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."

gently pulled me forward through the front door and closed it behind

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

I can manage that,"

we were completely alone, the way he looked at me

were somehow devouring me

could have sworn appeared darker for a split

was just the

"Make yourself at home."

back, releasing me, and quickly

trying not to let myself become too comfortable

room

other day, the place was definitely

larger than some people’s houses

an elaborate

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

just have to make do with the space

what? But as I turned to look at him, I had to fight the urge t

to the side as he watched me, slowly

I yelled in surprise, unable to

any way though, his lip twitching into a

shirt," he said,

don’t want it

eyes caught sight of his chest as he continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred

revealed seemed moulded around perfectly sculpted muscles

sight I never would have expected to be hiding behind

strong...but this? I swallowed and quickly tried

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

the shift?" he said, almost a

to prove we

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

he? And my mind immediately

that...dangerous?" I quickly

I need to lock you inside a

to my embarrassment.I was here

make assumptions based on the knowledge

knowledge...it wasn’t

becoming lost in

didn’t even notice when he appeared right in front

instantly, a shiver ran through

quietly, drawing in

this world that could ever make me hurt you.I am the last person

a part of me wanted so badly to

though, he moved past me to start pushing couches and other pieces

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

you ready?"

a step back cautiously and

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

silence as I watched him shift forms in a mere matter of

and transforming effortlessly until all that was

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

I didn’t feel like running or feel even remotely afraid, as I thought I

recognition from deep

As though this felt...right.

until I was crouched right in

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, knew

ultimately, I decided to trust that

I mused aloud to

closed upon contact, allowing me to

as when I touched his skin, I still

really be something I can do?"I

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

disagreed with that

me a nod, confirming that this

ached with new

want to learn

want to be so

I was a freak

seeing Kieran

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

felt like the final piece of the puzzle was

problems I had were

Natural.

or nefarious

part of being this

trust him? Abruptly,

by the sudden movement but

clearly proven already that he had no intention of mauling

back to

said, walking

this immediately

no.I thought that there’d be like...exercises or something to do first.Some way to practice safely," I argued, slowly getting back up

me to just jump right in and do that

it.I'll be