A Gift from the Goddess

Over the next few days, I found myself feeling anxious.

Under the constant watchful eye of both my father and Gavin, I continued to play along with my usual daily routine.

Acting as if nothing was amiss.

Doing all the training that was asked of me.

But, inside, I was thinking back to that keycard.

The one I’d hidden under my mattress.

Waiting for exactly the right moment for when I’d be able to use it.

...A moment I found finally presented itself on the night of the third day.

With my father expected to be staying overnight elsewhere for a late meeting and Gavin only working until seven o’clock, I saw an opportunity to take advantage of the soon-to-be quiet house.

And I devised a plan to leave as soon as the sky grew dark.

A few hours later, I was slowly scaling to the ground from my bedroom window.

This being something I did with ease and without being seen.

And though I never thought to use my abilities to go behind my father’s back, I certainly couldn't deny that it came in handy.

Soon, before much time had passed at all, I found myself facing the door I’d been thinking of so incessantly.

The door I’d been wondering about every day, contemplating all of the things I could possibly discover once I entered through it.

A door that might just possibly change my life forever.

And I stared at it.

...And stared.

......And stared.

And I kept staring, even while my hand reached out several times to knock, failing every time to go through with it.

..I’d been so certain in my decision and come all this way, only to—.

But then, suddenly, the door opened in front of me.

"_.Are you just going to stand out there all night?" came a voice from inside.

It was his voice.I recognised it well now.

"I ah...," I started, feeling a little awkward for being caught.

"I’m sorry.I just...I—."

"It’s okay.No need to be sorry," he said, his face then appearing from the other side of the door.

Instantly, that same effect started to hit me, a reassurance spreading throughout as his presence held me.

"I get it.If you need more time to think, I can just leave this open.I’m not pressuring you to “

 "No!" I quickly blurted out.

"No, it’s okay.Everything is okay...I’m ready."

I came here with determination to get answers.I couldn’t back out now.

Whatever happened tonight, at least I could say that I tried.

My mistake would only lie in wanting to hope for a better life.

"Okay...well, come on in," he said.

I was ready to step through the door but was stopped a s he held a hand out to me.

Just as he had done so once before.

However, the last time he’d done that, I had been too overwhelmed to reciprocate.

Too many thoughts and questions holding me back, so unsure of everything that had been happening at the time.

Now, when I looked at his outstretched hand, I sawa possible beginning.

"T just need you to trust me," he had said to me that day.

Well, I couldn’t be sure if I was ready for that just yet, but I was at least willing to believe.

Believe that there was a chance of this being real...if only for a moment...And so I cautiously reached out...hesitating once or twice as I moved...before, finally, those same sparks tingled along my skin in greeting upon contact.

"I'm really glad you came back, Raven," he said, his voice low and eyes so intense.

And, instantly, I felt as my cheeks began to burn ever s o slightly.

..Clearly, I would need to be careful in more ways than one around him.I could see how easy it would be to become distracted from the mission at hand.

"This doesn’t mean I trust you," I clarified.

"And I… I'd like some sort of proof.I’m risking a lot by coming here and I feel it’s only fair that you prove you are what you say you are."

gently pulled me forward through the front door and closed it behind

where I stood, he towered over me, something that I became painfully

think I can manage that," he

were completely alone, the

somehow devouring me with his

have sworn appeared darker

it was just

"Make yourself at home."

back, releasing me, and quickly

not to let myself become

the room was

suspected the other day, the place was

it felt larger than some people’s houses in

enough to host an elaborate party without feeling

city isn’t exactly an ideal place to do something where people might see,"

make do

to look at him, I had to fight the urge t o

he watched me, slowly starting the process of

yelled in surprise, unable

didn’t seem phased in any way though, his lip twitching into

said,

don’t want it to

chest as he continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred from my cries in

skin that was revealed seemed moulded

would have expected to be

he was strong...but this? I swallowed and quickly tried to refocus my

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

he said, almost a

me to prove we were the

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

that in here, was he? And my mind immediately recalled the massacres I would wake up

I quickly

need to lock you inside

made him laugh, much to my embarrassment.I

I could only make assumptions based on

knowledge...it wasn’t

lost in

didn’t even notice when he appeared right in front of

shiver ran through me

said quietly, drawing in

this world that could ever make me hurt you.I am the last person you will ever need

a part of me wanted so

past me to start pushing couches and other pieces of furniture out

there was a semi-large open space i n which he stood looking

you ready?"

step back

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

him

until all that

wolf that stared at me knowingly, a look embedded within those familiar

or feel even remotely

recognition

As though this felt...right.

until I was crouched right

in response, he laid down on the ground, presumably trying to make himself

now? Would this wolf move if he instructed it to? He looked at me as if he knew exactly who

decided to trust that instinct...reaching out hesitantly to

soft," I mused aloud

me

though I didn’t feel the same sparks as when I touched his skin, I

something I can do?"I

to think that I could go from blackouts and bloody murders to anything even close t o this level of

disagreed with

he raised his head and gave me a nod, confirming that

ached with new

to learn

want to be so

thinking I was a freak

Kieran like

me and was willing

piece of the puzzle

problems I had were apparently completely

Natural.

or

part of being this

he had been telling me the truth so far… did that mean I really could trust him? Abruptly, Kieran then stood up, shaking his fur and

was taken a little off guard by the sudden

proven already that he had

did finally emerge again, he was back to his

said, walking

immediately

there’d be like...exercises or something to do first.Some way to practice safely," I

good idea for me to just jump right in and do

learn other than to just do it.I'll be right here to help talk you through it.Nothing bad