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. 

I‘d already ruined

could have also had severe impacts on the pack... just

you talking about?” he

that. That‘s not… That‘s not something we should

“Seriously?” 

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

quickly turned around to walk away... only his voice called out

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

heart was racing but I kept walking. I

the tiniest

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

look like together? Barely trusting one another, silently

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

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

tipping over the edge.

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 in the open so

make yet another catastrophic mistake by sleeping with someone,

to do

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

to help it though. It had left my mouth before I could stop it, being said purely out of my

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

that was that I was making the right

in point,” I muttered and quickly turned around, walking out the room

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

I just done that?

threat. A potential danger to himself

Oh, great. 

it in the clutter of events earlier... but it appeared

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 just happened.

I hissed back internally, continuing on my way. I

about, organising a few things for me before tomorrow. She was kept extremely busy these days so

surprise at my

talking to anyone about it yet was the last thing I

from the gym at some point today? I

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

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

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

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

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

to keep that distance, even though he really did

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

or...? When had I even begun to see

absentmindedly, remembering how it felt. Remembering

a burning flushed through

After tomorrow. 

cool off for a bit before I go and apologise to Aleric.

become, my eyes quickly becoming heavy against my own will. I should have realised sooner that using m y abilities to that extent

Okay, fine then. 

have one small nap... and

empty hallway roused me from my sleep, waking me up to find

to fall already outside as

did I even get here?

around for the source of the noise only to find

out to

No reply. 

it seemed as though I was

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

Lucy could even make it to the door, suddenly

jumped a little from