The Distance That Hurts

Seraphina’s POV Something had changed. I felt it the moment I woke up. The room was the same. The warmth was the same. The safety was still there. But he wasn’t. Rowan hadn’t come. I sat up slowly, my fingers tightening around the edge of the blanket as an unfamiliar feeling settled in my chest. Disappointment. I frowned slightly at myself. Why did that matter? It shouldn’t. This wasn’t my home. He wasn’t— I stopped that thought immediately. A soft knock came, and a young maid stepped in, carrying a tray. “Alpha Rowan asked me to bring this,” she said politely, placing the food down. I nodded. “Thank you.” She hesitated. Then glanced at me with something curious in her eyes. “You’re important,” she said suddenly. I blinked. “What?” She smiled slightly. “He never sends others. He always comes himself.” My chest tightened. Before I could respond, she bowed her head and left. The room felt quieter after that. Too quiet. I stared at the tray but didn’t touch it. So… he was avoiding me. The thought came quickly. And it hurt more than it should have. By midday, I couldn’t stay inside any longer. I needed air. Space. Something to clear my head. The moment I stepped outside, I felt it again— The stares. Wolves paused as I passed, their gazes lingering a little too long. Whispers followed behind me. “She’s the one…” “The Alpha brought her himself…” “Why her?” I lowered my gaze, pretending not to hear. But I did. Every word. Every question. Every doubt. My chest tightened again. This wasn’t my place. No matter how safe it felt… I didn’t belong here. I turned a corner— And stopped. Rowan stood ahead. Speaking with Lucian. My heart betrayed me instantly, picking up speed. For a second… I just stood there. Watching him. The way he carried himself… calm, controlled… untouchable. Like nothing affected him. Like I didn’t affect him. Something inside me sank. As if sensing me, his gaze lifted. Our eyes met. Time slowed. For a brief moment… everything else faded. It was just us. That same pull. That same unspoken tension. But this time— He looked away. First. Like it meant nothing. Like I meant nothing. The feeling hit harder than I expected. I swallowed, forcing my expression to remain neutral as I stepped forward. “You’re awake,” he said, his tone calm. Distant. Too distant. “I’ve been awake,” I replied quietly. A flicker of something crossed his eyes—but it disappeared too quickly for me to understand. “I was busy,” he said. I nodded. Of course he was. He’s an Alpha. Why would he have time for me? “I understand,” I said. But my voice didn’t sound convincing. Not even to me. Silence stretched between us. Awkward. Cold. Nothing like before. “I didn’t mean to be a burden,” I added softly, looking down. The moment the words left my mouth— Everything shifted. Rowan’s expression darkened. In one step, he was in front of me. Close. Too close. “You’re not a burden,” he said, his voice low and firm. My breath caught. The intensity in his eyes made it impossible to look away. “Don’t say that again.” The way he said it… It wasn’t just correction. It was something deeper. Something protective. My heart raced. “I just thought—” “You thought wrong.” His tone softened slightly at the end, but the tension remained. Heavy. Real. For a moment… neither of us moved. And then— He stepped back. Again. Creating that distance. Like he needed it. Like I did. “I have things to handle,” he said, his voice controlled once more. Of course he did. I nodded slowly. “Right.” And just like that— The moment ended. He walked past me without another word. Leaving me standing there… confused. Hurt. And trying to understand something I wasn’t ready to face. Because the truth was becoming clearer with every passing moment— It wasn’t his distance that hurt the most. It was the fact that I cared.