Chapter 20

Eli spotted Charlotte immediately.

She was standing under a tree near the park entrance, sunlight filtering through the leaves and catching softly in her hair. She wasn’t doing anything special—just scrolling through her phone—but somehow…

She stood out.

Like she always did.

Eli found himself smiling without thinking.

“…Hey.”

Charlotte looked up.

And her face lit up instantly.

“You’re here.”

Eli walked closer.

“…You sound surprised.”

“I am,” she teased lightly. “You’ve been a little… unpredictable lately.”

Eli rubbed the back of his neck.

“…Yeah. Sorry about that.”

Charlotte shook her head.

“It’s okay.”

A small pause.

Then—

She stepped closer.

Close enough that Eli could feel it.

That quiet shift.

“…I missed you,” she said softly.

Eli’s chest tightened slightly.

“…You just saw me yesterday.”

“Still.”

Eli exhaled.

Then, before he could overthink it—

He reached out.

Pulled her gently closer.

Charlotte blinked.

“…Eli?”

“I missed you too,” he said.

Her expression softened instantly.

And this time—

She didn’t hesitate.

Her arms wrapped around him.

Natural.

Comfortable.

Like it belonged there.

Eli rested his chin lightly against her head.

For a moment—

Everything else disappeared.

No tension.

No danger.

No Kieran.

Just this.

Across the street—

Kieran watched.

Unmoving.

His gaze locked on them.

On the way Eli held her.

On the way she fit so easily against him.

His jaw tightened.

That feeling again.

Sharp.

Unwelcome.

Possessive.

“…You shouldn’t touch him,” he murmured under his breath.

But he didn’t move.

Not yet.

Back at the park—

Eli pulled away slightly.

Just enough to look at her.

Charlotte was already looking at him.

Closer than before.

“…You’re acting different today,” she said quietly.

Eli smirked a little.

“…Good different or bad different?”

Charlotte tilted her head.

“…Confident.”

Eli huffed.

“I’ve always been confident.”

“Not like this.”

Eli didn’t argue.

Because maybe—

She was right.

Something had changed.

“…Maybe I just realized something,” he said.

Charlotte raised a brow.

“…What?”

Eli hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then—

“That I like being around you.”

Charlotte blinked.

Then smiled softly.

“…That’s not new.”

“I know,” Eli said. “But I think I get it now.”

Her expression softened even more.

“…Eli…”

And then—

Without overthinking it this time—

She leaned in.

Slow.

Careful.

Giving him time to stop her.

Eli didn’t.

He stayed still—

For half a second.

Then leaned in too.

Their lips met.

Soft.

Warm.

Not rushed.

Not forced.

Just…

Right.

Charlotte’s hand lightly held his shirt.

Eli’s hand moved to her waist.

Pulling her just slightly closer.

The world blurred again.

But this time—

It wasn’t confusion.

It was clarity.

When they pulled back—

Charlotte’s cheeks were slightly flushed.

“…So that’s what you realized?” she teased softly.

Eli smirked faintly.

“…Maybe.”

Across the street—

Something snapped.

Not loudly.

Not visibly.

But internally—

Kieran’s control slipped.

Just a little.

His gaze darkened.

Dangerously.

The bond reacted violently this time.

Sharp.

Burning.

Wrong.

“…Enough.”

He took a step forward—

Then stopped himself.

Barely.

His hands clenched at his sides.

“…Not yet.”

But the way his eyes stayed on them—

Said everything.

Back in the park—

Charlotte laughed softly as they walked.

Their hands brushing occasionally.

Sometimes staying.

Sometimes not.

“…You’ve been hiding this side of you,” she said.

Eli glanced at her.

“…What side?”

“This one,” she replied. “The one that actually shows how you feel.”

Eli huffed.

“…I show how I feel.”

“Not always.”

Eli didn’t respond.

Because again—

She wasn’t wrong.

They stopped near a quiet spot.

Less crowded.

More private.

Charlotte turned to him again.

“…Eli.”

“Hmm?”

She hesitated.

Then asked softly—

“Are you okay?”

Eli blinked.

“…Yeah.”

“With everything?” she pressed gently.

Eli looked at her.

Really looked at her.

And for a moment—

He considered telling her.

Everything.

Kieran.

The bond.

The danger.

But instead—

He reached out.

Brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

“…I am now.”

Charlotte’s expression softened.

“You don’t have to carry everything alone.”

Eli smiled faintly.

“…I know.”

And then—

He kissed her again.

This time—

A little deeper.

A little more certain.

From the shadows—

The two hidden figures watched.

“…This is getting interesting.”

“…Very.”

A faint smile.

“Do you think he’ll lose control?”

The other figure didn’t answer immediately.

Their eyes shifted—

Toward where Kieran stood.

Barely holding himself back.

“…He already is.”

Not far away—

Kieran finally turned.

But not to leave.

To move.

Closer.

Slow.

Controlled.

But no longer distant.

“…If they touch him again…”

His voice was low.

Dangerously quiet.

“…I won’t stop myself.”