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

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

can manage that," he

the way

he were somehow devouring me

have sworn

was

"Make yourself at home."

back, releasing me, and quickly

to let myself become too comfortable

room was

the other day, the place was definitely some sort of

larger than some people’s houses in

an elaborate party without feeling

isn’t exactly an ideal place to do something

to make do with the

I turned to look at him, I

as he watched me,

are you doing?" I yelled in surprise, unable to

any way though, his lip twitching

he said, as if

want it

chest as he continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred

skin that was revealed seemed

would have expected to be hiding behind his

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

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

he said, almost

asked me to prove we were the same,

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

do that in here, was he? And my mind immediately recalled the massacres

that...dangerous?" I quickly

lock you inside a

immediately made him laugh, much to

only make assumptions based on the

that knowledge...it wasn’t

lost in

notice when he appeared right

shiver

he said quietly, drawing in

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

a part of me wanted so

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

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

ready?"

step back cautiously and nodded

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

I watched him shift

effortlessly until all that

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

or feel even remotely afraid,

felt recognition from deep

As though this felt...right.

moving until I was crouched right

laid down on the ground, presumably trying to make

this wolf move if he instructed it to? He looked at me

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

I mused aloud to

upon contact, allowing me to

the same sparks as when I touched

really be something I

could go from blackouts and bloody

Kieran apparently disagreed with that

question, he raised his head and gave me a nod, confirming that

ached with new

learn this,"

don’t want to

lonely, thinking I was a freak

Kieran like

he could teach me and was willing to help me learn about who I

honestly felt like the final piece of the puzzle

I had

Natural.

lies or nefarious

part of being

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

taken a little off guard by the sudden movement but

that he had no intention of

did finally emerge again, he was back to his

said, walking

immediately made

something to do first.Some way to practice safely," I argued, slowly getting back up to

me to

do it.I'll be right here