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 justprior.

..And I wanted more.

With one hand tangled through his dark hair, my other was tracing slowly down the front of hischest, feeling every muscle under my touch. And Goddess was it flawless. His body moulded againstmine 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 respondedagainst mine. His lips softer than I would have ever imagined.

“Step...

There was a sense of urgency, a sense of need as I clung to him, pressing myself up against himcloser, 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 emotionsunexpectedly poured out, mixing with new ones I hadn't even noticed before. And the result was adesire 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 spacehe'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 forgottenthe 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 someonehad 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 myabrupt 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-l 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 whatwould 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 werenow even more factors from both inside and around us that were completely unknown. Especiallythat one ever

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nagging issue...

Power,

I'd already once seen what his drive to achieve that had cost. Seen just what he was willing tosacrifice 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 morewithout

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 avoidany conflict of interest should the worst-case scenario happen in the future.

And somehow I'd already ruined it.

..Somehow I'd almost fallen into yet another mistake, one that could have also had severe impactson the pack... just like it had with Cai.

"What are you talking about?” he said, slowly standing up.

“1-1 mean... I shouldn't have done that. That's not... That's not something we should do.”“Seriously?”

But I didnt want to get into that argument now. No, I just wanted to leave. There was nothing goodthat would result from talking about any of this the day before my birthday.

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

“I don't get it, Aria. I really don't,” he said, frustration thick in his voice. “You made it clear that youwanted 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 ofme to think that I'd ever have a chance. How could I when some bastard already well and trulyfucked that up for me?”

My heart was racing but I kept walking. I needed to remain strong and leave.

"So how am 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 you kiss me like that?”

“I said it was a mistake, Aleric!” I yelled, turning back around. “I-1 don't even know what I want... butI know being with you potentially jeopardises this pack if one day I can't make an impartial decisionbetween you or their best interest. I've already seen a future where I've given myself to you andseen what you did with that. You think I'm stupid enough to let that happen again?”

*..So that's it then? This is what our future will look like together? Barely trusting one another,silently wondering if the other person will rip the carpet out from under them at any second?”

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

“Actually, you know what? No. Fuck you, Aria,” he said, taking a step back. “I've done everythinghumanly possible to prove to you that I'm not *him* That I'm worth your trust and respect. Andnow.., this? You lead me on and then rub salt in the wounds for shit that isn’t even my fault? Thingsfrom a past that I have no control over? Yeah, no... I'm done.”

I could feel my blood rushing through my body furiously, my anger now tipping over the edge. Itwas fueled only more on from the emotional rollercoaster that had just occurred.

"Oh, you're done, are 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 packtogether? Because you should tell me that now. It'll be good to get that sort of information out inthe open so I realise just

how lucky I am for walking away. Actually, I wish you'd told me sooner. Because if I'd wanted tomake yet another catastrophic mistake by sleeping with someone, Aleric, I could have just run awayto the Silver Lake pack for that.”

. That seemed to do it.

Aleric's eyes instantly turned dark and the loudest snarl ripped through his chest, an aura comingoff him that would have made any lower ranks fall to their knees. He was angry to the point his wolfwas now visible at the surface.

And I knew my words were a low blow. In fact, I instantly regretted what I'd said. Somehow, Icouldn't seem to help it though. It had left my mouth before I could stop it, being said purely out ofmy anger.

But seeing his reaction, his own fury and manner... well, it only succeeded in sweeping a sense ofcalm throughout my body. Immediately, all my anger left me as I stood before him, looking him upand down. The only thing he'd managed to do was further reiterate one thing for me...

And that was that I was making the right decision.

“Case in point,” I muttered and quickly turned around, walking out the room before I said anythingelse I'd regret.

However, the second the door closed behind me, an onslaught of anxiety and guilt immediatelybegan to drown me.

..Why the hell had I just done that?

“Because he's a lethal threat. A potential danger to himself and others,” the voice inside remindedme.

Oh, great.

I had almost missed it in the clutter of events earlier... but it appeared she was back, having takenthe most opportune moment to return.

I fervently wished she would have just stayed gone since now was definitely not the time for her tobe filling my head. No, I needed to figure out what to do next in light of everything that justhappened.

“I can handle this myself, thank you,’ I hissed back internally, continuing on my way. I needed to cooldown before deciding my next move.

Inside my quarters I found Lucy walking about, organising a few things for me before tomorrow.She was kept extremely busy these days so it was rare to see her around.

"Miss?" she greeted, looking up in surprise at my appearance. “Is everything okay?”

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

“Can you please go and collect my bag and dagger from the gym at some point today? I left in ahurry and seem to have forgotten them.”

She looked as though she wanted to query me about it further but thankfully kept quiet,acknowledging m y request with just a bow of her head.

And with that, I headed straight for my bedroom to rest for a while, now exhausted from everythingthat had transpired; including using my abilities. It was a room for privacy... and welling in my ownregret.

I'd somehow made things even worse than just the kiss. Lashing out at him for what he said wasn'tremotely called for, especially when I knew he was probably right. Or, at least, he was justified inwhat he was saying from his perspective.

Truthfully, 1 didn't even know if it was him I was so angry at. I had been keeping a barrier betweenus, purposely ensuring that I didn't get that* close, and now the thought of suddenly losing thatprotection

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scared me. Like I was grasping at any excuse to keep that distance, even though he really did appearto b e different.

