Ethan's POV
When I walked inside, the bell above the door chimed, and I saw Elara already seated. She was halfway through a plate of expensive pasta, her eyes glued to her phone. She looked up and gave me a smile, but it wasn't the kind of smile that reaches the eyes. It wasn't the warm, soul-deep light I saw whenever Scarlett looked at me. It was a cold, calculated expression—the look of someone seeing their bank account walk through the door.
"You told me you were here already," she said, dabbing her mouth with a napkin. "Where did you go?"
"Something came up," I replied shortly, sliding into the seat across from her. It was obvious the news of Scarlett's death hadn't reached her yet, and for once, I was glad for the silence of the pack.
My wolf stirred in the back of my mind. Try one last time, he whispered. Fulfill all righteousness so we can leave this bridge burned behind us.
