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."

the front door and closed it behind

me, something that I became painfully aware

think I can manage

were completely alone, the

if he were somehow devouring me with

could have sworn appeared darker

was

"Make yourself at home."

quickly I walked around him into

myself become too

room was

I'd suspected the other day, the place was

than

enough to host an elaborate party without feeling even

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

just have to make do

Space for what? But as I turned to look at him, I had to fight the urge

watched me, slowly starting

in surprise, unable to

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

he said, as

don’t want it

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

seemed moulded around perfectly sculpted

sight I never would have expected

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

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

the shift?" he said, almost a

me to prove we were the

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

my mind immediately recalled the massacres I would wake

I

I need to lock you inside a

him laugh, much to my embarrassment.I was here

could only make assumptions based on the

that knowledge...it wasn’t

at the ground, becoming lost in thought over my

didn’t even notice when he appeared right in

instantly, a shiver ran through me

quietly,

is absolutely nothing in this world that could ever make me hurt you.I am the last person you will ever

part of me wanted so badly to

and other pieces of furniture out the way, clearing an

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

ready?"

a step back cautiously

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

watched him shift forms in a

until all that was left was

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

like running or feel even remotely afraid, as I

I felt recognition from deep within

As though this felt...right.

him, moving until I was crouched right in front of

down on the ground, presumably trying

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

I decided to trust that instinct...reaching out

mused

contact, allowing me to

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

really be something I can do?"I

and bloody murders to

Kieran apparently disagreed

gave me a nod, confirming that this really was something

ached with new

want to learn this," I

want to be so

always felt so lonely, thinking I was a

Kieran like

and was willing to help me learn about who I

felt like the final piece of the puzzle was coming

I had were apparently

Natural.

lies or

purely a part

if he had been telling me the truth so far… did that mean I really could trust him? Abruptly, Kieran

taken a little off guard by the sudden movement but

that he had no

emerge again, he was back to

said, walking

this immediately made

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

idea for me to just jump right

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