A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Forty-Two I sat by Aleric’s bed in the Golden Blade’s hospital, having waited a few hours now for him to wake up Much to my relief, the doctors said he would make a full recovery despite everything that had happened. They successfully managed to remove the knife and seal him up until his body’s natural healing ability could kick in.

Any minute now he would be waking up… and that ended up being exactly the case. He opened his eyes slowly, looking around the room with eyelids still heavy, until he finally saw me.

“Aria…?” he mumbled weakly.

“I’m here,” I replied, moving a bit closer. I guess the nickname was staying and I still wasn‘t sure how to feel about it. “What happened...?” I realised he must have had some drugs left in his system as he sounded a bit out of it all still. “It was a silver knife,” I explained. “You’re lucky to be alive.”

He just nodded drowsily, settling back into the bed again.

“You realise you shouldn’t have done that, right?” I asked. “You‘re the future of this pack. You can’t go around tanking knives for the sake of a Beta. And need I also remind you that you actually have two Betas currently? There’s no reason to risk your life.” He groaned out a bit, but I didn‘t think it was from the pain. More so because I was nagging him.

“Contrary to what you may believe, Aria,” he said quietly, closing his eyes again. “…I would actually care if you got killed.”

I didn’t know how to reply to that. Instead, I sort of just... stared at him. 

Did he realise how close I came to killing him? 

I felt sick just thinking about it now.

His face then became calm as if he were drifting back to sleep, and so I wasn’t sure if he heard what I said next. But I did end up managing to reply to him ever so quietly. “If you got killed… I’d care too,” I whispered finally, though I wasn’t sure if I was telling him o r myself.

Regardless of who I’d once known, this boy in front of me deserved the benefit of the doubt. I had to have faith that he could change. That there was a better future ahead of us this time. Shortly after he fell asleep again, I finally got up to leave, satisfied that he was going to be okay. I had instructions to head home without him and knew whoever was coming to pick me u p would be waiting.

ADRESSEN PRYWATAISYTISTA EN ESTE POSITIONS 

ternet 

I gathered up my things and left the hospital, however, I was surprised by who I found by the car. Waiting for me outside was my father, staring off to the side with a look on his face that told me he was extremely unimpressed.

instantly his body relaxed. He even made up the last few feet between us quickly and pulled me into a hug. “You scared me,” he said, relief flooded in his voice. “…I’m sorry.” Even though I was fine, it felt nice to be hugged by him. I still

he finally pulled away, shaking his

done their fucking jobs, none of this would have happened.” I was surprised to hear my father swear for the first time. He really must have been furious. I could only imagine the punishment waiting for those poor warriors once they returned home. Not that it was their fault. Aleric and I had

I’m fine,” I assured him. “Weirdly

“Yes…. I heard.”

shared. “Well, it’s not that strange to hear he saved you...,” he

probably thought. The way it was standing was a four to five sway… and Aleric held the last vote to decide. If he didn‘t vote

also supported what would inevitably mean rejecting him as my mate

live in wilderna 

more confused. I agreed to keep the information my father told me to myself. After all, none of the participants were meant to

after the events at the Golden Blade. For

long, and I was already extremely excited to start my full responsibilities as Beta heir. With it also came the added bonus of finally being able

had saved my life. Some might even say we were friendly now. However, neither of us had brought up what he’d said in the hospital since coming home, and I didn’t dare ask if he’d heard

were more

the rogues, there had been a shift within myself too. A split. I felt like there were two Arias now. There was the ‘me’ now, who was strong, determined and constantly fighting for change… and the old ‘me’, who was broken, anxious and constantly terrified at any given moment she would be hurt. That she would be rejected again… or

cause something inside my brain to crack, and now it was becoming painfully obvious just how different we were. It had been her voice I’d

times to assure myself that I was on the right path. I knew she was always s o close by, just hiding behind the surface. ...Whispering every now and then my worst fears. But there was something else that bothered me too. Something that had been disturbing me for a few months now. And yet, every time I went to remember what it was, it would escape m e instantly. I found my memory would begin to have lapses like this every now and then, slowly

time for Aleric’s coming of age ceremony.

 a la

NEROZAT Spray 

The Alpha heir’s eighteenth was considered the biggest event of the entire generation

I was expected to attend

Beta just to try and impress anyone now by dressing more masculine. If they were going to doubt me over just the clothes I wore then they weren’t worth my time anyway. I had a right to feel both pretty and pretty badass at the same time without their judgment. And so I went with a violet dress that matched my eyes. It was definitely more embellished and delicate than what I would have chosen normally, but given the event, I felt it was necessary. Lucy also had a ridiculous amount of fun styling my

for that part though; it was tradition for those witnessing to be already of age so they could go running in the woods after. Looking around inside, there were a lot of faces I did recognise, and many I did not. But everyone was impeccably well dressed in their formal attire for the evening. A few I assumed were representatives from alliances in a show of good faith for Aleric’s future, others I assumed were here in the hopes of finding their mates. It was common to travel to other packs if they had no luck in finding their other half within their own territories. I was grateful to not have to worry about any of that tonight myself. Whilst Aleric would be coming of age, he would still need to wait until I was

at Aleric from within the crowd and saw a slight happiness in his eyes that I couldn’t recall having seen the last time I‘d gone to this party. He wore the same expensive and nicely fitted suit, his black wavy hair

times we’d ever really spent an extended amount of time together. I could remember being in silent awe of him, wondering if he would really be mine one day. In true Aleric fashion though, he had barely even looked at me