Days turned into a week, and the safe house settled into a soft, steady rhythm. There was no rush, no noise, no urgent meetings... Just time, space, and the quiet balance between two people sharing the same home, each with their own boundaries but growing more comfortable with one another by the hour.
Cole kept his distance, just as he had promised. He never entered her room unless invited, never asked intrusive questions, and never let his presence feel like a burden. But he was always there, in the way he moved, the way he checked things, and the way he kept the atmosphere calm.
Elara, in turn, began to relax. The constant tension in her shoulders slowly faded, and she started to walk around the house without glancing over her shoulder every few seconds. She realized that even though t
