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."

through the front door and closed it behind me, his gaze never

something that I became painfully aware of as

think I can manage that,"

completely alone, the way he looked at me only

if he were somehow

that I could have sworn

was just

"Make yourself at home."

releasing me, and quickly I walked around him into the

let myself

room was

suspected the other day, the place was definitely some sort of

felt larger than some people’s houses

an elaborate party without

but...well, the city isn’t exactly an ideal

just have to make do with the space we

I turned to look at him, I had

the side as he watched me, slowly starting the process of

you doing?" I yelled in surprise, unable to stop myself

didn’t seem phased in any way though, his

favorite shirt," he said, as if

don’t want it to get

he continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred from

that was revealed seemed moulded around

never would have expected to

knew he was strong...but this? I swallowed and quickly tried

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

the shift?" he said,

asked me to prove we

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

that in here, was he? And my

I quickly

lock you inside a

him laugh, much to my embarrassment.I was here for

make assumptions based on the knowledge I

that knowledge...it

the ground, becoming lost

didn’t even notice when he appeared right in front

a shiver ran through

quietly, drawing

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

part of me wanted so badly to believe

pushing couches and other pieces of furniture out the

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

ready?"

a step back cautiously

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

silence as I watched him shift forms in a mere

all that was left was a

me knowingly, a

running or feel even remotely afraid, as I thought

I felt recognition from deep within

As though this felt...right.

him, moving until I was crouched right in front of

he laid down on the ground, presumably trying to make

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

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

mused

contact, allowing me to continue feeling

the same sparks as when I touched his skin, I still felt

this really be something I can do?"I

to think that I could go from blackouts and bloody murders to anything even

disagreed

head and gave me a

ached

to learn this," I

to be

felt so lonely, thinking I

seeing Kieran

that he could teach me and was willing to help me learn

felt like the final piece of the puzzle

problems I had were

Natural.

or nefarious

purely a part of

so far… did that mean I really could trust him? Abruptly,

guard by the sudden movement but tried not

had clearly proven already that he had no

he did finally emerge again, he was back

said, walking over

immediately

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

for me to just jump right in and do

to learn other than to just do it.I'll be right here to help talk