A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter 37

Chapter Thirty-Seven We stood in front of the Alpha in silence as he glanced between Alexander and I. “Thank you for waiting, Alexander… Aria,” he started. I still couldn’t read his face, his expression not giving me any hints to the results.

“The council and I have discussed this at long length and the result was… a tie.”

My mouth opened in shock as I stared at Tytus. A tie? What did that even mean for us then?

“It appears we were completely split in half, five to five. And so, Alexander....” “Yes, Alpha?” my cousin replied, straightening his back as his name was called. “You may continue with your training for Beta....” “Yes!” my uncle yelled out, ecstatic with the victory. I almost couldn‘t believe he had spoken s o childishly in front of the entire council.

But my heart sank at Tytus’ words. Had I really failed? In my head, I instantly began to think o f ways I could overturn the decision and have someone change their deciding vote.

“And if William would have let me finish...,” the Alpha continued, breaking my thoughts.“... Aria, you are to take up training also.” Tytus glared my uncle down as he spoke. “We intend to have you both train for the position until Aria comes of age. Upon that time, both parties will undertake an exam… and will also duel for the right to succeed as Beta.”

I couldn‘t help the small tug of a smile that played on my lips at this announcement.

Whilst no one could disagree that the exam would be easy for me, I knew most here would think I was at a clear disadvantage with the proposal for a duel. My cousin, being one year older than me, would be seen to have the upper hand having had at least a year to learn how to fight in his wolf form by then; something that takes time to master.

Unbeknownst to almost everyone in this room though, I was already well acquainted with my wolf. It was true I wasn’t a fighter in the past, but I had mastered moving in her body flawlessly over the six years I had been able to shift. I knew when she eventually came back to me that it would be like greeting an old friend. I had missed her dearly already.

Of course, I would have preferred to have been given the title straight up, but this didn‘t seem like the worse compromise either. The exam would be a piece of cake, and a battle wouldn’t be that difficult if I kept up with my training. If it meant working hard for another three years, then so be it. I would defeat my cousin, avoid becoming Luna, and get to see the heartbroken look on my uncle’s face as I reigned victorious, all at once. Everyone in the room was a little unnerved by my mildly pleased reaction but I didn’t care. “I accept,” I said calmly. I locked eyes with Tytus as I said this and saw he had that same look of curiosity in them that I’d gotten to know so well now. The look that said he was eager to see what I’d do next, almost as if I was his favourite pet to watch. Well, I wasn’t one to divulge the old man, but I certainly found his idea of resolving the dispute creative.

a probationary

became busy after

my disappointment, I still wasn’t allowed to drop school to focus on more important matters. The only benefit of this was that it allowed me to still see Myra, someone who I’d otherwise be too busy to see regularly anymore. Every day after school, and several hours over the weekend, I now spent with my father either training or learning

time that I wasn’t in training or school, I was either attending

f sixteen onwards. Since I was still

throwing myself into my work And whilst I still jumped and flinched whenever he came too close, it was definitely a lot

felt like I was finally in a good place and

father was out of town on a Beta errand and there were no meetings to be held for the day. I considered helping Lucy with

to do. But, if it was true what people said and good things came in threes, I was hoping it wouldn‘t be the last time I‘d get some of

but it was such a rare opportunity that I didn’t even

way to treat myself than with junk food from a certain cottage

of fries in front of me. She stared at me with a fascination as

know… they have other options to eat,” she said. I didn’t even reply as I was too absorbed in the

“You are a

food, a sad-looking chicken salad. It probably was actually delicious but it was the sort of food I was eating basically every day now. I still had a

what have you been up to?” I asked, sipping at some sort of vanilla milkshake thing. It had random pieces of cookie in it and I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

a small crease forming

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