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

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

I can manage that," he

completely alone, the

somehow

have sworn appeared darker for

was just the

"Make yourself at home."

back, releasing me, and quickly I walked around

myself become too comfortable around

the room was

suspected the other day, the place was definitely some

than

enough to host an elaborate party without feeling even remotely

city isn’t exactly an ideal place to do something where people might

to make do with the

look at him, I had to fight the urge

he watched me, slowly starting the

doing?" I yelled in surprise, unable to stop

didn’t seem phased in any way though, his lip twitching into a

my favorite shirt," he said, as if it

don’t want it to

continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred from my cries

skin that was revealed seemed

have expected to be hiding

I swallowed and quickly tried to refocus my

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

the shift?" he said,

prove we were the

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

do that in here, was he? And my

that...dangerous?" I quickly

need to lock

immediately made him laugh, much to my embarrassment.I

make assumptions

that knowledge...it wasn’t

the ground, becoming lost

didn’t even notice when he appeared right in

a shiver

said quietly, drawing

could ever make me

of me wanted so badly to believe

respond though, he moved past me to start pushing couches and

there was a semi-large open space i n which

ready?"

step back cautiously and nodded

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

silence as I watched him shift forms in a

until all that was left

me knowingly, a look embedded

or feel even remotely afraid, as I thought

felt recognition from deep within

As though this felt...right.

until I was

laid down on the ground, presumably trying to make

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

that instinct...reaching out hesitantly to touch

mused

contact, allowing me to continue feeling

same sparks as when I touched his skin, I still

really be something I

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

apparently disagreed

raised his head and gave me a

chest ached

to learn

want to

always felt so lonely, thinking I

Kieran like

willing to help me learn about who I

like the final piece of the

problems I had were apparently completely

Natural.

or nefarious

part

did that mean I really could trust him? Abruptly, Kieran then stood up, shaking his fur and running off into a room I

by the sudden

proven already that he

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

said, walking over to

this immediately made me

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

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

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