A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Fifty–Eight 

‘So handsome,‘ I thought to myself as I watched Cai sleeping next to me. 

I wasn‘t sure how long I‘d slept for but I‘d woken up to find him by my side. He looked so peaceful; his hair had tousled into a mess as his chest softly rose and fell. I could have watched him for hours. 

I lost track of time as I recounted the events that had transpired the evening prior but soon Cai stirred next to me. In his slumber, a strand of hair fell across his face and I couldn‘t help but reach out and gently brush it away back into place. It was so silky to touch. 

As my eyes drifted back to his face though I froze, realising he was now awake and watching me. 

“Morning,” he mumbled sleepily, reaching out to pull me close to him. 

Thad fallen asleep in one of his t–shirts but could still feel his warmth through the fabric. If not for the confusion of his words, I would have melted myself into his touch willingly. But the nagging in my mind prevented me, forcing me to pick up on the oddity. How could it still be morning when I knew I‘d slept for a t least a few hours? 

“...Morning?” I asked slowly. “How long have I been asleep?” 

“Just over a day. You were dead to the world, completely comatose.” 

I tensed up immediately realising that, if that were true, then I‘d disappeared without notice for over an entire day. Were my parents freaked out? I knew I was exhausted from using that newfound authority but I hadn‘t realised I‘d be out cold for so long. The tax it took on my body must have been far more severe than I thought. 

I sat up and knew I needed to leave as soon as possible. If they already had people out looking for me then this was the last place they should find me. 

“Why didn‘t you wake me?!” 

I tried to squirm off the bed but he held me back, his arm around my waist. 

“Relax! I already handled it all. I told your attendant you were safe but had a rough night and were staying with a friend.” 

I turned back to look at him. “...No one can know I‘m here, Cai.” 

With a sleepy sigh and completely unphased by my stress, he shifted into a sitting position to tighten his grip on me. “I already figured you‘d say that so I told her to be discreet with the information.” 

It took a few seconds to fully process his words but finally, I exhaled in relief knowing that Lucy would make up an adequate excuse to appease my parents. At least there was no search party out looking for m 

“Come on,” he said, guiding me to lie back down again. 

He pulled me up against his chest once more so we were face–to–face and softly kissed my forehead between my knitted brows. I could already guess what he was thinking. 

“You worry too much,” he grumbled, confirming my suspicion. 

“You need to take this seriously, Cai,” I said quietly. ‘Do you realise what would happen if word got out?” 

“I‘m aware,” he replied, much to my surprise. 

“...If you know then why did you pursue me in the first place? ...Why come back to the Winter Mist?” 

wanity Light 

His eyes were serious, a sharpness to them I rarely saw. He was like a different person when he was this focused, so contrasted to his normally playful manner. 

“Because it‘s avoidable,” he said. “The issues are surrounding our positions and Aleric, right? There are ways around it.” 

incredulously. If he knew the ramifications of this so well then he was just as insane as m e

with me really worth starting a war, Cai?”

eyes as he remained deep

of my future status, then maybe I‘ll just... let it go. Personally, I think I‘ve missed my calling in life t o become

at him in disbelief. He

can‘t just abandon your pack

but okay, sure,” he said, not even trying to hide his smirk anymore. “But who said I‘d want you as my Luna anyway? You‘d probably be terrible at it. Only those with *seven

to his amusement. He quickly restrained me within

continuing, “it doesn‘t bother me. If it means being with you then I‘m happy to do whatever, Aria.”

as me,” I replied. “This is literally the worst decision I‘ve ever made and I‘ve done a

“Possibly,

a way where we

to argue about whether we go public or not. And besides, it‘s not really much of an argument when I could just....” He started kissing

throughout my whole body. I could picture it so clearly and knew how amazing it would feel to

one of which was that if we were to go through a mate rejection post–marking, the process would potentially kill us. Our wolves were unlikely to survive the intense heartache associated with rejection from a

no other mate until one of the bonded died. It was unquestionable, final. And whilst the normal death

and, by extension, his pack; something that Tytus would want to prevent at all costs... And yet a

with Cai was okay because by that point it would be too late. By taking the choice

me raging as he continued to kiss me

he replied.

caused was involuntary. That feeling of knowing it was so wrong that it made it feel

These feelings he gave me, this... intense… desire to be close to him, as if he were

take me just as he had the morning prior, forcing my body to feel unimaginable highs, I knew I was only falling down a rabbit hole I should have

in each other‘s arms, I couldn‘t help but want

you could be anywhere...,” Cai asked softly afterwards, holding me against him, “doing anything at all right now in a perfect world, where would you be? What

no such thing as a perfect world, just one where

never thought about it...,” I said slowly.

could do but couldn‘t? You‘ve lived two lives but it feels like you‘ve barely lived for yourself from what you‘ve

would I want to be

after another few moments, I knew.

finally answered. “I would be doing absolutely nothing and have nothing I needed to do. I would be living as far away as possible from the pack and all associated responsibilities. I would be living a quiet life where no one knew me or was looking for me... and where I wouldn‘t need to worry about abandoning the people I care for because there would be

it all in. “Living in a house?

clearly now, a small smile forming on my lips as I envisioned it. “In the woods. A small house just big enough for me that no one

enough for you? No partner?” he asked, hinting at the fact

want to join me in my little cottage? I thought you‘d be too busy in this alternate reality, living up

world maybe no one will come looking for me too. I

probably tell the house planner to build some extra rooms then. I‘ll definitely need the extra space if it means putting up with you twenty–four seven.”

kids then the extra space is probably a good idea.”

unwelcome reminder assaulting me

meet his eyes. “I need to tell you... I‘m not sure... ... -” 1

based on the things you told me about Thea. There are other options though if we really wanted... or maybe I‘ll decide not

I didn‘t have the heart to tell him yet about my suspicions. Suspicions I‘d been thinking for a while now regarding a certain dead rogue doctor in a cave. However, if it turned

moments of silence. “If you could be doing anything right

he repeated as he thought. “...You. I‘d be doing you in your little forest cottage.”