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

also had severe impacts on the pack... just

about?” he

mean... I shouldn‘t have done that. That‘s not… That‘s not

“Seriously?” 

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

quickly turned around to walk away... only his

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

walking. I needed to remain strong

now? Not even the tiniest bit? ... How the hell do I just let it go after you kiss me like

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

that‘s it then? This is what our future will look like together? Barely trusting one another, silently wondering if the other person will rip the carpet out from under

silent, not having an answer for that.

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

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

done, are 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

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

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

fact, I instantly regretted what I‘d said. Somehow, I couldn‘t seem to help it though. It had left my mouth before I could stop it, being said purely out of my anger.

and manner... well, it only succeeded in sweeping a sense of calm throughout my body. Immediately, all my anger left me as

that I was making

I muttered and quickly turned around, walking out the room before I

behind me, an onslaught of anxiety and guilt

I

threat. A potential danger to himself and others,‘ the voice inside reminded me.

Oh, great. 

earlier... but it appeared she was back, having

be filling my head. No, I

on

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

up in surprise at my appearance. “Is

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

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

query me about it further but thankfully kept quiet,

now exhausted from everything that had transpired; including using my abilities. It

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

I didn‘t even 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* close, and

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

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

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

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

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

flushed

After tomorrow. 

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

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 my own will. I should have realised sooner that using m y abilities to that

Okay, fine then. 

small nap...

from my sleep, waking me up to find

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

did I

looked around for the source of the noise only to find Lucy

I called out

No reply. 

as though I

to 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

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

jumped a little from his abrupt