A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

Warm. 

It was so warm. 

Everything around me felt like it was burning, our skin already flushed enough from the training just prior. 

...And I wanted more. 

With one hand tangled through his dark hair, my other was tracing slowly down the front of his chest, feeling every muscle under my touch. And Goddess was it flawless. His body moulded against mine perfectly, as if it had been made to fit there. 

... This is wrong,‘ a voice whispered inside. 

And yet that thought only seemed to excite me further. 

It felt a million times better than I thought it would, his mouth moving hungrily as it responded against mine. His lips softer than I would have ever imagined. 

...Stop... 

There was a sense of urgency, a sense of need as I clung to him, pressing myself up against him closer, desperately searching for as much contact as possible. 

... You need to stop.’ 

No, I really shouldn‘t have wanted this, wanted him, but it was like a flood gate of buried emotions unexpectedly poured out, mixing with new ones I hadn‘t even noticed before. And the result was a desire shooting through me that felt insatiable. 

His body then shifted under me, trying to sit up and I moved back to allow it, giving him the space he‘d need to get himself free without leaving too much distance. 

But it was as he tried to bring his hands out to touch me, probably having momentarily forgotten the cuffs were even there, that I suddenly realised what was happening. 

As the metal from the silver dagger loudly sounded out against the handcuffs, it was as if someone had just thrown a bucket of cold water over me. 

....ENOUGH! 

....And I immediately pulled myself away. 

“Give me a second...,” Aleric said quietly as he began to free himself. He hadn‘t even realised my abrupt change in mood yet. 

But, without waiting, I quickly stood up and took a few shaky steps backwards. 

“...Aria?” Aleric asked, looking up at me now confused. 

“I–I made a mistake,” I said, my heart still pounding heavily, my head cloudy. 

...And I knew I‘d messed up badly. 

Because nothing about our situation had changed. I still didn‘t know his future, I didn‘t know what would happen to him, or if there was some sort of trigger that would set him down the same path... I still couldn‘t trust him implicitly. Not entirely. 

In fact, the only thing I‘d learnt about our situation over the last few months was that there were now even more factors from both inside and around us that were completely unknown. Especially that one ever 

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

nagging issue.... 

Power, 

I‘d already once seen what his drive to achieve that had cost. Seen just what he was willing to sacrifice in order to reach that status. 

...Who was to say what he‘d eventually be willing to do this time? 

Was it just waiting inside his core, ready to change him into that power–hungry man once more without 

any moment‘s notice? When dealing with the abilities of a Goddess, who could say for sure? 

I‘d made a deal with him to keep our relationship professional for that exact reason. A way to avoid any conflict of interest should the worst–case scenario happen in the future. 

already

one that could have also had severe impacts

about?” he

have done that. That‘s not… That‘s not something we should do.”

“Seriously?” 

want to get into that argument now. No, I just wanted to leave. There was nothing good that would result from talking about any of

away... only his voice called

get it, Aria. I really don‘t,” he said, frustration thick in his voice. “You made it clear that you wanted nothing to do with me in that way and I understood why that was. I completely respected it. I didn‘t question it because, given everything you‘ve apparently been through, it would be stupid of me to think that I‘d ever have a chance. How could I

was racing but I kept walking. I needed to remain strong and leave.

now? Not even the tiniest bit? ... How the hell do

know what I want... but I know being with you potentially jeopardises this pack if one day I can‘t make an impartial decision between you or their best interest. I‘ve already seen a future where I‘ve given myself to you and seen what you

our future will look like together? Barely trusting one another, silently wondering if the

bit my lip but remained silent,

I‘m not *him* That I’m worth your trust and respect. And now.., this? You lead me on and then rub salt in the wounds for shit that isn‘t even my fault? Things from a past that I have no control over? Yeah, no…

could feel my blood rushing through my body furiously, my anger now tipping over the edge. It was fueled only more on from the

“So then am I taking this as your confirmation that you no longer want to manage the pack together? Because you should tell me that now. It‘ll

lucky I am for walking away. Actually, I wish you‘d told me sooner. Because if I‘d wanted to make yet another catastrophic mistake

seemed to

dark and the loudest snarl ripped through his chest, an aura coming off him that would have made any lower ranks fall to their knees. He was angry to the point his wolf was now visible at

I instantly regretted what I‘d said. Somehow, I couldn‘t seem to help it though. It

body. Immediately, all my anger left me as I stood before him, looking him up and down. The only thing he‘d managed to do

I was making the right

walking out

the door closed behind me, an onslaught of anxiety and guilt

the hell had I just done

he‘s a lethal threat. A potential danger to

Oh, great. 

but it appeared she was

was definitely not the time for her to be filling my head. No, I needed to figure out what

back internally, continuing on my way. I needed to cool down before deciding my next move.

things for me before tomorrow. She was kept extremely busy these days so it was rare to see her

she greeted, looking up in surprise at my appearance. “Is everything

about it yet was the last thing

some point today? I left in

about it further but thankfully

my bedroom to rest for a while, now exhausted from everything that had transpired; including using my abilities. It

for what he said wasn‘t remotely called for, especially when I

barrier between us, purposely ensuring that I didn‘t get that* close, and now

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

was grasping at any excuse to keep that distance, even though he really did appear to b e different.

hadn‘t even realised what had been happening inside me. Blinded to even the smallest possibility that I might have been getting too

then... what even was that? Just a momentary lapse in judgement or...? When had I even begun to

hand up to my lips absentmindedly, remembering how it felt. Remembering how his mouth had

burning flushed through my

After tomorrow. 

For now, I just needed to cool off for a bit before I go and apologise to Aleric.

tired I‘d already become, my eyes quickly becoming heavy against my own will. I should have realised sooner

Okay, fine then. 

small nap... and then...

empty hallway roused me from my sleep, waking me up to find myself standing inside the pack hospital.

fall already outside as

how did I even get here?

the source of the noise only to find Lucy walking, heading in

called out to her.

No reply. 

as though I was having a vision.

then followed behind, letting her lead me to whatever it was I needed to see, but it didn‘t take long for us to arrive at our destination. Soon,

before Lucy could even make it to the door, suddenly it was pulled open... and Aleric stepped out.

little from his abrupt exit. “I wasn‘t expecting