A Gift from the Goddess
Chapter 65

Sixty-Five

“Three hundred and one... three hundred and two... three hundred and three... three hundred andfour..."

I crept my fingers like legs along the wooden panel as I sat curled up on the seat of the windowsillnook. I n my head, I would count the steps I made until my hand couldnt reach any further... thenI'd repeat. How many steps could I count until I was eighteen?

Everything felt like it blended together, almost as if two timelines were now indistinguishable. Itmust have been at least a month or two since they dragged me in here kicking and screaming. I hadtried to run the minute I saw where they were taking me, a reaction that surprised even myself. Butthis place held worse memories for me than even the trial grounds where I'd died.

“No, not here,”+’ I had said adamantly as they tried to force me to go inside. *"Anywhere buthere.”

"**This is where you've been instructed to live, Ma'am. It's not up for discussion.”*"

I was addressed as “Ma’'am’ or “Miss’ now. No longer a Beta heir, not yet a Luna, but everyone toonervous to call me Saintess in light of the events of that day.

“Tell Tytus that if he wants something of me marked so badly, then he can mark my words,"* I'dspat back at them when things had escalated to a point beyond reason. Their hands had grabbed atme around my waist as I had tried to wriggle free. *“Tell him that as soon as I'm free, I'm coming forhim. Tell him that he can go fuck-"

I shook off the memory, focusing back on my counting instead. They ended up having to lock meinside for the first few days until I stopped pounding at the door. Then, once the first week hadgone by, time started to blend together. Now they couldnt get me to leave.

Some days I wondered if I was even brought back to life or whether the events up until now were alla fever dream I'd concocted after failing to escape with Sophie. Everything looked the same, felt thesame, smelt the same... the only difference was within the people who visited... and this collararound my neck.

“Ariadne,” a familiar voice echoed, like a distant memory.

In the past, I used to go into the garden; it was somewhere I'd go when I needed a break from it all.I would go running in the woods and let my wolf explore before we'd inevitably have to dragourselves back to reality. I didn't have a wolf yet though and it wasn't like this collar would havemade that of any benefit anyway. But more so than that, I just didn’t like the idea of people seeingme like this. The less that knew, the better.

“Ariadne.”

Even the books here were ones I'd already read repeatedly. There were only so many times I couldread about the "100 Greatest Battles of Wolf Kind’ or “The Twenty Steps of a Successful Luna’ beforebeginning to hate even the thought of picking a book up. But even if I asked someone to go to thelibrary for me, it was unlikely there would be many books in there that I hadn't already read at leastonce.

“Three hundred and eightyfour... three hundred and eighty-five... three hundred and eighty-six..."“Arial” the voice cut through, forcing me to realise it wasn't just in my head.

I looked up startled, blinking several times as I refocused.

It was Aleric. How long had he been here?

"Oh... hello,” I said, my voice sounding distant. “I didn’t hear you arrive. Have you been here long?”I rigidly stood up, inclining my head in a bow of respect per standard protocol for higher ranks.After all, I

wasn't a Beta heir anymore.

"..About five minutes,” he said slowly, frowning at the formality. I had the feeling that perhaps itmade him uncomfortable but I continued to do it regardless.

"Apologies for not realising... I was just lost in thought.”

He stared as if studying my movements. Most likely, he could tell my behaviour was more forcedthan genuine. “..It's fine.”

"Did Sophie offer you any tea yet?” I asked, walking past him towards the kitchen.

I could recall that there were at least two sections in “The Twenty Steps of a Successful Luna’ thatspecified that, not only should I be presentable at all times, but that I should also ensure an Alphawas made to feel comfortable and at ease. I was pretty confident that the author of that book andmy old Luna studies teacher, Mrs Stewart, would have a fit if they saw me like this now. Though Iwondered what they would say given my circumstances. Surely my situation negated several areasof required etiquette.

*..Sophie?”

I stopped in my tracks and cursed internally. “Ah... I mean... I mean Lucy. Apologies.”

I rubbed at my head. Timelines.

Aleric followed closely behind as I walked us into the other room to start making some tea.

“Aria... are you okay?” he said, as if he'd been holding off from asking for a while. “Every time I visit,it feels like you're slipping into a different world sometimes.”

More like a different time, if we were being completely accurate,

“I'm fine,” I replied flatly, handing him a cup. “You saw me only yesterday. It's not like anything haschanged.”

"..I've been gone for a week, remember?” he prompted. “I had that meeting out of town and I said Iwouldn't be back for a while? I just got home this morning.”

“Right... I remember,” llied, brushing it off. "How did the meeting go? Was it... pleasant?”

