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

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

you talking about?” he said,

done that. That‘s not…

“Seriously?” 

I didn‘t want to get into that argument now. No, I just wanted to leave. There was

to walk away... only his voice called out after me.

really 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

heart was racing but I kept walking. I needed to remain

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

but I know being with you potentially jeopardises this pack if one day I can‘t make an impartial decision between you or their

one another, silently wondering if the other person will

bit my lip but remained silent, not having an answer for that.

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 have no control over? Yeah, no… I‘m

the edge. It was fueled only more on from the

taking this as your confirmation that you no longer want

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

That seemed to

made any lower

blow. In fact, I instantly regretted what I‘d said. Somehow, I couldn‘t seem to

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

that I was making the right decision.

and quickly turned around, walking out the

closed behind me, an onslaught of anxiety

the hell had I

lethal threat. A potential danger to himself and others,‘

Oh, great. 

almost missed it in the clutter of events earlier... but it appeared she

stayed gone since now was definitely not the time for her to be filling my head. No, I needed to figure out what to do next in

myself, thank you,‘ I hissed back internally, continuing on my way. I needed to cool down before deciding

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

in surprise at my appearance.

talking to anyone about it yet was the last thing I wanted right

at some point today? I left

wanted to query me about it further but thankfully kept quiet, acknowledging m y request with just a

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

called for, especially when I knew he was probably right. Or, at least, he was justified in what he was saying from his perspective.

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

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

to keep that

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 all at once. A shock

or...?

how it felt. Remembering how his mouth had responded to mine…

flushed through

After tomorrow. 

tomorrow. For now, I just needed to cool off for a bit before I go and

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 m y abilities to that extent with the collar still on would

Okay, fine then. 

have one small nap...

of heels clicking inside an empty hallway roused me from my sleep, waking me up to find myself standing inside the pack hospital.

outside as was

how did I even get

noise only to find Lucy walking, heading in the direction of my mother‘s

out to

No reply. 

though I was having a vision.

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 ahead.

make it to the door, suddenly

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

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