Chapter 212
Lynette's POV
The airport smelled like recycled air and burnt coffee.
I dragged my suitcase through the exit doors. Cole walked beside me, silent as always. His duffel bag slung over one shoulder like it weighed nothing.
Cold night air hit my face.
I pulled out my phone to call a cab.
"Lynette! Lynette!"
I froze.
That voice.
My head snapped up.
Elara was waving both arms above the crowd. Her hair bounced as she jumped. Big smile plastered across her face.
What the hell?
She pushed through a family with luggage and threw herself at me.
I caught her on instinct. Her arms locked around my ribs. Squeezed hard.
"How did you—" I started.
"Kael told me!" She pulled back, still gripping my shoulders. Her eyes were bright. Excited. "He said you were coming back tonight so I planned a surprise!"
My chest tightened.
Kael told her.
Of course he did.
I glanced at Cole. He stood three feet away, spine rigid. His expression was carefully blank but I saw the tension in his jaw.
He didn't know what to do with this.
Neither did I, honestly.
"Come on!" Elara grabbed my hand. Started pulling me toward the parking lot. "I found this amazing late-night place. You're going to love it."
"Elara, it's almost midnight—"
"Perfect time for food!" She looked back at Cole. "You too. Lynette's friends are my friends!"
Cole's eyes widened slightly.
I bit back a smile.
He looked at me. Silent question in his gaze.
I nodded once.
His shoulders dropped half an inch.
Elara led us through the parking lot to a small sedan. She unlocked it with way too much enthusiasm and gestured at the back seat.
"Get in! It's not far."
I slid into the back. Cole hesitated before taking the passenger seat.
His posture was all wrong. Too stiff. Like he expected an ambush.
Elara started the engine and pulled out onto the main road. The highway was nearly empty at this hour. Street lights cast orange pools across wet pavement.
"So how was your trip?" Elara glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "Was the flight okay? Did you eat? You look tired."
"I'm fine."
"You always say that." She frowned. "But you need to take care of yourself. Especially with everything that happened—"
"Elara."
She pressed her lips together but didn't push further.
I caught Cole watching her from the corner of his eye. His hands were folded in his lap. Knuckles white.
The drive took fifteen minutes. Elara chatted the whole time about some drama at school. Something about a group project and someone not pulling their weight.
I half-listened.
Mostly I watched the city lights blur past the window.
Coming home felt strange.
Good strange.
But strange.
Elara pulled into a small parking lot tucked between a convenience store and a pharmacy. Red lanterns hung outside a restaurant. Windows fogged with steam.
"Here we are!" She killed the engine and practically bounced out of the car.
I grabbed my suitcase from the trunk. Cole took his duffel.
We followed Elara inside.
Heat and noise hit us immediately.
The place was packed. Families crowded around tables. Old men playing cards in the corner. A couple feeding each other noodles.
Normal people doing normal things.
Cole stopped just inside the doorway.
I watched his gaze sweep the room. Taking in exits. Counting potential threats. His hand twitched toward his hip where he usually kept a knife.
Old habits.
"Sit down," I said quietly.
He blinked. Looked at me.
"Just sit," I repeated. Softer this time.
He moved like a robot. Pulled out a chair at an empty table. Sat with his back to the wall.
Smart.
Elara was already waving at a server. Rattling off an order in rapid Mandarin. The server nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.
Elara dropped into the seat across from me with a satisfied sigh. "Okay so I ordered the spicy soup and some skewers. But if you want something else—"
"It's fine," I said.
She beamed.
Then she grabbed the teapot from the center of the table and poured three cups. Her movements were quick. Practiced. She slid one across to Cole.
"How long are you staying?" she asked me.
"A few days. Maybe a week."
"Good." Her smile widened. "Mom's been cooking nonstop. I think she's trying to fatten you up before you leave again."
I snorted. "Sounds about right."
Elara turned her attention to Cole. "What about you? How long will you be in town?"
Cole's jaw tightened. "Not long."
"Oh." Her face fell slightly. "That's too bad. I was hoping we could all hang out more."
He didn't respond.
Just stared at his tea like it might have answers.
The server returned with plates of food. Steam rose from bowls of red broth. Skewers piled high with meat and vegetables.
The smell was incredible.
My stomach growled.
Elara pushed a bowl toward Cole. "Try this. It's really good."
Cole stared at the bowl.
His hands stayed flat on the table.
I knew that look.
He didn't know if he was allowed to eat. Didn't know if this was some kind of test.
Twenty years in the Pack had taught him to question every kindness.
"Cole," I said. Kept my voice level. "Eat."
He picked up his chopsticks.
Elara was already digging in. Talking between bites about Mom's latest cooking experiments. How Dad had to pretend to like the burnt dumplings.
I felt myself relax into the chair.
This was nice.
Weird. But nice.
I glanced at Cole.
He ate slowly. Carefully. Like he was afraid of doing something wrong.
Elara noticed him picking at his food. "Is it too spicy? I can order something else—"
"No." Cole's voice came out rough. "It's... good. Thank you."
Elara's smile widened. "See? I told you this place was amazing."
She launched into another story. Something about Ethan getting into an argument with a professor.
I let her voice wash over me.
Watched Cole from the corner of my eye.
He was staring at Elara with this strange expression. Like he couldn't quite believe she was real.
I understood.
Six months ago I would've reacted the same way.
Kindness without motive was foreign. Dangerous, even.
But Elara didn't know how to be anything else.
She paused mid-sentence. Set down her chopsticks. Her expression turned serious.
"You should stay here," she said to Cole. "In the city."
Cole froze.
"Elara—" I started.
"I'm serious!" She looked between us. "You're Lynette's friend, right? So you should be close by. We have extra room. Mom would love to meet you—"
"I can't." Cole's voice was flat.
"Why not?"
He looked down at his bowl. "I have... things to handle. Back north."
"What things?"
"Elara," I said quietly.
She huffed but backed off.
Cole's jaw worked. He set down his chopsticks.
"Actually," he said slowly. "I'm leaving soon. Tomorrow, probably."
Elara's eyes went wide. "What? Where?"
"Just... away." He wouldn't meet her gaze. "There's work I need to finish."
"When will you be back?"
Silence.
Cole's hands curled into fists on the table.
"I don't know," he admitted.
Elara frowned. "But you will come back, right?"
More silence.
I felt something twist in my chest.
Cole looked at me. His eyes were dark. Resigned.
He wasn't coming back.
We both knew it.
"You have to be careful," Elara said. Her voice had gone soft. Worried. "Whatever you're doing... promise me you'll be safe."
Cole's throat bobbed.
"I promise," he said.
Liar.
But Elara smiled. "Good. And when you do come back, we'll take you to all the best restaurants. There's this dumpling place near the university that's incredible—"
"I'd like that," Cole said.
His voice cracked slightly.
I looked away.
Gave them a moment.
Through the window I could see snow starting to fall. Light flakes that melted on contact with the ground.
Elara kept talking. Making plans for a future that would never happen.