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."

me forward through the front door and closed it behind me, his gaze never leaving

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

can manage

we were completely alone, the way he looked at me

somehow devouring me with

I could have sworn appeared

it was just the

"Make yourself at home."

releasing me, and quickly I walked around him into the

to let myself

room

suspected the other day, the place was definitely

than some people’s houses in

host an elaborate party without feeling even remotely

exactly an ideal place to do something

have to make do with the space

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

the side as he watched me,

are you doing?" I yelled in surprise,

way though, his

said, as if it were

it to

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

that was revealed seemed moulded around perfectly sculpted muscles

I never would have expected to be hiding

knew he was strong...but this? I swallowed

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

shift?" he said,

prove we

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

was he? And my mind immediately

that...dangerous?" I

to lock you

him laugh, much to my embarrassment.I

could only make assumptions based on the knowledge

that knowledge...it wasn’t

at the ground, becoming lost in thought over

even notice when he appeared right in front

shiver

he said quietly, drawing

is absolutely nothing in this world that could ever make me hurt

part of me wanted so badly to believe

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

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

you ready?" he

a step back

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

in shocked silence as I watched him shift forms in

effortlessly until all that was left

large dark brown wolf that stared at me knowingly, a

like running or feel even

I felt recognition

As though this felt...right.

him, moving until I was crouched

down on the ground,

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

trust that instinct...reaching out

soft," I mused

upon contact, allowing me to continue feeling the different

the same sparks as when I touched his skin, I

really be something I

from blackouts and bloody murders to anything even close t o this level

disagreed

head and gave me a nod, confirming that this really

chest ached

want to learn this,"

want to be so

thinking I was a freak

Kieran like

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

felt like the final piece of the

I had were apparently completely

Natural.

or

part

did that mean I really could trust him? Abruptly, Kieran then stood up, shaking

by the sudden movement but tried

clearly proven already that he had no intention of mauling

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

turn," he said, walking

immediately made me

no.I thought that there’d be like...exercises or something to do first.Some way to practice

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

other than to just do it.I'll be right here to help talk