Chapter Twenty Six- The Distance I Couldn't Keep

Kael’s POV

By the time we returned to the cabin, the sun had disappeared completely.

Darkness had settled over the forest, swallowing the path behind us.

I didn’t like it, not after what we’d found.

The piece of Ironcrest fabric was still in my pocket.

I hadn’t told Aria everything that was running through my mind, but I didn’t need to.

Someone had known where we were and had followed us, and until I knew who that person was, I couldn’t consider this place safe.

The moment we stepped inside, I locked the door, then I checked it again.

Aria watched me from behind.

I moved to the windows and checked every latch.

I pulled the curtains shut.

Then I walked through every room, checking the back door, the side entrance, the storage room, even the small windows near the kitchen.

Nothing was open and nothing could be opened from outside without making enough noise to alert me.

Only when I was satisfied did I finally breathe.

Aria stood in the middle of the sitting room, watching me.

“Are you done?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“You checked everything twice.” She asked innocently.

“Three times.”

She sighed. “You don’t have to be so worried.”

“I do.” I straightened slightly.

Her expression softened slightly.“Because of the fabric?”

“Because someone came close enough to leave it here.” I explained.

She looked toward the window. “Do you think they’ll come back?”

“I don’t know.”

Her shoulders stiffened and I immediately regretted saying it.

I stepped closer. “But you’re safe.”

She looked at me.

“I’ll make sure of that.” I patted my chest twice.

There was something in her eyes. Not fear exactly, but something quieter and something I couldn’t identify.

I walked toward the fireplace and added another log.

“We’re leaving tomorrow.”

She immediately shook her head.“No.”

I turned. “Aria.”

“I don’t want to leave.” She frowned.

“That’s not negotiable.” I looked away.

“It is to me.”

“This place isn’t safe anymore.” I insisted.

“Neither is Ironcrest.”

“At least Ironcrest has hundreds of warriors and hundreds of people.”

She crossed her arms. “Here, it’s just us.”

I stared at her. “Exactly.”

She looked away. I didn’t understand.

“Aria, someone found us here.” I massaged my forehead. “Then why don’t you want to leave?”

She was silent. For several seconds, I thought she wouldn’t answer.

Then she looked at me. “Because I like it here.”

I frowned. “The cabin?”

She shook her head. “Not just the cabin.”

My heart gave a strange beat. “What, then?”

She hesitated.

“This.” She gestured between us. “Us being here.”

I didn’t know how to respond. She continued before I could say anything.

“I’ve learned things about you here.”

My jaw tightened. “Like what?”

“You cook.”

I almost smiled. “Apparently.”

“You hate being surrounded by people sometimes, and you hide in the forest when you need to think.”

“I don’t hate them. You make it sound worse.”

She smiled faintly. “You don’t like the crown as much as I thought.”

I looked down. “And?”

“You care about the pack and You care about me.”

“That’s my responsibility.” I nodded.

My eyes lifted to hers.

She swallowed. “I didn’t know that before.”

The room suddenly felt smaller.

“Aria…”

“I’m not saying everything is suddenly okay, and I’m not saying I forgive you.” She looked down. “But I like knowing this side of you.”

Something inside my chest tightened.

I’d spent years being the person everyone expected me to be. The Beta’s son, the warrior, the Alpha, the future husband, and the husband.

But here, away from the pack, I had somehow become simply Kael and she had noticed.

I looked toward the fire. “We still have to leave tomorrow.”

Her expression fell. “I know.”

I wanted to tell her we didn’t, and that I wanted to tell her we could stay another day.

That I liked having her here too, and that waking up and seeing her in the cabin had been the most peaceful I’d felt in years.

But I couldn’t, not when I knew someone had found us.

So I only nodded. “Tomorrow.”

She turned toward the bedroom. “I’m going to shower.”

“All right.” She disappeared.

I remained in the sitting room. My wolf had been restless since the moment we’d returned.

Not because of danger, but because of her.

Her scent filled the cabin, her heat was still present, though weaker than before.

Every breath reminded me that she was my mate.

My wolf didn’t care about boundaries.

It didn’t care about my guilt, and It didn’t care about the promises I’d made.

It only knew one thing that she was my mate and that she was mine .

I closed my eyes. “Stay quiet.”

My wolf growled but I ignored it.

A few minutes later, I heard the bathroom door open.

I looked up and Aria stepped into the room.

She was wearing a simple nightdress, her damp hair falling over her shoulders.

