A Gift from the Goddess
Chapter 43

Chapter Forty-Three I stared at him in disbelief.

I never thought I was going to see him again, and yet here he was. “...Cai?" was all I managed to say.And then a flood of different emotions hit me all at once, overwhelming me.

.. But there was one that ended up prevailing above any other.

I moved so quickly that I almost didn't even realise I did it... and slapped him across the cheek.Immediately, I stared down at my own hand in astonishment, bewildered at myself as he covered hisface. “...I probably deserved that,” he said, and half laughed the whole thing off. “Wow, you reallypack a punch these days, Aria.” ...Did I actually just hit him?

I thought I was happy to see him? That I wanted his forgiveness?

But I realised something else, something that had triggered me in the way he spoke.

"You don’t write to me, you don't visit, and you left making me think you hated me,” I snapped. “Youcan't just show up here, talking like you're greeting an old friend! You made that fact painfullyobvious when you left, Cai.”

This whole time I thought hed hated me. I thought he didn’t want anything to do with me. And yethe had walked right up, asking me to dance with him, and blurting out some ridiculous oldnickname. As if nothing had happened. As if the last two years I'd spent feeling guilty had been fornothing. What had been the point in agonising over what had happened between us when itapparently had meant nothing to him? 1 I could see several people had stopped to stare but Iignored it. I felt too tense to care at that very second.

“I'm sorry, you're right... can we please go somewhere and talk?” he asked, his eyes pleading withme.

I wanted to tell him to get lost, that I didnt want to see him, but I knew that would be a lie. Icouldn't deny that a part of me had missed him and that I had wanted to see him again so badly.*..Fine,” I agreed after a pause.

But, before I could move an inch, a cold voice then spoke behind me.

“Caius,” I heard Aleric greet.

"Aleric,” came the reply.

The sentiment seemed mutual as the two regarded each other warily. You could feel the tension inthe air between them. elementos

Considering that one of the main reasons I'd pursued becoming a Beta, rather than just runningaway, was to ensure a war didn't break out between the two of them, it seemed as though myinterference was already setting up their political relations on a *great* note....

I turned to Aleric and found he was staring at Cal, his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. He only lookedaway to give me his attention after I spoke.

“I'm sure I'll catch you later,” I said with a smile, trying to relax any uneasiness. “But if I'm not backbefore your shift, I really do hope it goes well. And make sure you try and relax. It'll make it easier.”I realised then that giving him advice on shifting would seem odd coming from me and had toquickly backpedal. “...Or, at least, that's what Father told me.” He looked like he wanted to saysomething else but he didn't, just giving me a nod instead. And so, I followed behind Cai as he ledus out onto the balcony. There wasn't anyone else around luckily, given the event had only juststarted. It was probably for the best that we had some privacy to talk “You've grown so much since Ilast saw you,” he said lightly. “Guess I'll have to replace a new nickname for you now.”

But I found even this irritating. It was like he was trying to avoid explaining himself.

“Why are you here, Cai?” I asked, ignoring his comment. He leaned against the balcony rail, thenight sky and forest behind him. He looked taller, more toned, if that was even possible. “My fatherthought that it would be best for me to come back and reconnect given it's been a while,” he said,crossing his arms over his chest. “I had my coming of age about six months ago, so I'm technicallyhere on official ambassador business for a little while... but I knew I had other things to take care ofwhilst here.” It explained why he looked a bit different. He had his wolf now. His body would havedeveloped more during the process.

"..What other things?” “Like apologising to you,” he said, his eyes staring into mine. “In person, faceto face. Not via a dumb letter or just asking about you from Myra.” “...I thought you hated me.” Icouldn't hide the pain in my own voice as I spoke and I cursed myself for letting him hear it. “Youmade me think that you didn’t even consider us friends when you left. I spent years blaming myselffor you leaving the way you did.” He looked away from me, seeming guilty at what I was telling him.“So, was I wrong back then?” I asked when he didn’t answer me. I could feel the tears start tobubble at my eyes. “..Weren't we friends, Cai?” My words must have gotten to him as he inhaledsharply and still couldn't look at me. It took several moments before he was finally able to reply.“We were friends... I'm sorry, Aria.”

“So, why..? Why did you do that to me? I deserve an explanation for what happened because I don'tunderstand at all, Cai.”

"...Because I was stupid and not good at handling things,” he admitted, his speech quick as if h ewas confessing something that had been weighing him down. “1 reacted in a way that hurt you, thatI knew would hurt you, and I still did it anyway.” I wiped at the tear on my cheek angrily. So, it hadbeen on purpose the entire time? He thought that little of me? “The truth is,” he started, trying tocalm himself, “I found out only that day I was going to be sent back home... and I was devastated. Iwas devastated because I didn't know how to break the news to you, Aria. And so instead of justcoming clean... I went and found literally anything else to do other than tell you.”

I almost wanted to laugh at how messed up that was. His idea of replaceing anything to do had beenreplaceing anyone to do.

“I was destructive in my procrastination and it hurt you,” he continued. “A part of me wanted i t tohurt you because, if you hated me, then it would make saying goodbye easier... and I got m y wish,Aria. To the point I've been feeling guilty all these years, unsure how to fix it.” “A fucking apologytwo years ago would have been a good start,” I said bitterly through gritted teeth. “...How could youdo that to me after everything we went through?”

“I really am sorry, Aria,” he said, stepping towards me. “...You have no idea how badly I regret

it”

He looked so miserable and sincere in what he was telling me. I wanted nothing more than tobelieve him, to forgive him, but I felt like I'd be giving in too easy after the hell I went through.

..But then his words hit a part of me I'd been walling off behind my anger.

"...I missed you, Aria,” he said quietly, looking at me with his sad eyes. And even though I promisedmyself not to readily give in to him, I found I was helpless to stop myself from completely crumblinginside at those words, at those eyes, and that miserable

face of his. I ran to cover the distance between us and threw my arms around him. “Screw you, Cai,”I mumbled against him. “...I missed you, too.” I could feel him wrap his arms around me in turn andinside I knew I'd made the right choice. Maybe Myra's assessment had been correct and I had beenacting too stubborn.

It was strange but, even though I knew I had grown since Id last seen him, I found I became veryaware of the fact that Cai stood over a foot taller than me as we hugged. I felt so tiny against him.And his scent... it seemed stronger and had almost something a little sweeter to it underneath themore earthy tones. I wouldn't have been able to tell unshifted had I not been s o close to him rightnow. Had he always smelt so nice?

Behind me, the music for the next song began to start up; something slower.

Cai pulled away to look down at me. “Dance with me.”