Chapter 158
Chapter 158
Tristan POV
We followed the sound, both of us moving cautiously now, our senses on high alert. The ringing was coming from somewhere behind the door.
Before we could reach it, we heard Derek’s voice echoing through the apartment.
“ Hey guy, what’s up p>
Orion and I exchanged confused glances when we realized we could both hear his voice clearly through the phone connection.
That’s when we heard a knock on the door.
“Hello, Tristan, are you there? I’m actually at Athena’s place,” Derek was still saying into his phone as I reached for the door handle.
I yanked the door open, and Derek’s eyes widened in shock when he realized I was the one standing there.
71
“What are you doing here?” we both asked at exactly the same time.
I raised an eyebrow, my suspicion flaring. Why was he asking me what I was doing at my mate’s apartment?
Derek must have seen the dangerous look on my face because he quickly explained, ‘I spoke to Athena like an hour ago. She said she was alone and that you went to handle something. That’s why I asked – I wasn’t expecting you to be here p>
I stared at him with growing suspicion. The timeline wasn’t matching up with what I remembered, and every instinct I had was screaming that something
was wrong.
“Let him in,” Orion said behind me, his voice carefully controlled.
Derek raised his eyebrows, clearly picking up on the tension radiating from both of us. “What’s going on? Why is Orion here? Where’s Athena p>
‘I should be asking you that,” I replied, my voice colder than I intended.
Derek looked genuinely confused now, his head tilting slightly as he studied my expression. “Why would you ask me where she is? I called because I wanted to talk to her, I needed her advice on something p>
‘One minute you’re calling her at an indecent hour, the next she’s missing,‘ I started, but Orion cut me off.
“Let him in, Tristan. That way, we can get to the bottom of this p>
I took a deep breath, trying to control the rage that was building in my chest. Orion was right, but every fiber of my being wanted to grab Derek by the
throat and demand answers.
‘Please, what’s going on? Athena is what? ” Derek asked I reluctantly stepped aside to let him enter.
I shut the door behind him with more force than necessary, the sound echoing through the apartment like a gunshot.
“Athena is missing, and we think you took her,” Orion said, moving slowly toward Derek with predatory grace.
1/3
15:21 Sat, Jan 10 G MR
Chapter 158
But Derek didn’t back away or show any signs of fear. Instead, he stood his ground and looked at Orion with genuine confusion and hurt.
71
Athena’s missing and you think it was me?‘ He turned toward me with pain clear in his eyes. You actually think I would do something to hurt Athena? Why
would I do such a thing?
I ran my hands through my hair in frustration because deep down, I knew Derek wasn’t that kind of person. He’d never hurt an innocent woman, especially not one he cared about. But my mind was clouded with panic and fear, and I couldn’t think straight.
“So you didn’t take her? Orion pressed, watching Derek like a hawk waiting for any sign of deception.
“Of course I didn’t, Derek said, his voice rising with emotion. “I would never do such a thing to Athena, and besides, you and Tristan are my friends p>
He turned to me and stared at me with an expression I’d never seen before – hurt, disappointment, and something that looked almost like betrayal.
I know you wouldn’t do such a thing. I know that. I’m just confused and I don’t know what to think,” I said, my voice breaking slightly.
I understand. I really do,” Derek replied, and I could hear the sincerity in his voice.
If this had been any other time, I would have asked him about the look in his eyes, the one that suggested there was someone special in his life that he hadn’t told me about. He could only understand if he had someone he was scared of losing. But this wasn’t the time for friendly curiosity about his love life.
I turned toward Orion, desperation creeping into my voice. “If Derek isn’t responsible, then who is p>
“Do you have any enemies? Someone who would harm someone you love just to hurt you?” Orion asked his analytical mind already working through the
possibilities.
I tried to think of anyone who might have a grudge against me, anyone who would go to such lengths for revenge. But I came up empty.
“No one,” I said, shaking my head. “I can’t think of anyone who would do this p>
Orion shook his head as well. “I don’t have any enemies like that either p>
“Then does she? ‘ Derek asked quietly.
“Who? Athena? ” I asked, though my heart was already starting to race as a terrible possibility began to form in my mind.
“Yes, Does Athena have anyone who could go to any length just to hurt her p>
I started to shake my head automatically, but then my eyes met Orion’s across the room. The same horrible realization was dawning on both of us
simultaneously.
‘It’s not possible. It’s not possible, Orion said, reading my expression and understanding immediately what I was thinking.
‘What’s not possible? What’s going on? Derek asked, looking between us with growing concern.
‘He’s dead. I saw him die, didn’t you?” Orion asked, his voice tight with barely controlled panic.
I felt my stomach drop as I realized the truth. ‘I didn’t actually see him die. You did, right p>
“ You didn’t? ” Orion’s voice rose an octave.
2/3
Chapter 158
“ I didnt, ” I admitted, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. We only saw the pictures Max sent. But Max saw him and disposed of the body. He told me Daxon died from the torture p>
71
“ Max would never lie to me. He would never lie about something like this,” I said, but even as the words left my mouth, doubt was creeping in.
“But you saw him die, right?‘ I asked Orion desperately.
‘I didn’t, I was going to kill him. I actually did, but he didn’t die before I left the place. Max called an hour later to tell me he had died.” Orion said, and his
face had gone completely pale.
The silence that followed was deafening. Derek looked between us, clearly trying to piece together what we were talking about, while Orion and I stared at
each other in horror.
‘ Are you telling me, Derek said slowly, that Athena has someone who is after her life and you both caught him, tortured him and killed him. But he might
not have died and had resurrected? ”
Derek was smart, so it wasn’t hard to pick the pieces together.
I couldn’t speak, I just nodded. The possibility that Daxon was still breathing, still capable of hurting Athena, made my vision go red around the edges.
“Who’s Max then?” Derek asked the question I didn’t even want to let my mind wonder to.
“My beta” The word tasted bitter on my lips as I let them fall.
Comments
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.