A Gift from the Goddess

Chapter 79

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

Warm. 

It was so warm. 

Everything around me felt like it was burning, our skin already flushed enough from the training just prior. 

...And I wanted more. 

With one hand tangled through his dark hair, my other was tracing slowly down the front of his chest, feeling every muscle under my touch. And Goddess was it flawless. His body moulded against mine perfectly, as if it had been made to fit there. 

... This is wrong,‘ a voice whispered inside. 

And yet that thought only seemed to excite me further. 

It felt a million times better than I thought it would, his mouth moving hungrily as it responded against mine. His lips softer than I would have ever imagined. 

...Stop... 

There was a sense of urgency, a sense of need as I clung to him, pressing myself up against him closer, desperately searching for as much contact as possible. 

... You need to stop.’ 

No, I really shouldn‘t have wanted this, wanted him, but it was like a flood gate of buried emotions unexpectedly poured out, mixing with new ones I hadn‘t even noticed before. And the result was a desire shooting through me that felt insatiable. 

His body then shifted under me, trying to sit up and I moved back to allow it, giving him the space he‘d need to get himself free without leaving too much distance. 

But it was as he tried to bring his hands out to touch me, probably having momentarily forgotten the cuffs were even there, that I suddenly realised what was happening. 

As the metal from the silver dagger loudly sounded out against the handcuffs, it was as if someone had just thrown a bucket of cold water over me. 

....ENOUGH! 

....And I immediately pulled myself away. 

“Give me a second...,” Aleric said quietly as he began to free himself. He hadn‘t even realised my abrupt change in mood yet. 

But, without waiting, I quickly stood up and took a few shaky steps backwards. 

“...Aria?” Aleric asked, looking up at me now confused. 

“I–I made a mistake,” I said, my heart still pounding heavily, my head cloudy. 

...And I knew I‘d messed up badly. 

Because nothing about our situation had changed. I still didn‘t know his future, I didn‘t know what would happen to him, or if there was some sort of trigger that would set him down the same path... I still couldn‘t trust him implicitly. Not entirely. 

In fact, the only thing I‘d learnt about our situation over the last few months was that there were now even more factors from both inside and around us that were completely unknown. Especially that one ever 

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

nagging issue.... 

Power, 

I‘d already once seen what his drive to achieve that had cost. Seen just what he was willing to sacrifice in order to reach that status. 

...Who was to say what he‘d eventually be willing to do this time? 

Was it just waiting inside his core, ready to change him into that power–hungry man once more without 

any moment‘s notice? When dealing with the abilities of a Goddess, who could say for sure? 

I‘d made a deal with him to keep our relationship professional for that exact reason. A way to avoid any conflict of interest should the worst–case scenario happen in the future. 

already

that could have also had severe impacts on the pack... just

you talking about?” he said,

shouldn‘t have done that. That‘s not… That‘s not something we

“Seriously?” 

want to get into that argument now. No, I just wanted to leave. There was nothing good that would result from talking about

around to walk away... only his voice

don‘t,” he said, frustration thick in his voice. “You made it clear that you wanted nothing to do with me in that way and I understood why that was. I completely respected it. I didn‘t question it because, given everything you‘ve apparently been through, it would be stupid of me to think that I‘d ever have a chance. How could I when some bastard already well and truly fucked that up for

kept walking. I needed to remain strong

myself that you don‘t want me now? Not even the tiniest bit? ... How the hell do I just let it

you potentially jeopardises this pack if one day I can‘t make an impartial decision between you or their best interest. I‘ve already seen a future where I‘ve given myself to

it then? This is what our future will look like together? Barely trusting one another, silently wondering if the other person will rip the carpet

remained silent, not

said, taking a step back. “I‘ve done everything humanly possible to prove to you that I‘m not *him* That I’m worth your trust and respect. And now.., this? You lead me on and then rub salt in the wounds for shit that isn‘t even my fault? Things

furiously, my anger now tipping over the edge. It was fueled only

I spat back, seeing red. “So then am I taking this as your confirmation that you no longer want to manage the pack together? Because you should tell me

I am for walking away. Actually, I wish you‘d told me sooner. Because if I‘d wanted to make yet another catastrophic mistake

seemed to

have made any lower ranks fall to their knees. He was angry to the point his wolf was now visible at the surface.

I knew my words were a low blow. In fact, I instantly regretted what I‘d said. Somehow, I couldn‘t seem to help it though. It had left my mouth before I could stop it, being said purely out of my

well, it only succeeded in sweeping a sense of calm throughout my body. Immediately, all my anger left me as I stood before him, looking him up

that was that I was

out the room before I

me, an onslaught of anxiety and guilt immediately began to drown me.

I

to himself and others,‘ the voice

Oh, great. 

clutter of events earlier... but it appeared she was back, having taken the most opportune moment

to be filling my head. No, I needed to figure out what to do next in light of

I hissed back internally, continuing on my

before tomorrow. She was kept extremely busy these days so it was rare to see

in surprise at my appearance. “Is everything

about it yet was

from the gym at some point today? I left in

looked as though she wanted to query me about it further but thankfully kept quiet, acknowledging m y request with

my bedroom to rest for a while, now exhausted from everything that had transpired; including using my abilities. It was a room for privacy... and welling in my

made things even worse than just the kiss. Lashing out at him for what he said wasn‘t remotely called for, especially when I knew he was probably right. Or, at least, he was justified in what he was saying

so angry at. I had been keeping a barrier between us, purposely ensuring that I didn‘t get that* close, and now the thought of suddenly losing

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

grasping at any excuse to keep that distance, even though he really

I hadn‘t even realised what had been happening inside me. Blinded to even the smallest possibility that I might have been getting too close. And now I‘d found out in the worst possible way after giving in to the desire

even was that? Just a momentary lapse in judgement or...? When had I

a hand up to my lips absentmindedly, remembering how it felt. Remembering how his mouth had responded to

burning flushed through my

After tomorrow. 

needed to cool off for a bit before

against my own will. I should have realised sooner that using m y abilities

Okay, fine then. 

one small

empty hallway roused me from my sleep, waking me up to

were darkening, early night beginning to fall already outside as was evident from the few windows I could see.

I even

for the source of the noise only to find Lucy

out to

No reply. 

I was having a

to whatever it was I needed to see, but it didn‘t take long for us to arrive at our destination. Soon, my mother‘s office came into sight just ahead.

even make it to the door, suddenly

Alpha heir,” Lucy said, having jumped a little from his abrupt exit.

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