The Silence Between Us
968 Words
Kiya POV
The lake shimmered under the fading evening sky. The water reflected the orange and purple hues of the sunset, creating a scene so peaceful that for a moment, I forgot all my worries. Tall trees surrounded the lake like silent guardians, their shadows stretching across the surface of the water.
Rita had brought me and Ken on a tour of the RB company property. Shelly tagged along too, bubbling with excitement like always. The residential area was hidden deep inside the forest, and behind it rose massive mountains that made the whole place look like something straight out of a fantasy novel.
I pulled my black hoodie tighter around myself as the cold air brushed against my skin. Huge rocks rested beside the lake, and after walking for so long, we finally settled on them to rest. My legs were tired. Ken looked just as exhausted as I felt. But Rita and Shelly? They looked perfectly fine, like this was their daily jogging track.
I pulled out my phone to click some pictures.
Click.
Click.
Selfies. Solo shots. The lake, the trees, the sky.
Then Shelly’s wicked grin appeared.
“Now couple pictures!” she announced.
Ken and Rita both froze.
Shelly began instructing them in dramatic poses like a professional photographer. They were clearly embarrassed, whispering protests to each other. Finally, Shelly crossed her arms and smirked.
“If you don’t pose properly, I’ll push both of you into the lake!”
That did the trick.
Reluctantly, they posed. I kept clicking as they stood close, awkward yet undeniably comfortable with each other. Ken suddenly slipped on one of the rocks, but Rita caught him instantly. Their faces were inches apart as they whispered something only they could hear.
Shelly leaned closer to me and whispered, “Let’s give the lovebirds some privacy.”
She pulled me away from the lakeside.
As we moved away, I heard soft but fast footsteps crunching against dry leaves. I turned around sharply—but nothing was there.
Then, from between the trees, Logan and Sam emerged.
Both of them were shirtless.
Messy hair. Bare chests. Muscles flexing as they walked.
What the hell? In this cold?
I immediately averted my gaze from Logan’s bare body, no matter how unfairly tempting it looked, and focused on my phone instead. My heart, however, had a completely different reaction.
Shelly and Sam exchanged a look.
“We have some work,” Sam said casually.
They turned and disappeared in another direction, leaving just me and Logan alone.
Alone.
With a shirtless Alpha in the middle of a forest.
The silence between us was thick and awkward. He walked ahead, and I followed him without a word. My feet were already screaming in protest. The forest seemed endless—giant trees everywhere, their branches blocking most of the moonlight.
Then suddenly, my foot twisted on a loose stone.
“Ouch!” I hissed as sharp pain shot through my ankle.
Logan turned instantly.
He looked at my foot and then at me.
“Get on my back.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“You can’t walk like that,” he said, pointing at my ankle.
I hesitated for only a second before nodding.
“Okay.”
I placed my hands on his broad shoulders. The moment my fingers touched his skin, his body tensed. I jumped onto his back, and he instantly grabbed my legs to keep me steady. His scent hit me hard—wood, rain, something wild and addictive.
I wrapped my arms around his neck nervously.
The spark.
That strange, wild electricity shot through my entire body again. My heartbeat raced, my breath hitched—and he was still shirtless.
Yet oddly, his closeness eased the pain in my ankle.
“Are you enjoying the stay here, Kiya?” he asked quietly as he walked.
“Not much.”
“May I know why?” he questioned.
“The network is very slow. It takes more time to download stuff than it used to back at my home.”
“If that’s the case, I can arrange a good Wi-Fi connection for you,” he said.
That would be very useful… I could hack into his company data. I could know more about him.
He suddenly went stiff.
His steps slowed. His gaze sharpened as he stared ahead into the darkness.
“I have some work,” he said after a moment. “I’ll drop you at Sam’s house. Shelly will be there.”
I simply nodded.
By the time we reached, it was completely dark. The doctor—same one who had treated Rita—was already there. I didn’t remember anyone calling her. Logan definitely hadn’t.
The doctor checked my ankle, sprayed some medicine, and gave me painkillers. The swelling reduced slightly.
---
Shelly turned on loud music as soon as the doctor left.
“Sorry for party rocking!” blasted through the room.
She began dancing wildly, making ridiculous moves that had me laughing for the first time since I arrived here. After a while, she collapsed on the couch beside me, completely exhausted.
Then she looked at me with mischievous eyes.
“So tell me, Kiya… do you like someone?”
“No.”
“What about Logan? Do you like him?”
“NO,” I replied instantly.
“But he is totally into you. I can tell that.”
My eyes widened. Heat rushed to my cheeks.
“Doesn’t he have a girlfriend?” I asked quickly.
“Nooooo… he doesn’t have any,” she sang playfully.
She poked my arm.
“You like him. You’re a liar.”
“NO,” I said again.
But the smile that slowly formed on my lips betrayed me.
And Shelly saw it.
- Writer
