A Gift from the Goddess

Book Two – Ch.#18 

*knock* *knock*

C‘mon… please… *knock* *knock* *knock*

Please open the door…

*knock* *knock* *knock*

Kieran…

*knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *knock* *kno–,

I was beginning to panic, thinking that I‘d left it too late but then, finally, the door opened.

“Raven,” Kieran said, almost in disbelief. “You actually came. You‘re–.”

But I didn‘t wait for him to finish.

Without missing a beat, I instantly moved forward and threw my arms around his waist. His scent was mixed in with soap and water, clearly having interrupted him from a shower. But it was the best thing I had ever smelt. Already, I could feel my body start to relax from the warmth coming off of him. Something much needed to help calm the adrenaline pumping through me.

Hesitantly, his arms then moved to encircle me, reciprocating the hug. Almost as if he was still in shock I‘d arrived.

“I was starting to think that you weren‘t going to change your mind,” he said. “I‘ve been putting off leaving for a few hours now, stubbornly in denial.” “I‘m glad you were stubborn… Thank you for waiting.” He pulled away slightly so he could look at my face, bringing a hand to touch my cheek. “How though? Are you in danger or…?” But I quickly shook my head. “I‘m fine… I just don’t want to talk about it, if that‘s okay.” It wasn’t that I wanted to hide it from Kieran… I just wasn‘t sure what to say yet. I didn‘t entirely know myself what I was doing. Was I truly escaping? Or was I just merely playing along with what my father wanted? It felt like I was hedging my bets rather than actually making a decision. Waiting to see how things would turn out first.

Kieran held my gaze for a few seconds, obviously trying to tell if I was lying about being fine, but finally he nodded.

“Okay… I‘ll grab my things and we can go.”

I sat on the couch as I waited for him to get his luggage together, happily watching him move about. Every now and then he would look over at me, almost as if he were expecting me to not be there, and I would give him a small wave in reassurance. By the time he was done, all I could feel was intense nervousness fluttering inside. We took all our bags outside to his car and, once everything was loaded up, he then turned to me, politely

holding open the passenger seat door.

for this?” he asked. “There will be a lot to

so sure in my

buzzing with anticipation. “I‘m glad to have such a

I expected him to return the expression, instead, he

 asked,

 he quickly replied, but he then brought his hand up to my face

 being captivated by the way he spoke… the

 though I couldn‘t help but

 the first time that you‘ve genuinely smiled at

 during our

 me forget whatever was in my head. “It‘s so beautiful,” he whispered,

 burn and I quickly turned my head to

 and yet his words were making me want to evaporate entirely. I was experienced in persuading men to fall for me, that had been something I‘d picked up quickly in my job, but that experience did little to defend myself against every little thing Kieran did. He had me completely under a spell… one that I was finding

 kiss me… and I really hoped that he did. I could still remember it from the other day, how perfect it had felt. But, due to circumstances at that time, it had been cut far too

feel like as it moved against mine… what

 going,” he said quietly, taking a step back. And, for a moment, I thought his eyes had appeared darker again. Was that normal or was I just seeing wrong every time! “We have a long trip ahead of us.” But as disappointment filled me, having been denied the kiss I’d craved, I quickly did

it did end up being a long trip indeed. Even though the ‘public‘ border was only a few hours’ drive, according to Kieran, the actual town itself was located a lot further up north. Along the journey, he did his best to fill me in on

so… Alpha, Beta… and then Gamma…,” I said aloud, trying to remember the right names. “And then you have warriors,

answered. “Unlike the birth ranks, the Elders don‘t necessarily need to be born into an influential family. Their position is

 Beta and Gamma, right?” All of this seemed a bit strange, but I was

 I therefore get a birth title as well. Mine would

 made more sense now; the ones he‘d said during the charity event. I remember him asking if

 was, he clearly didn‘t have an understanding of everything werewolf related. If he did, I doubted that he would have agreed to let me go with Kieran and his family for a while. Especially if he‘d been trying to

 but you‘ll get used to it eventually. Personally, all that you‘ll need to worry about is just remaining respectful to my father. Not that I think you‘ll have any trouble with that. As for everyone else, they would technically be considered benea, ah….” He then stopped himself mid–sentence, thinking about his phrasing. “Just… you don‘t need to worry about everyone else as much. You‘re my…

“What do you mean?”

you. I doubt you’ll encounter anyone brave enough to say it to your face,

Oh.

Reid’s daughter?”