Page 178 of Knot Happening Again

He squeezes my hand gently. "I know it doesn't make up for everything. I know I hurt you, and I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make that right. But I want you to know that I'm serious about this. About us."

Leon's words hang in the air between us, heavy with possibility. Us. Such a small word, yet it carries the weight of our shared history, the pain of the past, and the tentative hope for the future.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "It's... it's a good start," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.

A smile breaks across Leon's face, relief evident in the way his shoulders relax. He gives my hand another gentle squeeze before releasing it, and I find myself missing his warmth.

"I'm glad," he says softly. "I want to do this right, Ophelia. No more mistakes, no more running away."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. Instead, I turn to look out the window, watching as the city grows smaller beneath us. The world stretches out, vast and full of possibilities. It's breathtaking, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in the view.

"Do the others know where we are?" I ask, breaking the comfortable silence that has settled between us.

Leon nods, a mischievous glint in his eye. "They do. They helped plan this, actually."

I can't help but smile at that. "They're good at keeping gifts a secret, aren't they?"

He chuckles, leaning forward in his seat. "Oh, this isn't your gift, Effy. This is just the date."

I blink, confusion furrowing my brow. "What do you mean?"

"You're sitting in your gift," he says, gesturing around us.

It takes a moment for his words to sink in. When they do, I feel my jaw drop. "What? Leon, you can't be serious."

But his expression is earnest, his light brown eyes locked on mine. "I am. This jet? It's yours. It's already in your name, along with a beautiful house in Toulouse."

I shake my head, disbelief warring with a surge of emotions I can't quite name. This has to be a dream. Or a joke. But when I subtly pinch the outside of my thigh, it hurts like a bitch. And Leon looks perfectly serious. "But... why? Leon, this is too much. I can't?—"

He stands suddenly, moving to kneel in front of me. The vulnerability of the gesture catches me off guard and the intensity in his gaze pins me in place as he takes my hands in his.

"Because I want another chance with you, Ophelia," he says, his voice low and urgent. "But I understand that I don't deserve it. And I want there to be no obligation on your end."

My breath catches in my throat. I want to look away, to shield myself from the raw honesty in his eyes, but I can't.

"I want to make sure you know that you can have a secure and comfortable life without me, or the rest of the pack, if that's what you choose," he continues. "The others agreed. This is nothing more than what you always should have had. So if you choose to be with us, it's because you want to, and you know you have the option to leave at any time."

Tears prick at my eyes, and I blink rapidly, trying to hold them back. But it's no use. They spill over, hot trails down my cheeks.

"Leon," I whisper, my voice choked with emotion.

He reaches up, gently brushing away my tears with his thumb. "I know I don't deserve it," he says softly. "But I'm asking anyway. Will you give me that chance, Ophelia? To prove that I can be the man you deserve?"

I stare at him, this man who has hurt me so deeply, who has also shown me more kindness and consideration in the past few months than I've experienced in years. The boy I fell in love with is still there, beneath the guilt and the regret, but there's so much more to him now.

"Yes," I breathe, hardly believing the word as it leaves my lips.

The smile that breaks across Leon's face is radiant. Before I can second-guess myself, I lean down, pressing my lips to his.

The kiss starts soft, tentative, but it quickly deepens. Leon's hand cups the back of my neck, drawing me closer, and I melt into him. His tongue traces the seam of my lips, and I open for him with a soft moan.

When we finally break apart, we're both breathless. Leon rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed.

"Thank you," he murmurs. "I promise, I won't let you down again."

I nod, unable to form words. My heart is pounding, a mix of excitement and fear thrumming through my veins.

Leon pulls back slightly, his eyes searching mine. "Can I... can I keep proving myself to you?" he asks, his voice husky with desire.

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