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."

and closed it behind me, his gaze never leaving

me, something that I became painfully aware of as I became trapped between him and the

can manage

alone, the way he looked at me

were somehow devouring me with

that I could have sworn appeared

it was just the

"Make yourself at home."

quickly I

myself become too comfortable

room was

the place was definitely some sort of

it felt larger than some people’s

an elaborate party without

like this indoors but...well, the city isn’t exactly an ideal place

make do with the space we

I turned to look at him, I had to fight the urge t o just spin right back

side as he watched me, slowly starting

you doing?" I yelled in

seem phased in any way though, his lip twitching into

my favorite shirt," he said, as if it were

don’t want it to get

his chest as he continued unbuttoning, his actions

skin that was revealed seemed

sight I never would have expected to be hiding

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

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

he said,

asked me to prove we were the

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

he? And my mind

that...dangerous?" I

I need to lock

much to my embarrassment.I was here for

make assumptions based on the

that knowledge...it

becoming lost in thought over my prior

I didn’t even notice when he appeared right in front of

a shiver ran through me

he said quietly, drawing

absolutely nothing in this world that could ever make me hurt you.I

a part of me wanted so badly to

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

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

ready?" he

a step back

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

I watched him shift forms in

and transforming effortlessly until all that was left was

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

feel even

I felt recognition from deep within

As though this felt...right.

I started to walk towards him, moving until I was crouched right in front of

on the ground, presumably

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

that

mused

me to

as when I

really be something I

I could go from blackouts and bloody murders

Kieran apparently disagreed with that

head and gave me

chest ached with new

learn

want to be so afraid

I was a freak

seeing Kieran like

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

felt like the final piece

problems I had were apparently

Natural.

or

purely a part of being this

he had been telling me the truth so far… did that mean I really could trust him? Abruptly, Kieran then stood up, shaking his fur and

was taken a little off guard by the sudden

clearly proven already that he had no intention

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

said,

immediately

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

me to just jump right in

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