The Biker Alpha Who Became My Second Chance Mate Chapter 65

Athena's POV

His words hit me like a slap across the face. His voice was cold, harsh, completely different from the Tristan I'd always known.

His eyes were empty, distant, like he was looking through me instead of at me. Like I was nothing more than a ghost haunting his hallway.

I had to hold myself together. I couldn't fold like I always did. My body wanted to crumble, to make myself small and disappear, but I forced my spine to stay straight.

I had to remind myself this was Tristan, no matter what cruel words came out of his mouth, he wouldn't actually hurt me.

But my body didn't get that message. It was already shutting down, going into that protective mode I knew too well.

My hands started shaking first, then my knees. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to stop the trembling that was spreading through my entire body like poison.

The familiar panic was creeping up my throat, making it hard to breathe. Without thinking, I took a step backward, then another.

That seemed to snap him out of whatever drunk haze he was in. His face changed, the coldness melting into something that looked like horror.

"Athena, I'm sorry," he said, his voice completely different now. He tried to move toward me, but I was already backing away, my body moving on pure instinct. "I swear I'd never hurt you. I didn't mean...."

I didn't wait for him to finish. I turned and ran up the stairs, my heart hammering against my ribs. I slammed my bedroom door behind me and leaned against it, sliding down to the floor as my legs gave out.

The shaking was getting worse. My whole body was vibrating with fear and something else I didn't want to name. Memories of Daxon tried to surface, the way his voice would turn cold before his fists started flying, the way he'd look at me like I was nothing, less than nothing.

"No," I whispered to myself, pressing my palms against my temples. "Not happening. I won't let it happen."

I owed it to myself to be strong. I wouldn't let anyone break me again, not even Tristan. Especially not Tristan.

"I won't give anyone the power to break me," I kept repeating, fighting back the tears that wanted to fall. My voice was shaky at first, but it got stronger with each repetition. "I'm Athena Slade. I'm strong and brave. No one can break me."

I took deep, deliberate breaths, the way the therapist had taught me months ago. In for four counts, hold for four, out for four. Slowly, my racing heart began to calm. The trembling in my hands started to ease.

I looked at the clock on my nightstand. 6:15 AM. In a few hours, I'd have to face the world. I'd have to walk into that office and pretend everything was normal. Orion would be back from dealing with Liam's emergency, and we'd all be working together like nothing had changed.

I could do this. I had to do this.

I took one last deep breath and pushed myself up from the floor. My legs were still a little unsteady, but they held me. And that was something.

I walked to my dresser and pulled out clothes for work, a navy blue dress that made me feel professional and put-together, low heels that I could walk confidently in. Every choice was deliberate, designed to make me feel strong.

The shower helped wash away the last of the panic. Hot water had a way of rinsing off more than just soap and shampoo. By the time I stepped out, I felt more like myself again. Not completely, but enough to function.

I took extra time with my makeup, covering the slight puffiness around my eyes, adding color to my pale cheeks. When I looked in the mirror, I saw someone who looked calm and collected. Someone who had her life together.

It was all an act, but sometimes acting strong was the first step to actually being strong.

When I stepped out of my room, Tristan was standing near my door. He looked like he'd been there for a while, maybe working up the courage to knock.

His hair was messy, his clothes wrinkled, and there were dark circles under his eyes that made him look older than his years.

"Good morning," I said with a smile.

The surprise on his face was almost comical. His eyes widened, and his mouth opened slightly like he was going to say something but forgot what it was. He'd been expecting me to look broken, to come out of my room red-eyed and defeated.

But I wasn't that girl anymore. The Athena who had curled up on her bedroom floor wasn't the same one who had gotten back up.

"Ath," he called as I walked past him toward the stairs.

I paused and turned back, keeping that smile fixed on my face like shield. "Yes, Tristan?"

"I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean to yell and frighten you. I was just..."

"Drunk," I finished for him, my voice light and understanding. "I know. It's okay."

It wasn't okay. It was far from okay. But I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing how much his words had cut me.

I started walking again, then stopped and turned back one more time. "I'll take a cab to work today. We'll see each other at the office."

I didn't wait for his response. I walked downstairs, grabbed my purse and keys, and headed for the door. My hands only shook a little as I turned the handle.

