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."

pulled me forward through the front door and

something that I became painfully aware of as I became trapped between

can

that we were completely alone, the

were somehow devouring

that I could have sworn

was just

"Make yourself at home."

me, and quickly I walked around him into

to let myself become too comfortable

the room was

day, the place was

felt larger than

enough to host an elaborate party without feeling even

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

to make do with

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

as he watched me,

yelled in surprise, unable to stop myself

in any way though,

shirt," he said,

it to

he continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred from my cries in

was revealed seemed

I never would have expected to be hiding

was strong...but this? I swallowed

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

said, almost

to prove we were the

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

And my mind immediately recalled

that...dangerous?" I quickly

to lock you inside

him laugh, much to my

only make assumptions based on

knowledge...it

lost in thought

that I didn’t even notice when

shiver ran through

he said quietly, drawing in my

make me hurt you.I am the last

part of me wanted

could respond though, he moved past me to start pushing couches and other pieces of furniture

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

ready?" he

a step back

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

him shift forms

effortlessly until all that was left was

that stared at me knowingly, a look

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

recognition from

As though this felt...right.

until

the ground, presumably trying to make himself

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

that instinct...reaching out hesitantly to touch his

I mused

upon contact, allowing me to continue

sparks as when I touched his skin, I still

be something I can

go from blackouts and bloody

Kieran apparently disagreed with that

his head and gave me a nod, confirming that this

ached with

learn this,"

don’t want to be so

felt so lonely, thinking I was a freak all

seeing Kieran

could teach me and was willing to help

honestly felt like the final piece

I had

Natural.

lies or nefarious

purely a part of

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

off guard by the sudden movement but tried

already that he had no intention

finally emerge again, he was back to his normal

he said,

this immediately

to do first.Some way to practice

good idea for me to just

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