Mate, I found You

The Distance Between Us

Chapter 4: The Distance Between Us

Sonia’s Perspective

The classroom was quiet, but I could feel someone staring at me. A strange sensation settled in my chest, making me uneasy. I ignored it and kept my eyes on the documents in front of me. I had no time to be distracted.

Then, a deep voice cut through the silence.

“Hey.”

I looked up.

Fred.

The new student.

His eyes were piercing, golden and intense, filled with something I couldn’t understand. He stood in front of my desk, looking down at me. His presence was overwhelming, almost suffocating. I swallowed, forcing myself to meet his gaze.

“Yes?” I asked, my voice even.

He hesitated for a moment, then said, “You’re good at bandaging wounds.”

I blinked. Of all the things he could have said, that was not what I expected.

I frowned. “How do you—” Then it hit me. The injured wolf. The one I had helped.

It was him.

A part of me had suspected it, but now I was sure. My heartbeat quickened. He had found out.

“You were the one I helped,” I murmured.

Fred nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. “Yes. And I owe you my life.”

I didn’t know what to say. No one ever thanked me. No one ever noticed me, let alone appreciated me. But here he was, an Alpha’s son, saying I had saved him.

For some reason, his words made me feel warm inside.

“You don’t owe me anything,” I said quickly, looking away. “I was just doing what anyone would do.”

“That’s not true.” His voice was firm. “Most people wouldn’t have bothered.”

I felt my face heat up, but before I could respond, the bell rang.

Fred hesitated as if he wanted to say more, but then he simply nodded and walked away.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.

My heart was racing.

I needed to stay away from him.

****

I was putting my books in my bag when I heard the sound of heels clicking against the floor.

I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

Isabella Sinclair.

She stopped in front of my desk, her arms crossed, her lips curved into a smirk.

“I see you’ve caught someone’s attention,” she said, her voice dripping with amusement.

I sighed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, don’t play dumb,” she scoffed. “Fred. He actually spoke to you. Complimented you, even.” She leaned down slightly. “Did that make you feel special?”

I clenched my fists. I didn’t want to deal with this.

“I don’t care about him,” I said, keeping my voice calm.

Isabella laughed. “Please. Do you think someone like you stands a chance with an Alpha’s son?” She took a step closer, lowering her voice. “You’re nothing, Sonia. Just a pathetic little nobody.”

Anger boiled inside me, but I refused to let her see it.

“Like I said,” I repeated, “I don’t care about him.”

Isabella’s smirk disappeared. For a second, I thought she was going to walk away. But then—

Slap!

Pain exploded across my cheek.

I gasped, stumbling back slightly. My skin burned from the force of her hand.

I glared at her. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

She raised her hand again, her eyes filled with rage. “You need to learn your place—”

A strong hand caught her wrist.

Fred.

His golden eyes burned with fury as he held Isabella’s wrist in a tight grip.

“That’s enough,” he growled.

Isabella’s face paled. “Fred, I—”

He let go of her wrist, his expression cold. “Leave.”

Isabella swallowed hard before turning on her heel and walking away, her face red with embarrassment.

I touched my stinging cheek and turned to Fred.

“I could have handled it,” I muttered.

His jaw tightened. “I know.”

Then why did he step in?

I didn’t ask. I just grabbed my bag and walked away.

I didn’t see his expression as I left.

Avoiding Fred

After that day, I tried my best to avoid Fred.

I wasn’t stupid. I knew what Isabella was implying. Fred was powerful, the son of an Alpha. And I? I was nothing.

There was no point getting close to someone like him. It would only lead to trouble.

So, I stayed away.

I ignored his glances. I avoided sitting near him. I never spoke to him again.

But even as I tried to push him away… I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

****

My 18th birthday was approaching.

Sophia, a girl from my class, was throwing a party at the bar where I worked. She invited everyone, including me.

I didn’t invite Fred.

I told myself it was because I didn’t care.

But maybe… maybe it was because I was afraid.

Afraid of what I would feel if he showed up.

The night of the party, I drank. A lot.

I let the music drown out my thoughts.

At some point, I stumbled into the restroom to splash water on my face.

That’s when it happened.

A group of drunk customers followed me in.

“Hey, sweetheart,” one of them slurred, blocking my exit.

Fear crept up my spine. “Move.”

One of them grabbed my wrist. “Come on, don’t be like that.”

I tried to pull away, but there were too many of them.

Panic rose in my chest.

Then, a deep growl filled the air.

In an instant, the men were thrown aside like rag dolls.

Fred stood in front of me, his chest heaving with rage.

He grabbed the man closest to me by the throat and slammed him against the wall. “Touch her again,” he growled, “and you’ll regret it.”

The man whimpered in fear.

Fred let him go, and they all scrambled out of the restroom.

I stared at him, my vision hazy from the alcohol.

“Fred…”

He turned to me, his golden eyes dark with concern. “Are you okay?”

I didn’t answer.

I just grabbed his face and kissed him.

It was desperate, messy, fueled by alcohol and emotion.

For a moment, he didn’t move.

Then, he kissed me back.

Heat flooded through my body.

I forgot everything—Isabella, the past, the pain.

All that mattered was this moment.

Then, a gasp.

I pulled away and turned.

Isabella.

She had seen everything.

My heart sank.

Fred tensed beside me. “Sonia—”

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “This was a mistake.”

The warmth in his eyes disappeared, replaced by something else.

Anger.

“You don’t mean that,” he said, his voice sharp.

I turned away. “I do.”

I walked out of the restroom, my heart aching.

Fred didn’t follow me.

And for some reason, that hurt the most.

****

That night, I walked home alone.

That was my second mistake.

I never saw them coming.

A cloth covered my mouth. Darkness swallowed me.

I woke up in a dungeon, chains around my wrists.

Pain.

Screams.

Blood.

I was going to die.

Then—

Something inside me snapped.

A surge of power rushed through my body.

My wolf.

She awakened.

And I let her take control.

The men who tortured me never stood a chance.

I barely remembered what happened.

When it was over, I stood among bodies.

Blood covered my hands.

Then, exhaustion took over.

I collapsed.

Darkness claimed me again.