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

mistake, one that could have also had

he

have done that. That‘s not… That‘s

“Seriously?” 

that argument now. No, I just wanted to leave. There was nothing good

quickly turned around to walk away... only his

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

walking. I needed to

even the tiniest bit? ... How the hell do I just

a mistake, Aleric!” I yelled, turning back around. “I–I don‘t even 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

another, silently wondering if the other person will rip the carpet out from under them at any second?”

bit my lip but remained silent, not having an answer for that.

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

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

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

told me sooner. Because if I‘d wanted to make yet another catastrophic mistake by sleeping with someone, Aleric, I could

seemed to

that would have made any lower ranks fall to their knees. He was angry to the point his wolf was now

I knew my words were a low blow. In fact, I instantly regretted what I‘d said. Somehow, I couldn‘t seem to help it

all my anger left me as I

was that I was making

I muttered and quickly turned around, walking out the room

door closed behind me, an onslaught of anxiety and guilt immediately began to drown me.

had I just done

he‘s a lethal threat. A potential danger to himself and others,‘ the voice

Oh, great. 

earlier... but it appeared she was back, having taken the most

have just stayed gone since now was definitely not the time for her to be filling my head. No, I needed to figure out what to do next in light of everything that

myself, thank you,‘ I hissed back internally, continuing on my way. I needed to cool

me before tomorrow. She was kept extremely busy these days so it was rare to

greeted, looking up in surprise at my appearance.

talking to anyone about it yet was

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

thankfully kept quiet, acknowledging m y request with just a bow of her

with that, I headed straight for my bedroom to rest for a while, now exhausted from everything that had transpired; including using my abilities. It was a room

said wasn‘t remotely called for, especially when I knew

know if it was him I was so angry at. I had been keeping a barrier between us, purposely ensuring that I didn‘t get that*

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

any excuse to keep that distance, even though he really did appear to b

I‘d been pushing him away 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 too close. And now I‘d found out in the worst possible way after giving in to the desire all at once. A shock to say the least.

what even was that? Just a momentary lapse in judgement or...? When had

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

burning flushed

After tomorrow. 

with these new... *thoughts* after tomorrow. For now, I just needed to cool off for a bit before I go and apologise to Aleric. I

seek him out to talk, I became conscious of just how tired I‘d already become, my eyes quickly becoming heavy against my own will. I should have realised sooner that using m y abilities to that extent with the collar still on would have

Okay, fine then. 

have one small nap... and

roused me from my sleep, waking

night beginning to fall already outside as was evident from the few windows I

I even

noise only to find Lucy walking,

out to

No reply. 

seemed as though I was

whatever it was I needed to see, but it didn‘t take long for us to arrive at our destination. Soon, my mother‘s office came into sight

door, suddenly

Lucy said, having jumped a little from his abrupt exit. “I wasn‘t expecting