Chapter 16

Eli checked the time again.

He was early.

For once.

“…That’s new,” he muttered under his breath.

The small café sat at the corner of a quiet street, warm lights glowing through the glass windows as evening slowly settled in. People moved in and out casually, laughter spilling into the air, conversations blending into a soft, comforting noise.

Normal.

Everything about this place was normal.

Eli stood outside for a moment, hands in his pockets, just watching.

No tension.

No strange pull in his chest.

No feeling of being watched.

Just… life.

He exhaled slowly.

“…I missed this.”

“You’ve been saying that a lot lately.”

Eli turned immediately.

Charlotte stood a few steps behind him, smiling.

And just like that—

Everything felt lighter.

“Hey,” Eli said, a small smile forming on his lips.

“Hey,” she replied softly.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Just looking at each other.

Then Charlotte stepped closer.

“You’re early,” she said.

Eli shrugged slightly.

“…Didn’t want to keep you waiting.”

Charlotte raised a brow playfully.

“Since when?”

Eli let out a quiet laugh.

“…Since now, I guess.”

She shook her head, smiling.

“Come on.”

Inside, the café was warm and cozy.

Soft music played in the background.

The kind of place where time slowed down.

They took a seat by the window.

Charlotte rested her chin lightly on her hand, watching Eli.

“You look better,” she said.

Eli frowned slightly.

“…Better than what?”

“Better than the last time I saw you,” she replied. “You looked… tense.”

Eli leaned back in his chair.

“…Yeah. I’ve just been dealing with stuff.”

Charlotte didn’t push.

She never did.

“Is it still bad?” she asked gently.

Eli hesitated.

Then shrugged.

“…It’s manageable.”

That wasn’t entirely true.

But it was easier than explaining everything.

Charlotte nodded slowly.

“Okay.”

A small silence settled between them.

Not awkward.

Just quiet.

Comfortable.

Eli glanced at her.

“…You don’t have to pretend you’re not worried.”

Charlotte smiled faintly.

“I’m not pretending.”

Eli raised a brow.

“…Really?”

“I am worried,” she admitted. “But I also trust you.”

Eli blinked.

“…You do?”

Charlotte nodded.

“I do.”

Something about the way she said it—

Simple.

Honest.

No hesitation—

Made Eli’s chest tighten slightly.

“…You always do that,” he said.

Charlotte tilted her head.

“Do what?”

“Make things feel… easy.”

Charlotte smiled.

“Maybe it’s just easy with you.”

Eli looked away briefly, scratching the side of his face.

“…Yeah.”

They ordered food.

Talked.

Laughed.

Simple things.

Old memories.

Things from when they were younger.

School.

Friends.

Moments that felt like they belonged to a different life.

A better one.

At some point—

Charlotte leaned forward slightly.

“Do you remember when you tried to climb that fence behind the school?”

Eli groaned immediately.

“…Don’t remind me.”

“You fell,” she continued, smiling. “Right in front of everyone.”

“I didn’t fall,” Eli protested. “I slipped.”

“You fell.”

“I slipped.”

“You fell.”

Eli sighed.

“…Okay, fine. I fell.”

Charlotte laughed softly.

“And you still tried to act cool after.”

Eli shook his head, smiling.

“…I was cool.”

“You were not.”

They both laughed.

And for a moment—

Everything felt perfect.

But then—

Eli felt it.

That pull.

Sharp.

Sudden.

He stiffened slightly.

“…Not now.”

Charlotte noticed immediately.

“Eli?”

He forced a smile.

“I’m fine.”

But the feeling didn’t go away.

It lingered.

Low.

Unsettling.

Like something was watching again.

Eli glanced toward the window.

Nothing.

Just people passing by.

Normal.

Everything looked normal.

“…You sure?” Charlotte asked softly.

Eli nodded.

“Yeah. Just… tired.”

Charlotte studied him for a moment.

Then reached across the table—

And took his hand.

Eli froze slightly.

Not because it felt wrong.

But because—

It felt right.

Warm.

Familiar.

Safe.

“You don’t have to pretend with me,” she said gently.

Eli looked at her.

And for a moment—

All the tension, all the confusion—

Faded.

“…I know,” he said quietly.

Charlotte’s thumb brushed lightly against his hand.

A small gesture.

But it grounded him.

Completely.

Eli exhaled slowly.

“…I’m glad you’re here.”

Charlotte smiled softly.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Outside—

Across the street—

Someone stood in the shadows.

Watching.

Unmoving.

Kieran.

His gaze fixed on the café window.

On Eli.

On the way Eli leaned forward slightly.

On the way Charlotte held his hand.

On the way Eli looked at her—

Soft.

Open.

Different.

Kieran’s jaw tightened.

That same unfamiliar feeling returned.

Stronger now.

He didn’t look away.

Couldn’t.

The bond pulsed sharply.

Unstable.

Unsettled.

It didn’t like this.

He didn’t like this.

“…You shouldn’t be here,” Kieran murmured under his breath.

But Eli couldn’t hear him.

Didn’t feel him.

Not like before.

Because right now—

Eli was focused on someone else.

Back inside—

Charlotte squeezed his hand lightly.

“Stay with me tonight.”

Eli blinked.

“…What?”

“I mean—just hang out,” she corrected quickly. “Watch something, talk… like before.”

Eli hesitated.

The forest.

Training.

Kieran.

Then—

He shook his head slightly.

“…Yeah. I’d like that.”

Charlotte smiled.

“Good.”

Eli smiled back.

And for a moment—

He meant it.

But the moment didn’t last.

Because suddenly—

The café door opened.

A cold draft slipped inside.

Subtle.

But enough.

Eli felt it instantly.

That shift.

That pressure.

His expression changed.

“…No way.”

Charlotte frowned.

“What is it?”

Eli stood up slowly.

“…Stay here.”

“Eli—”

“Please.”

Something in his tone made her stop.

Eli turned toward the door.

His heart was already racing.

Because he knew.

Before he even saw him.

Kieran stood there.

Eyes locked on him.

Unmoving.

Unyielding.

Eli let out a quiet breath.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”