A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter 99

Chapter Ninety Nine 

Chapter Ninety–Nine 

It was the most difficult decision I‘d ever made. Sacrificing someone in order to save myself. I felt sick even thinking about it... but I didn‘t have a choice here. And not just that, but I also didn‘t have time to digest it further if I wanted to escape safely. 

On the off chance that Thea had people lying in the wait to catch me, I gathered only whatever I could pack quickest, ripping open the emergency envelope with my location and beginning the long drive home. And whilst I had taken the time to retrieve the ring, I unfortunately couldn‘t risk wearing it. If I were suddenly ambushed, then I needed to be ready to fight. One critical blow to my body and I would be instantly dead in seconds without my natural healing, something the ring would prevent. 

It meant I needed to work even harder to keep Thea out of my head, despite everything threatening to overwhelm me. 

‘Calm. Composed. 

‘Everything was fine. 

We were two hours drive west of the Winter Mist and I was both sad and relieved when I finally returned t o the pack. There were going to be a lot of questions, I knew, but I just needed to take it one step at a 

time. 

‘I could do this.‘ 

‘I needed to do this.‘ 

Heading directly to the packhouse, I immediately had patrols start double–checking the borders, wasting n o time in ensuring we were ready for if Thea decided to attack. There was always the possibility that she assumed we were weakened right now by her kidnapping Aleric, and I didn‘t want to give her the satisfaction. 

“Send out only the most trusted warriors we have,” I instructed. “I want a status report that everything is secured within the next two hours. After that, we‘ll review again if anything needs to be changed. And I need you to send word to–.” 

“Aria?” I heard someone say behind me in surprise. 

I instantly spun around to see Cai by the entrance of the door, frowning. 

“Cai,” I greeted. “We‘ve got a lot to do and we need to start working on a plan.” 

“Woah, woah, woah,” he said, putting his hands up. “Slow down. What the hell is going on? Where‘s Aleric?” 

*Thump.* 

“Not here,” I replied stoically, swallowing back my pain. “Thea had rogues grab him whilst we were at the cabin. They took him down before I could make it to him. She‘ll most likely try and use him as bait” 

“Then shouldn‘t we be getting you somewhere safe? I can find Elder Luke and start working on a plan.” 

“I‘m feeling fine,” I said, picking up the shift roster for patrols. “I‘ll be assisting with the planning. Once Elder Luke has been made aware, we can begin looking at different options. 

“Aria….” 

And I looked up at him, finally meeting his eyes. 

“...What?” 

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I could tell he was analysing me carefully, his eyes narrowed slightly as he watched me. But then the tension broke as he sighed in defeat. “Alright. Fine.” 

...And I immediately got to work. 

It took another three days before I felt reassured Thea wasn‘t planning anything directly against the pack. With the people within the Winter Mist safe at least, I could begin thinking of ways to counter her movement. But without much information surrounding her whereabouts, I was beginning to wonder what her next step was. It‘d been eerily silent since I‘d returned. Well... except for her presence every now and then in my head. 

I was doing a pretty good job at keeping her out for the most part, but I‘d be lying if I said everything had been going smoothly. At times, my anxiety would get too much and I‘d start to hear those thoughts again. The ones nagging at me to stop wasting time and focus completely on trying to save Aleric. To ignore the pack, Cai, everything else, and do whatever it took to rescue him. 

In the last few days that had passed, I‘d used the time in sending scouts out to find information. And whilst there were a few potential leads, there wasn’t really anything definitive enough to warrant building a n entire strategy for. There was yet to be any real confirmation. 

“... What are we doing, Aria?” Cai suddenly asked in the meeting room, breaking me from my thoughts. 

We were usually holed up in here all day unless we were briefly needed elsewhere. It was important to be accessible in case someone needed to find us. 

Today, Cai seemed agitated. Restless, even. He‘d given me several suspicious glances the last day or so and they were slowly becoming more frequent. An added stress that was not needed, nor wanted, given how hard it already was to remain focused. 

“Maybe he doesn‘t care if Aleric dies. He‘s never really liked him. Perhaps he‘ll use this as a chance to hurt me.‘ 

*Breathet. 

There it was again. Getting more and more frequent. I needed to be more careful. 

“What do you mean?” 

“I mean... It‘s been three days and we still don‘t have a plan. What are we doing?” 

