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 ruined it.

have also had

are you talking about?” he said, slowly standing up.

done that. That‘s not… That‘s

“Seriously?” 

just wanted to leave. There was nothing good that would result from talking about any of this the day before my

I quickly turned around to walk away... only his voice

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

but I kept walking.

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

know being with 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

Barely trusting one another, silently wondering if the other person will

but remained silent, not having an answer for

prove to you that I‘m not *him* That I’m worth your trust and respect. And now..,

feel my blood rushing through my body furiously, my anger now tipping over the edge. It was fueled only more on

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 that now. It‘ll be good to get that sort of information out in

you‘d told me sooner. Because if I‘d wanted to make yet another catastrophic mistake by sleeping with someone, Aleric, I could have just

to

chest, an aura coming off him that would have made any lower ranks fall

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

fury and manner... 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 and down. The only thing he‘d managed to do was further reiterate one thing

I was making the right

turned around, walking out the room before I said

the second the door closed behind me, an onslaught of anxiety and guilt immediately began to drown

I just

to himself and others,‘ the voice

Oh, great. 

had almost missed it in the clutter of events earlier... but it appeared she was back, having taken the

time for her to be filling my head. No, I needed to figure out what to do next

thank you,‘ I hissed back internally, continuing on my way. I

for me before tomorrow. She was kept

she greeted, looking up in surprise

talking to anyone about it yet was the last

and collect my bag and dagger from the gym at some point today? I left in a hurry

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

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

said wasn‘t remotely called for, especially when I knew he was probably right. Or, at least, he was justified in what he

didn‘t even know if it was him I was so angry at. I had been keeping a barrier between us, purposely ensuring

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

at any excuse to keep that distance, even though

that 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

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

a hand up to my lips absentmindedly, remembering how

flushed through my

After tomorrow. 

for a bit before I go and apologise to Aleric.

I became conscious of just how tired I‘d already become, my eyes quickly becoming heavy against my own will. I should have realised sooner that using m y abilities to that extent with the

Okay, fine then. 

have one small nap...

sound of heels clicking inside an empty hallway roused me from my sleep, waking me up to find myself

beginning to fall already outside as was evident

I even get

around for the source of the noise only to find Lucy walking, heading in the direction of my

I called out to her.

No reply. 

it seemed as though I was having a

lead me to whatever it was I needed to see, but it didn‘t take long for

make it to the door, suddenly it

said, having jumped a little from his abrupt exit. “I wasn‘t expecting to see

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