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."

door and closed it behind me, his gaze never leaving

stood, he towered over me, something that I became painfully aware of as I became

I can manage that," he

the way he looked at me only

he were somehow devouring me with

sworn appeared darker for

was just

"Make yourself at home."

finally stepped back, releasing me, and quickly I walked around

not to let myself become too

the room

the place was definitely some

than some people’s houses

to host an elaborate party without feeling

would normally 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

make do with the space we

I turned to look at him, I

watched me, slowly starting the process of unbuttoning

you doing?" I yelled in surprise, unable to

in any way though, his lip

favorite shirt," he said, as if it

it to

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

skin that was revealed seemed moulded

have expected to be

I swallowed and

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

shift?" he said,

me to prove we

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

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

I quickly

need to lock you

to

assumptions based on the knowledge I

that knowledge...it

ground, becoming lost in thought over my

notice when

shiver

said quietly, drawing in my

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

part of me wanted

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

a semi-large open

you ready?" he

back cautiously and nodded

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

shocked silence as I watched him shift forms in a mere matter of

and transforming effortlessly until all that was left was a

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

feel even remotely afraid, as

felt recognition from

As though this felt...right.

moving until I was crouched right in front

down on the ground,

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

decided to trust that instinct...reaching

I mused aloud to

me to continue feeling

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

something I can

blackouts and bloody murders to anything

apparently disagreed with that

raised his head and gave me a nod,

ached

learn this," I

don’t want to be so

so lonely, thinking I was a freak all

Kieran

me and was willing to help

the final piece of

had were apparently completely

Natural.

or

a part of

really could trust

taken a little off guard by the sudden movement

already that he had no intention

finally emerge again, he was back to his normal self and

he said,

immediately made

way to practice safely," I argued, slowly getting back up to my

me to just

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