Chapter 265
Athena
The house felt too quiet after they left. Even with Lily and Liam playing in the corner, even with Sarah moving around picking up
toys, the silence felt heavy and suffocating.
I stood by the window, watching the empty driveway where Tristan’s car had been just minutes ago.
“Athena,” Sarah said softly. “Come sit down.”
“I’m fine,” I said, but I didn’t move from the window.
“You’re not fine,” she said. “And that’s okay. But standing there staring out the window isn’t going to bring them back any faster.”
I knew she was right, but I couldn’t seem to make my feet move. All I could think about was Tristan running toward danger. Orion facing down rogues. Derek fighting alongside them.
Fifteen rogues. Maybe more.
Those weren’t good odds.
“Mama, I’m thirsty,” Lily said, tugging on Sarah’s shirt.
“Okay, baby,” Sarah said. “Let’s get you some water.”
She went to the kitchen and I finally forced myself to move away from the window. I went to lock the front door like Orion had told me to, then checked the back door too. All the windows. Everything was secure.
But I still didn’t feel safe.
Sarah came back with sippy cups for both kids and handed them out. Liam immediately took a drink and went back to his trucks. Lily drank hers while leaning against the couch, her eyes already looking tired.
“What time is it?” I asked.
Sarah checked her phone. “Almost eight.”
Only thirty minutes had passed since they left. It felt like hours.
I sat down on the couch and Sarah joined me, taking my hand.
“They’ve dealt with rogues before,” she said. “They know what they’re doing.”
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“I know,” I said. “But fifteen rogues, Sarah. That’s different from the usual one or two that wander onto our territory.”
“I know,” she admitted. “But they’re not alone. The whole pack will be there. All the fighters.”
I wanted to take comfort in that, but I couldn’t. Not when I kept thinking about all the things that could go wrong.
“We just found out about the baby,” I said quietly. “We just told everyone. What if something happens and he never gets to meet our
child?”
“Don’t think like that,” Sarah said firmly. “Tristan is strong and smart and he has everything to fight for now. He’ll come back.
“You can’t promise that,” I said.
“No,” she agreed. “But I can have faith. And so can you.”
I leaned my head on her shoulder and tried to breathe through the anxiety clawing at my chest.
Lily came over and climbed onto the couch between us. “Why are you sad, Aunt Athena?”
“I’m not sad, sweetie,” I said, trying to smile for her. “Just a little worried.”
“About daddy and Uncle Tristan?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said. There was no point in lying to her.
“They’ll be okay,” she said with the confidence only a four–year–old could have. “Daddy is really strong. He told me so.”
Despite everything, I felt a small smile form. “He did?”
“Yep,” she said. “He said he’s the strongest daddy in the whole world and nothing bad can happen to him.”
“Your daddy is pretty strong,” I agreed.
She nodded seriously, then climbed into my lap and hugged me. “Don’t be worried. It makes the baby sad.”
I looked at Sarah in surprise. Had she told Lily about the baby being able to feel things?
Sarah shrugged with a small smile. “She’s very intuitive.”
I hugged Lily back, grateful for her innocent attempt at comfort. “You’re right. I’ll try not to worry.”
“Good,” she said, settling more comfortably in my lap.
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Within minutes, she was asleep, her little body heavy and warm against me.
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Sarah got up and picked up Liam, who was also starting to nod off. “Let me put them down somewhere. Do you have a guest room?”
“Down the hall, second door on the right,” I said. “There’s a bed in there.”
She carried Liam down the hall and I carefully stood up with Lily, following behind her.
The guest room was simple but comfortable. Sarah laid Liam on one side of the bed and I laid Lily next to him. We put pillows on the open side so they wouldn’t roll off.
“They’ll be okay here,” Sarah said, pulling a blanket over them.
