A Gift from the Goddess

Sixty–Five 

‘Three hundred and one... three hundred and two… three hundred and three... three hundred and four....‘ 

I crept my fingers like legs along the wooden panel as I sat curled up on the seat of the windowsill nook. I n my head, I would count the steps I made until my hand couldn‘t reach any further... then I‘d repeat. How many steps could I count until I was eighteen? 

Everything felt like it blended together, almost as if two timelines were now indistinguishable. It must have been at least a month or two since they dragged me in here kicking and screaming. I had tried to run the minute I saw where they were taking me, a reaction that surprised even myself. But this place held worse memories for me than even the trial grounds where I‘d died. 

‘*“No, not here,“+‘ I had said adamantly as they tried to force me to go inside. ‘*“Anywhere but here.” 

‘*“This is where you‘ve been instructed to live, Ma‘am. It‘s not up for discussion.“*” 

I was addressed as ‘Ma‘am‘ or ‘Miss‘ now. No longer a Beta heir, not yet a Luna, but everyone too nervous to call me Saintess in light of the events of that day. 

‘*“Tell Tytus that if he wants something of me marked so badly, then he can mark my words,“*‘ I‘d spat back at them when things had escalated to a point beyond reason. Their hands had grabbed at me around my waist as I had tried to wriggle free. ‘*“Tell him that as soon as I‘m free, I‘m coming for him. Tell him that he can go fuck–,” 

| shook off the memory, focusing back on my counting instead. They ended up having to lock me inside for the first few days until I stopped pounding at the door. Then, once the first week had gone by, time started to blend together. Now they couldn‘t get me to leave. 

Some days I wondered if I was even brought back to life or whether the events up until now were all a fever dream I‘d concocted after failing to escape with Sophie. Everything looked the same, felt the same, smelt the same… the only difference was within the people who visited... and this collar around my neck. 

“Ariadne,” a familiar voice echoed, like a distant memory. 

In the past, I used to go into the garden; it was somewhere I‘d go when I needed a break from it all. I would go running in the woods and let my wolf explore before we‘d inevitably have to drag ourselves back to reality. I didn‘t have a wolf yet though and it wasn‘t like this collar would have made that of any benefit anyway. But more so than that, I just didn‘t like the idea of people seeing me like this. The less that knew, the better. 

“Ariadne.” 

Even the books here were ones I‘d already read repeatedly. There were only so many times I could read about the ‘100 Greatest Battles of Wolf Kind‘ or ‘The Twenty Steps of a Successful Luna‘ before beginning to hate even the thought of picking a book up. But even if I asked someone to go to the library for me, it was unlikely there would be many books in there that I hadn‘t already read at least once. 

‘Three hundred and eighty–four… three hundred and eighty–five… three hundred and eighty–six....’ 

“Aria!” the voice cut through, forcing me to realise it wasn‘t just in my head. 

I looked up startled, blinking several times as I refocused. 

It was Aleric. How long had he been here? 

“Oh... hello,” I said, my voice sounding distant. “I didn‘t hear you arrive. Have you been here long?” 

I rigidly stood up, inclining my head in a bow of respect per standard protocol for higher ranks. After all, I 

wasn‘t a Beta heir anymore. 

“...About five minutes,” he said slowly, frowning at the formality. I had the feeling that perhaps it made him uncomfortable but I continued to do it regardless. 

“Apologies for not realising... I was just lost in thought.” 

He stared as if studying my movements. Most likely, he could tell my behaviour was more forced than genuine. “...It‘s fine.” 

“Did Sophie offer you any tea yet?” I asked, walking past him towards the kitchen. 

I could recall that there were at least two sections in ‘The Twenty Steps of a Successful Luna‘ that specified that, not only should I be presentable at all times, but that I should also ensure an Alpha was made to feel comfortable and at ease. I was pretty confident that the author of that book and my old Luna studies teacher, Mrs Stewart, would have a fit if they saw me like this now. Though I wondered what they would say given my circumstances. Surely my situation negated several areas of required etiquette. 

“...Sophie?” 

I stopped in my tracks and cursed internally. “Ah... I mean... I mean Lucy. Apologies.” 

at my head. Timelines.

into the other room to

off from asking for a while. “Every time

time, if we

replied flatly, handing him a cup. “You saw me only yesterday. It‘s

been gone for a week, remember?” he prompted. “I had that meeting out of town and I said I wouldn‘t be back for

“How did the meeting

meetings. They can‘t agree on how best to handle an influx of refugees stemming from a

sorry to

at me. “I don‘t suppose you have any

back stiffened, my eyes narrowing ever so slightly. So it was beginning already? Trapped in this place, oppressed by the very hierarchy I was told to serve. This position demanded that I b e used as

“...No.” 

actuality, I had several suggestions. None

tea. “Then there is the issue of petty disputes. There‘s a pack fighting over a boundary line since the original territory documents that were drawn up have been misplaced. They‘ve

like you‘re going to

new business in town but it conflicts with a similar business‘ interests.”

Chapter Sutowe 

with half a brain could assist with

What are you

you doing?” he asked sharply,

stoically. “I‘m not sure

said, waving a hand

that I‘m not able to assist you with these issues,” I frowned. “I guess that‘s why they leave all pack

of distaste behind my words. He would pick up immediately on what

jaw clenched. “I‘m talking about how it feels as though I‘m talking to a wall, like you‘re a shell

and could feel the emotion behind what he was saying. But I felt...

me,” I finally whispered, looking back down at the cup in my

something again, anything.” He sighed and walked around the room, pacing

it because of the collar? Because we both know there is nothing I can do about that,” he said, inspecting the bookshelf by the couch that was only collecting dust.“...Or maybe it‘s

I hissed without missing a beat.

triggered a reflex inside and I could feel the sting that accompanied hearing

where I stood, just as surprised as I was over my blatant

just as quickly as I looked up, I turned away again, instead deciding to focus my attention on

outburst,” I said quietly, resuming my

a hand through his hair. “...No need to apologise. It‘s nice to know at least something gets a real

silence for a few moments, the tension in the air needing time to release, before

big annual meeting tomorrow,” he said. “The one where all the small packs in the vicinity get together. Tytus asked me to go this year to oversee it since he finds them too bothersome. It‘s being held at the Diamond

o him respectfully as ‘Father‘. When had that started? Probably when Tytus decided to force

I knew if I said ‘nice‘ he‘d probably be

provided, finishing the sentence for me. “...Which is

looked up shocked, unsure if I‘d heard him

said you‘re coming with me. To the meeting. We‘re leaving tomorrow morning and we‘ll be staying there overnight so get Lucy to pack a small bag

at the collar. “Tylus knows about this? About letting me leave the Winter Mist to attend a pack meeting?”

knows,” he confirmed.

I‘d been hiding myself away from my own pack these past few months and was sure that rumours had spread already about my new... jewellery. The last thing I wanted was to be at the mercy of other pack leaders

yet,” I

Alpha yet,” he retorted.

too tired

except sit

my cheek. It looked as though there was no getting out of this. But he was grossly mistaken if he thought I‘d help out with the meeting in any way. After everything I was being put through, I didn’t owe this pack anything.