A Gift from the Goddess

Bonus Chapter – Quick Home Recipes !! Important !! – You need to have read up to at least Chapter 96 to avoid spoilers. Continue reading at your own discretion.

This is just a short one-shot between Aria and Aleric during their time at the cabin. Explicit warning

Meat… herbs… garlic… butter… carrots.... 

I stared at the ingredients as if they were a dangerous foreign entity.

Not to say they were, but it wasn’t exactly like I knew how to approach what I was going to attempt. Things had seemed so much easier when I was just reading about it... opposed to having to actually do it. 

With a sigh, I picked up the kitchen knife and began peeling the carrots; preheating the pan on the stove whilst I did so.

Aleric had been doing the cooking for us both, having at least some experience with it. During times when he‘d been on duty for the Winter Mist, there had been moments he‘d had to cook whilst making camp somewhere random. 

I

I, on the other hand, had experience that went only as far as boiling water for tea. After all, I‘d lived my whole life surrounded by attendants and chefs. 

But it couldn‘t be that hard, right? 

I wanted to surprise him and give him a night off. Between the time spent with me and patrolling, I was sure he was getting exhausted. I thought this might be a good way to show m y appreciation for his hard work. 

I’d only read a few cooking books before, but I hadn‘t retained much. I knew the basic principles and theories, and knew what steps to do. The issue was in actually executing it though and making it taste good in the process.

The cabin had come stocked with bare essentials to last a while, the vegetables coming from a small, adjourned greenhouse and the meat was whatever Aleric picked up from hunting on patrol. Altogether, we were pretty fortunate considering we were in the middle of nowhere.

_ *Slick* 

I winced, looking down to see I’d cut myself.

I definitely needed to focus more. It wasn’t like I could heal quickly, thanks to the silver ring.

After washing my hands and the knife, I threw out the spoiled carrot and tried again. He was going to be home any minute and I‘d wanted to be finished before that. Though that was probably just me being overly optimistic considering my skill level.

Carefully, I proceeded to finish with the carrots, though taking far longer with it than 1 perhaps should have, and threw some butter, herbs and garlic into the pan. When that was sufficiently all nice and melted, 1 placed the meat on top, satisfied it at least smelt nice. That was surely a good sign if nothing else. 

“What are you up to?” Aleric then said from the doorway.

I looked up sharply to see him there, a little surprised since I hadn’t heard him approach over the sound of the pan.

“Oh, I‘m ah... I‘m cooking,” I said, a little embarrassed. “I wanted to surprise you before you got home.”

“I‘m still surprised,” he said walking behind me to wrap his arms around my waist. “Surprised you haven’t burnt the house down.”

“Hey!” I yelled offended, squirming in his grasp. “Come on, it smells good!” 

But he held me against me, laughing as he refused to let me go. 

“Aleric!” 

“No, you‘re right, I‘m sorry,” he said, his head travelling to my neck and nibbling gently. “It does smell pretty good.” 

Though I wasn‘t sure whether he was still talking about the food. 

“Ok, well I need to finish up here and I‘ll —.” 

I didn‘t get to finish my sentence though, instead losing my chain of thought. His hand had started tugging up the hem of my dress and immediately begun trailing across the bare skin of my stomach.

“... I um,” was all I said. 

What was I doing?

I tried to remember as I felt his attention then change, reaching up to grab at my breast and sending a shiver through me from the sensitivity there. 

I could feel his warmth against my back, his breathing deepening near my ear, sending another wave of desire through me. 

“What‘s up?” he asked, his other hand now venturing past the hem of my underwear, causing me to gasp from the unexpected sensation. I leaned back against him, melting into the feeling of pleasure he gave, greedily taking every

second of it he had to offer.

“Aleric,” I moaned, turning my head to capture his lips against mine. His taste was intoxicating

My whole body then started burning up, my heart racing. But just before I was beginning to get too lost in the moment, I completely spun around and pushed him back against the kitchen bench, wasting no time in jumping onto his lap.

I could tell he was just as enthusiastic as me, his own lower-body betraying him, and I proceeded to move my hips against him, relishing in the way he reacted to me.

This was my doing. He wanted me just as much as I wanted him. Did my touch send him into delirium just as his did for me? Was it even better for him with the mate bond?

Before long had passed, it soon became clear that this wasn‘t nearly enough for either of us.

Working as quickly as I could, I then undid his pants and positioned myself perfectly on top of him before….

“... Fuck,” Aleric slowly groaned, feeling as he pressed his length into me, and my own moan accompanied it.

How was it that he felt so perfect against me? As if he was naturally meant to always be there. Every sensation he had to offer me was enough to make me lose control instantly. As if proceeding with only pure desire. 

I started to move again, his hands on my hips as he guided me against him, and every few seconds I would alternate between his lips, ear, and neck. 

