MY QUEEN

Chapter 6: Distance

As they walked side by side, the tension between them slowly eased. Kai focused on the sound of Elena’s cane tapping against the ground and the soft rustle of leaves in the evening breeze. But beneath the surface, his mind was still racing, torn between wanting to keep her close and fearing what it meant.

Elena began to speak, her voice light, as if trying to fill the silence. “So, what do you like to do in your spare time, Kai? I mean, when you’re not avoiding people?”

He chuckled dryly, but her question struck a nerve. “I don’t know. Just... run, I guess.”

“Run?” she echoed, her tone curious. “Like in the woods? Alone?”

“Yeah,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. “It helps clear my head.”

“Why?” she pressed, her head tilting as she tried to gauge his reaction. “What’s going on in your head that needs clearing?”

Kai felt his heart race again, the familiar panic creeping in. “It’s nothing, Elena. I just—”

“Is it something you’re scared of?” she interrupted, her tone gentle but persistent. “You can tell me, you know.”

He stopped abruptly, turning to face her, his patience fraying. “You don’t understand! You don’t know what you’re asking!”

Elena took a step back, surprise flashing across her face. “I’m just trying to help, Kai. I didn’t mean to—”

“No!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the trees. “You don’t get it! You shouldn’t want to help me! I’m not someone you want to get close to!”

The words hung in the air, heavy and raw. Kai felt a mix of anger and frustration surge through him, followed by an overwhelming wave of guilt as he watched her expression shift from confusion to hurt.

“I don’t want to be a burden,” he said, trying to backtrack, but the damage was done. “I don’t want to drag you into my life. You deserve better than that.”

Elena opened her mouth to respond, but Kai couldn’t bear to hear her insistence any longer. He felt the wolf within him clawing at the surface, demanding to be released, and the last thing he wanted was to lose control in front of her.

“I can’t do this,” he said, shaking his head. “I can’t be around you. It’s not safe for you to be with me.”

Before she could say anything more, Kai turned on his heel and ran, the sound of his feet pounding against the ground drowning out everything else. He sprinted deeper into the woods, ignoring the branches that snagged at his clothes and the underbrush that tugged at his legs. The panic coursing through him felt overwhelming, driving him further from the town and from Elena.

He pushed himself to run faster, needing to put as much distance between them as he could. It was a desperate flight, fueled by fear and guilt. He didn’t look back, didn’t slow down, even when his lungs burned and his heart raced.

But as he ran, he couldn’t shake the image of her face from his mind—the confusion, the hurt. He felt like a monster, and that thought fueled his speed.

Finally, he found a clearing, a place where the moonlight broke through the trees, illuminating the ground. He stopped, bending over to catch his breath, his heart pounding in his chest. But the quiet of the night surrounded him, amplifying the turmoil within.

Kai dropped to his knees, feeling the weight of his decision crashing over him. He had run from her, but why? Because he was scared? Because he feared what he might become?

In that moment, he realized he couldn’t run forever. The wolf inside him was a part of him, but so was this connection to Elena. He had to find a way to reconcile both—if he ever wanted to be with her again.