Chapter 54
I spun around, eyes wide with panic. What was he doing?
“What are you talking about?” Orion asked, confusion replacing some of the anguish in his voice.
“I’m saying that I’m the reason Athena left the pack five years ago,” Tristan said, his voice steady but
filled with pain.
“Tristan, don’t,” I pleaded, shaking my head frantically.
“What did you do?” Orion was walking toward Tristan now, and Tristan didn’t even flinch away from
the threat in his posture.
I ran between them, blocking Orion’s path. “Don’t listen to him! I left because I needed space to breathe. Because I could seè Mom and Dad everywhere looked, in every corner of the house, every street
in town. I should have talked to you about how I was feeling, but instead I just ran away because I was
being selfish.”
Orion pulled me against him, and I could feel him wanting to believe my words.
“Then what’s Tristan talking about?” he asked his gaze not leaving Tristan guilty face.
What the fuck is wrong with Tristan? I’m pissed but I can’t show it because, Orion would suspect.
Is Tristan trying to make Orion commit murder or what? His he tired of life and wants Orion to help
end it?
“We had an argument the night before I left,” I said, the lies coming easier now that I was protecting both of them. “You know how we used to butt heads sometimes. But I swear, that wasn’t the real reason I
left.”
I was lying through my teeth, and I think part of Orion knew it, but he wanted to believe me. He needed to believe that there was a simple explanation, that his two favorite people hadn’t been keeping devastating secrets from him.
“I shouldn’t have let you leave,” he said, his voice thick with regret. “I should have told you that your place was here, with your family and your pack. With me and Tristan.”
I nodded against his chest, relief flooding through me that he seemed to be accepting my explanation.
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But I could feel Tristan’s eyes on me, and I knew this conversation wasn’t over. The truth had a way of coming out eventually, no matter how hard you tried to bury it.
For now, though, we were all together again. Broken and scarred and carrying secrets, but together.
“But I’m back now, and I promise I won’t leave again,” I said, pulling back to look at both of them.
“I’ll tell you whenever something’s troubling me. And you can tell me too you don’t have to be the strong one all the time, Orion. And you too Tristan. I know I’m your little sister but I’m not little anymore.”
I turned to Tristan, searching his face.
“I promise I’ll tell you everything when I’m ready. I’m just… I’m not ready now.”
He ran his hands through his hair, giving me that pleading look I remembered from when we were kids and he’d broken something but didn’t want to get in trouble.
“It’s okay. Take your time.” I say and I mean it, I’m not going to force him to say anything he isn’t
ready to say.
….Later that evening, we all sat in Orion’s living room, and I had Lily, Orion’s four–year–old daughter, curled up on my lap asking me questions I didn’t know how to answer.
When I’d first seen her at the door, I hadn’t thought twice before wrapping her in the tightest hug I
could manage.
“Aunt Athena!” she’d squealed the moment she spotted me, running toward me with all the boundless
energy only a child could possess.
I was shocked that she could recognize me. This was the first time we’d actually met face to face. I wouldn’t have recognized her if I’d passed her on the street.
“Wait till you get inside,” Tristan had said with a knowing smile, but I hadn’t understood until I’d
walked into the living room.
Pictures of me and Orion were everywhere. Photos of all three of us together, family portraits spanning years of birthdays and holidays. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw our parents‘ pictures displayed prominently on the mantle – not just Mom and Dad, but Tristan’s parents too.
There was even a group picture we’d all taken together at my high school graduation, everyone grinning and looking so hopeful about the future. I couldn’t help but smile, even with Lily wiggling impatiently in my arms.
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“Aunt Athena,” she said, her little voice serious in the way only children could be, “why don’t you never come see me and Liam? Don’t you like us?”
The guilt hit me like a punch to the stomach.
“Lily, don’t say that to your aunt,” Sarah had scolded gently, then looked at me with apologetic eyes. “I’m really sorry. She doesn’t understand…..”
“It’s nothing,” I said with a nervous laugh. “She’s just a child. That’s how children are.”
“I think she takes after you,” Tristan said, making me raise an eyebrow. “Orion, correct me if I’m wrong.”
Orion shook his head, grinning. “Oh no, he’s absolutely right.”
“Athena was the most curious little thing when she was small,” Tristan continued, making me blush. “Always asking questions that made adults want to disappear.”
“Stop it, Tristan,” I said, laughing despite my embarrassment.
“For real though,” Orion jumped in, his eyes lighting up with mischief. “Remember that time Aunt
Corrie came over for Thanksgiving?”
Tristan burst out laughing, and I felt my stomach drop because I had no idea what they were talking
about.
“She asked Aunt Corrie why she only came over when there was food, and if she didn’t eat at her own house,” Orion finished, making me want to crawl under the couch.
They were talking about my childhood like I was still five years old. This was the disadvantage of having an older brother who was eight years older than me – he remembered every embarrassing thing I’d
ever done.
“Or that time she asked Mrs. Henderson why she…..” Tristan started.
“Tristan, if you say one more word,” I warned, handing Lily over to Sarah as I stood up and moved
toward him.
He jumped up, laughing. “It’s not that embarrassing
I growled in frustration. He hadn’t changed one bit. He still loved teasing me every chance he got.
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“Don’t you dare,” I warned, but I was fighting back smile.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
