A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Fifty–Six 

I walked up and approached the stump slowly, unsure if I even wanted to proceed. 

Just being here made me feel sick. Ever since coming back, I’d always purposely avoided this place, knowing it would dredge up memories that already haunted me more than enough. 

And that‘s exactly what was happening. 

I could see flashes of it all happening before me again as if it were real. An alternate reality where I was convicted of a wrongful death. 

I saw the faces of the pack members as they stared at me with such malice, parting the crowd to let me walk up. I saw the Elders sitting in the chairs assembled in a semicircle… and, of course, Aleric and Thea. Thea who was seated in the Luna‘s seat. 

In a daze, I continued to walk forwards, the large oak stump beckoning me on like an old friend. Hadi become delirious? When was the last time I had even slept? The combination with my weakened state probably wasn‘t doing me any favours as it all felt so real. 

But nevertheless, I kept walking forwards until I stood before that stump and, immediately, I sank to my knees, just as I had in the past. The ground felt just as cold as I remembered and that same shiver went down my spine. 

This was it. This was the place it had all ended. I could hear as the voices around me recited the words of the trial as if I were there once more. Usually, I did everything I could to block out the memories, to repress it, but this time I sat and listened quietly, letting it all play out just as it had. 

‘*“I think the evidence here has weighed in an obvious result. Do you have anything to say in your defence, Ariadne?“*‘ | heard Aleric‘s voice ask. 

It was my line next. I still remembered the words perfectly. 

‘*” sincerely hope the Goddess smites you all for the murder of an innocent you are about to carry out,“+‘ || said quietly to the panel of ghosts trialling me. My voice only held sadness now, not the bitterness I‘d felt when I‘d first spoken these words. ‘*“There is nothing I can do anymore to prove myself not guilty against the stacks of false evidence you have brought forward, but deep down... I hope you all suffer. When I am gone and you are alone, I hope I haunt you. I hope my face is what you see when you finally meet your demise. My only mistake was in loving someone.”*‘ 

It was strangely true that I had come back to haunt them, just not in the way they would expect. I suppose they should consider themselves lucky I didn‘t make it my goal to kill them all as soon as I returned. 

A small smile tugged at my lips humourlessly over that thought as I gently reached out, placing a hand on top of the stump that had held my last moments. So much pain I‘d felt at that time, so much betrayal and hurt… so much emptiness. 

And I realised it was similar to how I felt now. It was as if I‘d gone full circle having become someone I was finally proud of... only to revert back. I‘d reverted back and become someone so much worse. 

But this didn‘t need to be me. Whoever this was now.. it was dark. It was someone... unpredictable, scared, and seeing enemies in even those I cared about. So terrified of the past reoccurring that I‘d pushed everyone away and tried to kill Thea myself. 

I was acting insane in my desperation to prevent the same future. 

In a weird way, Thea had been right. I was meant to be smarter than this, a logical thinker, and yet I‘d done several stupid things tonight without a second thought. I‘d always felt my strengths were aligned in 

my ability to think out a strategy but it was clear I was still weak when it came to my own emotions and other people. 

Sighing, I calmed myself in my mind, letting go of the things I‘d been holding onto. This wasn‘t the past anymore and I needed to focus on the future. 

...Including learning to accept Myra was dead... and move past it. 

‘*“Therefore,“*‘I heard Aleric‘s voice once more, the trial having continued the duration I was in thought, ‘*” with the power held within me, I, Aleric Dumont, Alpha of the Winter Mist Pack, sentence you, Ariadne Chrysalis, former Luna of the Winter Mist Pack, to death. Your sentence is to be carried out immediately. “* 

I didn‘t feel scared though. This trial wasn‘t real and it didn‘t need to hold power over me anymore. 

Instead, I turned around and rested my head on the stump as I stared up into the sky. It was a cathartic experience, one that left me feeling... peaceful. 

I knew this darkness was something I‘d need to be careful about from now on. It was clear just how quickly I could negatively impact everything around me and lose my ability to think logically. 

...And it was clear just how quickly I could become dangerous. To both myself and others. 

At some point, I must have fallen asleep as I laid on the ground by the stump. Because the next thing! remembered was a voice calling out to me. 

“Aria?” 

up. I still felt so exhausted from the night before, my

you okay?” they called

groggy eyes finally and saw

in relief when he

made

me the sunrise was starting to dimly light the area around us. It lit up his features enough that I could see how angry he looked but I knew it was just out of fear for me. I couldn‘t help but find my breath catching slightly at

deepened his frown, but I couldn‘t help it. His concern only

him silently, indicating for him to come closer and take it. He hesitated for a second, regarding me

mine as I pulled him towards me, drawing him in

the hell, Aria, you‘re freezing,” he said and quickly wrapped me up in his arms, rubbing them downt o warm me up.

could feel him begin to relax at my touch, just the same as how

I answered quietly.

“...Why?” 

some stupid shit and fell asleep here.”

surprise, trying to look down at me to see if I was being serious. A part of me whined inside as he moved away and I

you need help?”

fine. Genuinely, this time. Believe it or not, my camping adventure was very therapeutic. Maybe it can

anything I was saying based on our last conversation. But to my relief, he finally cracked, his lip twitching at

grounds in my opinion would be like camping in a haunted house. Why

were starting to fade as the sun rose higher and I gently entwined my fingers with his, hoping

of me lives here, reliving the same memories. I guess you could say that I‘m one of the ghosts haunting this place,” I said softly, feeling too exhausted for more excuses. “...

at him but I felt him tense up, his fingers pressing harder

if he thought I was insane, even if he never wanted to see me again, telling Cai was well overdue. If he knew then at least he could understand what was actually

“What...?” 

get wrongfully convicted of poisoning Aleric‘s mistress and causing a miscarriage. The pack condemns me and in my final moments, I die here alone, scared and in pain… and at the hands of my

“Who...?” 

what he was asking.

wasn‘t an unpleasant moment. It was the first time I‘d been able to talk, or even think of the past, without immediately

night really had allowed me to make peace with

“Just as the Elders predicted.”

I quickly squeezed his hand in mine for comfort. His reaction made

cleared his throat, pausing before saying anything else. I knew how difficult this was to believe but I was relieved he was at least not

he finally asked.

Chapter Fifty Sex 

a patient in the hospital right now. She manipulated those around

understandably looked incredibly confused as he frowned, trying to comprehend exactly what I was

me,” I finally explained after he hadn‘t spoken for a while. “The different person he was in the past is someone I hope you‘ll never have to meet, or anyone else meet for that matter. I dedicated my life as a Luna to him, thinking that because he was my mate, that one day he would finally love me. Instead, he used and hurt me

were

seen him since being executed. It had barely even been a week at that point since I‘d

me he would be there for me even as a friend and it was something I‘d been willing to accept as a risk once opened my

his eyes, and slowly, I moved towards him as he

me into his lap facing him. “You

eyes over hearing him say that. He believed me. He actually believed what I was telling him.

of silence, both of us having too much to say and not knowing where to start, before he finally spoke again.

be worried you‘re taking advantage of me?” he eventually said lightly. He leaned away and used his arms to support himself

worried whether he felt used by me

started, tilting