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."

me forward through the front door and closed it behind

over me, something that I became

I can manage that,"

the

were somehow devouring

I could have sworn

was just

"Make yourself at home."

and quickly I walked

let myself become

room was

the other day, the place was

it felt larger than some

enough to host an elaborate party without feeling even

like this indoors but...well, the city isn’t exactly an ideal place to do something

make do

him, I had to fight the urge t o just spin

the side as he watched me, slowly starting

you doing?" I yelled in surprise, unable to

phased in any way though, his

said, as

it to

chest as he continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred from

that was revealed seemed

I never would have expected to be hiding

he was strong...but this? I swallowed and quickly tried to refocus my

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

shift?" he said, almost a

to prove we were

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

to do that in here, was he? And my mind immediately recalled the massacres I would

that...dangerous?" I

to lock you inside a

immediately made him laugh, much to my embarrassment.I

now, I could only make assumptions based

knowledge...it

the ground, becoming lost in thought

didn’t even notice when he

a shiver ran

he said quietly, drawing

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

of me wanted so badly

respond though, he moved past me to start pushing couches and other pieces of furniture out the way, clearing an area

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

ready?" he

a step back cautiously and

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

him shift forms in

until all that was

wolf that stared at me knowingly, a look embedded within

feel like running or feel even remotely afraid,

recognition from deep within

As though this felt...right.

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

down on the ground, presumably trying to make himself appear less

he instructed it to? He

I decided to trust that instinct...reaching

mused

eyes closed upon contact, allowing me to continue

didn’t feel the same sparks as when

really be something I can

seemed impossible to think that I could go from blackouts and bloody murders to anything

Kieran apparently disagreed

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

chest ached

to learn this,"

want to

always felt so lonely, thinking I

seeing Kieran like

could teach me and was willing to help

felt like the final piece of the

I had were

Natural.

lies or

purely a part of being

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

off guard by the

clearly proven already that he had no intention of

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

he said, walking

immediately

be like...exercises or something to do first.Some way to practice safely," I argued, slowly getting

me to just jump right in and

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