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?” 

but didn‘t wake up. I still felt so exhausted from the night before, my body feeling too

are you okay?” they called

my groggy eyes finally and saw Cai standing

he saw I was

me you still hadn‘t made it home yet. With how you were

that behind 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

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

come closer and take it. He hesitated for

pulled him towards me, drawing him in until he was next

wrapped me up in his arms, rubbing them downt o warm

the crook of his neck sleepily, gently grabbing onto his shoulder. I could feel him begin to relax at my

answered quietly.

“...Why?” 

shrugged my shoulder slightly. “I did some stupid shit

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

in danger? Do you need

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

as he gauged my seriousness and I could see how it might be hard for him to trust anything I was saying based on our last conversation. But to my relief,

to give it a try sometime,” he said. “Though, if I‘m being honest, the trial grounds in my opinion would be like camping in a haunted house. Why would you come here of all

stars above were starting to fade as the sun rose higher and I gently entwined my fingers

that I‘m one of the ghosts haunting this place,” I said softly, feeling

I felt him tense up, his

telling Cai was well overdue. If he knew then at least

“What...?” 

years from now I 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

“Who...?” 

knew what he was asking.

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

really had allowed me to make peace with

as

and I quickly squeezed his hand in mine for comfort. His

was to believe but I was relieved he

mistress...?” he finally asked.

Chapter Fifty Sex 

who killed Myra. The one they‘re allowing to be treated as a patient in the hospital right now. She manipulated those around me for years until it eventually ended in my death sentence.”

trying to comprehend

“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 for years only for his pursuit of becoming the country‘s most powerful pack. Something that, once we had

why you were so

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

turned my eyes away. What was he thinking? He‘d told 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 mouth. But even friendship was more than I had a right to ask for right

my arm gently until I finally met his eyes, and

said and propped me into his lap facing him. “You should

hearing him say that. He believed me.

of us having too much to say and not knowing where to start, before he finally

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

meant, and worried whether he felt used by me keeping my secret for

started, tilting