Chapter 107
Tristan’s POV
F100
Athena, I think he likes you.”
The words hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest. There was no need to ask for details. We all knew exactly who Leah was talking about. The pretty boy with his perfect smile and his homemade cookies.
1 raised an eyebrow, trying to look casual while my insides twisted into knots. He liked her. After knowing her for all of five minutes,
this stranger had decided he was interested in my…..
In Athena. Not my anything. Just Athena.
“She’s beautiful. I’m not surprised, my wolf said unhelpfully in the back of my mind.
Thanks for that. Really what I needed to hear right now.
“What are you talking about?” Orion asked, his eyebrow raised and his tone sharp.
I felt a surge of gratitude toward him. At least one of us was sensible enough to be suspicious of some random guy showing up with
baked goods and movie–star looks.
Even though it shouldn’t matter to me what Athena did or didn’t do, at least Orion would keep her safe.
face.
‘Don’t mind Leah,” Athena said quickly, and I felt some of the tension in my shoulders ease. “I’m sure she’s just messing with you.”
She doesn’t like him. The relief that flooded through me was so intense I had to take a careful breath to keep it from showing on my
“What do you mean, don’t mind me?” Leah protested with a grin that made me want to strangle her. “You’re single, so if he asks you out, would you really say no?”
I felt like my head was going to explode. This was exactly why I’d regretted pushing Orion to get Athena an assistant, Leah was doing more harm than good, stirring up trouble where none needed to exist.
My blood was actually boiling, heat rising up my neck as I waited for Athena’s response.
She shrugged, not looking at any of us. “Like you said, I’m single. I can’t just automatically say no. I’d have to think about it first.”
My eyes snapped to her face so fast I probably almost shifted my eyes socket. She wasn’t looking at me, but I was one hundred percent sure she could feel the weight of my stare burning into the side of her head.
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8:48 Wed, Jan 7
Chapter 107
This was the moment. This was when Orion needed to step in and be the overprotective brother, tell her she needed to be careful,
remind her that she barely knew this guy.
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“You’re right,” he said, and for a split second I thought he was going to say something reasonable,
But I need you to be careful when you decide to give yourself another chance at love. I want you to find someone who’ll love you and
choose you first.“
The words felt like a knife sliding between my ribs, twisting as they sank in. Each one was aimed directly at me, a reminder of every
way I’d failed her over the years.
her.
I’d always hurt her. Always pushed her away when she was at her most vulnerable. Always chosen something else, someone else, over
I knew Orion was right. I knew I wasn’t the kind of man Athena deserved, wasn’t the kind of man I’d want for her if I could think
objectively.
I was someone who still held onto his dead mate’s memory like a lifeline, someone who would probably always end up hurting her in
the end.
I knew all of that. So why did hearing it out loud feel like someone was ripping my heart out of my chest with their bare hands?
We spent the rest of the afternoon helping her arrange furniture and unpack boxes, all of us carefully avoiding any mention of the handsome neighbor. But he hung over everything like a shadow, this threat I couldn’t fight because I had no right to.
When it came time to leave, I assumed Athena would come home with me like she had every night for the past month. It was automatic, natural, the way we’d fallen into this routine of sharing space and meals and quiet conversations.
But she didn’t move toward my bike.
I think I’m going to stay here tonight,” she said, not quite meeting my eyes. “Start getting used to the place, you know?”
I felt like the ground had opened up beneath my feet.
“Are you sure?” I asked, hating how desperate I sounded. “It’s your first night. What if something goes wrong? What if you need something?”
“I’ll be fine, Tristan. It’s just one night.”
8:48 Wed, Jan 7
The Biker Alpha Who Became My Second Chance Mate
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.
