The Biker Alpha Who Became My Second Chance Mate Chapter 66

Athena's POV

The silence that followed was thick. Orion's fork stopped halfway to his mouth, and Tristan went completely still.

"What..... do you mean?" Orion asked in a low soft tone.

"I mean I want to find my own apartment. Be independent. I can't live with Tristan forever."

"You can live with me as long as you want," Tristan said quietly.

I looked at him directly then, keeping my voice steady and my smile in place.

"That's very kind of you bro, but I think it's time I stood on my own two feet. I've been dependent on other people for too long." I could see his jaw tightened but I acted like I notice.

"Athena, you don't have to do this," Orion said, concern creeping into his voice. "If something's wrong..."

"Nothing's wrong. Tristan has been such a supportive elder brother..." The words tasted bitter in my mouth, and I saw Tristan's eyebrow raise slightly.

Calling him that felt like shooting myself in the foot, but that was what he was. "I just think it's time for me to have my own space. Make my own decisions. Live my own life. Daxon is gone, there's no need to still act like I need protection."

Under the table, my hands were clasped so tightly my knuckles were white. But my voice never wavered, my smile never faltered.

I was done being the girl who needed rescuing. It was time to rescue myself.

I could see Orion was trying to talk me out of it. He looked at Tristan, and I noticed a strange look pass between them. It was brief, but intense, like they were having an entire conversation without words.

It looked like they were communicating through their mind link, but that was impossible. Or maybe not that impossible.

Though they weren't from the same pack, there was still a way around it.

A way only few men knew, men like my dad and Tristan's dad.

I knew my dad and Tristan's dad used to communicate somehow, but I'd never bothered to ask how.

Since I'd gotten back, I hadn't even tried to communicate with Orion through our pack's mind link. It was like I'd completely forgotten where I came from or what I was capable of.

The whole concept of mind linking had always made me uncomfortable.

Why would I want someone invading my privacy, talking inside my head? But my mom always said it was what made us unique as wolves, so eventually I'd stopped fighting it and started trying to embrace the gifts they'd taught me to accept.

Well, some of them anyway. I wasn't allowed to embrace all my abilities since I was little. I didn't know why, but I'd been taught to always suppress Ciara.

She wasn't allowed to take her full form except during the full moon, which was probably why she wasn't stable now.

Sometimes I forgot I was even a werewolf. I acted and felt completely human most of the time. Wasn't that funny?

Humans would give anything to be like me, but here I was wishing I could be like them. Though I did want Ciara back properly, and I also loved being a werewolf when I let myself think about it.

"When?" Orion asked, bringing me out of my wandering thoughts.

I raised a confused eyebrow, not understanding what he meant.

"When do you plan on finding your own place?"

Oh right. My apartment. I'd been so lost in my thoughts that I'd forgotten we were still discussing my moving out.

"Tomorrow if possible."

Both of them raised their eyebrows, clearly surprised by my timeline.

"Tomorrow? Isn't that a bit too soon?" Tristan said, and from the look on his face, I could tell the words had slipped out before he could stop them.

"I've been back for more than a month now. I don't think it's too soon," I replied with a smile directed at him.

"Have you already found a place?" This was Orion, making me turn my attention back to him.

"I have some options, but I'll be checking them out today after work."

"Ath..." I could see the sadness creeping across his face.

I knew this was going to hurt him, but it was something I needed to do. That's why I'd chosen to look at places that weren't too far from his house. I wanted independence, not isolation.

"You can come with me if you want. Both of you." I looked between them, seeing hope flicker in their eyes.

I knew Tristan had hurt me, but this was how I was going to prove myself that I was truly growing.

I was going to act mature, not because I want to be mature but because I am.

And I couldn't make Orion suspect anything happened between us. But on a second thought, nothing happened between us. It was just a small mistake that'll never repeat itself again, so it was nothing.

"Or how about we go now?" Tristan suggested, surprising me.

I turned to look at him fully. "Now?"

