A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Fifty She was dead. Myra was dead. 

The words kept repeating themselves in my head but I was struggling to come to terms with it being real

Unfortunately, I had only remained unconscious for a few minutes before Aleric had managed t o wake me up. I found myself on the couch inside and answered all of his questions as best I could, though albeit very robotically. By the time I had finished describing where Myra was and her current state, Aleric had quickly left to go get the patrol team scouring the area for rogues. I told him about my dagger that was used, the one from the cave I’d left behind, and even about Thea. What she looked like, where the two of them had been, and that I’d told Myra to talk to her. No one really listened to me after I’d mentioned the rogue knife though. They all immediately went on to high alert mainly looking for them, not Thea. Everyone had thought since my missing dagger was used, that it was the rogues trying to retaliate for killing their comrades. And so, I sat on the couch, just watching the chaos ensue around me for hours.

People running in and out of the house, giving status reports and confirmations about Myra’s body. People becoming frantic as they tried to find leads. An argument between officials over who was going to inform Myra’s family. I felt sick just listening to it all.

But I couldn’t move, let alone function enough to be of any help.

I just sat on that couch… and watched. Silently. The entire time just feeling dead inside. As dead as Myra now was because of me. And I knew it had been my fault. Everything. She’d said so herself; it was because of me that her life had become so abnormal. Maybe she might have lived long enough to have that average life she’d mentioned. She might have had that ordinary mate… those children… and died of old age. Died naturally.

Not dead now because of me.

But I hadn‘t known. I hadn’t known asking her to talk to Thea would lead to this. I hadn’t known her life would be in danger.

“…Miss,” a voice suddenly said in front of me. I realised then that I’d been staring at the torso of someone standing in front of me for Goddess knew how long.

I looked up slowly, blinking several times as my eyes came into focus, and saw Lucy there.

“…Miss, I’m here to take you home,” she said gently.

She looked worried and I didn’t need to guess why. It didn‘t make me feel any better though. “…I saw Thea,” I answered quietly, ignoring whatever she’d said. My voice sounded far away and still very hoarse. She flinched in surprise, almost in disbelief at what I’d just told her. “What...? Thea?” 

“...Yes.”

She sighed. “That might explain a few things then.” “… Like what?”

She paused, unsure if she should answer that, but she did eventually speak. 

back in a neighbouring territory. The pack there have been trying to contact us so they could ask about his last case,

exhaustion this new development brought. “…So it actually

already suspected as much, but hearing this news now only made

had been the one to kill

met up with you last time. It explains how she was able to find me. She just had to follow your trail all the way back here. The investigator’s death was most likely just so he couldn’t alert us when

was the case then she probably knew all about me… about Myra, and possibly even about Aleric and Cai too. And that silver

have taken her for someone who could do this though. A cunning, power hungry

and win the hearts of the people. It made me wonder what her plan was now and whether she was still looking to become Luna. Didn’t she realise I could pin part of the blame on her for Myra‘s death? That I could tie her into the whole mess and accuse her of working with the rogues? It seemed unlikely that anyone would let her into the pack one day with an accusation like that against her. But… then there was my silver dagger. I needed to realise that the entire thing could now be passed off as only a rogue attack. Maybe she had staged it intentionally like that. Coupled

long ago in the woods, it seemed very likely that no one would believe me if I said it was Thea without proof. The only real evidence I could provide was

would only lead to questions that I couldn‘t answer. It would mean telling the truth

helpless this time to save Myra. I hadn’t seen it i na vision like I had two years

came to me. Maybe instead of focusing on getting physically stronger to fight this whole time, I should have been spending some time learning about my mark and how it worked.

regret that? To prove to me that she was all-powerful and that I needed her in some way

had been watching me the whole time I‘d been silently lost in my

she was to blame for not knowing about the PI. It was true that Thea most likely followed her to me, but I knew I was to blame just as much. “We should have been checking in more regularly to avoid this. Please ensure a year’s worth of salary is sent to his family with my condolences.

sore to give any real expression. “Me..?” “Yes… how are you going

a small hesitation. “I don‘t deserve any solace

which she couldn‘t dispute. “That will be all, Lucy. I will drive myself home so your assistance won’t be necessary tonight.” She reluctantly bowed her head and I shakily got to my feet. It had been hours since I’d moved

are you going?” a voice called out to me

voice. I recognised it too well,

expected to speak to him again before leaving. He was helping to orchestrate the entire search party so I knew he was incredibly busy. “…Home,” I said quietly as I kept walking. “Like that? At least stay and clean up first. You’re still... ah.” ‘You’re still covered in Myra’s blood, ‘I said in my head, finishing his sentence. “It’s fine. I’ll clean

to focus on anything else around me. “I don’t think

about me. Just like Lucy had been. Just like everyone else who had been staring at me over the last few hours, all while they walked

now on. “Really, it’s fine, Aleric,” I said, shutting down his suggestion almost instantly. He paused for a moment, possibly thinking of what else he could say to convince me,

awkward tone to it. He shuffled in his place a bit as if he had something else to say, but instead, he did something I wasn’t