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

I became painfully aware

can manage that,"

completely alone, the way he looked at me

if he were somehow devouring me with his

that I could have sworn appeared darker

was

"Make yourself at home."

releasing me, and quickly I walked around him into

trying not to let myself

room

other day, the place was definitely some sort

felt larger than some people’s houses

host an elaborate party without feeling even remotely

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

to make do with

turned to look at him, I had to

watched me, slowly starting

I yelled in surprise, unable to stop

phased in any way though, his lip twitching

shirt," he said, as if it

it to

he continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred from

was revealed seemed moulded around perfectly sculpted

sight I never would have expected to be hiding behind

I swallowed and quickly tried to refocus

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

said, almost a

me to prove we

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

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

that...dangerous?" I quickly

need to lock you inside a

him laugh, much to my embarrassment.I was here

could only make assumptions based on the knowledge I

that knowledge...it wasn’t

glared at the ground, becoming lost in thought over my

that I didn’t even notice when he appeared

instantly, a shiver ran

quietly, drawing in my

ever make me hurt you.I am the last person you will ever need to

wanted so

moved past me to start pushing couches and other pieces of furniture out the way,

there was a semi-large open

you ready?" he

step back cautiously and nodded

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

him shift forms

until all that was

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

or feel even

recognition from deep

As though this felt...right.

walk towards him, moving until I was crouched right in front of

down on the ground, presumably trying to

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

trust that instinct...reaching out hesitantly to touch

mused

allowing me to continue

though I didn’t feel the same sparks as when

really be something I can

from blackouts and bloody murders to

Kieran apparently disagreed

head and gave me a nod, confirming that this really was something

ached

learn

to be so afraid

thinking I was a freak all

Kieran like

teach me and was willing to help me

felt like the final piece of

I had

Natural.

or

part of being this

truth so far… did that mean I really could trust him? Abruptly, Kieran then stood up, shaking his fur and

little off guard by the sudden

had clearly proven already that he had

emerge again, he was back to his normal self and

he said, walking over

immediately made

something to do first.Some way

think it’s a good idea for me to just jump right in and do that

learn other than to just do it.I'll be