I stopped in my tracks, turning to face him. His expression was unreadable, as always. "Sure," I replied. We walked together in silence.
The night air was crisp, and as the wind picked up, a faint scent reached my nose—jasmine. The familiar floral fragrance clung to the air around Haynes, almost as if it were part of him. My heart clenched in recognition. It was Leila’s scent.
On a whim, I asked, "Do you like the smell of jasmine?"
Haynes’s eyes flickered, a brief moment of surprise flashing across his face. "It's okay," he said nonchalantly.
"Really?" I mused aloud. "Then why have I always smelled this scent on you before?"
He didn’t respond, and I didn’t push the matter further. There was no point. His silence told me everything I needed to know.
When we arrived at the villa where Beta Ark’s celebration was taking place, the warmth and light spilling from the windows did nothing to thaw the chill in my heart. The hall was filled with pack members and elders, all laughing and talking as they awaited our arrival. Leila was among them, her face lighting up in surprise when she saw us enter together.