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.” 

of this so well then he was just as insane as m e for

being with me really worth starting a war, Cai?”

deep in thought.

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 be the breadwinner Beta if you really

was joking, I still stared at

you can‘t just abandon your pack like that.”

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 need apply for the future entry–level job offered at the Silver Lake pack. Unfortunately, you‘re one

his shoulder and started to play fight him much to his amusement. He quickly restrained me within

doesn‘t bother me. If it means being with you then

you‘re just as crazy as me,” I replied. “This is literally the worst decision I‘ve ever made and

“Possibly,

where

just enjoy the moment for a second. We have plenty of time 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 his way up from my chest, along my shoulder... up until I could feel his

I could picture it so clearly and knew how amazing it would

full commitment and becoming one. But a mark had its own complicated downsides; one of which was that if we were to go through a mate rejection post–marking, the process would potentially

rejection, a 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 die also

want to prevent at all costs... And yet a part

okay because by that point it would be too late. By taking the choice away, it would free me in

the internal battle inside me raging as he continued to kiss me along that area of m y neck. “... Stop that.” It was a weak request.

he

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

his shirt I wore, working its way along my waist and upwards towards my chest. These feelings he gave me, this... intense… desire to be close to him, as if he were a force of nature pulling me in via gravity... It

to take me just as he had the morning prior, forcing my body to feel unimaginable highs, I knew I was

we were completely exhausted once more, wrapped in each other‘s arms, I couldn‘t help

holding me against him, “doing anything at all

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

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

always wished you could do but couldn‘t? You‘ve lived two lives but it feels like you‘ve barely lived

What would

another few moments, I knew.

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

his head thoughtfully as he took it all

that no one would find. I‘d be sure to spread rumours

No partner?” he asked,

be too busy in this alternate reality, living up a

if it meant I got you to myself. In this world maybe no

extra rooms then. I‘ll definitely need the extra space

ever ended up having kids then the

felt sick, the unwelcome reminder assaulting me over

eyes. “I need to

okay, you don‘t need to explain. I already had a feeling based on the things you told me about Thea. There are other

doctor in a cave. However, if it turned

moments of silence. “If you could be doing anything right now in a perfect world, what

doing...?” he repeated as he thought. “...You. I‘d be doing