It seemed I'd been pushing him away so forcibly that I hadn't even realised what had beenhappening inside me. Blinded to even the smallest possibility that I might have been getting tooclose. And now I'd found out in the worst possible way after giving in to the desire all at once. Ashock to say the least.

But then... what even was that? Just a momentary lapse in judgement or... When had I even begunto see him that way again?

I brought a hand up to my lips absentmindedly, remembering how it felt. Remembering how hismouth had responded to mine...

And a burning flushed through my body.

After tomorrow.

I'll deal with these new... *thoughts* after tomorrow. For now, I just needed to cool off for a bitbefore I go and apologise to Aleric. I needed to fix what I'd messed up so badly.

But as I thought about going to seek him out to talk, I became conscious of just how tired I'dalready become, my eyes quickly becoming heavy against my own will. I should have realisedsooner that using m y abilities to that extent with the collar still on would have had this side effect.Okay, fine then.

I'd have one small nap... and then...

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

The attached rooms were darkening, early night beginning to fall already outside as was evidentfrom the few windows I could see.

..But how did I even get here?

I looked around for the source of the noise only to replace Lucy walking, heading in the direction of mymother’s office.

“Lucy?” I called out to her.

No reply.

..S0 it seemed as though I was having a vision.

Running to catch up to her, I then followed behind, letting her lead me to whatever it was I neededto see, but it didn't take long for us to arrive at our destination. Soon, my mother’s office came intosight just ahead.

But before Lucy could even make it to the door, suddenly it was pulled open... and Aleric steppedout.

"Oh, Alpha heir,” Lucy said, having jumped a little from his abrupt exit. “I wasn't expecting to seeyou....-."

And it was then that we both slowly took in his appearance, the situation now dawning on usBecause his hair was dishevelled, his demeanour completely on-edge... and his hands... his handswere covered in blood.

"What are you..—?" Lucy started but then Aleric moved swiftly to be in her face.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he demanded, cutting her off. He looked just about ready to ripher

Chapter Seventy Nine

throat out before his face finally softened slightly in realisation. “Wait...did Thea send you here aswell?"

“Alpha heir, sir... please, I-1 don't know what's going on,” Lucy stuttered out, trying to take a fewsteps back in distress. “I just came to get Doctor Chrysalis’ status report for the young Miss. Aria“sbeen sleeping sing

..But then she caught sight of it, her head tilting to the side. Behind him, there was a crack in thedoor which showed what was laying ahead just beyond it. Something that brought my attention toit also

And my blood ran cold.

I quickly ran to the door but it was no use. It seemed I was limited to only the space Aleric and Lucywere present. However, it didn’t stop me from seeing what I needed to... seeing the bodies I neededto.

After all, the two bodies of my parents lying lifeless were hard to miss.

"... What's going on?” Lucy asked, now painfully aware of the danger she potentially was in, “Whatdoes this have to do with Thea?"

Aleric spun his head around to see what Lucy had been looking at and then quietly cursed under hisbreath.

“This is Alpha business only,” he stated, turning his dark eyes back to her. “Orders from Tytus himselffor the attempted poisoning to his person. The doctor was meant to be brought in until trial butthen... well, Beta Jarrod found out and it didn’t go so amicably after.”

“But... the plan... I don’t understand.”

“Lucy!” he barked out to try and get her to focus, his tone then shifting. “If you don’t want me tolock you u pright now in the cells then you'll listen to me very, very carefully. You do not tell Ariaanything. Anything a t all. Do I make myself clear?”

..An alpha order.

Lucy couldn“t do anything except swallow back her fear and nod feebly.

"Good. I've got things I still need to... finish up here. You should leave.”

She didn’t need to be told twice though.

Immediately, Lucy took a few shaky steps backwards to make some distance, terror wrought on herfeatures, and, without hesitating for even a second longer, she then turned around and beganwalking quickly back the way she came.

"Oh, and Lucy?” Aleric yelled out after her, making her freeze mid-stride. “..You can tell Aria I needto speak to her when she wakes up.”

..And then my body lurched forward in my bed, gasping awake from the vision.

“What the fuck was that? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck?

I was shaking all over, a cold sweat covering me. There were just too many thoughts going throughmy head for me to be able to process at once.

But there was one more prominent than any other... none of this made any sense.

I looked towards the window and saw it was still somewhat sunny outside. This was good. It meant Istill had time since, in the vision, the light was darkening.

Throwing myself out the bed, I did my best to hurry and leave. I needed to warn my mother andhelp her escape before Tylus gave the order.

But as I reached my hand out towards the handle of my front door, it was then pushed open fromthe

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other side...

And Lucy stood there.

“Lucy! Quick, we've got to hurry!” I said, grabbing her hand to drag her with me.

If she was all the way here instead of near the hospital, then that was even better. It meant I hadeven more time.

However, under my grip Lucy barely budged, her face showing signs of anxiety. “Lucy? What'swrong?”

It was enough to make me finally pause for a moment, inspecting her more closely... ..And,suddenly, it all seemed to click.

*..What time is it..2" I asked slowly, my heart starting to race.

She held my gaze intensely, her eyes only full of sadness. “...It's six in the morning, Miss,” sheanswered quietly. “...Today is your birthday.”

A/N: Thanks for reading! If you're enjoying the story, please consider voting, sharing orcommenting! It all helps!