I immediately looked away. Not because she wasn’t beautiful because she was far too beautiful.

And tonight, with her heat still lingering, my restraint was already being tested.

She noticed. “Kael?”

I looked at her face. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Are you sure?” I pressed further.

“I’m sure.”

I stood. “I’ll sleep in the sitting room.”

She frowned. “Why?”

“Because it’s safer.” I replied .

“Safer?” Her brows furrowed.

“For you.”

Her expression changed. “You’re avoiding me.”

“I’m giving you space.” I said immediately.

“I didn’t ask for space.”

My heart stopped as she walked closer.

“I want you to stay.” She whispered.

I swallowed. “Aria…”

“Stay in the room.” She demanded.

“I’ll sleep outside.” I threatened.

“No.” She frowned.

“I think that’s better.”

She shook her head. “Why?”

I looked directly at her. “Because you’re in heat.”

Her cheeks flushed. “And?”

“And I don’t trust my wolf.” I blurted out.

That honesty seemed to surprise her.

I continued. “I trust myself. But your scent makes things difficult.”

She studied my face. “You wouldn’t hurt me, then stay.”

“Aria.”

“I don’t want to sleep alone.” She tugged at my shirt.

Those words destroyed the last of my argument that I looked away

She stepped closer. “I know you’re trying to give me space, but I don’t want space tonight.”

My wolf surged.

I clenched my fists. “You’re making this difficult.”

She gave me a tiny smile. “Maybe.”

I stared at her, then sighed.

“Fine.” My smile widened. “But I’m sleeping on the far side.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“And you stay on yours.” I warned.“And if you feel uncomfortable, tell me.”

“I will.” She nodded.

I walked into the bedroom. The bed suddenly looked much smaller than it had earlier.

I climbed onto the far edge and deliberately kept as much distance between us as possible.

I turned my back to her. I felt safe and controlled, but my wolf wasn’t happy.

He wanted me closer but I ignored him.

A few minutes passed and I felt the mattress move.

I remained still as Aria shifted closer.

I closed my eyes hoping she wouldn’t move again.

Now I could feel the warmth of her body.

My breathing changed and my wolf growled.

I tightened my jaw as she moved even closer until her head rested near my shoulder.

I didn’t move.

“Kael?” She whispered.

“Yes?” I replied

“Are you awake?”

“Yes.” I replied.

“You’re tense.” She chuckled.

“I’m fine.” I lied.

“No, you’re not.”

I almost laughed. “Neither are you.”

She was quiet. Then she whispered, “I just don’t want to be alone.”

Something inside me softened.

I turned my head slightly and noticed she was looking at me.

Her eyes were tired, vulnerable, and not seductive or trying to provoke me.

She simply wanted someone beside her, so I forced my wolf down.

“You can stay.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

She settled beside me and our shoulders touched.

My entire body suddenly went rigid.

My wolf pushed forward again. I mentally shoved him back because I didn’t want our first sex to be like this.

Not because of heat or because instinct demanded it.

If Aria ever chose me, I wanted it to be because she wanted me. Not because her wolf forced her toward me.

I breathed slowly.

Eventually, my wolf quieted and I looked down.

Aria had fallen asleep.

Her face was peaceful and her fingers were resting loosely against the blanket between us.

I stared at her for a long time. Then I carefully pulled the blanket higher over her shoulder.

She shifted closer in her sleep and her head rested against my chest.

My heart nearly stopped.

My wolf went wild but I didn’t move, I simply stared at the ceiling.

This was dangerous. Not because I would hurt her because I knew I wouldn’t.

But because every second beside her made it harder to remember why I had spent years convincing myself that I could live without her.

She had left, she had chosen someone else, and she had broken my heart without even knowing she had done it.

And yet here she was sleeping against me as though I was somewhere safe.

I looked down at her. My fingers hovered near her hair.

I wanted to touch her, but I didn’t.

Instead, I whispered so softly she couldn’t hear me.

“I won’t take anything you don’t give me.”

Her breathing remained steady.

I closed my eyes. For once, my wolf didn’t argue.

He simply curled beside my consciousness and for the first time in years, I allowed myself to wonder what it would feel like if Aria eventually chose me freely.

Not because Lucien had chosen me, not because the elders expected it, or because we were mates.

But because she looked at me and saw Kael. Just Kael.

The man beneath the Alpha, the man she was slowly beginning to discover, and perhaps, one day, the man she might willingly love.

I didn’t know if that day would ever come but tonight, she was beside me and that was enough.