“It was boring. Just like all the meetings. They can’t agree on how best to handle an influx ofrefugees stemming from a defeated pack up north. No one wants to waste resources screening forrogues.”

“I see. I'm sorry to hear that.”

He raised a brow at me. “I don’t suppose you have any suggestions?”

I could feel as my back stiffened, my eyes narrowing ever so slightly. So it was beginning already?Trapped in this place, oppressed by the very hierarchy I was told to serve. This position demandedthat I b e used as a tool, yet stripped me of every freedom I had.

*..No."

In actuality, I had several suggestions. None of which I felt like sharing.

“That's a shame,” he said, sipping at his tea. “Then there is the issue of petty disputes. There's a packfighting over a boundary line since the original territory documents that were drawn up have beenmisplaced. They've requested our involvement to mediate the process.”

“Sounds like you're going to be busy.”

"Okay, then... two pack members are requesting permission to build a new business in town but itconflicts with a similar business’ interests.”

Chapter Sutowe

Now I knew he was grasping at straws. Anyone with half a brain could assist with that one. Eachissue he'd listed was easier than the last to resolve.

"... What are you doing?”

"What are you doing?” he asked sharply, his tone annoyed.

I stared back stoically. “I'm not sure what you're referring to.”

“This. Whatever this* is,” he said, waving a hand towards me.

“I apologise that I'm not able to assist you with these issues,” I frowned. “I guess that's why theyleave all pack leadership to the men around here.”

There was no mistaking the undertone of distaste behind my words. He would pick up immediatelyon what I was implying.

“That's not... What? That's not what I meant,” he said, his jaw clenched. “I'm talking about how itfeels as though I'm talking to a wall, like you're a shell not really here.”

I stared at him and could feel the emotion behind what he was saying. But I felt... empty.

"..I don’t know what you want from me,” I finally whispered, looking back down at the cup in myhands.

“I want you to care about something again, anything.” He sighed and walked around the room,pacing in thought.

“Is it because of the collar? Because we both know there is nothing I can do about that,” he said,inspecting the bookshelf by the couch that was only collecting dust.”...Or maybe it's because Caileft-2"

“Don’t say his name,” I hissed without missing a beat.

His words had triggered a reflex inside and I could feel the sting that accompanied hearing thename after all this time.

Aleric looked up quickly to where I stood, just as surprised as I was over my blatant reaction.

But just as quickly as I looked up, I turned away again, instead deciding to focus my attention on alampi In the corner.

"...I apologise for my outburst,” I said quietly, resuming my composure.

He exhaled in defeat and ran a hand through his hair. “...No need to apologise. It's nice to know atleast something gets a real reaction.”

We stood in silence for a few moments, the tension in the air needing time to release, before Alericfinally broke it.

“I've got that big annual meeting tomorrow,” he said. “The one where all the small packs in thevicinity get together. Tytus asked me to go this year to oversee it since he replaces them toobothersome. It's being held at the Diamond Claw pack.”

Tytus’. My ears hadn't failed to pick up how Aleric said his name with a tone of irritation rather thanrefert o him respectfully as “Father’. When had that started? Probably when Tytus decided to forceus together. I could see how the unwanted outcome would put a strain on their relationship.

“That sounds...” I started but my voice trailed off. I knew if I said “nice’ he'd probably be triggered bymy attitude once more.

“Boring as hell,” he provided, finishing the sentence for me. “..Which is why you're coming withme."

I looked up shocked, unsure if I'd heard him correctly. “Pardon?”

“I said you're coming with me. To the meeting. We're leaving tomorrow morning and we'll bestaying there overnight so get Lucy to pack a small bag for you.”

My hand reached up and touched at the collar. “Tylus knows about this? About letting me leave theWinter Mist to attend a pack meeting?”

“He knows,” he confirmed.

I didn’t want to go. I'd been hiding myself away from my own pack these past few months and wassure that rumours had spread already about my new... jewellery. The last thing I wanted was to be atthe mercy of other pack leaders and suffer their mockery.

“I'm not a Luna yet,” I objected weakly.

“I'm not an Alpha yet,” he retorted.

“I'm too tired to go.”

“You do nothing except sit around all day.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. It looked as though there was no getting out of this. But he was grosslymistaken if he thought I'd help out with the meeting in any way. After everything I was being putthrough, I didn't owe this pack anything.

"Okay..." I mumbled, finally yielding.

"Okay," he repeated, sounding slightly relieved.

Nothing really became of the conversation from there. I reverted to autopilot responses as Iwithdrew inside my head, thinking about all the pack leaders I'd need to face tomorrow.

