My Favorite Beast

Karman (So Close)

I was sitting there trying to remain cool and calm. I wanted to conceal my nervousness about being alone with Cole. I knew that Xion would come up with any excuse to follow Xi upstairs. Fighting with him to remain down here with us was futile, and I believed it would raise suspicions.

I sat here trying to explain last night to the witch doctor. I was attempting to explain to her why Cole was able to detect my scent last night. She was responding to my text entirely too slowly, and it was starting to piss me off. I couldn't help but wonder if she was even taking me seriously or if she was too absorbed in her world to offer any useful insight. As I awaited her response, the tension in the room intensified, and I realized I needed to resolve the situation before it escalated further.

"Say, Queen K, what's been going on with you?" he asked, sliding closer.

His closeness startled me a little, and because I wasn't expecting it, I started to stutter over my words.

"Nothing."

"Wh…y… Why do you ask?

He didn't respond to me right away. He just stared for a second. I could tell the moment he started speaking with his wolf. I watched as his expression shifted; a mixture of concern and curiosity crossed his face. His handsome face contorted in thought, as if he was weighing something important.

My wolf yearned to be closer to him. She was calling out to his wolf, but the poison wouldn't allow a full connection. I sensed the tension between us, a silent struggle as our wolves strained against the invisible barrier.

In the next instance, he leaned over me, his hand encircling my neck and his body pressing against mine. I let out a low squeak, shocked by his sudden movement. His eyes locked onto mine, revealing a mix of intensity and protectiveness swirling within them. I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin, igniting a spark of both fear and desire that coursed through me.

"What are you hiding from us, Butterfly?" He growled in my ear.

"Why can't I smell you or connect with your wolf? I've seen you shift, so why can't I sense her butterfly, huh? He asked me as he pressed more of his body against mine, tightening his grip around my neck.

I swallowed deeply, my heart pounding as I grappled to articulate my thoughts. "I... I can't," I managed to whisper, the truth tangled in my throat like a web, unsure if I should reveal the secrets that could either bind us or tear us apart. His gaze pierced me, seeking an answer that seemed elusive. I could feel the weight of his expectation pressing down, and the surrounding air seemed to thicken with unspoken words as I fought to find the courage to share what lay hidden within.

His eyes glazed over, and I knew he was once again speaking with his wolf. The thought scared me more than anything. Because I blocked out the connection, I couldn't feel what he was feeling, and my wolf couldn't connect with him to let me know anything.

The situation was dangerous. I took a shaky breath, my heart pounding in my chest as I considered the implications of his estrangement from me. With every passing moment, the distance between us felt insurmountable, and the weight of our silence pressed harder, threatening to crush me under its intensity.

He locked eyes with me again. In that fleeting moment, I saw a flicker of something—regret, longing, perhaps even a plea for understanding. My instincts urged me to bridge the chasm that had formed, but fear held me back, paralyzing me in a storm of uncertainty.

“Karman…." he started, but right then the sound of Xi and Xion coming down the stairs interrupted whatever he was going to say.

He pulled away from me, and I instantly felt a cold void where his warmth had been. Even though he had pulled away, his eye contact remained unwavering. I could see the unspoken words hanging between us, heavy with meaning and unresolved tension.

As Xi and Xion reached the bottom of the stairs, laughter filled the air, but all I could focus on was the intensity of his gaze, which seemed to promise that our conversation was far from over.

I quickly got myself together so that I wouldn't draw any attention to our situation. The last thing I need right now is Xion asking questions that I have no answers to regarding me and his best friend. As I took a deep breath, I steeled myself for whatever was coming next, determined to keep my composure.

"Are you ready to go, Karman?" Xi asked me.

I nodded, trying to mask the turmoil inside me with a confident smile. "Yeah, let's do this," I replied, hoping my voice didn't betray the anxiety swirling beneath the surface.

Lucky for me, Xion was too busy watching her to notice the tension between me and his best friend. Cole stood and headed towards the front door without saying a word aloud.

"This conversation isn't over, Butterfly," he mind-linked me. I felt a chill run down my spine at his words, a reminder of the unresolved feelings that hung heavily in the air.

As I followed him outside, I steeled myself for whatever lay ahead, knowing I had to confront not just my fears but also the complicated emotions that Cole stirred within me.