The One I Was Meant To Fear

The distance between them

Chapter Twelve

Daniella woke with a smile.

For a few seconds, she forgot everything else.

She remembered the river.

The stars reflected in the water.

Kelvin's smile.

Their first kiss.

She touched her lips and immediately laughed at herself.

"Why am I smiling like this?"

She got out of bed and dressed quickly.

For the first time in years, she was looking forward to seeing someone.

Kelvin.

That thought alone made her smile again.

But when she entered the dining hall, Kelvin wasn't there.

Daniella looked around.

Mia noticed.

"Looking for someone?"

"No."

Mia smiled.

"You didn't even let me finish."

Daniella rolled her eyes.

"I was just wondering where Kelvin is."

"He was up early."

"Where?"

"Training grounds, I think."

Daniella nodded.

"Thanks."

She grabbed something to eat and headed outside.

She found him exactly where Mia had said.

Kelvin was alone in the training grounds, striking one of the wooden posts.

Again.

And again.

He stopped when he noticed her.

"Daniella."

She smiled.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

Something was wrong.

His voice was different.

Not angry.

Just distant.

She walked closer.

"Did you sleep?"

"Not much."

"Me neither."

He looked at her.

For a moment, something almost like a smile appeared.

Then it disappeared.

Daniella frowned.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

She sighed.

"You really need a new answer."

Kelvin looked away.

"I have things to deal with."

"Okay."

She hesitated.

"About last night..."

His expression immediately changed.

Daniella's heart skipped.

"I wanted to say—"

"You should forget about it."

She stopped.

"What?"

Kelvin turned away from her.

"Last night shouldn't have happened."

Daniella stared at him.

The smile disappeared from her face.

"Why?"

"It was a mistake."

The words hurt more than she expected.

"A mistake?"

"Yes."

She searched his face.

"But you kissed me too."

"I know."

"And you said you were okay."

"I know."

"Then why are you acting like it meant nothing?"

Kelvin clenched his fists.

Because it meant too much.

That was the problem.

He could still remember the way she'd looked at him beside the river.

The trust in her eyes.

The warmth of that moment.

And now, standing this close to her, he could feel something else.

A sharp instinct he had spent years learning to control.

Her scent.

Her heartbeat.

The sound of her breathing.

He immediately stepped back.

Daniella noticed.

"Why do you keep doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"Moving away from me."

Kelvin didn't answer.

She took one step toward him.

He took another step back.

"Kelvin."

"Don't."

She froze.

His voice had been sharper this time.

Daniella's expression changed.

"What did I do?"

"Nothing."

"Then why are you treating me like this?"

Kelvin looked away.

He couldn't explain.

He couldn't tell her that the vampire side of him was reacting to her presence in a way that frightened him.

He couldn't tell her that he was afraid one moment of weakness could destroy everything.

So he chose the only option he could think of.

Distance.

"You need to stay away from me."

Daniella stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because it's better this way."

"For who?"

"For you."

She shook her head.

"You don't get to decide what's better for me."

Kelvin's expression softened.

"I know."

"Then stop deciding for me."

He remained silent.

Daniella swallowed.

"Was last night really a mistake?"

Kelvin wanted to tell her no.

Instead, he forced himself to say:

"Yes."

The word seemed to break something inside her.

She looked away.

"Okay."

Kelvin watched her turn.

"Daniella—"

She stopped.

He almost called her back.

Almost.

But he couldn't.

She walked away.

Kelvin remained in the training grounds, staring at the empty space where she'd been standing.

His hands trembled slightly.

He closed his eyes.

"Control yourself."

He repeated the words quietly.

Again.

"Control yourself."

---

Daniella returned to her room.

She closed the door and sat on the edge of her bed.

She didn't cry.

At least, she told herself she wouldn't.

She had survived twelve years of being treated as though her feelings didn't matter.

She wasn't going to let one person hurt her like that.

But Kelvin wasn't just one person anymore.

That was what frightened her.

She had begun trusting him.

She had begun believing that perhaps she could have something normal.

Maybe even happiness.

And now he had suddenly decided that everything between them was a mistake.

She looked down at the silver pendant around her neck.

She thought about taking it off.

Instead, she held it tightly.

A knock sounded.

"Daniella?"

Mia.

"I'm fine."

The door opened slightly.

"You don't sound fine."

"I said I'm fine."

Mia stepped inside.

She looked at Daniella for a moment.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Daniella."

She finally looked up.

"Kelvin said last night was a mistake."

Mia's expression changed.

"What?"

Daniella gave a small, humorless laugh.

"Apparently, I misunderstood everything."

Mia sat beside her.

"Maybe he has a reason."

"Then he should tell me."

"I agree."

Daniella looked toward the window.

"I thought he was different."

"He is."

"How do you know?"

Mia hesitated.

"Because I've known him for years."

Daniella shook her head.

"I don't know him at all."

---

Across the pack, Kelvin stood in his study.

Lucas entered without knocking.

"You did it."

Kelvin looked at him.

"What?"

"You pushed her away."

Kelvin said nothing.

Lucas sighed.

"How bad was it?"

"Bad."

"Did you lose control?"

"No."

"Then why are you acting like you've already failed?"

Kelvin looked toward the window.

"Because I felt it getting stronger."

Lucas became serious.

"You need to leave the pack for a few days."

Kelvin shook his head.

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because the vampires are watching."

Lucas nodded.

"And Daniella?"

Kelvin looked down.

"I need to stay away from her."

"Then make sure she understands why."

"I can't tell her."

Lucas frowned.

"You can't keep protecting her with lies."

Kelvin's jaw tightened.

"You don't understand."

"I understand more than you think."

Kelvin looked at him.

"If she discovers what I am, she might never trust me again."

Lucas was quiet.

"And if she discovers you lied to her?"

Kelvin had no answer.

---

That evening, Daniella went to the garden alone.

The fountain was quiet.

She sat beside it and stared at the water.

Her mind returned to the river.

The stars.

Kelvin's voice.

You deserve nights like this.

She closed her eyes.

Then she heard footsteps.

She knew who it was without looking.

Kelvin.

He stopped several feet away.

"Daniella."

She didn't turn.

"What?"

"I wanted to apologize."

"For what?"

"For the way I spoke to you."

She finally looked at him.

"Did you mean it?"

Kelvin hesitated.

"No."

Her expression softened slightly.

"Then why did you say it?"

He couldn't answer.

She stood.

"You keep saying you want to protect me, but you don't understand that being shut out hurts too."

"I know."

"No, you don't."

She walked past him.

Kelvin reached out instinctively, then stopped himself.

"Daniella."

She turned.

"I need space."

He nodded.

"Okay."

She walked away.

Kelvin watched her disappear.

He had wanted to keep her safe.

Instead, he had made her feel abandoned.

And somewhere deep inside him, the part he feared most was still whispering.

Stay away from her.

Because every time he got closer, controlling it became harder.

And Kelvin was beginning to realize that protecting Daniella from himself might be the hardest thing he had ever done.