“To the future of Drake Holdings!” someone else shouted, raising a glass of champagne that had materialized from somewhere.
The crowd took up the cheer, voices echoing through the marble lobby with enthusiasm. Leander pulled Camille closer, his arm tightening around her waist as he surveyed the scene. Ten days ago, he’d been living an isolated, controlled existence, his emotional walls so high he’d convinced himself he preferred solitude. Now he felt so full—of love, of hope, of joy—that he thought he might actually burst from it.
This is what happiness feels like,he realized with something approaching wonder.This is what it means to have everything.
The celebration in Drake Holdings’ marble lobby gradually wound down, employees drifting back to their desks with lingering smiles and congratulations still echoing through the corridors. Leander stood beside Camille, his hand resting possessively on her back as they accepted the final round of well-wishes. The mate bond hummed with her contentment, but beneath it he sensed something else—a quiet determination that made his lion perk up with curiosity.
“We’re taking the rest of the day off,” Camille announced, her voice carrying an authority that sent a thrill through him. His brilliant partner was making executive decisions with the confidence of someone born to command.
“Are we now?” Leander’s mouth curved into an amused smile. “And what did you have in mind? Early celebratory dinner? Champagne at that rooftop place you mentioned?”
She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek and headed toward the elevator. “Give me a minute,” she called over her shoulder. “There’s something I need to grab.”
Leander watched her retreating figure, admiring the confident sway of her hips in that navy pantsuit that had driven him to distraction throughout the entire board meeting. His lion stretched contentedly, basking in the knowledge that this extraordinary woman belonged to him in every way that mattered.
When Camille finally returned, she carried a single red rose, its petals deep crimson against her pale fingers. The sight struck him as oddly formal, almost ceremonial, and confusion flickered through the bond.
“A rose?” He fell into step beside her as they headed for the door. “Should I be worried you’re planning some elaborate romantic gesture that’s going to make me look inadequate in comparison?”
Her laugh carried a note of something deeper—nervousness, perhaps, or anticipation. “Just trust me.”
Outside Drake Holdings, Manhattan’s afternoon energy swirled around them in waves of honking taxis and hurried pedestrians. Camille raised her hand with practiced ease, and a yellow cab pulled to the curb within seconds. As they settled into the worn vinyl seats, Leander expected her to give the driver the name of some trendy restaurant or perhaps coordinates for a surprise he couldn’t fathom.
“Trinity Cemetery,” she said quietly.
The words hit Leander like a punch, stealing the breath from his lungs. His entire body went rigid as understanding crashed over him—the rose, the careful planning, and the gentle determination he’d sensed through their bond. Somehow, his brilliant mate had figured out exactly where he needed to go, even when he hadn’t known it himself.
Twelve years.The number echoed in his mind like an accusation. Twelve years since he’d stood at his father’s graveside, since he’d been able to bear the weight of that loss and his own failure to prevent it.
“Camille—” His voice came out rougher than intended.
“It’s okay,” she murmured, her hand finding his and intertwining their fingers. “We don’t have to talk about it. But I think... I think it’s time.”
The cab ride passed in charged silence, Manhattan’s familiar chaos blurring past the windows as they headed toward the cemetery. Leander’s lion paced restlessly, torn between the desire to flee this emotional vulnerability and the deeper recognition that his mate was offering him something precious—a chance to finally face the ghosts that had haunted him for over a decade.
Trinity Cemetery soon stretched before them in green tranquility, a pocket of peace amid the city’s relentless energy. Ancient trees cast dappled shadows across weathered headstones, and the distant sounds of traffic faded to a whisper. Leander’s steps slowed as they walked the familiar path his feet remembered despite the years, muscle memory guiding him toward a destination he’d avoided for far too long.
The headstone stood exactly as he remembered—simple granite etched with elegant script.James William Drake. Beloved Husband and Father, Visionary, Friend.Fresh flowers lay at its base, clearly placed by his mother during her regular visits, and the sight sent a pang of guilt through his chest. She’d been carrying this burden alone while he’d hidden behind work and emotional walls.
Camille moved forward without hesitation, kneeling gracefully to place her rose among the existing blooms. The gesture was so natural, so reverent, that Leander felt something crack open inside his chest. She straightened and stepped back, giving him space while staying close enough that he could feel her steady presence.
“I can give you a moment alone if you need it,” she offered softly.
“No.” The word came out more forcefully than he’d intended, and he immediately gentled his tone. “Stay. Please.” His arm slipped around her waist, drawing her against his side where she belonged. “I want you here.”
Leander stared down at the headstone, twelve years of unspoken words crowding his throat. When he finally spoke, his voice carried the weight of accumulated grief and guilt.
“Hi, Dad.” The simple greeting cracked something fundamental inside him. “Sorry it’s taken me twelve years to visit you. I know that’s... that’s not what you would have wanted.”
His father’s voice echoed in his memory—warm, proud, endlessly encouraging.Family comes first, son. Always.
“I found someone you would absolutely love,” Leander continued, his arm tightening around Camille. “She’s going to be my business partner and help spread the vision you always had for the company. We’re going to make you proud, I promise.”
The mate bond pulsed with Camille’s emotion—love, support, and a deep well of understanding that made his lion rumble with contentment.
“She’s also my mate and future wife. I know you’re looking down on us, guiding me toward the life you always wanted me to have.” Tears blurred his vision as the words poured out. “I promise I won’t stay away this long next time. I love you, Dad.”
When he glanced at Camille, tears were streaming down her cheeks, and the sight nearly undid him completely. They stood in silence for several minutes, the afternoon breeze rustling through the trees as Leander felt his father’s presence more strongly than he had in years. Peace settled over him like a benediction, the crushing weight of guilt finally beginning to lift.
