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

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

think I can

that we were completely alone, the way he looked at me only

were somehow

have sworn appeared

it was

"Make yourself at home."

back, releasing me, and quickly I walked around him

myself

the room

day, the place was definitely

it felt larger than some people’s houses

elaborate party without feeling even

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

have to make do with the space we

I had to fight the urge t o

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

in surprise, unable to stop myself

any way though, his lip twitching into a

my favorite shirt," he said, as if

want it to

his chest as he continued unbuttoning, his actions

was revealed seemed moulded

sight I never would have expected to be hiding behind his

was strong...but this? I

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

the shift?" he said, almost

prove we

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

wasn’t going to do that in here, was he? And my mind immediately

I quickly

I need to lock you inside a

laugh, much to my

could only make assumptions based

that knowledge...it

lost in thought

even notice when

a shiver ran through me

said quietly, drawing

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

of me wanted so badly

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

a semi-large open space i n which he

you ready?" he

step back cautiously

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

him

transforming effortlessly until all that was left was a

me

or feel even remotely

I felt recognition from deep

As though this felt...right.

him, moving until I was crouched right in front

the ground,

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

ultimately, I decided to trust that instinct...reaching

soft," I mused aloud

allowing me

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

be something I

blackouts and bloody murders to anything even close

Kieran apparently disagreed with

gave me a nod, confirming that this really

chest ached

want to learn

don’t want to be so afraid

thinking I was a freak

Kieran

that he could teach me and was willing to help me

honestly felt like the final piece of the

I had were apparently completely

Natural.

or nefarious

purely a part of being

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

little off guard by the sudden movement but

had clearly proven already that he had no intention of

he was back to his normal self

he said, walking over

immediately made me

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

good idea for me to

to just do it.I'll be right here to help talk you through