A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Eighty 

“No...,” I whispered, the words choking out of my throat. 

Almost a whole day. I‘d slept for almost a whole day. My vision hadn‘t taken place just after sun*set*, it had been just before sun*rise*. And now an hour or so had already passed since then. 

I felt myself go completely numb, releasing Lucy‘s hand from my grip. 

There was a crumbling beginning within me. Like I was falling... falling into an Abyss that was completely o f my own making. One that was a hole I‘d been desperately trying to swim away from these last four years, trying so goddamn hard to believe that there was still good in people. That even though I had been rejected, killed and abandoned by everyone around me, that there was still potential for people to do better. That I could do better. 

And now it seemed the final betrayal had embedded its dagger. The one I knew I wouldn‘t ever survive. And, apparently, neither would my parents. 

... There was no one left.‘ 

...No one. 

...I was alone.‘ 

Just as fate seemed to have always planned for me. 

And everything felt... so empty. 

“Oh... I didn‘t… I didn‘t realise,” I whispered to myself in a daze, the world slowly moving around me. 

“Miss...?” 

“...I didn‘t realise we were playing that sort of game.” 

... Ready to do this my way?‘ My prior self‘s voice then whispered in my head, offering to give me the support I so desperately craved right now. 

It was the kind of help I would have instantly turned down before... but now? 

Honestly, I was starting to wonder why I‘d been so opposed the entire time. She had managed to endure years of hell, doing whatever it took to survive and prove her worth. If anyone knew how to keep working when it felt like the world was falling apart, it was her. Only she possessed the strength I would need now. 

...What did I even have to lose anymore? Myra? Cai? My parents? 

And I felt myself slip deeper into the hole inside. 

“There‘s something I need to tell you but I...,” Lucy said to me, disjointedly. “But I–I can‘t, I‘m sorry... –.” 

“It‘s okay,” I said, stopping her, my body quickly becoming calm. “I already know he ordered you to stay quiet about what happened in the hospital. I already know about....” 

I couldn‘t finish my sentence though. Speaking of my parent‘s demise still felt wrong. 

Surprise crossed Lucy‘s features, my knowledge taking her aback since there was no way I should have known. 

“Miss? How do you...?” 

“Don‘t worry about that. We have bigger things to concern ourselves with now and I need your full concentration.” 

Without waiting, I then walked over to where Lucy had laid out the outfit I was going to wear today and began changing tugging on the long sleeve dress over my head. 

“But the plan is ruined,” she objected. “Plan A is now far too risky and Plan B is...” 

Her voice choked to a stop as the Alpha order constricted her. But I didn‘t need her to elaborate. I already knew what she was trying to say. 

Plan A would now mean ordering not just one, but two Alpha bloods. A feat I wasn‘t sure I was capable of pulling off even when it had just been for Tytus with wolfsbane in his system. 

you‘re right,” I said, fastening the finishing touches to my attire. “Which is exactly why we‘re going ahead with Pian C. 

Miss? Plan C? You never mentioned there was a Plan C.” 

Contact Iris. Tell her it’s time,” I instructed, proceeding to grab the last of everything I needed. 

The reason Lucy didn‘t know about Plan C was because no one knew about it except for me. 

It was something I‘d come up with at the same time I had the others. A plan I had continually pushed away, knowing it shouldn‘t ever be used, knowing it was something that only *shet would do. However, it wasn‘t a backup for if I failed to order Tytus, or if Aleric failed to challenge him. 

No, it was what I‘d come up with for in the event the worst–case scenario happened, the absolute point of all else failing 

It was a plan that had to be completely hidden from everyone else in order for it to work. The ultimate trump card, the final stand. I had never wanted to resort to it, let alone consider implementing it. But I had prepared for it nonetheless. 

Because Plan C was for in the event Aleric betrayed me. 

End suddenly I found myself in that very position. 

Contrary to Aleric‘s request, I did not seek him out before the meeting. 

From everything Lucy was forbidden from telling me, yet everything I had already witnessed myself anyway, I knew it was too dangerous. Who wouldn‘t be expecting some sort of trap? 

After all, if he could kill my parents so easily then what else was he capable of? He‘d deliberately chosen not to challenge Tytus once the order came through, showing his alliance to him over me. Hell, he most 

who had leaked the information

he‘d made his

to take his succession naturally, not by force alongside me.

to drive this kind of response; whether it really had demolished our trust to the point of him making the first move. But there was another posibility also one where I recalled his dark eyes the day before, already knowing what monster was possibly dormant inside

really mattered right now. Wondering about the motives wasn‘t going to bring my parents back

then reassess once it was all over. On even the slightest chance that Aleric really was planning something before the meeting I couldn‘t risk seeking him out privately on my own

Chapter Eighty 

to what had transpired the night before was only going to work in

remainder of my last few hours, pushing myself to stay focused on wh needed to do; never staying in one spot for too long, never giving in to the pain threatening to fester within me. Every single second of today was going to be crucial, and I hadn‘t even made it

was time

pushed open the double doors of the meeting hall as I entered and the entire room on the other

said it all... Sympathy, sadness... caution, disgust. It seemed I

over to where Aleric stood, refusing to meet his eyes.

to confront him, to scream at him, maybe worse, but inside all I felt was complete calmness; my mind entirely focused on

was left to arrive was

fuck have you been?” Aleric hissed in a low

few Elders turned their

a polite smile on my face and pulled my arm free of his grasp. The same hands that had been covered in my parent‘s blood only hours earlier.

you. Apologies, I‘ve been a little busy this morning. But what‘s a few hours when we have our entire lives together, right? It seems as though you‘re so excited about

the voice inside me

“What are you–” 

continuing the conversation, and

us, degraded us, tried to force us into a union…

may be seated,” Tytus said as he walked to

sat back down, filling the space around him. Or, at least they did

to the council and warriors present. “However, it is with a heavy heart that I announce to you all now that there are some who will

‘Lies.‘ 

knew he didn‘t actually give a shit about

plan to poison me during a routine doctor‘s appointment. Upon ordering the arrest of the individual in question, an altercation unfortunately

**** 

Bettid Mootout I could feel everyone‘s eyes on me but I refused to let

me, they

most 

en 

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tuetta yo 

h e 

“Naturally, I have some questions for you see is can still find some happiness today in what is

pack. And whilst, of course, numer realise their actions are ones more befitting those of all , 2014, t is just unfortunate that not everyone can share in your

06415 there was

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have had hope you feel you can come to me with

more, acknowledging his olles which, 10 latxa better word,

you 21001a 

up. “Let‘s get this over with these were Aria is itching to get the collar off after all of these months and believe the statt

chesi

laceho ang

approaching me, walking with

key... 

*Thump, thump*... 

to me, desperate to get my attention,

anything he could possibly say to me now. Therboot would

Sinking ever deeper... 

further and further into the hole inside...

no turning back now as

then...,” Tytus mumbled to himself as he moved his hands to

quick work of the collar…

the key was turned several times, the satisfying click then echoed into the room.

I was free.

to me with a heavy clank... but i barely noticed

mass amount of energy that

my natural abilities, the difference in my strength was extremely noticeable. Noticeable enough that I struggled to even remain standing, having to take a few seconds just to balance myself

it felt different than from even before. All these months I‘d trained with a resuaint that essentially made me human, forcing

Chapter Eighty 

than ever before.

unfortunately, didn‘t last long though as a shiver of nausea then quickly travelled up my spine, chasing right behind

knew exactly

I didn‘t

go ahead,” Tytus