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 ruined

mistake, one that could have also had severe impacts on the pack... just like it had with

talking about?” he said, slowly

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

“Seriously?” 

now. No, I just wanted to leave. There was nothing good that would result from

to walk away... only his voice called out after

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

kept walking. I needed to remain strong and

even the tiniest bit? ... How the hell do I just let it go after you kiss

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 already seen a future where I‘ve given

silently wondering if the other person will rip the carpet

bit my lip but remained silent, not having

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 I have no control

could feel my blood rushing through my body furiously, my anger now tipping over the edge. It

your confirmation that you no longer want to manage the pack together? Because you

wish you‘d told me sooner. Because if I‘d wanted to make yet another catastrophic mistake by sleeping with someone, Aleric, I could have just run away to the Silver Lake pack for

That seemed to

coming off him that would have made any lower ranks fall to their knees. He was angry to the point his

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

sense of calm throughout my body. Immediately, all my anger left me as I stood

was that I was making the

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

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

hell had I just

threat. A potential danger to himself

Oh, great. 

but it appeared she

filling my head. No,

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

things for me before tomorrow. She was

greeted, looking up in surprise at my appearance. “Is everything okay?”

anyone about it yet was the last thing

from the gym at some point today?

further but thankfully kept quiet, acknowledging m y request with just

a while, now exhausted from everything that had transpired; including using my abilities. It was a room for privacy... and welling in

him for what he said wasn‘t remotely called for, especially when I knew he was probably right. Or, at least, he was

so angry at. I had been keeping a barrier between us, purposely ensuring that I didn‘t get that* close, and now the thought of suddenly

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

I was grasping at any excuse to keep that

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

a momentary lapse in judgement or...? When had I even

up to my lips absentmindedly, remembering how it felt. Remembering

a burning flushed through

After tomorrow. 

off for a bit before I go and apologise to Aleric. I needed to fix what I‘d messed up

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

Okay, fine then. 

small nap... and then...

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

were darkening, early night beginning to fall already outside

how did I

of the noise only to find Lucy walking, heading in the direction of my mother‘s office.

called out to

No reply. 

as though I was having a

her, I then followed behind, letting her lead me to whatever it was I needed to see, but it didn‘t take long for

make it to the door, suddenly it

a little from his abrupt