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."

pulled me forward through the front door and closed

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

can manage

the way he looked

he were somehow

could have sworn appeared darker for a split

was just the

"Make yourself at home."

finally stepped back, releasing me, and quickly I walked around him

let myself become

room was

the other day, the place

than some people’s

host an elaborate party without feeling

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

make do

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

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

I yelled in surprise, unable to

in any way though, his

shirt," he said, as

it to

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

was revealed seemed moulded around perfectly sculpted

would have expected to

I swallowed and quickly tried to refocus my

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

he said,

to prove

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

wasn’t going to do that in here, was he? And my mind immediately recalled the massacres I would wake up

I quickly

to lock you inside a

much to my embarrassment.I

make assumptions based on the

that knowledge...it

ground, becoming lost in thought over

when he appeared right

a shiver ran through

quietly,

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

of me wanted so badly to believe

couches and other pieces

there was a semi-large open space i n which he stood looking

ready?"

back cautiously and nodded

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

I watched him

until all that was left was a

large dark brown wolf that stared at me knowingly,

or feel even

felt recognition from deep within

As though this felt...right.

towards him, moving until I was crouched right

on the ground, presumably trying to make himself appear less

He looked at me as if he knew exactly who I was, knew exactly what he was

trust that instinct...reaching out hesitantly to

mused aloud to

contact, allowing me to continue feeling

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

be something I

I could go from blackouts and bloody murders to

disagreed with that

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

chest ached with

want to learn this,"

don’t want to be

felt so lonely, thinking I was a freak

Kieran

me and was willing to

final piece of

problems I had were

Natural.

or nefarious

part of being

had been telling me the truth so far… did that mean I really could trust him?

a little off guard by the sudden movement but tried not

clearly proven already that he had no intention

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

turn," he said, walking over to

immediately made

to do first.Some way to practice safely," I

me to just jump right in and do

to just do it.I'll be right