Unforseen distance

Selvara’s POV

 

Something sharp burned into my ankle.

My eyes snapped open. For a moment I didn’t even know where I was. The sky above was black. My back hurt from the hard ground. Ouch, my leg

I sucked in a breath so hard my chest hurt. My leg was stuck. I tried to pull, and pain shot up like fire. The more I yanked, the tighter it bit. My throat went dry. It was a trap. Some stupid iron trap that hunters used for rogues.

“Moon Goddess,” I whispered, biting my lip until it bled.

I pushed at the metal with both hands and tried to wrench it open. My palms tore, skin scraping raw, but it wouldn’t move. My heartbeat went wild. If someone found me here, if Queen Celine knew I’d been sneaking out...

The thought of it sent shivers down my spine.

“No, no, no,” I muttered under my breath, pulling again.  The trap screeched a little, my blood smeared over the edges.

Finally, with all my weight thrown back, the trap snapped loose just enough. I dragged my leg out, sobbing when the iron teeth ripped free. I fell backward onto the grass, chest heaving. Blood seeped fast down my shin, soaking into the earth.

It hurt. It hurt so bad I wanted to scream, but I pressed my hand to my mouth. 

I tried to stand and nearly collapsed again. My leg burned, my ankle swollen and cut deep. I had to limp. Taking one step, then another, dragging myself towards the Pack house. 

By the time I reached the back wall, I was shaking. The house was now dark and silent, I pressed my hand to the wall to steady myself, biting down another cry as I climbed the little slope toward the servant’s entrance.

The wooden door creaked when I pushed. I froze, my chest stopped, but no one stirred inside. I slipped through the hall, leaning against the wall. The corridor seemed too long tonight as I dragged my foot, blood dripping with every step.

I heard a low voice from upstairs which was where the Alpha's quarter was. I immediately knew it was Queen Celine. Of course, I recognize her voice. It turned out to have been coming from Zyros's room

 

I know I shouldn’t be there, I should just keep limping to bed, hiding my wounds before anyone saw, but I'm pretty nosy. I tiptoed closer, taking my steps silently, and praying the floor wouldn’t groan under me.

The door was cracked just enough. I leaned closer, my heart slamming harder than my wound.

“…you are making a mistake,” that was Queen Celine's voice 

Zyros didn’t answer right away. I pressed my ear to the wood a little harder.

“You think no one notices,” she went on, sharper now. “But they do. They’re already talking.” I paused a bit, sensing where the discussion was going. 

“Talking about what?” Zyros’s voice finally came, a little bit lower.

"About you,” she spat. “About the way you look at her. About the way you protect her.” My knees buckled, and I caught myself before I fell.

Zyros didn’t say anything. He was just silent, but to me, that silence said everything.

“You want to risk your position as Alpha for that unfortunate girl?” she sneered. “Do you remember what I told you when you first came back? One wrong step and you will lose it all. The council will not forgive you. Their eyes are on you.”

I pressed a trembling hand against my mouth, trying to steady my breathing.

"Selvara...” Zyros started, but Queen Celine cut him off.

"Don’t say her name.” Her tone cracked like a whip. “She is nothing. Nothing but a burden you’ve been too soft to get rid of. Do you want to lose your throne? Do you want to ruin yourself because of her?”

He still didn't say anything, and that hurt me more, I don't know why. I staggered back a step, pain lancing my leg. The wall scraped my shoulder as I leaned against it, fighting to stay upright.

“Do what’s right, Zyros,” Queen Celine finished, her voice softer now. “If you keep this up, you won’t just lose your position, you’ll destroy the whole pack with you.”

I couldn’t stay another second. I dragged myself down the hall, limping heavily, my own tears blurring everything. By the time I reached my room, my body gave out. I fell against the bed, clutching my leg. The blood had soaked through everything, the cuts deep, but the pain inside me was worse.

Her words played again and again in my head. I was nothing, unfortunate, and just a burden. I shut my eyes, pressing my palms to my ears, but I couldn’t block it out.

What terrified me most was Zyros’s silence. Because silence could mean she was right. 

The room was dark, but I didn’t bother with the lamp. I curled into myself on the bed, dragging the blanket over though it did nothing for the shaking in my body.

Maybe Queen Celine was right. Maybe I was ruining things for him. He had a whole pack depending on him, the council, the throne of Alpha. And me? I was the lowest of omegas.

The more I thought of it, the smaller I felt.

By the time morning came, I hadn’t slept. My eyes burned, swollen from holding back tears. I could hear the voices of other Omegas; awake, laughing, gossiping, going about their chores. I couldn’t move. I stayed curled, pretending to sleep. I knew they would talk about the lined up blood in the hall once they saw it. 

I didn't know when I finally slept off. When I opened my eyes, the room was dark, but I wasn’t alone. A tall figure was standing at the edge of my bed.

My heart jumped into my throat. I scrambled upright, clutching the blanket like a shield. “Zyros?” My voice shook. “What are you doing here? If Queen Celine finds you.." He didn’t move closer. He just stood there. 

“I came to make something clear,” he said finally. His voice was calm.

I blinked at him, my chest tightening. “What...what do you mean?”

His eyes met mine. “I know what this is. I know you’re my mate.” My heart was now beating very fast.

“But,” his jaw clenched, his voice cut harder, “it ends here. We’re going to stop talking. I’ll keep my distance, and you will do the same. Stay out of my way, Selvara.”

My lips parted, but nothing came out. My wolf clawed inside me, crying at his words, my body was frozen.

He turned slightly as if already leaving, then paused. His gaze dropped, just for a second, to my leg where the bandage peeked under the blanket. His jaw tightened again, but he looked away fast, as if it meant nothing.

Without another word, he pulled the door open and stepped out, leaving the room with a cold face. I sat there staring at the empty space he left behind, the words playing in my head over and over again. 

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