A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter 65

Sixty–Five 

‘Three hundred and one... three hundred and two… three hundred and three... three hundred and four....‘ 

I crept my fingers like legs along the wooden panel as I sat curled up on the seat of the windowsill nook. I n my head, I would count the steps I made until my hand couldn‘t reach any further... then I‘d repeat. How many steps could I count until I was eighteen? 

Everything felt like it blended together, almost as if two timelines were now indistinguishable. It must have been at least a month or two since they dragged me in here kicking and screaming. I had tried to run the minute I saw where they were taking me, a reaction that surprised even myself. But this place held worse memories for me than even the trial grounds where I‘d died. 

‘*“No, not here,“+‘ I had said adamantly as they tried to force me to go inside. ‘*“Anywhere but here.” 

‘*“This is where you‘ve been instructed to live, Ma‘am. It‘s not up for discussion.“*” 

I was addressed as ‘Ma‘am‘ or ‘Miss‘ now. No longer a Beta heir, not yet a Luna, but everyone too nervous to call me Saintess in light of the events of that day. 

‘*“Tell Tytus that if he wants something of me marked so badly, then he can mark my words,“*‘ I‘d spat back at them when things had escalated to a point beyond reason. Their hands had grabbed at me around my waist as I had tried to wriggle free. ‘*“Tell him that as soon as I‘m free, I‘m coming for him. Tell him that he can go fuck–,” 

| shook off the memory, focusing back on my counting instead. They ended up having to lock me inside for the first few days until I stopped pounding at the door. Then, once the first week had gone by, time started to blend together. Now they couldn‘t get me to leave. 

Some days I wondered if I was even brought back to life or whether the events up until now were all a fever dream I‘d concocted after failing to escape with Sophie. Everything looked the same, felt the same, smelt the same… the only difference was within the people who visited... and this collar around my neck. 

“Ariadne,” a familiar voice echoed, like a distant memory. 

In the past, I used to go into the garden; it was somewhere I‘d go when I needed a break from it all. I would go running in the woods and let my wolf explore before we‘d inevitably have to drag ourselves back to reality. I didn‘t have a wolf yet though and it wasn‘t like this collar would have made that of any benefit anyway. But more so than that, I just didn‘t like the idea of people seeing me like this. The less that knew, the better. 

“Ariadne.” 

Even the books here were ones I‘d already read repeatedly. There were only so many times I could read about the ‘100 Greatest Battles of Wolf Kind‘ or ‘The Twenty Steps of a Successful Luna‘ before beginning to hate even the thought of picking a book up. But even if I asked someone to go to the library for me, it was unlikely there would be many books in there that I hadn‘t already read at least once. 

‘Three hundred and eighty–four… three hundred and eighty–five… three hundred and eighty–six....’ 

“Aria!” the voice cut through, forcing me to realise it wasn‘t just in my head. 

I looked up startled, blinking several times as I refocused. 

It was Aleric. How long had he been here? 

“Oh... hello,” I said, my voice sounding distant. “I didn‘t hear you arrive. Have you been here long?” 

I rigidly stood up, inclining my head in a bow of respect per standard protocol for higher ranks. After all, I 

wasn‘t a Beta heir anymore. 

“...About five minutes,” he said slowly, frowning at the formality. I had the feeling that perhaps it made him uncomfortable but I continued to do it regardless. 

“Apologies for not realising... I was just lost in thought.” 

He stared as if studying my movements. Most likely, he could tell my behaviour was more forced than genuine. “...It‘s fine.” 

“Did Sophie offer you any tea yet?” I asked, walking past him towards the kitchen. 

I could recall that there were at least two sections in ‘The Twenty Steps of a Successful Luna‘ that specified that, not only should I be presentable at all times, but that I should also ensure an Alpha was made to feel comfortable and at ease. I was pretty confident that the author of that book and my old Luna studies teacher, Mrs Stewart, would have a fit if they saw me like this now. Though I wondered what they would say given my circumstances. Surely my situation negated several areas of required etiquette. 

“...Sophie?” 

I stopped in my tracks and cursed internally. “Ah... I mean... I mean Lucy. Apologies.” 

my head. Timelines.

us into the other room to start making

said, as if he‘d been holding off from asking for a while. “Every time I visit,

a different time, if we were being completely

a cup. “You saw me only yesterday. It‘s not like anything has

for a week, remember?” he prompted. “I had that meeting out of town and I said I wouldn‘t be back for a while? I just got home

off. “How did the

can‘t agree on how best to handle an influx of refugees stemming from a defeated

see. I‘m sorry to

brow at me. “I don‘t suppose you have any suggestions?”

by the very hierarchy I was told to serve. This position demanded that I b e used as a tool, yet stripped me of every

“...No.” 

had several suggestions. None of which I felt

said, sipping at his tea. “Then there is the issue of petty disputes. There‘s a pack fighting over a boundary line since the original territory documents that were drawn

you‘re going

pack members are requesting permission to build a new business in town but it

Chapter Sutowe 

knew he was grasping at straws. Anyone with half a brain could assist with that one. Each

What are

asked sharply, his tone

stared back stoically. “I‘m not sure what you‘re

Whatever this* is,” he said, waving a hand towards

issues,” I frowned. “I guess that‘s why they leave all pack leadership

of distaste behind my words. He would pick up immediately on what I was implying.

meant,” he said, his jaw clenched. “I‘m talking about how it feels as though I‘m talking to a wall, like you‘re a shell not

behind what he was saying. But I felt...

want from me,” I finally whispered, looking back down at the cup in my hands.

anything.” He sighed and walked around the room, pacing in

I can do about that,” he said, inspecting the bookshelf by the couch that

name,” I hissed without missing

and I could feel the sting that accompanied hearing the name after

as surprised as

as quickly as I looked up, I turned away again, instead deciding to focus my attention on a lampi In

my outburst,” I said quietly, resuming my composure.

through his hair. “...No need to apologise. It‘s nice to

in silence for a few moments, the tension in the air needing time to release, before Aleric finally

annual meeting tomorrow,” he said. “The one where all the small packs in the vicinity get together. Tytus asked me to go this year to oversee it since he finds them too bothersome. It‘s being held at the Diamond Claw pack.”

name with a tone of irritation rather than refert o him respectfully as ‘Father‘. When had that started? Probably when Tytus decided to

off. I knew if I said ‘nice‘ he‘d probably be triggered

hell,” he provided, finishing the sentence for me. “...Which is why you‘re coming

looked up shocked, unsure if I‘d

coming with me. To the meeting. We‘re leaving tomorrow morning and we‘ll be staying there overnight so

knows about this? About letting

knows,” he

few months and was sure that rumours had spread already

not a Luna yet,” I objected

an Alpha yet,” he retorted.

too tired

do nothing except sit around

It looked as though there was no getting out of this. But he was grossly mistaken if he thought I‘d help out with the meeting in any way. After everything I was being put through, I didn’t owe this

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