A Gift from the Goddess

1... 2... 3… In… and out. 

I sat outside in the fresh air amongst the trees, breathing carefully as I focused on clearing my mind. I‘d been working on these techniques over the last two weeks, and it was coming along nicely. Or at least, it seemed that way. How well it held up when it came time to actually use it, I couldn‘t be sure. 

However, I‘d definitely been getting better. Creating distance had seemed to have worked a little since every day that passed, I felt her presence a tiny bit less. Almost enough to make me wonder if it was possible to just wait it all out until I was completely free of her. The only thing was that, unfortunately, at the rate I was going, that might be maybe months or even years away. Something we probably didn‘t have time for, much to my disappointment. Settling for just strengthening my mind would need to be enough in the meantime. 

But... there were also some downsides to my improvement too.... 

I got up from the ground and brushed myself off, walking back towards the cottage. It wasn‘t that I didn‘t like going there, but I‘d be lying if I said it hadn‘t been getting... difficult. 

Upon entering, I immediately took off my shoes by the front door and was about to shout out that I‘d returned, but something caught my attention before I could do so. 

There, laying on the couch, I saw that Aleric had fallen asleep and was looking so peaceful. 

What I wouldn‘t give to walk over, curl up next to him... feel his warmth around me… taste his lips against mine. 

I quickly shook my head, pushing away that idea as far back as possible. These thoughts were becoming more frequent these days the more I regained control of myself. Similar to the negative emotions Thea had instilled inside me, my own natural ones were causing me issues of my own now. 

...Not that it probably mattered anyway. 

Over the two weeks that had already passed, I couldn‘t help but notice how it seemed almost as if Aleric was avoiding me. He would sit and chat for only small periods of time before abruptly leaving, either to his bedroom or on another patrol. Truthfully, it was starting to feel a little lonely. 

And whilst I had promised myself not to get romantically involved with him, it didn‘t seem to stop me from thinking about him that way. A part of me was craving his attention, even if that was only a little bit. Hell, even some proper eye contact once in a while would have been nice. 

‘Yet it seemed stupid to think he was trying to get away from me... right? I was surely just overthinking 

things, even if he did literally leave mid-conversation a few days ago... and start eating in his room more often... or rarely initiate conversation unless he had to.... 

I sighed and sat on the armchair opposite the couch, watching him. 

What the hell was I going to do about this? It was making my training more difficult with all these added uncertainties in my head. 

Giving in and confessing seemed selfish... especially when these days it seemed like he didn‘t really want anything to do with me. Did he miss home maybe? Resent me for having to play babysitter? If I did tell him the truth and I got what I wanted, would it just be a reaction from the mate bond opposed to what he actually wanted? That was the main question I‘d been asking myself for weeks now. One that still weighed heavily on me. 

...But then, what was one more selfish deed in the pile of things I‘d already done in this life? If it was just 

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ISTITUT 

one final time to do something I knew I shouldn‘t... when it would feel so, so good... surely that would be okay, right? 

I‘d accidentally seen him just after he‘d had a shower the other day, catching a glimpse of his chest before he‘d tugged on a shirt. It was times like that which made it difficult to do the right thing. Especially when I could still recall how he felt pressed against me, how perfectly I fit there.... 

“...Why are you staring at me?” he suddenly grumbled out, eyes still closed. It caught me off guard enough to make me jump in surprise. 

My chest began racing as if I‘d been caught doing something I shouldn‘t, even though I‘d just been sitting there silently the entire time. 

“1–... I um, I just got back from... uhm training,” I stuttered out, my cheeks burning. 

He sat up and started rubbing his eyes with one hand, ending each movement by pinching the bridge of his nose. It seemed like he really had been fairly deep asleep if he was acting this tired. 

“...And what are you doing now?” he asked, still not looking at me. 

Was it actually all in my head when it seemed so apparent that he was annoyed at me? Had I done something since coming here to piss him off maybe? 

“I‘m... ah, I‘m sitting here?” 

He nodded his head quietly. “Alright, I‘ll go on another patrol before dinner then.” 

And with that, he got up and headed to the door. 

“W–wait, you just woke up. You don‘t need to rush out yet. You seem tired.” 

He didn‘t turn around or respond in any way though as he started putting his shoes on. Odd since I would have thought that he‘d prefer to shift for a patrol. Something he wouldn‘t need shoes for. 

