight of it palpable. Was Blaze just being friendly, or was there something more? His gaze held a warmth that felt intimate, but she couldn't shake the doubt creeping in. What if he was only responding to the adrenaline of the rescue, the rush of the moment, rather than genuine feelings for her?

The community center was bustling with volunteers, their laughter echoing, but Savannah felt like she was in a bubble. She stood between two worlds-one with Blaze, and one his doings.

"Savannah," Blaze said, breaking the silence, his tone almost hesitant. "You shouldn't be out there alone. Though You were incredible, but look after yoirself fisrt."

His words made her heart flutter, but the uncertainty gnawed at her. "Thanks. I just did what needed to be done," she replied, forcing a smile.

Alex shifted his weight, his expression a mix of admiration and something else, something less comfortable. She could feel the tension building, and she knew she needed to address it somehow.

"Hey, Alex," she called, trying to lighten the mood. "What did you think of the rescue? You were amazing out there, too."

"Yeah, it was intense," he replied, though his eyes flicked back to Blaze, lingering a moment longer than necessary. The quiet between them spoke volumes, the air thick with unexpressed feelings.

Savannah's heart raced. Blaze's warmth felt intoxicating.

As Blaze leaned closer, his hand brushing her arm, she caught herself wondering if she was reading too much into his gestures. Was he just being supportive, or was there something deeper? The way he looked at her felt charged, but what if it was all just part of the thrill of the moment?

The awkward silence loomed, leaving her feeling vulnerable and unsure. She wanted to enjoy this moment with Blaze, to let her heart open to the possibility of something more, but the uncertainty made it hard to breathe. Was she setting herself up for disappointment, or could this truly be the start of something beautiful?

As the celebration began around them, she resolved to talk to Blaze later, to clarify what was happening between them. But for now, the weight of her thoughts pressed down, and she found herself caught between hope and hesitation, uncertain of how to move forward.

Later That day

Blaze stood at the edge of the dock, his heart racing with relief. Savannah was finally here, safe and sound after everything they had been through. She was the reason he had endured the chaos of their journey, the light he had fought to protect. But now that she was here, a shadow loomed over his joy.

Alex.

He couldn't shake the unease that settled in his chest whenever he caught sight of him. The way he looked at Savannah-possessive, hungry-set his teeth on edge. He could feel his pulse quickening, each glance between them like a knife twisting in his gut. He wanted to be the only one to look at her like that, to be the one who made her smile, not him.

"Arthur," Blaze said, turning sharply to his secretary who was standing by his side, ever the diligent assistant. "I need you to dig into Alex. Find out everything you can."

Arthur nodded, his brows furrowing in concern. "You think he's a threat?"

"I don't know yet," he replied, his voice low. "But something about him just doesn't sit right with me. I can't shake this feeling."

As he watched Savannah laughing with Alex, a part of him wanted to stride over, pull her into his arms, and claim her once and for all. But another part of him knew that he had to tread carefully. He couldn't let jealousy cloud his judgment; he needed to understand what he was dealing with.

With Arthur on the case, he turned his attention back to Savannah, forcing a smile onto his face as he approached her. He had to show her that he was here, that he was the one she could trust. "Hey, beautiful," he said, his voice steady. "How about we take a walk? I want to show you something."

Her eyes changed and smile gone.. But deep down, he knew he had to keep a close watch. The island might be paradise, but the shadows were lurking, and he wouldn't let Alex take her away from him. Not now, not ever.

At Midnight

Savannah stood at the edge of the rocky outcrop, the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore echoing below. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden hue over the island, and the dim light shimmered like a soft blanket draped over everything she had come to love. She breathed in deeply, savoring the salty air as her thoughts drifted back to the chaos of the past few weeks-the rescue mission, the lives saved, and the fear that had fueled her determination.

How had she managed to push through the danger, the uncertainty? There had been moments when she questioned her own choices, but helping those in need had ignited something within her-a fierce resolve to make a difference, no matter the cost.

Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed the presence beside her until a familiar voice broke the silence.

"What are you doing up here, Savannah?" Blaze asked, his tone both curious and concerned.

She didn't need to look to know it was him; she could feel the warmth radiating from his body, the sense of safety he always brought. "Just thinking," she replied, glancing at him now, his silhouette framed against the fading light.

"It's a beautiful view," he said, his gaze drifting over the horizon. "But it's a bit dangerous up here, isn't it? You shouldn't be alone."

"I can take care of myself, Blaze," she said, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her voice. "You know that."

He turned to her, his expression softening. "I know you can, but sometimes I wonder if you think about yourself enough. You dive headfirst into everything, and I worry about you."

His concern hit her like a wave. She met his gaze, the intensity of it making her heart race. "I do think about myself, but when it comes to helping others... it feels right," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can't stand by while people are in need."

"I admire that about you," Blaze said, stepping a little closer. "But you need to be careful. You can't pour from an empty cup."

His words resonated with her, and she felt the weight of her own exhaustion. There had been moments in the rescue when fear had threatened to overwhelm her, but she had pushed through, driven by something deeper. "It's just... I've seen too much suffering. I want to make a difference while I can."

Blaze nodded, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "And you have. You've done amazing things, Savannah. But remember, you're not invincible. It's okay to let others help you too."

The sincerity in his voice sent a shiver down her spine. She was used to being the one in control, the one helping others.

"Why do you care?" Savannah shot back, the words escaping before she could temper them. "Do you have a right to tell me what to do?"

His expression shifted, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Of course I care. I worry about you."

"Why?" She turned to him, searching his gaze for answers. "Just another volunteer? Someone to save? Fake fiance?"

The tension between them crackled in the air. Blaze paused, his mouth opening slightly as if he were about to respond but hesitated. She watched the conflict play out on his face- concern, frustration, something deeper.

"You're not just another volunteer," he finally said, his voice steady. "You've done incredible things, but that doesn't mean you should put yourself in danger without considering the consequences."

Savannah felt her heart race, emotions swirling within her. "Why am I not just any other volunteer to you then, there are more people who needs help, more than me, why are you here?"

Blaze insisted, his eyes locking onto hers. "You mean something to me."

Savannah felt a mix of emotions, and instead of feeling reassured, it only deepened her confusion. "What does that even mean?" she challenged. "Why do you care about me?" She asked as calm as the ocean was there, there was a slight smile as she questioned him all those, not because she wanted to have something from him, but so she can get right answers and cler the misunderstanding part.

"Because I do," he said simply, but she could see the sincerity in his eyes. It made her feel exposed. "I care about what happens to you. I've seen how hard you work and how much you give. It's admirable."

But somehow his answer felt vague, like he was skirting around the real question. Is it because I'm good at what I do? Does my strength make you feel like you need to protect me? Savannah thought all these in her mind still not being cleared. But the ocean there made her feel a little good and refreshed from all the chaos around the island.

On the other hand, Blaze took a deep breath, his gaze steady. "It's not just about your strength, Savannah. It's about you as a person. You care so much for others, and that's rare. I respect that. I want you to be safe because I value who you are."

The weight of his words settled over her, and yet she felt a little lost by the simplicity of his answer. " Why does it matter to, if I'm safe or not"

"I don't want to see you hurt," he replied, his voice firm but gentle. "You have a light in you that shines brighter than you realize. It would be a shame to lose that."

Savannah looked deeper into the ocean beneath her for a while searching for a depth in it for a while "Ah, it's getting darker, we should hurry down" coming out of her dream she talked.

Suddenly Savannha felt a warm grip on her wrist he looked back up at Blaze and in a spin moment of time he hugged her from behind.

Author's Note :

Happy reading<3

Sorry for being late, I know I haven't been updating for a while:(

Anyways, here's the one, will update frequently now <3

Have a good day/night <3<3