"The company belongs to us," he said with a shrug. "Nothing terrible will happen if we don't come back today. That way, we won't just end up picking the first place we see. You'll have time to choose something you really like."

Orion nodded enthusiastically. "He's right. I don't mind at all. Do you?"

I shook my head. How could I refuse when they were both looking at me with such hopeful expressions?

"Will it be close to mine or Tristan's?" Orion asked, and I was surprised to see he wasn't joking. He was looking at me with genuine expectation.

I noticed Tristan was doing the same thing, even though he was trying to act casual about it.

I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Two grown men wanting to know if I'd stay close to them or not. It was almost endearing how protective they were being.

"Actually," I said, still smiling, "I've been looking at places that are roughly between both of your houses. That way, I'm not too far from either of you, but I still have my independence." That was partially the truth.

If I had said I'd stay close to Orion, Orion would have suspected something. But this way, he wouldn't suspect anything and I'll still be close to him and his family.

The relief on both their faces was obvious, and I felt a little guilty for not telling them sooner. But part of me had needed to see their reactions, to know that they actually wanted me nearby.

"So where exactly are we going?" Tristan asked, already reaching for his wallet to pay the check.

I knew Tristan was trying to play along, we both knew Orion was smart and would suspect any slight changes.

Whatever he did yesterday was between the both of us, it has nothing to do with Orion.

So am going to smile through this and act like nothing had happened, and I know he would too.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the list of apartments I'd saved. "There are three places I want to look at. The first one is about fifteen minutes from here."

"What kind of place are you looking for?" Orion asked as we stood up from the table.

"Nothing too big. Just a one-bedroom with a decent kitchen and maybe a small balcony. Something that feels like home but is completely mine."

As we walked out of the restaurant, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness building in my chest. This was really happening. I was actually going to get my own place, my own space where no one could tell me what to do or how to live.

"Are you sure about this?" Tristan asked quietly as we reached the parking lot.

I turned to face him, and for a moment, I saw something vulnerable in his eyes. Something that looked almost like fear, fear that he'd broken me.

But he didn't break me, he made me stronger.

"I'm sure," I said softly. "This is something I need to do for myself."

He nodded slowly, but I could see he wasn't completely convinced. That was okay. He didn't have to understand. This decision wasn't just about him or Orion or anyone else. It was about me finally taking control of my own life.

"Okay," he said finally. "Let's go find you a place."

The first apartment was in a converted Victorian house with high ceilings and original hardwood floors. It was beautiful but felt too grand. I wanted something smaller, cozier.

The second place was modern and sleek, all clean lines and minimal decoration. But it felt cold, sterile. Like a hotel room rather than a home.

Tristan and Orion had liked it and wanted me to take me, but I had the final say. I didn't like it.

The third apartment, though, felt different the moment I walked through the door.

It was on the second floor of a brick building, with large windows that let in plenty of natural light. The living room was just big enough for a couch and coffee table without feeling cramped.

The kitchen was small but functional, with enough counter space for me to actually cook. And there was a tiny balcony that overlooked a small garden courtyard.

"This is it," I said without hesitation, walking over to the windows to look out at the view.

"Are you sure?" Orion asked, but I could hear the smile in his voice.

"I'm sure. This feels like home."

I could see both men looking around the space, probably calculating security risks and escape routes like the overprotective brothers they were.

But for once, I didn't mind their concern. It came from a place of love, and that was something I was finally learning to accept again.

It was okay for siblings to love and want to protect each other.

"When can she move in?" Tristan asked the house agent.

"If the references check out and the deposit clears, she could have the keys by Friday."

Friday. Five days from now. My stomach fluttered with a mixture of excitement and terror.

"I'll take it," I said before I could change my mind.

As I filled out the paperwork, I kept glancing around the small apartment, trying to imagine myself living here. Cooking breakfast in that little kitchen. Reading on the balcony in the evening. Falling asleep in the bedroom that would be entirely mine.

For the first time in years, I was making a decision that was completely about what I wanted, not what someone else expected of me. And it felt terrifying and wonderful at the same time.

This was the beginning of something new.