But his blatant disregard for even acknowledging what I said sparked a mild annoyance of my own, one I‘d purposely been pushing down these last few weeks believing I was just overreacting. Clearly, I wasn‘t making it up if he wouldn‘t even reply to me anymore, 

“Aleric, seriously,” I said, getting up to approach him. “Is something bothering you? Ever since we came here it‘s like you can barely even look at me.” 

Considering everything going on at the moment, I didn‘t exactly expect him to give me any sort of courtesies but at the very least I thought we could hold a conversation. He hadn‘t been acting all that strange when we were still at the Winter Mist. This felt like something more specific to us coming here. 

“Aria, leave it,” he said, still without even turning back. 

But I was tired of this. Tired of living with a brick wall. 

“Aleric.” 

And I grabbed his arm so he was forced to turn around and look at me. A sight that almost made me jump back as I caught a glimpse of his face. 

Or, more accurately, a glimpse of his eyes. 

me that his wolf was threatening

I asked, taken aback by his

being pushed against the wall, his head travelling to the nook of my neck as he took in my scent.

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Lapie Ninety Su–171 

You‘re driving me crazy,” he growled out. “I‘m trying to respect your space but you‘re making that exceedingly difficult.”

could feel the warmth coming off his body as he stood so close

much more patient person ...,” he continued in a low voice. “Though you might be pushing my limits a little bit too

The mate bond. 

was just because of that.

didn‘t

sense how much I‘d wanted him over the last

no wonder he‘d been running to get

quietly. “I... I forgot that you‘d be able

exhale as he took

about Cai, can you at least keep it to your own room? Just meet me halfway on that one. That‘s all I‘m asking for.

...Cai? 

how we ended up here. “Why would you assume I‘m thinking about

before we left? I saw you two together under the tree, remember? Cuddled u p

important part though; the bit where Cai caught

love Cai but... we‘re just friends. It didn‘t mean anything beyond that. We don‘t see

then what have you

my own grave. It seemed like there was no way to avoid

literally anything else, too nervous

about... how I wish things between us had been fixed before I‘d ruined everything,” || answered. “About how you‘re now connected to me regardless of whether you want it

on telling me all of this?” he said, moving closer to make me look up at him. “When were you going to let me make that choice? I understand your situation, Aria, really, I do. You feel like you have a responsibility because of the things you’ve experienced; because you once saw a future where similar scenarios ended badly... but I‘m not a kid. Let me

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just... I don‘t–”

because you‘re scared of

meeting his gaze as all my fears of rejection and guilt

so well. That, despite the absence of the mate bond for me, that there was still a connection between us that ran

And I mean, tell me honestly this time..,” he said, bringing

then came up to my face, cupping it just below my jaw so I wouldn‘t turn away. Not that doing s o would have even crossed my mind for a second. In fact, I wanted nothing more than

he whispered, his face moving

I started but my brain went blank as his proximity sent another

there. Promising to give me the relief I‘d been craving so badly

“Aria.” 

snapped into focus again, looking back up into

me,” he

*Thump.* 

you.” ...And those words ended up being the last thing I said before everything turned

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IVU TOI ME 

–

my own. It was like we‘d both been starving as we hungered for the other, everything

my body to then find the wall behind us, his hands supporting my weight as I clungt o him. With one of my arms around his neck, the other was grabbing

that moment. That there was not even a shred of doubt in my mind that

against him, repeating the words

hungry for so much

my neck, but the sensation was making me grow impatient. I couldn‘t take it much longer. I‘d thought about this so many

Now. 

you‘re mine,” he growled in response, pulling away just enough to look at me with

that even

different, that still held true in this

respite or recognition for doing so. If he wanted me after all of that, and was certain of that choice, then there was absolutely no argument to be made here.

a thousand times and it still would not be

his. Through and through. No matter what

yours,” I breathed against him.

taking us over to the couch; the closest piece of furniture in the vicinity. Clearly, just as

off,” I demanded, grabbing at

of us both undressing the other, only taking small moments of slowing down t o

was my* Aleric. That I was always meant to find my way here, regardless of

arms supporting his weight over me, he began placing small kisses all over my body, sending shivers through me where he touched. And I

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–

head. I had so many scars and bruises these days that I knew parts of me were not pretty

to ask. An answer that I had not anticipated, feeling that it was so far from the

his gaze quickly coming back up to lock with

in its intensity… it was the same way that I‘d come to learn meant he was being completely honest. The same look that would pierce through everything

restlessness once more, no longer able to endure the agonisingly slow pace we‘d come to.

done waiting even a second

my body up against him, and hoping he‘d get the

renewed urgency;

escaped me. The small feeling of