At some point Aleric said he had to go and would see me tomorrow. So, with nothing else to do, Iheaded back towards my bedroom in a daze, wondering what to do first to prepare.

Before I could get there though, an image suddenly flashed next to me on the wall that immediatelycaught my attention. It was a mirror. A mirror that caused me to flinch at the sight.

And slowly, I brought a hand up to touch my face.

My eyes looked dull, ringed within dark circles, my cheeks more hollow. Around my body, I couldsee that I'd lost some of the muscle mass i'd accumulated over the last few years of Beta training. Ilooked weak.

I looked almost as bad as my past self.

"..I see you,” I whispered to my reflection. “You used to be a ghost living in the furthest part of mymind, barely visible within my eyes. But look at you now. It's almost like you never left.”

I felt the absence of her voice, her normal whispering not coming forward to torment me. In fact,when I thought hard about it, I hadn't heard her speak in forever.

"What? Nothing to say now? I remember you had plenty to express back when you were urging meon to try and kill Thea. Look at how great that turned out.”

However, once more, I was met with only silence.

I scoffed, “Have I fallen too low for even you now? What a joke.”

I turned my back on the mirror, no longer wanting to see the reminder, and resumed on my way tostart packing. I knew Lucy would be returning soon and could do it but I felt the need to be doingsomething to distract myself.

Though now I thought on it, I had no idea what was happening outside in the world anymore;something

Chapter Sixty—five

that only fed my anxiety. There could have been an apocalypse unfolding and I'd probably besleeping through it. I struggled to replace the energy required to focus on it anymore and, deep down,a small part of m e had even begun to hope this place would burn to the ground.

So was Aleric right? I really hadn't shown interest in anything since arriving. When was the last timeI'd even thought about Thea? About any of the pending doom Selene had cursed me with knowingabout, yet had refused to elaborate on? Everything seemed like such a blur after the first week Icame here. Had! been justified or neglectful in my refusal to try anymore?

The image of myself in the mirror flashed inside my mind once more, reminding me of my currentstate. Perhaps I had let things go too far but it had become so easy to forget given thecircumstances. Especially since I hadn't seen Thea around.

She had been declared long gone within the days that followed her disappearance. Just as I hadoriginally suspected, Jonathan's body was found. It was messy, rushed; evidence clear that it hadbeen done on impulse rather than premeditated. But further surprising was the disappearance ofseveral other warriors i in the days that followed. I could speculate that either they wereassassinated as a precaution or just got

spooked, running away before Thea could get her hands on them.

She would be back, it would be naive to think otherwise, but things wouldn't be able to transpireanywhere near the same as it had in the past. From talking to her, I knew Aleric wasn't her goal. Atleast not romantically. I could only surmise then that it was something bigger. Something I was apart of. But if she had really intended to kill me, as she had so tastefully mentioned in the hospital,why didn't she just... do i t2

She was clearly physically stronger than most were giving her credit for. After all, she had thrownme across the room with ease. And whilst she had denied behind a rogue herself, she obviously hadsome sort of sway or influence over them if she was managing their movements.

Thinking about it in detail, it seemed almost strange that I had survived this long not only now, butin the past also. Couldn“t she have just killed me herself before I dug up any information on her? Iwasn't even shifted yet. So what was stopping her?

And then a thought came to me.

..She needed me alive.

Her hospital stunt must have been a bluff to scare me off that day. She never even tried to chase meafter I had attacked her. So for some reason, whatever it may be, she needed me. Breathing. At leastfor now.

Based on that, I could guess that maybe I trigger something in the future for her. Something I couldonly assume had something to do with the end of werewolves per Selene’s warning. But I couldntrecall anything special I'd done in the past. Perhaps it was related to the wars Aleric waged in whichI'd acted a sa complacent enabler in? I'd only been killed after we'd succeeded in that venture. Wasthat the missing link? Did we kill someone during that time that we weren't supposed to?

None of this sat right with me but it did give me a small peace of mind. I knew now that Theawouldn't come for me directly. Not for a while anyway. My death was after I'd gained influence as aLuna so as long as I kept Aleric under control, we would probably be okay in the meantime.

“Under control’.

When had I ever been able to stop Aleric from doing what he wanted in the past? Even in this life,he showed a lot of determination in doing whatever he believed was the right thing to do. Andwhilst things had become rocky between us the last few months since the collar, he was still activelyseeking me out and trying to give me company.

And I didn't resent him, even though I assumed he believed that was the case. How could I possiblyhate* this* Aleric after everything hed tried to do for me the last few years? He chose me over Tytuswhen we