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If Elara hadn’t developed wolf senses, she wouldn’t have been able to hear it. She hesitates. She knows she’s eavesdropping and that she shouldn’t. At the same time, there’s no way her friends would say this with her present. This is the only way to get an understanding of how they’re feeling.Deciding to go with the flimsy explanation, she remains where she is.
“She seems to be feeling better,” says Kira. “I’m glad. I was worried about her for a little while there.”
"Yeah. I guess it must just have been the trauma from the animal attack. Probably why she asked you to check on Laith to make sure he's okay. She said she knew how hard it is for her and wanted to make sure he’s able to deal with it." There’s a low giggle. "And now you look at you two. Spending every spare second together. Maybe you should thank Elara for finally giving you the kick in the butt that you needed," Jordyn teases.
Elara relaxes. She’s glad Kira and Laith are hitting it off. Unless Laith was scratched by more than just a wolf…
If he shifts on the first full moon, there's always the chance that he’ll hurt someone else, and Elara doesn't want to drag her friends into this if there's anything she can do to stop it. Or worse, he doesn’t survive the transformation. Has Elara set them up just for Kira to be hurt?
She steps around the corner, not wanting to hear anymore.
Things are getting better. They have to be.
“Hey, you two,” she says cheerily. “Sorry, I’m a few minutes late.”
Jordyn jumps like she was just caught peeking under the wrapping paper of a present, while Kira turns around with a megawatt smile. “Hey, girlfriend. We thought you might have changed your mind.”
“I told you, I’m fine,” Elara reassures her.
Both Kira and Jordyn were worried that Elara now associated bad memories here, but she was quick to tell them that’s not the case. If anything, she’s more concerned about the woods where she woke up naked, because that's where she transformed the first time. The waterfall just happens to be the place she was the night she was scratched by whicheverwerewolf decided to change her life, something that she still has no leads on. It could be Kade, or it could be Denzel, or it could be someone entirely different. She has no clue, and until her training helps her memories come back, she won’t have one.
She shakes her head, not wanting to go down that thought trail. “Honestly, I’m looking forward to this.”
Which is the truth. A return to some semblance of normality is just what she needs right now.
Jordyn loops her arm through Elara’s. “Great. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Kira smiles too, but for some reason, it doesn’t feel as genuine. It doesn’t quite meet her eyes.
But as they climb into the car, Elara tells herself she just imagined it. At the worst, Kira’s still a little worried about her. She’s definitely the more perceptive of her two best friends. Somedays, she seems to have a sixth sense for stuff. All Elara has to do is show them she’s better. That she’s moving forward.
Which is exactly what she intends to do.
They pull up into the parking lot near the waterfall and Elara’s not surprised to see another car there. She is a little surprised when Laith’s tall form unfolds from it, smiling broadly.
Kira goes over while Elara leans into the car to get her towel.
“Hey,” Kira says, the warmth in her tone unmistakable. “I’m glad you came.”
“Me, too,” says Laith, sounding shy yet happy. “It’ll be fun to all hang out together.”
Elara straightens in time to see Kira turn away from Laith, possibly to hide the frown that pulls at her brow. She sees Elara watching and quickly draws up a smile. The same megawatt smile from outside the cafe.
“I’m thinking this time I’ll walk,” she jokes, referring to her twisted knee the last time they were here.
Elara smiles back, not wanting to ask any questions in front of Laith. Maybe her friend isn’t as okay with her as she’d hoped…
The waterfall and the forest surrounding it are just as tranquil and beautiful as she remembered, and she’s glad that what happened here hasn’t tainted this. Elara spreads out her towel and strips down to her bikini, wondering if this is her chance to do that day over again. She’ll swim. Laugh. Soak up the sun. Then go home well before dark, maybe even watch a movie with her parents.
A splash tells her someone’s already in the water, and she looks up to find Kira and Laith are gone.
Jordyn shrugs. “Obviously, Kira told him about the three-toed sloth rule.” She grins at Elara. “Seeya!”
She runs for the water, her brown hair flying out behind her. The splash a few seconds later tells Elara she’s now back to being relegated to weekly bowel motions. But she doesn’t care. She laughs and runs, joining her friends in the water.
This afternoon is about fun. Normality. A taste of what her new future will look like.
Which is exactly what she tries to do. She swims. She laughs. She splashes. If Kira seems to swim away with Laith a lot, she pretends not to notice. Her friend obviously wants to spend time with just Laith, and that’s cool.
