A Gift from the Goddess

Book Two – Ch.# 36

“Rae… What’s happened?” he asked.

I opened my mouth to reply but the words wouldn’t come out. My body was running on pure adrenaline for survival now and I was doing my best to push through the overwhelming urge to cave into my emotions.

“I… I’m…,” I fumbled.

My eyes were trying to water but I gritted my teeth against it.

I didn’t want to fight Kieran… I didn’t know if I could live myself if I were to see the look of hatred in his eyes. Anything but that.

“Rae?”

“I… Kieran, someth-.”

But before I could finish speaking, I was suddenly cut off.

“RAVEN!” Allison’s voice shrilly screamed.

And I cursed. She was here. Probably at the staircase looking for me.

This was game over.

Kieran frowned but turned around to

investigate, walking towards my only available exit. One now manned by his insane little sister.

“Kieran! W-wait… don’t….”

However, as I futilely trailed behind him, I was further stressed by seeing that Allison had recruited help. Help in the form of Daniel, the Beta heir.

“Hand yourself over, Raven,” Daniel said, stepping cautiously forward. “Let’s not drag this out any longer than we have to.”

“What the hell is going on?” Kieran demanded.

“I’m sorry, man, but she’s been lying to you,” he said. “Allison said that she admitted to being one of them. Called herself by a name that belonged to The Council of the Silver Mist. She’s a Knight. Rheyna Knight.”

But as Daniel enlightened him to the

situation, it was Kieran’s reaction that was the most unsettling.

Or, lack of, to be precise.

Because there was no shock or surprise that crossed his features at all. Just… remaining completely silent as he held Daniel’s gaze.

Almost as if…

Almost as if he knew.

“…Kieran?” I whispered. “Why aren’t you….”

And his face then confirmed it, closing his eyes in guilt for a moment.

health problems publicly, why he’d said those words to me last night. They’d

was what he had said. ‘Biggest issue’ being my past. Because he knew that my birth family would

from me? Why

with me during a fight whilst taking them, Rae. It meant you had to be from a powerful pack, one stronger than even

betrayal stung me unlike anything I’d felt before.

it from me, knowing full well that this might happen one day. That it was information that could

inside, the last

we’d both been keeping things from each other. Secrets that had dire consequences. Perhaps our relationship really was irreparable now.

chimed in. “She’s a descendant of the

her here. She didn’t even know what werewolves were. She was an orphan of war, somehow surviving long

has you covering up her tracks, believing her fabrications,” she said. “Now I’m starting to wonder if Sterling’s death was really as justified as you claimed. She

trying to tell you. Raven isn’t a devil like we were always told. She’s

said quietly, my voice cutting through

was me. I

“Rae!”

she’s right,” I said. “Whether it’s because I’m a so-called ‘Devil’ or due to my past crimes, I’m no innocent, Kieran. Pick a title; Rogue or Devil. Because

wasn’t… and exhausted of now defending myself against something I couldn’t change. My body felt numb to everything as the truth

I was done.

confession, tears

to her, Kieran! She is literally

she hadn’t of killed him, I would have. He overstepped a line and was trying to abandon

I interjected before she could reply.

joints were repeatedly broken prior to his death,” I added. “I tortured him before I finished the job. Because that’s what he was. What you were too. A job, Kieran. You really think I was allowed to come here of my own volition? With a man like my father? My leash has only ever been long enough to serve

“What…?”

Kieran looked

to be handed over to Victor Lycroft. Documents that I then discovered Sterling knew the whereabouts of. After he attacked me, I turned the tables on him and tortured him into admission. This shouldn’t be a shock. I already told

“Rae-.”

lie. She doesn’t exist.” His jaw tensed as he looked at me, making me want to take it all back. But even if

know it. I saw it in your face every day we were together. I promised to protect you, and I still intend to do that. You’re still

denial at letting me push him away was only making

of frustration and sadness surfaced all at once, a cumulation of both the revelations today and the confliction

CAN’T FIX ME, KIERAN,”

my birth family nor change my past. This isn’t something you can mend like my poisoning or shifting. Stop trying to

such a kind and genuinely good person, believing the best still exists inside me,’ I added in

not there. It never

stirred as I finally raised my voice in anger. It must have made him uncomfortable, unsure probably if I were about to perform some other devil magic. Whatever

sighed. I was letting my emotions seep in again, something that was a

now was…

me to safely utilise a

take her

said. “Let him decide

Kieran wasn’t having that. He looked… pissed. Probably rightfully so

and I swear to the Goddess, Daniel…,” Kieran warned.

monsters who killed your mother? Our other pack members? So many died

Huh? Her father? Siblings?” he argued. “Because her entire family

…I hadn’t.

right. This went both