Hailee’s POV
For a mont, neither of us spoke.
We just stood there in the garden... surrounded by flowers, silence, and a pain neither of us knew how to explain. The air felt thick, awkward, a little sad. Even the wind moved slowly, almost careful not to break the silence.
Finally... I breathed in deeply.
I couldn’t drag this mont out any longer. I owed him honesty.
"Dane..." my voice ca out small. "I’ve made my decision. I know who I want to be with. No more confusion... no more guessing."
Dane gave a small scoff and lowered his eyes.
"I know," he said simply.
My heart skipped. "You know?"
He looked up again, this ti with a small, sad smile tugging at one side of his mouth.
"It’s Nathan," he said quietly. "Of course it’s Nathan."
My eyes widened. "You... you didn’t even ask. You didn’t even guess."
He shook his head slowly. "Hailee... it was obvious. You look at him the way a woman looks at the man she’s ready to fight the world for. I... I just kept trying anyway. Hoping for a miracle."
My chest ached.
"Dane... I’m sorry," I whispered, my voice shaking. "I’m sorry for leading you on. I’m sorry if I hurt you. I never wanted to—"
He lifted a hand gently, telling it was okay.
But was it really?
His face was calm... too calm. No anger, no tears... just an emotionless mask that made it impossible to know what he felt.
Then quietly, he asked:
"Did you ever... even for a mont... love ?"
The question stabbed straight through my chest.
I breathed out shakily. "Yes. I did. I had feelings for you. I had feelings for all three of you. None of it was fake."
He swallowed, his jaw tightening for a second.
Then he nodded. "Thank you... for telling the truth."
I wiped a tear quickly before it fell.
"I want you to be happy, Dane," I whispered. "Truly."
He looked away for a mont, staring at the rose bushes.
"I hope so too," he breathed.
I exhaled softly. "And... Ozzy is your son. I want you to know that he’s always welco with you. You can see him anyti. And when he’s old enough... if you want... he can stay with you permanently."
His eyes softened for the first ti.
"Thank you," he said, his voice low. "I... appreciate that more than you know."
Silence fell again, but this ti it wasn’t sharp. It was soft. It was understanding.
"I believe there’s a woman out there for you," I whispered. "Soone special. Maybe even your true mate."
Dane chuckled, but it wasn’t a happy one. It was a tired, forced smile. "Maybe."
"I an it," I said gently. "You deserve it."
He t my eyes. "You got your wolf back."
"Yes," I nodded. "Her na is Aria."
"I felt it," he said quietly. "Her aura is strong. Very strong."
I gave a small smile. "Your wolf will lead you to your mate soon."
He nodded slowly. "Hopefully."
But there was no excitent in his voice.
Then he took a slow step toward .
"Can I... hug you?" he asked quietly. "Just once."
My chest squeezed.
"Yes," I whispered.
He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around ... pulling into a hug that felt warm, sad, soft, and final. I felt him breathe in deeply—almost like he was morizing my scent one last ti.
My heart hurt for him.
And Aria whispered softly inside , "He cared for you deeply."
"I know," I answered silently.
When Dane pulled back, his eyes shimred with sothing that looked like pain—hidden quickly under a calm expression.
He leaned forward and kissed my forehead gently.
"Call whenever you need my help... don’t hesitate."
I nodded... not trusting my voice to speak.
"Goodbye, Hailee," he whispered.
"Goodbye, Dane," I replied.
He gave one small nod, turned around, and walked away slowly.
I stood there frozen as his figure disappeared into the path that led out of the garden.
Only when he was completely out of sight did I finally breathe out.
A long, shaky breath.
Aria spoke gently inside .
"You did a good thing. You were honest. You gave him peace."
"I still hurt him," I whispered back. "And that... hurts too."
"I know," she said softly. "But sotis... truth hurts first before it heals."
I closed my eyes, letting the cold air brush across my skin.
Letting my emotions settle—pain, guilt, relief, sadness—all of them mixing inside like waves crashing into each other.
I wrapped my arms around myself and breathed in slowly.
Then I heard a familiar pattern of footsteps.
