The days settled into a rhythm so steady it felt like time itself had slowed down inside the safe house. There were no alarms, no urgent messages, no sudden visitors. Only sunlight, rain, cool breezes, and the quiet comfort of two people growing closer without ever rushing.
Cole still kept his watch, still checked the grounds at dawn and dusk, still made sure every lock and sensor was working. But the tension that used to sit in his shoulders like a heavy weight had softened. Now, when he moved through the house, it was with ease, not just readiness.
Elara, too, had fully let go of the constant fear that had followed her for months. She walked through the halls without looking over her shoulder, slept through the night without waking in a panic, and began to smile more easily... Genuine,
