Chapter 18:The Distance Between Us
1047 Words
The forest felt colder that night.
Not because of the wind.
Not because of the shadows.
But because something had changed between them.
Elara stood at the edge of the clearing, staring out into the dark trees. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, like she was trying to hold herself together.
The truth about Kael kept replaying in her mind.
He’s tied to your power.
When you lose control… he’s the first one it affects.
Her chest tightened.
She couldn’t stop seeing it.
The vision.
Kael on the ground.
Not moving.
Because of her.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
His voice.
Behind her.
Soft—but familiar.
Elara closed her eyes briefly.
Of course he would come.
“Kael…” she said quietly, without turning.
A pause.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Silence.
Then—
“I could say the same thing about you.”
She almost smiled.
Almost.
But it didn’t last.
“Go back,” she said instead.
That got his attention.
“You’re serious?”
She nodded slightly.
Still not looking at him.
“You shouldn’t be near me right now.”
A long pause.
“Or what?” he asked.
Her hands tightened against her arms.
“Or I might hurt you.”
The words came out sharper than she meant.
But she didn’t take them back.
Kael stepped closer.
“You won’t.”
“Don’t say that like you know,” she snapped, turning to face him now.
His eyes met hers instantly.
Steady.
Unshaken.
“I do know,” he said.
Elara shook her head.
“No… you don’t.”
Her voice dropped, quieter now—but heavier.
“You didn’t see what I saw.”
Something flickered in his expression.
But he didn’t interrupt.
“I saw a future,” she continued, her voice trembling slightly, “where I lose control… completely.”
A pause.
“And you were there.”
Kael’s jaw tightened slightly.
“Of course I was.”
Elara’s chest tightened again.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You don’t understand.”
She took a step back.
Away from him.
“You were on the ground, Kael.”
Silence.
“Not moving.”
Another step back.
“And I…”
Her voice broke.
“I was the reason.”
The words hung in the air between them.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Kael didn’t speak right away.
When he did—
His voice was softer.
“That hasn’t happened.”
“But it could,” she said quickly.
“And I’m not going to let it.”
A pause.
“By pushing me away?”
Elara didn’t answer.
Because yes.
That was exactly what she was doing.
Kael let out a quiet breath.
“That’s not how this works.”
“It is now,” she said firmly.
Her eyes met his again—but this time, there was distance in them.
“From now on… we train separately.”
Kael blinked.
“What?”
“I mean it,” she continued.
“You stay away from me.”
A pause.
“Especially when I’m training.”
His expression hardened slightly.
“You don’t get to decide that alone.”
“I do if it keeps you alive,” she shot back.
Silence.
The tension between them snapped tight.
“You think I need protecting?” he said, his voice lower now.
“I know you do,” she replied.
That hit.
Hard.
Kael stepped closer again.
“And what about you?” he asked.
Elara frowned. “What about me?”
“Who protects you?”
She hesitated.
Because she didn’t have an answer.
“I’ll figure it out,” she said finally.
Kael shook his head.
“That’s not how this works,” he repeated.
“Yes, it is,” she insisted.
“No,” he said firmly.
A step closer.
“We’re connected whether you like it or not.”
Her breath caught slightly.
“And if you try to shut me out,” he continued,
“you’re not protecting me…”
A pause.
“You’re making it worse.”
Elara’s chest tightened again.
“That’s not true…”
“It is,” he said.
His voice softened slightly.
“You think distance will weaken the bond?”
A small shake of his head.
“It won’t.”
Silence.
“It’ll just make it unstable.”
That word again.
Unstable.
Elara looked away for a moment.
Because part of her knew…
He might be right.
But fear was louder.
“I don’t care,” she said quietly.
Kael went still.
“I’d rather it be unstable than lose you,” she added.
That changed everything.
The anger in his expression faded—
Replaced with something deeper.
Something softer.
“You’re not going to lose me,” he said.
Elara shook her head.
“You don’t know that.”
“And you don’t know that you will,” he replied.
Silence stretched between them again.
Then—
Kael took one final step forward.
Close enough now.
“Elara…”
Her name came out quieter this time.
“You don’t get to push me away just because you’re scared.”
Her breath hitched.
“I’m not scared,” she said quickly.
He held her gaze.
“Yes… you are.”
And this time—
She didn’t deny it.
Because it was true.
She was terrified.
Not of the Alpha.
Not of the power.
But of hurting him.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“I don’t want to be the reason you fall…”
Kael’s expression softened completely now.
“Then don’t be,” he said gently.
Elara blinked, confused.
“What?”
“Don’t lose control,” he said simply.
A pause.
“And don’t do it alone.”
Silence.
Her chest rose and fell slowly.
Everything in her wanted to believe him.
But fear still lingered.
“I need time,” she said finally.
Kael nodded slowly.
“Then take it.”
A pause.
“But I’m not going anywhere.”
Elara looked at him one last time.
Then turned away.
Not running.
Not fully leaving.
But creating space.
Distance.
Even if it hurt.
Because in her mind—
Distance meant safety.
Even if…
It didn’t feel like it.
- Writer
