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

where I stood, he towered over me, something that I became painfully aware

I can manage that," he

completely alone, the way he looked

he were somehow devouring me with his

could have sworn appeared darker for

was

"Make yourself at home."

me, and quickly I walked around him into the living

not to let myself become

room

other day, the place was definitely some

than some people’s houses in

to host an elaborate party without

this indoors but...well, the city isn’t exactly an ideal place to do something where people might see," he said as he walked

do with the space we have

at him, I had to

to the side as he watched

you doing?" I yelled in surprise, unable

in any way though, his lip twitching into a

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

don’t want it

caught sight of his chest as he continued unbuttoning,

that was revealed seemed moulded around perfectly sculpted

have expected to be

this? I

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

shift?" he said,

to prove we were the same,

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

was he? And my mind immediately recalled the massacres I would

I quickly

to lock you

him laugh, much to my embarrassment.I was

make assumptions based on the

knowledge...it

ground, becoming lost

even notice when he

shiver

he said quietly,

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

me wanted so

and other

time he was done, there was a semi-large open

you ready?" he

step back cautiously and nodded my

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

in shocked silence as I watched him shift forms

all that was

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

or feel

I felt recognition from deep

As though this felt...right.

towards him, moving until I was crouched

ground, presumably trying to make

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

ultimately, I decided to trust that instinct...reaching out hesitantly to

soft," I mused aloud to

closed upon contact, allowing me to continue feeling the

when I touched his skin, I

really be something I can

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

apparently disagreed

head and gave me a nod, confirming that this really was something

chest ached with

to learn this,"

don’t want to be so

always felt so lonely, thinking I was

seeing Kieran

could teach me and was willing

the final piece of the puzzle

I had were apparently

Natural.

or

a part of

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

guard by the sudden movement

that he had no

was back to his normal self

said,

immediately made

way to practice safely," I argued, slowly getting

a good idea for me to just jump

isn’t any way to learn other than to just do it.I'll be right here to help talk you through it.Nothing