A Gift from the Goddess

Book Two – Ch.# 20

We exited the vehicle and I began walking to the front door, thinking that Kieran was next to me. Only, as he called out to me, I realised he was still at the car.

“Come here for a second,” he said, crooking his finger for me to return.

1 did as he asked and he stood in front of me, a smirk on his lips.

“I hope you don’t find this too weird,” he said, and I merely raised a brow in question.

He then gently grabbed my hand and placed it actoss my chest. “It won’t be a very formal setting but you’re still going to meet my father. It means I need to teach you this. It’s the same thing that Daniel did. You place your hand here and bow your head a little. It’s a sign of respect for those ranked above you, as well as those amongst allied packs.”

Oh, I did remember the gesture. Though I hadn’t known what to do at the time and just stood there. Was I meant to have done it back? Was I considered “allied” despite not being from a pack?

“Like this?” I asked.

And I mimicked what I’d seen.

But it instantly made Kieran’s lip twitch, looking as though he were trying not to laugh. “Was that… wrong?”

I thought back on what I’d done but couldn’t work out which part I’d messed up.

He quickly cleared his throat though and smiled. “No, no, it wasn’t wrong. It was perfect. It’s just amusing to see you do it towards me. I never thought I’d be in this situation.”

“What situ.”

“Let’s go in,” he said, guiding me with a hand to my shoulder. “Everyone will be waiting.”

I didn’t pry for more answers.

From the minute we walked inside, I became painfully aware of just how much I stood out.

There were a few people around, all of whom were staring at me or… whispering. Every time they accidentally caught my eye, they would instantly look away. A little unnerving, but I did my best to shrug it off. I had a feeling this was going to become the norm everywhere we went.

“Alpha heir,” a lady said, approaching from another room. She then did the bow that Kieran had shown me moments earlier. “…Miss Reid.” Another bow.

She knew my name. I took that to mean Daniel had already made it here and the people were gathered to meet us.

I placed a hand over my chest, thinking that bowing back was the respectful thing to do amongst ‘allies’, but Kieran’s hand shot out so quickly to stop me that I almost didn’t see it. “If you can please have the luggage from the car put away, it would be greatly appreciated,” Kieran said, giving the girl a polite smile. “Please also have the room arranged to ensure Raven has a comfortable stay.”

…An employee. Maybe a maid? I guess it would have been strange to do it as a guest. The lady looked at me, breaking her guise of formality to momentarily crease her brow, but she soon recovered. With another quick bow, she left to do what she was asked.

…Just to my father,” Kieran whispered, reiterating what he had said earlier. And I nodded my head.

I’d gone from being able to navigate high society etiquette with my eyes closed to… feeling like a clumsy child. A much steeper learning curve than I anticipated.”

being even bigger than I initially thought, until we eventually arrived at a set

expect on the other side, but I had been imagining like an antique-style living area with a bunch of people in formal attire. Or maybe something like those old

opened before me,

everything seemed somewhat modern. Closer to the sort

it being large enough to accommodate it. Three adult men around my father’s age, Daniel, and a few other older gentlemen who seemed more elderly. All dressed

as we entered inside, their eyes all instantly fell on

at the centre. I already vaguely knew what his father, Victor, looked like, having read it in my folder weeks ago, but seeing him in person was another thing entirely. Based on looks alone, it was easy to

Even

small bow. “Apologies for the short notice. I

out of the way, I was taken aback by how Victor just immediately

that induced a pang of longing inside me, one that I’d thought

shoulder. “And please don’t worry about any of that. I just appreciate you going in my absence to the event. Besides,

as everyone looked to Kieran…

“…Guest,” he finished.

respect. “Allow me to introduce you

over hearing the name, but smiled

here, and I sincerely appreciate the generosity of accommodating my abrupt visitation, This is all new to me so I hope you’ll forgive any

quickly.”

was still something that felt more natural for me

to ensure my assignments were

father said, walking up to me. “And so beautiful too. Those eyes and smile of

hand out for me to shake,

assure you, so please make yourself at home,” he continued. “I’m very much looking forward to getting to know you and hope you’ll excuse all my questions. I just find your situation a little fascinating. It’s not often that children of our kind are raised by

son, I found him a little difficult to read. He either genuinely wanted to know… or he was trying to suss out if I was actually telling the truth. Maybe both. Either way, I held my smile in place and remained composed. “These are my

of acknowledgement and smiles as they were

believe you’ve already

one else apart from Kieran seemed to notice the small tension there. Probably for the best. “Perfect. Then there is also Neil’s eldest son, Camren, but he’s currently patrolling. You’ll

retain what I could. Already, I knew I would have

their faces, however it was then that I noticed something

…They were all men.

have any

start to wonder just how archaic the

in the end, I wasn’t able to think on it for long…

female voice squealed behind

a wave of nausea instantly hit me, the voice piercing

and saw a

of me was now screaming, urging me to reach for my dagger. To

a step back. Shocked by my

home!” she said, immediately running to hug Kieran. “I

…Al… Alli…

my tongue. As if I should have known

sighed, pulling away to pat