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

also had severe impacts on the pack... just like it had

you talking about?” he said, slowly standing

that. That‘s

“Seriously?” 

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

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

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

but I kept walking. I needed to remain

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

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

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

remained silent, not having an

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

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

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

to make yet another catastrophic mistake by

seemed to do

turned 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 was angry to

couldn‘t seem to help it though. It had left my mouth before I could stop it, being said

in sweeping a sense of calm throughout my body. Immediately, all my anger left me as I

that I was

turned around, walking out the room before I said anything else I‘d

onslaught of anxiety and guilt immediately began to

the hell had I just done that?

threat. A potential danger to himself and others,‘ the

Oh, great. 

clutter of events earlier... but it appeared she

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

on my way. I needed to cool

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

surprise at

anyone about it yet was the last

gym at some point

as though she wanted to query me about it further but thankfully kept quiet, acknowledging

that, I headed straight for my bedroom to rest for a while, now exhausted from everything that

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 was justified in what he was

didn‘t even know if it was him I was so angry at. I had been keeping a barrier between us, purposely ensuring

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

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

in judgement or...? When had I even begun to see him that way again?

brought a hand up to my lips absentmindedly, remembering how it felt. Remembering how his mouth had responded to mine…

burning flushed through my body.

After tomorrow. 

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

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. 

small nap... and

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

darkening, early night beginning to fall already outside as was evident from the few windows I could

I

find Lucy walking,

out

No reply. 

I was

needed to see, but it didn‘t take long for us to arrive at our destination. Soon, my mother‘s office came into sight

it to the door, suddenly

from his abrupt exit. “I wasn‘t