MY QUEEN

Chapter 5:Moon light

The days following Kai’s decision to leave Elena behind were harder than he expected. He kept to the woods, staying away from town as much as possible. But no matter how far he ran or how deeply he buried himself in the wilderness, thoughts of her tugged at him, pulling him back toward the life he was trying to escape.

Each night, as the town lights flickered in the distance, he’d wonder if she was out there—walking through the park, sitting on that bench where they had talked. He imagined her smiling, her face lifted toward the sky, and every time, his chest tightened. It was becoming unbearable.

Then, one evening, as he roamed the forest just beyond the edge of town, he caught something in the wind—a scent. Faint, but unmistakable.

Elena.

Kai froze, his heart pounding in his chest. Why was she out here? She rarely left the main streets of town, especially not this close to the woods. He strained his ears, listening, and then he heard it—the sound of her footsteps, slow and hesitant, along with the familiar tap of her cane.

Without thinking, he shifted into his human form, quickly throwing on the clothes he had hidden nearby for emergencies. He had to make sure she was okay, that she hadn’t wandered too far.

Kai moved quickly but silently through the trees, his instincts guiding him toward her. Soon, he saw her figure in the distance, carefully making her way along the dirt path. She seemed unsure, as if she knew she had gone too far but didn’t know how to turn back.

“Elena,” Kai called out, his voice sharper than he meant.

She stopped immediately, her head snapping in his direction. “Kai?” she asked, her voice a mix of relief and confusion. “Is that you?”

He hurried toward her, his heart racing. “What are you doing out here? It’s not safe.”

Elena’s brow furrowed, and she tapped her cane lightly on the ground. “I didn’t mean to come this far. I was walking, thinking, and I guess I lost track of where I was. But... you’re here. I didn’t expect to run into you.”

Kai’s jaw tightened. Of course, she hadn’t expected him. He was the one who’d been avoiding her. And yet, here they were, crossing paths again, like some force kept pulling them together.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” he said, trying to keep the worry out of his voice. “The woods... they can be dangerous.”

Elena smiled, though there was a hint of frustration in it. “Dangerous for a blind woman, you mean?”

“No,” Kai said quickly. “That’s not what I—”

“It’s okay,” she interrupted gently. “I know you’re worried, but I can handle myself. I’ve lived here for years.”

Kai shook his head, feeling the weight of the secret he carried. She doesn’t know, he reminded himself. She couldn’t possibly understand what real danger lurked in these woods—not just from animals or accidents, but from him.

“Still,” he muttered, his voice softer now, “you should go back.”

Elena tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. “I could say the same to you. You’ve been staying away, haven’t you?”

Kai’s heart skipped a beat. How did she know? He swallowed hard, glancing away from her. “I’ve just been... busy.”

She stepped closer, her cane still but her presence steady. “You don’t have to run, you know. I’m not going to push you for answers, but I can tell there’s something you’re not saying. And that’s okay. But... you don’t have to be alone, Kai. You don’t have to avoid me.”

Her words hit him like a wave, and he almost took a step back. She didn’t realize how close she was to the truth—how dangerous it was for her to even suggest that he didn’t have to be alone.

“I do,” he whispered, barely able to speak.

Elena’s brow furrowed in concern. “Why? Why are you so afraid to let anyone close?”

Kai clenched his fists, the familiar tension rising inside him. He couldn’t tell her. He couldn’t let her see. But the way she was looking at him—with such understanding, such openness—it made it harder to keep the truth locked away.

“I... I can’t explain,” he said finally, his voice rough. “But it’s better if I stay away. You don’t understand.”

Elena’s expression softened, but she didn’t back down. “Then help me understand. You don’t have to do this alone, Kai.”

Kai’s chest tightened. He wanted to believe her, wanted to let go of everything that kept him from her. But he couldn’t risk it. The wolf inside him wasn’t something she could handle, wasn’t something he could control. He couldn’t drag her into his world.

“I can’t,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s not that simple.”

Elena reached out, her hand finding his arm. Her touch was warm, grounding him in a way he hadn’t expected. “It’s okay. You don’t have to explain now. Just... don’t disappear again. Please.”

Kai looked down at her hand on his arm, feeling torn between the urge to run and the deep, unfamiliar desire to stay. He wanted to protect her, but what if that meant staying close instead of pushing her away?

“I’ll walk you home,” he said quietly, his voice thick with conflict.

Elena smiled softly, nodding. “I’d like that.”

And as they walked back toward town, side by side, Kai couldn’t help but wonder if he was making the biggest mistake of his life—or if, somehow, Elena was the one thing that might finally save him from himself.