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."

front door and closed it behind me, his

became painfully aware of as I became trapped

think I can

completely alone, the way he looked

if he were somehow

sworn appeared darker for

it was just the

"Make yourself at home."

and quickly I walked around him into

myself

the room

suspected the other day, the

felt larger than

an elaborate

indoors but...well, the city isn’t exactly an ideal place to do something where people might see," he said as

do with the space we

I turned to look at him, I had to fight the

stood to the side as he watched me, slowly starting the

in surprise, unable to stop myself from

phased in any way though, his lip twitching into

he said, as if it were

it to

eyes caught sight of his chest as he continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred from my cries in

that was revealed seemed moulded around perfectly sculpted

have expected to be

he was strong...but this? I

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

said, almost

me to prove

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

And my mind immediately recalled the massacres

I

I need to lock you inside a

him laugh, much to my embarrassment.I was here

make assumptions based on the knowledge I

knowledge...it

ground, becoming lost in

even notice when he

shiver ran

quietly,

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

part of me wanted so badly to believe

and other pieces of furniture out

open space i n which he stood looking at me

you ready?" he

took a step back cautiously and nodded my

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

shocked silence as I watched him

all that was

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

didn’t feel like running or feel even remotely afraid, as I

I felt recognition from deep within

As though this felt...right.

moving until

in response, he laid down on the ground,

if he instructed it to? He looked at me as if he knew exactly who I was, knew exactly what he

decided to trust that instinct...reaching out hesitantly

I mused

contact, allowing me

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

this really be something

think that I could go from blackouts and bloody

Kieran apparently disagreed

he raised his head and gave me a nod, confirming

chest ached with

want to learn this," I

want to

felt so lonely, thinking I was

seeing Kieran like

was willing to help

the final piece of the

had were apparently

Natural.

lies or

a part of

I really could trust him? Abruptly, Kieran then stood up, shaking his fur and running off into a room

little off guard by the sudden movement but tried not to

that he had no intention of

again, he was back to his normal self and tugging on a

said,

immediately made me

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

idea for me to just jump right in

isn’t any way to learn other than to just do it.I'll be right here