I turned my head, and Peter walked into the garden. He shouldn’t have had ti to co here—he was supposed to be inside with the elders, attending to guests, talking to people who ca to mourn with us.
Yet here he was.
His eyes scanned my face, and his expression softened.
"You okay?" he asked gently.
I nodded, though not fully convincing. "Yes... I just ended things with Dane."
Peter raised a brow, stepping closer. "How do you feel?"
I took a slow breath. And answered the truth.
"Relieved," I said quietly. "Maybe because... he understood. He didn’t fight . He didn’t force . He just... accepted it."
Peter’s eyes softened more.
"That’s how you know you did the right thing," he said. "Anything forced will always break."
Then, unexpectedly, he stepped forward and pulled into a small side-hug.
Not tight.
Not overwhelming.
Just enough to comfort .
"You will be fine," he murmured."
My eyes burned again, but I didn’t cry.
Not this ti; rather, I focused on him as I studied his emotionless face, which he had been wearing since Father died.
"How are you? Are you okay?" I asked because I was worried... Peter hasn’t shed any tears since Father passed on.
He pulled back slowly, totally avoiding my question. "I’m fine... don’t worry about and don’t stay out here too long. It’s cold. And people will start asking for you."
I wanted to press on but decided to let it be.
"Okay," I whispered.
He gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze and walked back toward the house, leaving alone once again in the quiet garden.
I closed my eyes, letting the cold air wash over , when suddenly, my phone rang.
The sharp sound made jump a little.
I wiped my face quickly and pulled the phone from my pocket.
The mont I saw the caller ID...
My heart lifted.
Nathan.
A small smile ford on my lips without my permission.
Even in the middle of all my pain, seeing his na did sothing warm to my chest.
I answered softly, "Hi..."
His voice ca through low and gentle.
"Hailee... how are you doing?"
"I’m... getting better," I said quietly.
"Good," he breathed. "I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your place again. Sothing ca up—"
I frowned instantly.
"Nathan... what—"
But I didn’t get to finish.
Because at that exact mont...
Sothing hit .
A sll.
A scent so strong... so warm... so addictive...
It felt like it wrapped around my whole body.
This scent was so powerful, so intoxicating, so warm and spicy it didn’t sll like anything human.
Or wolf.
Or familiar.
It was like cinnamon... fresh rain... and sothing dark and magnetic mixed together.
My breath caught.
My heart lurched.
Aria jerked awake inside .
"Hailee..." she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Do you feel that?"
I felt it.
Every inch of my skin felt alive—tingling, burning, pulling.
"Aria... what—what is that?" I whispered shakily.
She didn’t answer with words.
She howled.
Loud.
Echoing.
Fierce.
"MATE!"
My whole body froze.
The phone nearly slipped from my fingers.
My heartbeat slamd against my ribs.
No.
No.
Not now.
NOT NOW.
My breathing quickened, turning fast and shallow.
The phone stayed pressed to my ear, but I couldn’t hear Nathan anymore. In fact, he was also no longer speaking over the phone.
My hands shook.
I couldn’t speak.
The scent grew stronger.
Closer.
So close it felt like it was wrapping around .
My wolf howled again, louder, forcing her energy into my chest.
"MATE IS HERE. HE IS HERE. HE IS SO CLOSE."
I shook my head desperately.
"No... no, not now... I don’t want this... I don’t want to et him..." I whispered in panic.
Aria growled—excited, needy, almost frantic.
My hands shook.
"Nathan..." I whispered weakly into the phone. "There is... soone... sothing is—"
But there was no response from him.
I swallowed hard. I couldn’t even breathe properly.
The scent got stronger.
Closer.
So close it felt like it was standing right behind .
Behind .
Aria’s voice roared:
"TURN AROUND! MATE IS RIGHT THERE!"
"I don’t want to et him," I whispered shakily. "I’m not ready—I don’t want—"
My breath stopped completely when a presence fell over from behind.
My wolf scread again, shaking my entire body from inside:
"MATE!"
My heart pounded so hard I felt dizzy.
Slowly... involuntarily... like soone else had taken control of my neck...
I turned around.
But the phone slipped right out of my hand.
It hit the ground with a sharp crack.
Because standing right behind ...
Was NATHAN.
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