The distance didn't help.
If anything, it made everything worse.
Before, at least I knew where he stood—watching, warning, pushing. Now… there was nothing. No tension-filled encounters. No quiet confrontations. No sharp words disguised as calm advice.
Just absence.
And I couldn't stop noticing it.
"You're doing it again."
I exhaled slowly. "If you're going to keep saying that, at least be specific."
Kairo stood by the door, arms loosely crossed, watching me with that same unreadable expression.
"You're looking for him," he said.
"I'm not."
"You are."
I turned toward him. "And what if I am?"
The question slipped out before I could stop it.
For once—
He didn't answer immediately.
The silence stretched just long enough to make my chest tighten.
Then—
"Then you shouldn't."
Simple.
Cold.
Direct.
I frowned. "You don't get to decide that."
"I already have do
"That's not how that works."
"It is here."
I stared at him.
There it was again.
That control.
That certainty.
Like everything in this place bent to his decisions—including people.
Including me.
"You're avoiding the real issue," I said.
"And what is that?"
"You don't like that I'm thinking about him."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"I don't like that you're distracted."
"That's not the same thing."
"It is."
"No, it's not."
My voice came out firmer this time.
Because it wasn't.
And we both knew it.
Kairo pushed himself off the door and stepped closer.
Slow.
Deliberate.
"You're focusing on something that doesn't matter," he said.
"That's your opinion."
"It's the truth."
"You don't get to decide that either."
Another step closer.
Now he was right in front of me.
Close enough that I could feel the shift in the air
"I decide what affects my territory," he said quietly.
My chest tightened. "And I'm part of that?"
"Yes."
The answer came without hesitation.
I let out a breath. "You really don't hear yourself, do you?"
"No."
At least he was consistent.
Silence fell again.
But this time, it felt different.
Tighter.
More fragile.
"You think I'm distracted because of him," I said slowly.
Kairo didn't respond.
But he didn't look away either.
"But what if I'm distracted because of you?"
That made him pause.
Just slightly.
I noticed.
Of course I did.
"You keep saying I'm thinking too much," I continued. "But you're the one who won't give me clear answers."
"I've given you enough."
"No, you haven't."
I took a step closer this time.
Closing the distance.
Matching him.
"You tell me not to leave," I said. "You say I'm yours. You act like this—like everything is already decided."
My chest tightened.
"But you won't tell me what this actually is."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Kairo's gaze didn't waver.
But something beneath it shifted.
"You already know," he said.
"No," I replied immediately. "I don't."
"You do."
"Then say it."
The words came out sharper than I expected.
More demanding.
More desperate.
For a moment—
Neither of us moved.
Then—
Kairo reached out.
His hand brushed lightly against my arm.
Not gripping.
Not forcing.
Just there.
"You want me to define it," he said quietly.
"Yes."
"Why?"
The question caught me off guard.
"Because I need to understand what I'm staying for," I said.
That was the truth.
Or at least—
Part of it.
Kairo studied me for a long moment.
Then—
"Wrong."
My chest tightened.
"What?"
"You're not staying for a reason," he said.
Silence.
"You're staying because you want to."
I froze.
"That's not—"
"It is."
I shook my head. "You're twisting it."
"No."
His voice dropped slightly.
"You're just avoiding it."
I clenched my fists.
"Then explain it," I said. "If you're so sure."
Another pause.
Then—
He stepped closer.
This time—
Close enough that I couldn't ignore i
"You want something from me," he said.
My breath caught.
"And you don't like that."
I didn't respond.
Because I couldn't
Because that felt too close to the truth.
"You keep looking for him," Kairo continued, "because he reminds you that this isn't yours."
My chest tightened sharply.
"But every time you stay…"
His voice lowered.
"…you prove that it is."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
Before I could respond—
A knock echoed from the door.
Sharp.
Unexpected.
We both turned.
Kairo didn't move immediately.
"Enter," he said.
The door opened.
A servant stepped in, bowing slightly.
"Alpha," they said, "the guest requests your presence."
Guest.
My chest tightened.
We both knew who that meant.
Kairo's expression didn't change.
"I'll come," he said.
The servant bowed again and left.
Silence returned.
I looked at him.
He looked back.
Neither of us spoke.
But something had shifted.
Again.
"You should go," I said quietly.
"I will."
He didn't move.
Not yet.
"Then go."
Still nothing.
My chest tightened.
"Why are you still standing here?"
His gaze didn't leave mine.
"Because you're waiting."
I frowned. "For what?"
"For me to say something."
Silence.
Because he was right.
Again.
"…Then say it," I said.
A pause.
Then—
"You're not as unaffected as you pretend to be."
My breath caught.
"That's what you wanted to hear?" he added.
"No," I said quietly.
But it wasn't entirely a lie.
Kairo held my gaze for a moment longer.
Then—
He turned.
And walked out.
Just like that
Leaving me alone.
Again.
But this time—
The silence felt different.
Not empty.
Not heavy.
But clear.
Because for the first time—
I wasn't confused about what was happening.
I was just… avoiding it.
And deep down—
I already knew the truth.