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

another mistake, one that could have also had severe impacts

talking about?” he said, slowly

have done that. That‘s not… That‘s not something we should do.”

“Seriously?” 

No, I just wanted to leave. There was nothing good that would result from talking about any of this the day before my birthday.

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

really don‘t,” 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 think that I‘d ever have a chance. How could I when some bastard already well and

I kept walking. I needed to remain

myself that you don‘t want me now? Not even the tiniest bit? ... How the hell do I just let it go after you kiss me

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 myself to you and seen what

silently wondering if the other person will rip

silent, not

“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

my blood rushing through my body furiously, my anger now tipping over the edge. It was fueled

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

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

That seemed to

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

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

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

was that I was making the right

walking out the room before I said

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

I just done that?

to himself and others,‘ the voice inside reminded

Oh, great. 

events earlier... but it appeared she was

she would have just stayed gone since now was definitely not the time for her to be filling my head. No, I

on my way. I needed to cool down

few things for me before tomorrow. She was kept extremely busy these days so it was rare to see her around.

up in surprise at my appearance.

talking to anyone about it yet was the last thing

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

looked as though she wanted to query me about it further but thankfully kept quiet, acknowledging m y request with just a

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

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

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

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

me. Like I was grasping at any excuse to keep that distance, even though he really

that I might have been getting too close. And now I‘d found

Just a momentary lapse in judgement or...? When had I even begun to see him

a hand up to my lips absentmindedly, remembering how

flushed through my body.

After tomorrow. 

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

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

Okay, fine then. 

one small nap... and

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

already outside as was evident from the few windows I

I even

looked around for the source of the noise only to find Lucy walking, heading in the direction of my mother‘s

I called out to her.

No reply. 

though I was having

I needed to see, but it didn‘t take long for us to

could even make it to the door, suddenly it was

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