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

that could have also had severe impacts on the pack... just like it had with Cai.

talking about?” he said, slowly standing

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

“Seriously?” 

was nothing good that would

around to walk away... only his voice

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

kept walking. I needed to remain strong

how am I meant to convince myself that you don‘t want me now? Not even the tiniest bit? ... How the hell do I just let it

day I can‘t make an impartial decision

will look like together? Barely trusting one another, silently wondering if the other person will rip the

my lip but remained silent, not having an answer for

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

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

longer want to manage the pack together? Because you should tell me that now. It‘ll

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

to

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

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

well, it only succeeded in sweeping a sense of calm throughout 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 further

that I was making the right

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

behind me, an onslaught of anxiety and guilt

had I just done

potential danger to himself and others,‘ the

Oh, great. 

missed it in the clutter of events earlier... but it appeared she was back, having taken the most opportune moment to

gone since now was definitely not the time for her to be filling my head. No, I needed to figure out what to

I hissed back internally, continuing on my way. I needed

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

up in surprise at

it yet was the last

from the gym at some point today?

further but thankfully kept

while, now exhausted from everything that had transpired;

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

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,

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

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

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

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

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

flushed through my body.

After tomorrow. 

after tomorrow. For now, I just needed to cool off for a bit before I go and apologise to Aleric. I needed to fix

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.

Okay, fine then. 

small nap... and

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

darkening, early night beginning to fall already outside

how did I even get here?

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

called out to her.

No reply. 

I was having a vision.

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 for us to arrive at our destination. Soon, my mother‘s office

Lucy could even make it to the door, suddenly it was pulled open...

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