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.” 

ramifications of this so well then he was just as insane as m e for trying to pull this off.

worth

as he remained deep in thought.

then softened, his normal demeanour returning. “Maybe... Well, since one of the issues is because 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 a trophy husband. You can

if he was joking, I still stared at him in disbelief. He really was mental.

you can‘t just abandon

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 years o f Luna experience

hit his shoulder and started to play fight him much to his amusement. He quickly

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

is literally the worst decision

shrugged. “Possibly, possibly.”

way where we can

time to argue about whether we go public or not. And besides, it‘s not really much of an argument when

so clearly and knew how amazing it

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 mate already

mark meant that there could be no other mate until one of the bonded died. It was unquestionable, final. And whilst the normal death of a mate was painful, it did not mean the surviving party would

prevent at all costs... And yet a part

whether being with Cai was okay because by that point it would be too late. By taking the choice away, it would free me in a way.

moaned out, the internal battle inside me raging as he continued to kiss me along that area

me,” he replied.

excitement it caused was involuntary. That feeling of knowing

me, this... intense… desire to be close to him, as if he were a force of nature pulling me in via gravity... It was intoxicating. The more he was near

proceeded to 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 walked away from.

more, wrapped in each other‘s

holding me against him, “doing anything at all right now in a perfect world, where would

such a strange question. There was no such thing as a perfect world, just one where

thought about it...,” I

wished you 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

after another few moments,

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 no impending doom or warrant over my head for

he took it all

that no one

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

too busy in this alternate reality, living up a more exciting life. Why bother entertaining a forest witch?”

to myself. In this world maybe no

I‘ll definitely need the extra space if it

kids then the extra space is probably

reminder assaulting me over something

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

explain. I already had a feeling based on the things you

cave. However, if it turned out to be irrelevant then I didn‘t want to give him

I finally asked after a few moments of silence. “If you could be doing anything right now

he thought. “...You. I‘d be doing you in your little