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. 

somehow I‘d already

almost fallen into yet another mistake, one that could have also had severe impacts on the pack... just like it had with

talking about?” he said, slowly standing

have done that. That‘s not… That‘s not

“Seriously?” 

I didn‘t 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 this the day before my birthday.

so I quickly turned around to walk away... only his voice called

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 when some bastard already well

but I kept walking. I

tiniest bit? ... How the hell

what I want... but I know being with you potentially jeopardises this pack if one day I can‘t make an impartial decision between

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

bit my lip but remained silent, not having

No. Fuck you, Aria,” he said, taking a step back. “I‘ve done everything humanly possible to prove to you that 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

body furiously, my anger now tipping over the edge. It was fueled only more

you? Just like that? After everything we‘ve prepared?” I spat back, seeing red. “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 be good to get that sort of information out

Because if I‘d wanted to make yet another catastrophic mistake by sleeping with someone, Aleric, I could have just run

seemed to

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

I‘d said. Somehow, I couldn‘t seem to help it though. It had left my mouth before I could stop it,

own fury and manner... well, it only succeeded in sweeping a sense of calm throughout my 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 was further reiterate one thing for

was making the

point,” I muttered and quickly turned around, walking out the room before I said anything else

an onslaught of anxiety and

the hell had I just done

potential danger to himself and

Oh, great. 

the clutter of events earlier... but it appeared she was back, having taken the most opportune moment to

be filling my head. No, I needed to

this myself, thank you,‘ I hissed back internally, continuing on my way. I needed to cool down before deciding my next

quarters I found Lucy walking about, organising a few things for me before tomorrow. She was kept extremely busy these days so it

greeted, looking up in surprise at my appearance.

to anyone about it yet was the last thing I wanted right

go and collect my bag and dagger from the gym at some point today? I left in a

she wanted to query me about it further but thankfully kept

everything that had transpired; including using my abilities. It was

for, especially when I knew he was probably right. Or, at least, he was

know if it was him I was so angry at. I had been keeping a barrier between us,

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

to keep that distance, even though

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

momentary lapse in judgement or...? When had I even begun to see him that way again?

to my lips absentmindedly, remembering how it felt. Remembering

a burning flushed through my

After tomorrow. 

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

as I thought about going to seek him out to talk, I became conscious of just how tired I‘d already become, my eyes quickly becoming heavy against

Okay, fine then. 

small nap... and then...

heels clicking inside an empty hallway roused me from my sleep, waking me

outside

did I even get

of the noise only to find Lucy walking, heading

out to

No reply. 

seemed as though I was having

her lead me to whatever it was I needed to see,

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

a little from