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."

the front door and closed it behind me, his gaze never leaving

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

I can manage that,"

that we were completely alone, the way he

were somehow

that I could have sworn appeared darker for a split

it was

"Make yourself at home."

releasing me, and quickly I

to let myself become too

the room was

day, the place was definitely

than some

host an elaborate party without feeling even remotely

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

have to make do with the

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

stood to the side as he watched me, slowly starting

you doing?" I yelled in surprise, unable to stop

any way though, his lip

my favorite shirt," he said,

don’t want it

continued unbuttoning, his actions undeterred from my

was revealed seemed moulded around perfectly sculpted muscles

never would have expected

this? I

"_..Ruined?" I asked feebly.

he said, almost a

prove we

Oh.

Right.

But, wait...

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

that...dangerous?" I quickly

I need to lock

made him laugh, much to my embarrassment.I was here for

could only make assumptions based on

knowledge...it

ground, becoming lost

even notice when he appeared right in

instantly, a shiver ran

quietly, drawing in my

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

a part of me wanted so badly

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

a semi-large open space i n which

you ready?" he

a step back cautiously and nodded

..And then...something unbelievable happened.

silence as I watched him shift forms in a mere matter

all that was left

large dark brown wolf that stared at me knowingly,

feel like running or feel even remotely afraid, as I thought

felt recognition from deep

As though this felt...right.

started to walk towards him, moving until

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

now? Would this wolf move if he instructed it to? He looked at me as if he knew exactly who I was, knew

trust that instinct...reaching out hesitantly

mused aloud

allowing me to continue feeling the

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

really be something I can

that I could go from blackouts and bloody

disagreed

raised his head and gave me a nod, confirming that this

chest ached

to learn this," I

to be

lonely, thinking I was a freak all

Kieran like this

willing to help

felt like the final piece of

problems I had were apparently

Natural.

or nefarious

a part of being

could trust him? Abruptly, Kieran then stood up,

was taken a little off guard by the sudden movement but tried not

had clearly proven already that he had no intention

again, he was back to his

he said, walking over to

this immediately

do first.Some way to practice

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

be right here to