Timmediately put my pen down to look at him, addressing him in an even tone despite the mild attitude ! was sensing. 

“We‘re ensuring the pack remains strong until we can track her down. After that, we can look at the different options to hopefully recover Aleric. Until then though, we‘re managing resources to ensure we‘re fully prepared to leave at a moments notice.” 

There it was again. 

Another guarded look that seemed borderline distrustful. 

“...I thought leaving was meant to have helped you with getting better,” he said, finally deciding to say whatever he‘d been holding back. “Instead, you‘re possibly even colder than when you left.” 

to save Aleric. He thinks I‘m dangerous. What if

was more important right now.

know what you‘re talking about, Cai. That‘s exactly what I

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my back to him so I could concentrate on literally anything else.

I knew why it might have seemed like nothing had changed… but, in reality, it was because of how much I‘d managed to recover that I was now more vulnerable. It was a struggle to

act like nothing is really happening? As if we are just discussing

remained silent, trying to ignore

give a shit that

That did it. 

that was taking it too far, piercing directly

to face him again, teeth gritted.

flood gate opening inside. “You think i don‘t want to break down, scream or cry because I‘m scared of losing him? That I don‘t want to rush into action and do

balled my hands into fists, taking several steps towards

This isn‘t the first time Thea has done something like this. She wants me to get angry. She wants me to yell and stop thinking rationally. I‘ve already told you that‘s how she digs her claws in. It is taking literally every ounce o f my

little guilty as I confided in him all of

I said, a tear falling down my face. “...I can‘t lose him. I... I can‘t endure any more pain. I‘ve lived two lifetimes of it and I just want this to be over.

*Breathe* 

I‘d said enough 

took a deep breath, calming myself.

starting to crack this bad already then it would be

the urge to just give in becoming too much. It was inevitable that I was going to snap like this soon.

He‘s going

that was her or my own thoughts anymore. Either way, it was probably a

I‘m sorry, I didn‘t–.”

we let it go, please?” I asked, wanting nothing more than to drop it before it had worse consequences. “I just want to focus on what we need to do next. She‘ll be expecting me to–“.

my mouth as I realised something. Something that seemed so

answer was simple.

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eliminate the chance of accidentally snapping by doing exactly what she expected of

to just... give

mind started to whirl with ideas as it all came together, letting me see exactly what we needed

like this was reckless

changed my mind...,” I said distantly, thinking it through. “...I need you to

never seen someone look

–*THWACK* 

straight to the ground. Blood immediately beginning to ooze from her nose from the

trying

this for years, Dreamt of making her life miserable as retribution for her betrayal. And, based on how unphased she seemed today upon entering her cell,

deserved this. She was a monster.‘

link I had to Thea. Every second she wasted now was another second Aleric was

her fault.‘

I replied, though unable to

was true I wanted answers quickly... but that didn‘t mean I couldn‘t enjoy

already told you...,” she said, cowering. “I

kicked her in

me isn‘t in your best interest,” I said, crouching down to her eye level. “Thea isn‘t here. I am the only one you should be worried

grip enough to make her start

be the worst thing if she didn‘t tell me.

someone yell by the

Cai. 

never breaking

just take her to the brink of death. Give her a taste of

am the only God here.’

Cai yelled again before dragging me away

was what we needed to do! Why are you chickening out now?”

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Chapter Ninety Nine 

door, leaving

stop it! I didn‘t agree for you to kill people. Just let me handle

cell, shutting the door in my face to keep

in, dammit!” I yelled,

do apparently made any difference as he remained in the room for several minutes. He was

I swear, if you don‘t let me in right now

door then abruptly opened, Cai somehow catching me

you just

are the same rogues that were harassing us a few months ago. There is a large area of unclaimed land not far

stopped to look at him, shocked by the revelation. “Three hundred rogues? That‘s insane. They‘ll have us outnumbered after we subtract

telling you what she told me though,” he said.

This was going

I need to be honest. In my opinion, I think you should give up on trying to rescue Aleric.

my attention again as I snapped

stop me. He doesn‘t care if Aleric dies whilst we wait, safe in the

‘He‘s an obstacle. 

and you‘re dead to me, Cai,” | spat. “You‘ll make yourself an enemy of this pack and to our kind. Aleric

of sanity,” he said. “The side that doesn‘t needlessly die for no good reason, especially when that results in only further

shirt. “Too scared to fight when so much is on the line.”

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