Silver Crest

Unspoken secrets

Chara's POV

The day drags on in a strange mix of routine and suspense. Gran, in her usual no-nonsense way, continues about her business as if hosting a mysterious, rapidly healing man is the most natural thing in the world. But I can't shake the feeling that something is off. Every time I glance at Cole, I'm reminded of the way his wounds disappeared, and that jolt of electricity that passed between us. I've never felt anything like it before.

By the time evening rolls around, the storm has passed, leaving the world outside shrouded in a heavy, humid calm. Gran suggests we all sit down for dinner, and I find myself strangely nervous, like I'm about to share a meal with a ghost or a stranger who holds some unspoken power over me.

As we sit at the small, worn dining table, I notice how Cole moves-carefully, deliberately, as if he's hyper-aware of every gesture, every word. It's as if he's trying not to draw too much attention to himself, but in doing so, he only makes himself more noticeable. There's an intensity in his gaze, a sharpness that makes me wonder just how much he's seen, how much he knows.

Gran, ever the social butterfly, fills the silence with idle chatter, asking Cole questions about his life, his family, his plans. He answers in short, clipped sentences, giving away just enough to keep the conversation going but never enough to reveal anything substantial. I can't tell if he's being cautious or if there's genuinely nothing for him to share.

"So, what brought you out to that highway in the middle of a storm?" Gran asks casually, slicing into her piece of pie. "Not the safest place to be wandering around, especially in this weather."Cole hesitates, his fork hovering over his plate. For a moment, I think he's not going to answer.

But then he speaks, his voice low and guarded. "I needed to get away. Clear my head."

Gran nods, accepting his vague explanation without pressing further. But I can't let it go. "Get away from what?" I ask, my voice softer, more probing. "Were you in trouble?"He looks at me then, really looks at me, and for a split second, I see something raw and vulnerable in his eyes. But just as quickly, it's gone, replaced by that same calm indifference.

"No," he says simply, returning to his meal as if the conversation is over.

I want to push him, to ask more, but something in his demeanor warns me not to. There's a wall between us, one that he's built high and strong, and I don't know how to get past it. Maybe I shouldn't even try. After all, he's a stranger-a man who quite literally walked into my life out of nowhere. But still, I can't shake the feeling that there's something important hidden behind that wall, something I need to understand.

Cole's POV

The food is good-simple, homemade. It's been a long time since I've had a meal like this, sitting at a table, sharing a space with people who don't look at me like I'm some kind of monster. But the comfort of the moment is overshadowed by the tension I can feel building in the room, especially from her. Chara. She's watching me, trying to figure me out. I can feel her questions hanging in the air, unspoken but heavy.

It's been years since I've been in a situation like this, and it feels... strange. Unfamiliar. There's a part of me that wants to relax, to let my guard down just for a moment, but I know better. I can't afford to let anyone get too close, especially not her. There's something about her that stirs something deep inside me, something I can't quite control. The wolf is restless, uneasy, and I don't like it.