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."

the front door and closed it behind me,

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

think I can manage

that we were completely alone, the way

if he were somehow

sworn appeared darker

it was just the

"Make yourself at home."

quickly

trying not to let myself become too comfortable around

room was

the

felt larger than some people’s houses in

host an elaborate party without feeling

exactly an ideal place to do something where people might see," he said as he walked

have to make do with the space we

him, I

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

yelled in surprise, unable to stop

seem phased in any way though, his lip twitching

shirt," he said, as if it

don’t want it to get

of his chest as he continued unbuttoning, his

was revealed seemed moulded around perfectly sculpted

never would have expected to be

this? I swallowed and quickly tried to refocus my

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

he said, almost

asked me to prove we were the same,

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

And my mind immediately recalled the massacres I would

that...dangerous?" I quickly

I need to lock

laugh, much to

make assumptions

that knowledge...it wasn’t

ground, becoming lost in thought

that I didn’t even notice when he appeared right in

shiver ran through

said quietly, drawing in my

could ever make

me wanted so

and other pieces of furniture out the way, clearing an area

a semi-large open space

ready?"

back cautiously

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

in shocked silence as I watched him shift

transforming effortlessly until all that

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

like running or feel even remotely afraid,

I felt recognition from deep

As though this felt...right.

until I was crouched right in

on the ground, presumably

in control right now? Would this wolf move if he instructed it to? He looked at me as if

to trust that instinct...reaching

I mused

contact, allowing me to continue

feel the same sparks as when I touched his skin, I still felt

be something I can do?"I

to think that I could go from blackouts and bloody murders to anything even close

apparently disagreed

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

ached

want to learn this,"

don’t want to be so afraid

felt so lonely, thinking I was a freak all these

seeing Kieran like

was willing to help me

final piece of the puzzle was

I had

Natural.

lies or

part of

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

little off guard by

already that he had no intention of mauling

finally emerge again, he was back to his normal self

turn," he said, walking

this immediately made

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

a good idea for me to just jump right in and do that

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