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."

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

over me, something that I became painfully

think I can manage that," he

the

if he were somehow devouring

sworn appeared darker

maybe it was

"Make yourself at home."

stepped back, releasing me, and quickly I walked around him into the living

let myself become too comfortable around

room

suspected the other day, the place was

than

to host an elaborate party without feeling

city isn’t exactly an ideal place to do something where people might see," he said as

to make do with the space

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

he stood to the side as he watched me, slowly starting the process of

are you doing?" I yelled in surprise,

seem phased in any way

said, as if it were

it

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

skin that was revealed seemed moulded around

expected to be hiding behind

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

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

the shift?" he said, almost

prove

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

do that in here, was he? And my

I quickly

need to lock you

laugh, much to my

make assumptions based on the knowledge

that knowledge...it wasn’t

the ground, becoming lost

didn’t even notice when

a shiver ran

said quietly, drawing in

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

of me wanted

to start pushing couches and other pieces of furniture out the way, clearing

a semi-large open space i n which

ready?" he

back cautiously and

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

silence as I watched him shift forms in

effortlessly until all

me knowingly, a look embedded within those familiar hazel

I didn’t feel like running or feel

felt recognition

As though this felt...right.

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

laid down on the ground, presumably trying to

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

to trust that

soft," I mused aloud

me to continue

didn’t feel the same sparks as when I touched his skin, I still felt an

something

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

Kieran apparently disagreed with that

head and gave me a nod, confirming that this

ached with

to learn this,"

don’t want to be so afraid

I was a freak all these

seeing Kieran

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

honestly felt like the final piece of

I had were

Natural.

or nefarious

purely a part

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

taken a little off guard by the sudden movement

that he had no

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

turn," he said, walking over

immediately made

thought that there’d be like...exercises or something to do first.Some way to practice safely," I argued, slowly getting back

it’s a good idea for me to just

to just do it.I'll be right