Chapter 79
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Ath… The pain in Orion’s voice hit me like a physical blow.
I could see my words were hurting him, but I couldn’t take them back. They were rue, even if they stung. I couldn’t face those sweet, innocent children
while I was barely holding myself together.
I couldn’t be the aunt they looked up to when I was still jumping at shadows and trembling from memories that felt too fresh.
“Wait, just let me explain how I feel, please, ” I said quickly, catching sight of Tristan settling onto his motorcycle. He wasn’t leaving, just giving us space to
talk while making it clear he planned to be part of whatever came next.
My voice cracked as I spoke, but I pushed through anyway. “I want your kids to see me the way I see you – strong, brave, someone they can always count on. I know it might sound impossible right now, but I have to try. I want them to look up to me as their protector, not as someone who constantly needs protecting. I want to be the kind of aunt who believes in herself, who can stay in their lives forever without bringing darkness with her p>
By the time I finished talking, tears were streaming down my face.
Orion stepped forward immediately and brushed them away with those gentle fingers I remembered from childhood, the same ones that used to wipe away
tears when I scraped my knees or had bad dreams.
I hate being this weak, I hate it.
I hated that I kept going back and forth like this. Hated that every time I tried to move forward, something always pulled me back to the beginning. Most of all, I hated that I’d ever called someone as manipulative and cruel as Daxon my mate. The shame of it burned in my chest.
“ I won’t stop you if that’s what you really want, Orion said softly, his voice full of understanding. “But I need you to know something first. My kids already
see you as their protector.
They see you for exactly who you are–for your strength, for your bravery, for the way you love them completely. They don’t see weakness when they look at you, Athena. They see their amazing aunt who’s been through terrible things but ame out stronger on the other side p>
His words made me cry harder, but these tears felt different somehow. Like something poisonous was finally being washed out of my system after years of
festering in the dark.
‘Whenever you’re ready, we’ll be waiting,‘ he continued, his voice steady and sure. “ You know my home is your home, right? It always has been, and it always
will be p>
I nodded through my tears, trying to pull myself together enough to speak. “Thank you. That means everything to me. More than you know p>
I threw my arms around him and hugged him as tightly as I could. When I finally pulled back, I stood on my tiptoes and gave him soft pecks on both cheeks, something I’d done since I was little that never failed to make him blush like a tenager.
Sure enough, even in the dim moonlight, I could see his cheeks turn pink. “You’re never too old for that,” he said with a smile that reminded me so much of our father it made my heart ache in a good way.
“ Give Sarah and the kids my love,” I said, wiping my nose on my sleeve like the ceful lady I definitely wasn’t. Tell them Aunt Athena will see them really
soon.
He nodded, then turned to look at Tristan. The glance that passed between them as loaded with years of friendship and shared responsibility.
*Take care of her, man,” Orion said, and it sounded less like a casual request and more like a sacred vow.
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Chapter 79
KICA
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“You know I’ll protect her with my life,” Tristan responded without missing a bent his voice carrying the kind of absolute conviction that made something warm and complicated move in my chest.
Despite everything that had happened tonight the fight, the harsh words, the hit feelings that were probably still simmering under the surface – he was still here. Still ready to put himself between me and anything that might cause harm.
“Good, Orion said with obvious satisfaction. Then I’ll take this worthless excuse of an alpha where he belongs p>
I didn’t ask what they planned to do with Daxon. Part of me didn’t want to know he details, and part of me trusted them completely to handle it however
they saw fit.
Comments
Tanya Gordon
6 Comments >
is it Daxon or Dixon because it’s constantly changing back & forth. same with her wolf is it Ciara or Clara?
7 days ago
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Sara Lili
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.