The Biker Alpha Who Became My Second Chance Mate Chapter 82

Athena's POV

"Well, that's too bad because I don't care what you think, Tristan. You don't get a choice in what I do with my life. Racing is what I love and it's what I'll continue doing. No one, not even you, can make me stop."

I poured all the spite I could muster into those words, wanting them to sting.

Tristan looked genuinely shocked by the force of my speech, but his shock quickly transformed into anger.

"Do you want to get yourself killed? What are you thinking?"

"Aren't you doing the same thing? Are you dead?" I shot back.

He messed up his hair again, his frustration mounting. "Do you know how many times I've been hurt racing? Do you know how many times I've nearly lost my life? I can't watch you try to kill yourself like this."

The thought of Tristan lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life made me feel sick to my stomach. It was something I never wanted to see happen. But that wasn't what was important right now.

"But you didn't die. And I won't die either."

"Damn it, Athena! Why can't you just listen to me for once?"

"And why should I listen to you, Tristan? What right do you have to control my life?"

"Because I love you!" The words exploded out of him, making him sound like Orion. I hate the way they treat me like am something that needs to be protected, I'm twenty-eight for crying out loud.

I stared at him, not caring about what he'd just said. "There's nothing I can do about that, Tristan. I know you love and care about me, and you don't want to see me get hurt. But this is my life. You and Orion need to understand that I'm not a child anymore."

"I said I love you, Ath." His voice was quieter now, more intense.

"Yes, I know. But I'll try to be more careful. You can watch me train, teach me how to be really good. So I won't get hurt, and you and Orion don't have to worry about me like I'm still a little girl."

I try to bargain, because a part of me knows how they feel. That's why am offering this even though it's the last thing I want, but that's how far I can go for them.

Still can't believe I'll have to go through this with Orion too, I wish he was here so we can get this done with.

"No, you're not understanding me, Ath." He took a step closer, his eyes burning with something I couldn't quite identify.

I paused and looked at him more carefully. I understood him perfectly. He said he loved me. I heard him clearly, and I knew what he meant. He loved me the same way he'd always loved me, the way a big brother loves his little sister.

Yes, I was angry with him because he couldn't love me the way I wanted him to. But I knew he loved me as family.

"I said I LOVE YOU!" he repeated, emphasizing each word.

"What?" I stammered, confused by his intensity.

"I said I love..." He started to repeat himself again.

I raised my hands to stop him. "I heard you, Tristan, but I don't understand why you keep repeating it. I think you're confused. This is Athena's house." I reminded him pointedly, in case he was about to call me by someone else's name again.

"I know it's you, and that's exactly why I'm saying..." He tried to walk toward me, but I stopped him with raised hands, taking a step backward.

"You don't love me, Tristan. You're saying this because you got scared seeing me race, and then you saw me kissing Derek. That's why you think you love me. You're just being overprotective."

"I know what I feel, Athena. I love you, and I'm sorry it took me this long to finally accept it. I've been such an idiot, pushing you away all these years. I promise I'll make this right. I swear on my word that I'll never hurt you again."

I stood there in complete shock as I watched Tristan say these words. He wasn't drunk this time, so what was he really saying?

"What if I told you I don't love you back?" I asked, testing him.

"Then that's not a problem, because I'll court you properly." Another surprise. Was I dreaming? Why was Tristan saying all of this?

"I won't give up until you love me and accept me as more than just family."

I was still too stunned to fully process what was happening. I'd never seen Tristan like this before, so open and vulnerable and determined. Except for the night he was drunk.

"What about Orion? What happened to me being like a sister to you?"

He ran his hands through his hair again, and for a moment I wanted to reach out and smooth it down for him.

"He knows," Tristan said simply.

"Knows what?"

"That I love you, and he doesn't mind, Ath. He said if I can make you happy, he doesn't have a problem with it."

"What about me? You talked to Orion before talking to me?" There was hurt in my voice that I couldn't hide.

"I just wanted to make sure he was okay with it first."

"What if he wasn't okay? Would you still have told me?" I needed to know if his feelings were conditional on his best friend's approval.

He nodded immediately and tried to come closer to me again, but I stepped back until my spine hit the wall behind me.

"The moment Sarah made me see my feelings clearly, I called Orion to let him know I loved you. I was already on my way to see you when I made that call."

Now he was standing close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. His hands found my face, cupping it gently.

"I love you, Ath. I always have, but I was too blind and too caught up fighting my feelings to let myself understand what I truly felt. But I've always loved you, and I know you're angry with me. I deserve your anger. But I want you to forgive me and give me a chance to prove myself."

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly feeling dry. His hands on my face were melting away whatever words I'd been trying to form.

"Tristan," I managed to say, but I couldn't complete the thought. His touch was scrambling my brain.

His hands shifted to my neck, and instinctively I tilted my head, giving him access. He took the invitation immediately.

When his lips touched the sensitive skin of my neck, I let out an involuntary moan. The sound seemed to encourage him, and he began to suck gently on my pulse point

Then I felt his teeth against my skin. What was he trying to do?

Was he trying to mark me?