The morning air was cool against my face as I walked to the end of the street. A cab was just turning the corner, and I flagged it down, feeling like the universe was finally giving me a small break.

During the ride, I stared out the window and made myself a promise. I had let Tristan hurt me five years ago. I had let Daxon hurt me for three years. But I wasn't going to let anyone hurt me again. Not Tristan, not anyone.

I was done being a victim.

The office building looked the same as always, but walking through those doors felt different today. Like I was walking into a new version of my life, one where I was in control.

Orion was already at his desk when I arrived, and seeing his familiar face made some of the tension in my shoulders ease. He looked up when I knocked on his door frame, and his smile was warm and genuine.

"There's my favorite sister," he said, standing up to hug me. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm your only sister" I rolled my eyesz with a smile on my face.

"I'm good," For the first time all morning, it didn't feel like a complete lie. "How's Liam?"

"Much better. Sarah sends her love, and Liam wants to know when Aunt Athena is coming to visit again."

"Soon," I promised. "Tell him I miss him, and Lily too."

We talked for a few more minutes about his family, carefully avoiding any mention of Tristan or the drama of the past few days.

Orion could probably sense something was off, but he didn't push. He never did unless he thought I was in real danger.

"I should get to my office," I said finally. "I'm sure there's a mountain of work waiting for me."

"Probably. But don't work too hard, okay? You've been through a lot lately."

I nodded and headed to my own office, closing the door behind me with a sense of relief. Here, surrounded by my files and reports and the familiar hum of the computer, I could almost pretend everything was normal.

I dove into work with an intensity that surprised me. Numbers and spreadsheets were safe, predictable.

They didn't have complicated emotions or hidden meanings. They just were what they were.

I had given Leah few days for her wedding preparation, so I was alone. And it had never felt so peaceful, not that I don't like her company, but I enjoy my own company.

I was so focused on a quarterly report that I didn't hear the knock on my door at first. When it came again, louder this time, I looked up to see Orion standing in the doorway.

"Do you always forget to eat?" he asked, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed.

I glanced at the clock and was shocked to see it was already 1:30. "I was just trying to finish this report."

"It can wait. Come on, we're going to lunch."

"I really should..."

"Athena." His voice had that older brother tone that meant he wasn't taking no for an answer. "The report will still be there when we get back. But if you pass out from hunger, you won't be much good to anyone."

I couldn't argue with that logic. Besides, getting out of the office for a while might do me good. I saved my work and grabbed my purse.

"Where are we going?" I asked as we walked to the elevator.

"That new place on Fifth Street. I hear they have great sandwiches."

The restaurant was busy with the lunch crowd, but we only had to wait a few minutes for a table. Orion was telling me about some funny thing Liam had done the day before when I looked up and felt my stomach drop.

Tristan was already sitting at a table in the corner, nursing a cup of coffee and staring out the window. He looked as tired as he had this morning, maybe worse.

"Did you know he was going to be here?" I asked Orion quietly.

Orion followed my gaze and shrugged. "I might have mentioned we were coming here."

I wanted to argue, wanted to make some excuse and leave, but that would only make Orion more suspicious. So I followed him to Tristan's table, pasting that smile back on my face.

"Do you mind us joining you?" Orion asked with a smirk, already pulling out a chair.

Tristan looked up, and our eyes met for just a moment before he looked away. "What will you do if I mind?"

"We both know I and Athena are the air you breath." Tristan smiled without countering Orion's words.

The next few minutes was filled with Orion and Tristan bickering about their clubs.

Orion was a Barcelona fan, while Tristan was a Real Madrid fan. I rolled my eyes as they wouldn't stop comparing their clubs, but I was glad their focus wasn't on me.

That didn't stop Tristan though, because I could feel him watching me when he thought I wasn't looking, but every time I glanced his way, he was focused on his discussion with Orion or anything else.

Finally, when our food arrived and we'd exhausted all the safe topics of conversation, I decided it was time to drop my bombshell.

"I want to tell you guys something," I said, setting down my sandwich.

Both of them looked at me expectantly, eyebrows raised.

"I think it's time I move out of Orion's place."