A Gift from the Goddess by Dawn Rosewood

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

fallen into yet another mistake, one that could have also had severe

talking about?” he said, slowly standing

done that. That‘s not…

“Seriously?” 

into that argument now. No, I just wanted to leave. There was

I quickly turned around to walk away... only his voice called out after

I completely respected it. I didn‘t question it because, given everything you‘ve apparently been through, it would be stupid

racing but I kept walking. I needed to

me now? Not even the tiniest bit? ... How the hell do I just let

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 you and seen what you

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

lip but remained silent, not having an

trust and respect. And now..,

rushing through my body furiously, my anger now tipping over the

you? Just like that? After everything we‘ve prepared?” 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

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

to

through his chest, an aura coming off him that would have made any lower ranks fall to their knees. He was angry to the point his wolf was now visible at the

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

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 for

was

turned around, walking out the room before I

the door closed behind me, an onslaught of anxiety and guilt

I

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

Oh, great. 

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

not the time for her to be filling

you,‘ I hissed back internally, continuing on

before tomorrow. She

she greeted, looking up in surprise at my appearance. “Is

anyone about it yet was the

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

it further but thankfully kept quiet, acknowledging m y

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

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.

at. I had been keeping a barrier between us, purposely ensuring that I didn‘t get that* close, and now the

Chapter Seventy–Nine 

excuse to keep that distance, even though he really did appear to b e different.

I might have been getting too close. And now I‘d found out in the worst possible way after

judgement or...? When had I even

absentmindedly, remembering how it felt. Remembering how his mouth had responded to

burning flushed

After tomorrow. 

deal with these new... *thoughts* after tomorrow. For now, I just needed to cool off for a bit before I go

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 have had

Okay, fine then. 

small nap... and then...

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

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

how did I even get

the noise only to find Lucy walking, heading in the

out

No reply. 

I

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

before Lucy could even make it to the door, suddenly it was

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