Page 176 of Knot Happening Again

With one last glance at my pack—my family—I open the door.

Leon stands on the porch, looking devastatingly handsome in a tailored suit. His white hair is styled in that messy-but-intentional way that always drove me crazy, and his light brown eyes widen as they take me in.

"Ophelia," he breathes, and the way he says my name sends shivers down my spine. "You look... incredible."

I drink him in, my mouth suddenly dry. "You clean up pretty well yourself," I manage to say.

He grins, and for a moment, I see a flash of the boy I fell in love with all those years ago. But there's something else there too—a maturity, a depth that wasn't there before. It makes my heart ache in ways I'm not ready to examine.

"Ready to go?" he asks, offering me his arm.

I nod, slipping my hand into the crook of his elbow. His skin is warm beneath the fabric of his suit, and I have to resist the urge to lean into him.

As we walk to his car, I can feel the eyes of the pack on us. I glance back over my shoulder to see them crowded in the doorway, watching us go.

Leon opens the car door and holds it for me, offering his hand to help me into the passenger's side.

"So," I say as we pull out of the driveway, desperate to break the charged silence between us. "Where are we going to dinner that requires us leaving at one?"

Leon's lips quirk up in a mysterious smile. "You'll see."

I huff, crossing my arms over my chest. "You know I hate surprises."

He laughs, the sound rich and warm. "Some things never change, huh?"

Our eyes meet for a brief moment, and suddenly I'm eighteen again, sneaking out to meet him in the moonlight. My heart races, and I have to look away.

"I guess not," I murmur, staring out the window as the familiar streets of the city pass by.

"Trust me, I think you'll like this one."

"If you say so."

What am I doing? This is dangerous territory. I've worked so hard to build walls around my heart, to protect myself from the pain Leon caused. And now here I am, willingly following him into the unknown.

But as I sneak another glance at him, watching the way the midday sun paints his profile in shades of gold, I can't bring myself to regret it. Not yet, anyway.

Leon's eyes are on the road, but I can feel his attention on me. The air between us crackles with an energy I'm not sure how to define. Is it anticipation? Nervousness? Or something else entirely?

"So," I say, desperate to break the silence, "how's training going?"

He glances at me, a small smile playing on his lips. "It's good. Tough, but good. Mace is really pushing me for this next fight."

I nod, trying to ignore the way my stomach flips at the mention of his upcoming match. "And you're feeling ready?"

"As ready as I can be," he says with a shrug. "There's always more to learn, more to improve on. But I feel strong."

The conversation flows easier after that, slipping into a rhythm that feels both familiar and foreign. We talk about his training, about my art, about the pack, about anything and everything except the past that looms between us like a shadow.

It's not until I notice unfamiliar surroundings that I realize we've been driving for quite a while. "Leon," I say slowly, "where exactly are we going?"

He grins, that mischievous glint in his eye that used to make my heart race. Still does, if I'm being honest with myself. "You'll see."

Before I can answer, the turnoff for the airport comes into view. My eyes widen as Leon smoothly takes it.

"The airport?" I sputter. "Leon, what the hell? I didn't bring clothes for a trip!"

He chuckles, turning into a different lane from the one all the other cars are taking. When I see the guard stand we're approaching, I can't help but be confused. "Relax, it's not a long one. It's just dinner."

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