The gap between us
They returned to their normal form and I immediately approached Aeron and grabbed him to help him stand up. But he rejected my hand. He stood up on his own, each breath heavy, and I could see his arms shaking. I was surprised by his reaction—it seemed like he was angry with me, or else, there was a weight he couldn't express.
"We can't continue for now. You need to rest first, Aeron," Elder Marvic said seriously.
He looked at me for a moment before turning back to Aeron. "You still need to trust your own blood. Don't let the weakness of your mind bring disaster."
Aeron was silent, not even responding. His eyes were focused only on the ground, as if holding back anger or frustration. After that scene, we decided to return to the village.
As we walked home, I felt the weight of the silence between us. I couldn't look straight at Aeron. Every step he took was stiff, heavy, as if he was trying to swallow all the pain and disappointment. I wanted to approach him, but I was afraid I would only irritate him even more.
⸻
At the dinner table, we all gathered. We were at opposite ends of the long table. I watched him from afar, hoping he might look back at me. But he never once glanced at me. He ate in silence, as if I were not around.
“He's tired,” Lira whispered from beside me, gently stroking my arm. “Leave him alone for now, Selene. That's how it is when you're just starting out.”
I nodded, but the weight on my chest didn't go away. I was used to the fact that no matter how hard he went through, Aeron always had a smile or a word for me. But now, it seemed like a wall had been built between the two of us.
After dinner , I saw him leave. I couldn't help but follow him.
⸻
His steps led me to the bathroom. There he was, turned away, busy wiping his body with a small towel. Drops of water were slowly sliding from his hair down his back. I watched him for a moment, his every move filled with weight—not just physical exhaustion, but emotional wounds.
When he finished and took a step back, our eyes met. But he immediately avoided it, as if he couldn’t bear to see me.
“Aeron…” I began calmly, following his footsteps. “Are you mad at me?”
He didn’t answer. He continued walking, wiping his neck, trying to avoid my gaze.
“If it’s because earlier…” I couldn’t finish my sentence when he suddenly jumped ahead of me.
“Next time, don’t come when I have training .” He stopped and faced me, his eyes cold. “You’ve only weakened me even more.”
My heart felt like it was pierced by what he said. I felt my lips tremble before I could even answer. “I’m sorry…” I replied in disappointment, almost whispering.
He took a deep breath and threw the towel over his shoulder. “Don’t talk to me right now. I want to rest.”
And before I could say anything, he turned around and walked away completely.
⸻
I was left standing in the middle of the road, not knowing where to pour out the pain that had enveloped my chest. I wasn’t used to him sulking at me. Aeron, who had always been patient, always smiling, always ready to listen—now became irritable, as if he had been a different person since his wolf had woken up.
I slowly walked back to my room. With each step I felt a weight that I couldn’t explain. I wanted to tell him about the strange voice I had heard earlier, the voice that seemed to be hovering in my mind. But I couldn't—I couldn't bear to add to the weight he was carrying.
So I decided to keep quiet for now.
Inside my room, I sat on the edge of the bed and held my chest. There was pain there, not just because of his words but because I could feel something slowly changing in him.
Why had he suddenly changed?
Why did he seem to be getting further away as I tried to get closer?
But above all, one question kept coming to my mind:
By the way… who was that voice?