A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Sixty–Six 

A loud knocking sounded at my door the following morning, instantly waking me up. 

It was dark, maybe dim morning light, but definitely earlier than I had expected to be disturbed that day. It was so early that I knew even Lucy wouldn‘t have arrived yet. 

Despite my best efforts, my brain had refused to quieten down after I‘d gone to sleep the night before. Figuring out a possible theory to do with Thea had awakened a new spark within me, one which had prevented me from settling my mind down. As a result, I felt exhausted from the little rest I had managed to get. 

I pulled myself out of bed sluggishly and made my way to the door, opening it to see a dishevelled looking Aleric on my doorstep. It appeared that early mornings still disagreed with him even after all this time. 

“...Aleric? Why are you here so early?” | yawned, too tired to conduct the required formalities. 

“So you just open the door for anyone without checking first?” he asked, ignoring my question. “What if I were someone here to kill you? I get that we‘re in the packhouse but it‘s not like we haven‘t had spies here before.” 

I stared back at him completely unfazed, my eyelids heavy. “If it meant that I didn‘t need to be awake right now or go to this meeting, maybe I would welcome the hostile intrusion,” Treplied. “Besides, what kind of murderer knocks on the door to announce their presence virst? Not very subtle.” 

He stood frozen for a few seconds, confusion showing on his face momentarily, before finally, his lip twitched in a small smile. What was he confused about? 

Oh. It was the first attempt at humour I‘d made to him in months. 

Maybe I had been letting this place affect me too much. I could definitely feel that having something different finally happening today did help to dissociate myself from the less pleasant memories in this room. It made me more... aware. 

“Come inside and wait,” I offered, opening the door wider for him to enter. “I need to get changed and grab the last of my things.” 

“Don‘t take too long. We need to get going.” 

I frowned. He‘d shown up almost two hours earlier than he needed to. Why was he in such a rush? 

After getting changed and attempting to cover up the unpleasant new features of my face with makeup, i grabbed my bag and took one last look in the mirror 

Once dressed up and nicely presented, it was easy to miss the signs of my own inner struggles the last few months. That is, of course, if you were also blind and completely ignored the collar sported around m y neck 

I sighed. There was no getting out of this now. 

Refocusing on the task at hand, I headed back to where Aleric was waiting for me. 

Surprisingly, in the time it took for me io get ready, he had somehow managed to tame his wavy hair a bit better and looked more presentable for the meeting ahead. 

“Ready to go,” I announced, walking towards the front door. 

“Wait, I‘ve got something for you,” he said, making me pause. 

Chapter Sixty Six 

I watched as he then pulled out a length of quality violet fabric from a bag and showed it to me. It was a scarf. 

“I figured you‘d feel more comfortable with something like this to hide the ah....” His gaze lowered to my collar. 

Teyed the gift sceptically. “...We don‘t have very cold weather right now.” 

He shrugged. “The fabric is a bit thinner so it could be more of a fashion thing? I don‘t know. I‘m not good with that stuff. Just... here.” 

step closer and helped wrap it around my neck. A nice sentiment if not for his

he asked softly, lifting the metal up in curiosity to try and see the

just like the handcuffs. The problem is that, since it‘s on all day long, the skin

very reassured by my response. But as he looked into my eyes, I could tell he felt

you know I‘m so–.”

not your fault,” I said, cutting him off.

back towards the door in an attempt to break the serious air surrounding

why we were here again, and cleared his throat. “Yeah... let‘s go. The house is still sleeping so stay quiet,” he said, leading me out the door.

halls, the eerie silence of those sleeping around us evident,

I took a second to breathe it in, greedily indulging in something I‘d deprived myself of. Already I could

I followed after, throwing my bag in the back. He didn‘t waste much time afterwards in starting the engine.

was something that had been bothering me since his arrival this morning, a nagging in my mind that

know that I‘m going to this meeting... does he?” I

me even though there should have been, not to mention it was far too early in the morning; way earlier than we should have needed to make it to the

was sneaking

was quiet for a minute before

told me yesterday that he knew

know... I left

he laughed. “What‘s he going to do? Drag you home in

of all those pack officials? I‘m sure that‘ll look great on our

that supposed to mean? Did something happen?”

as to the aftermath of my punishment. But I would be lying if

a tight line as if he wasn‘t sure whether to explain.

“...Aleric?” | pressed. 

After all, you just went missing one day, holing yourself up in those quarters. Tytus made an announcement to say you were taking some personal time off to recover following the death of Myra. Of course,

they think actually happened?”

imprisonment which is problematic. There was also a lot of petitioning for your release happening. Not just from within the Winter Mist either.”

“...And the collar?” 

that one

nodded, already having assumed as much. It was to be expected that people were curious regarding the collar since this sort

main purposes of the collar was to allow me lo still make public appearances, yet I‘d kept myself indoors anyway. I knew it was petty of me to take pleasure, since causing more civil unrest was the last thing I should be advocating for, but my hatred for

Claw pack were standing guard, screening everyone a s they came across. I wondered whether the added security measures were introduced from hearing

territories would know who he was. I could see their nervousness, the way they carefully showed Aleric respect, but their attention wasn‘t just directed

unmistakable eye shifting to where I was seated was... less than subtle. In fact, their staring was almost borderline rude. But I knew why they were doing it... after all, their eyes were directed towards my neck, where I was sure they were wondering if the rumours were true, hiding away just behind the scarf.

to look out the window to distract myself instead Coming here was a bad idea. If the

discomfort, a low warning growl rumbled out next to me, and I looked up

brought up in a small pack like this would be educationally difficult,” he quipped with an undertone of threat that was impossible to miss, but your lack of social etiquette should not be a nexcuse to stare at her like a museum attraction Or would you prefer I bring it up

Chapter Sixty Six 

to invest more into its training if this type of insult is tolerated by even an unranked guard

pack wouldn‘t be able to do much about it. After all, they

fan of the warrior‘s behaviour, it was something I knew I should probably intervene with before it got out of hand.

out and gently touched Aleric‘s

I said, trying to reassure him. “Let it go. I‘m sure you‘ve scared him enough for a lifetime. If can‘t cope under the gaze of someone

slowly exhaled, tension releasing from his

for the checkpoint?” I asked, leaning forward to address the warrior