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. 

somehow I‘d already ruined it.

yet another mistake, one that could have also had severe

about?” he said, slowly

mean... I shouldn‘t have done that. That‘s not… That‘s not something we should do.”

“Seriously?” 

was nothing good that would result from

to walk away... only his voice

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

heart was racing but I kept walking. I needed to

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

Aleric!” I yelled, turning back around. “I–I don‘t even know what I want... but I 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

is what our future will look like together? Barely trusting one another, silently wondering if the other person will rip the carpet out from under

remained silent, not having an answer for that.

Fuck you, Aria,” he 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 from a past that I

my anger now tipping over the edge. It was fueled only more on from the emotional rollercoaster that had just occurred.

am I taking this as your confirmation that you no longer want to manage the

lucky I am for walking away. Actually, I wish 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 run away to the Silver Lake pack

That seemed to do

would have made any lower ranks fall to their knees. He was angry to the point his wolf

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

his own fury and manner... well, it only succeeded in sweeping a sense of calm throughout my body. Immediately, all my anger left me as

was that I was making the right

muttered and quickly turned around, walking out the

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

hell had I just

he‘s a lethal threat. A potential danger to himself and others,‘ the voice inside

Oh, great. 

clutter of events earlier... but it appeared she was back,

stayed gone since now was definitely not the time for her to be filling my

I hissed back internally, continuing on my way. I needed to cool down before deciding my next move.

about, organising a few things for me before tomorrow. She was kept extremely busy

greeted, looking up in surprise

to anyone about it yet was the last thing I wanted

at some point today? I

further but thankfully kept quiet, acknowledging m

everything that had transpired; including using my abilities. It was a room for privacy... and welling in my own

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 from his

so angry at. I had been keeping a barrier between us, purposely ensuring

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

I was grasping at any excuse to keep that distance, even though he really did appear

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 all at once.

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

remembering how it

a burning flushed through

After tomorrow. 

to cool off for a bit before I go and apologise to

seek him out to talk, 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

Okay, fine then. 

small nap...

hallway roused me from my

rooms were darkening, early night beginning to fall already outside as was evident from the few

did I even get here?

the source of the noise only to find Lucy walking, heading

I called out to her.

No reply. 

seemed as though I was

followed behind, letting her lead me 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

door, suddenly

from his abrupt exit. “I wasn‘t expecting to see you....-.”

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