His own movement then slowly became more forceful as he quickened my pace, sending me into my own frenzy as that familiar buzz started to build inside me. 

hold my body to him. All I could do in turn was coil my own

moans from my lips with every thrust. I could feel myself tightening too,

come undone against him, shaking as the waves of

in his own end, a groan alerting me to his finish, and proceeded to rest

How was one person able to make me feel so euphoric from their touch? It

with every dream, it had to come to an end

quickly snapped me out of my trance, reminding me

The meat

“Shit!”

off Aleric’s lap and ran to the stove…

no..,” I whined,

on the opposite side, no longer looking

I gave Aleric an apologetic look, only he

served us our half–burnt dinner,

been delicious. It was ‘one of the most satisfying dinners he’d

*somehow*, I knew he wasn‘t talking about

Change This chapter follows a young Elder Luke (Luke Hastings) 30/40 years prior to the main story. It was a very different time when things were not so accepting. This POV shows the beginning of how Elder Luke became the man he is today and why he holds the strong values he does – known by Aria as one of the deadliest men in the

the day before, even more than the day before that. It meant I would need to work late today in

I would start the process, giving small smiles to those I made eye contact with along the

work. On the contrary, I immensely loved what I did for a living. But I couldn‘t deny that it wasn‘t as interesting as say the ranked members of our pack. No, they led an eventful life of luxury and power. The kind of lives only unranked members such as myself could dream

said behind me, making

me all the way to the very

can I do for you, sir?” I asked politely,

was hoping you could help me for a moment. I‘m trying to find

with broad shoulders and a

came to stand directly

not quite...,” he replied, looking down at me.

service today, sir? What exactly were you looking

hands then came up and grabbed either side of my face, sparks immediately erupting throughout my body from where our skin made

mate,” he whispered, right before his

only once I found myself pressed up against one of the shelves that I realised we were at my place of work… not our house. they felt lange

me as I pulled away, smiling up at the man. At

I asked quietly. I was conscious of not being too loud so w e weren’t caught. “I didn‘t think I would see you

a reason to visit you now?” he questioned back, his lip pulling into a crooked

more before untangling myself from him, walking

be a t work right now. And it’s very unlike you to skip out on such a

be heading out over the border today. Official business in one of

they not expect you to be packing right now?” I asked, a small frown forming between my brows. “I would think that you‘d... not want to risk

so close to this promotion, I

jaw clenching to stop myself from

to place his hands on either side of my waist tenderly. “Soon, I promise. Maybe in a few years, and after I get this promotion, we can make our relationship public. We can even finally buy a house

his arms but I managed

time, Xavier. We‘ve been together for almost ten years

older and I‘ve yet to hear the Alpha heir Tytus

arms. “That child? He barely knows what he‘s

irritation now in his voice. “Don‘t say things like

eyes then locked for a few moments, his blue ones filled with frustration at my remark, and I

best to sound

all, and a patriotic one at that. Loyal to almost a fault, believing so wholeheartedly in

our pack great. It’s what made him the perfect

too. His ability to have hope and see the good in people was one of the things that made me fall

know how important my work i sto me, Luke. I’m sorry that I can’t… That we can’t… Well, some people just aren’t so accepting,

eyes, but knew

seemed to be getting better in terms of change, there was still a while to go before we reached the point we needed to. Movements were already starting across the country, bringing attention to the issue, and people were beginning to realise the truth of the matter. Because if the so-called Goddess could gift us with another being then, regardless of who they were, didn’t that mean there was a divine purpose

has a plan for us. I can feel it,” he continued, almost as if he’d read my thoughts. “Don’t lose faith in

the sparks emitting through me once more. However, this time, I allowed myself to give in to the sensation, bringing

again, his out of town pack business sometimes taking an uncertain amount of time. There was one thing I

the corner. I was relieved; thoughts of my cosy couch patiently

stumbled upon something. Two girls in the corner huddled closely together. I‘d seen them here regularly so I knew they enjoyed this place just as much as I did, always treating the books with the respect they deserved. It

up now but we‘ll be open again tomorrow morni...—.”

cutting my sentence short.

okay?” I asked, worried if someone had

Burimit te pun 

boleh dihanan 

around the other one looked

so… it’s so horrible. I don’t know how they could have let

my mind began thinking of everything

patted her back, soothing her. “It

my body froze, my

mate being one of them. Someone from their unit came and found us not long ago to inform her. Apparently, there was

was like the wind had been knocked out of me, the

keep composure even though

again. “...Do we... Do you

her eye as a tear escaped her. “Not really but they‘re bringing the

didn‘t hear anything

I didn‘t close up, I didn‘t care that there were still people inside, all that

he would be fine, right? He was strong.

couldn‘t even think about that. My wolf was already frantic enough, making it impossibly difficult

finally arrived at the hospital, and I

stopping to