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

another mistake, one that could have also had severe

talking about?” he

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

“Seriously?” 

I didn‘t want to get into that argument now. No, I just wanted to leave. There was nothing

away... only his voice

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

I kept walking. I needed to remain

tiniest bit? ... How the

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 you did with that. You think I‘m stupid enough to let

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

my lip but remained silent, not having an answer for

know what? No. Fuck you, Aria,” 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 over? Yeah, no… I‘m done.”

tipping over the edge. It was fueled only more

want to manage the pack together? Because

another catastrophic mistake by sleeping with someone, Aleric, I could have just run away to the Silver Lake pack for that.”

to do

made any lower ranks fall to their

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

Immediately, all my anger left me as I stood before

that I was making the right

in point,” I muttered and quickly turned around, walking out the room before I said anything else I‘d

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

hell had I just done that?

potential danger to himself

Oh, great. 

clutter of events earlier... but it appeared she was

was definitely not the time for her to be filling my head. No, I needed to figure out what to do next in

continuing on my way. I needed to cool

me before tomorrow. She was kept extremely busy these

greeted, looking up in surprise at my

about it yet was the last thing

some point today? I left in a hurry and

it further but thankfully kept quiet, acknowledging m y request with just a bow of her head.

everything that had transpired; including using my abilities. It was a room for privacy... and welling in

remotely called for, especially when I knew

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 now the thought of suddenly losing

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

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

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

in judgement or...?

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

flushed through my

After tomorrow. 

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

I thought 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.

Okay, fine then. 

have one small nap... and

my sleep, waking me up to find myself standing inside the pack hospital.

fall already outside

I even

noise only to find Lucy walking, heading

I called out to her.

No reply. 

though I was having a

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

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

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