Chapter 74 Athena's POV Jess. His dead mate. The woman he'd never gotten over, never stopped loving.He wasn't making love to me. He was making love to a ghost, to a memory, to someone who would never come back. In his drunken state, he'd confused me for her, and everything - the tenderness, the declarations of love, the promises - all of it had been meant for someone else.Before I could stop myself, my hand flew across his face.SMACK.The sound cracked through the room like a gunshot. The force of it sent shockwaves up my arm, my palm stinging from the impact, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the agony tearing through my chest.The slap seemed to snap Tristan back to reality. He blinked rapidly, his eyes clearing as he tried to focus on where he was, what had just happened. I watched the confusion morph into horror as he realized he was in my bed, naked, and I was looking at him with pure hatred."Ath," he said, reaching toward me."Do not touch me," I said through
Chapter 73 Athena's POVI slowly opened the door, and Tristan practically fell into my apartment. His weight crashed against me, and I had to brace myself against the doorframe to keep us both from tumbling to the floor.The smell hit me immediately - whiskey, strong and sharp, mixed with something else I couldn't identify. He reeked of alcohol, his usually perfect appearance completely disheveled. His dark hair was messy, his shirt wrinkled and partially untucked, and there was a lost look in his eyes that made my heart clench with worry.I managed to help him stay upright long enough to lock the door behind us, my hands shaking slightly as I turned the deadbolt. When I turned back to him, he was swaying on his feet like a tree in strong wind."Tristan, what are you doing?" I whispered, moving quickly to support him before he collapsed.Getting him to my bedroom felt like trying to move a mountain. Tristan was pure muscle, all six feet and however many inches of him, and drunk Tris
Chapter 72He opened the door cautiously, his body language tense and ready for trouble. I could see his eyebrows raise in surprise, and he shifted slightly but didn't move away from the doorway, still blocking my view of whoever was outside.Curiosity got the better of me, and I moved to get a better look around Derek's shoulder. When I saw who was standing in my hallway, my own eyebrows shot up in surprise.Rhys. My handsome neighbor, looking as perfectly put-together as ever despite the late hour."Hi," Rhys said with that smooth smile of his. "I was just coming back from work and decided to say hello.""Oh, thank you. Welcome," I replied, though I was still puzzled by the timing of his visit.Derek hadn't moved an inch from his protective position in the doorway, and I could feel tension radiating from him like heat from a fire.Rhys's attention shifted to Derek, and his smile became more calculating. "Hi there," he said, like he was just noticing Derek's presence.Derek said noth
Chapter 71Athena's POVThe training lasted for two solid hours, and I'd refused to stop until I'd gotten the hang of several basic maneuvers. My body was sore in places I'd never felt before, my hands were cramped from gripping the handlebars so tightly, and there was a thin layer of sweat under my helmet, but I had never felt more alive.Derek had been genuinely surprised at how quickly I picked things up. By the end of our session, I could start Ciara smoothly, navigate simple turns without wobbling, and even come to controlled stops without stalling the engine."You're a natural," he kept saying, shaking his head in amazement. "Most people take weeks to get comfortable with the basics, and you're already looking like you've been riding for months."The praise sent warmth flooding through my chest, but it also made me hungry for more."I think I'm ready to start racing," I announced as I pulled off my helmet, my hair sticking up in every direction.Derek burst out laughing, a soun
Chapter 70Athena's POV There, parked right in front of the main entrance in a spot I couldn't possibly miss, was a motorcycle that sat like a goddess herself.A pink bike.My heart leaped with pure joy as I stared at the pink and purple machine that I'd always dreamed of owning. The colors swirled together like cotton candy and sunset, with chrome details that caught the light and made the whole thing sparkle.How did he know I loved pink and purple? My mouth opened and closed like a fish as I searched for words that could possibly express what I was feeling."Oh my God. This is..." I couldn't finish the sentence. There weren't words big enough.Derek stood nearby with a proud smile spreading across his face, clearly pleased with my reaction. He knew he'd gotten me good."You like it?" he asked, though my expression probably made the question unnecessary."Like it?" I said in a slow, wondering tone. "I love it. I absolutely love it.""How? When? I thought you said you wanted to lend
Athena's POVChapter 69It had been three days since I'd moved into my new place, and they had been some of the most peaceful days I'd experienced in years.I'd worried I wouldn't be able to sleep that first night, surrounded by unfamiliar sounds and shadows, but my body had surprised me. Maybe it was the exhaustion from moving, or maybe it was the simple relief of having my own space, but I'd slept deeply and dreamlessly. The kind of sleep that actually restored you instead of leaving you more tired than when you went to bed.My morning routine had become something I genuinely looked forward to. Making coffee in my own kitchen, choosing what to wear without worrying about anyone else's opinion, stepping out onto my small balcony to check the weather. These tiny acts of independence felt like small victories.The commute to work wasn't bad either. My apartment was close enough to the office that the cab ride was short and affordable. I still hadn't gotten the car I wanted, though I