THE BIKER ALPHA WHO BECAME MY SECOND CHANCE MATE

" You didn't fail , " he says firmly , " You survived . You got away from him , and you came home . That took incredible strength , incredible courage . " I want to believe him . I want so desperately to see myself through his eyes , through the eyes of someone who loves me unconditionally . But Daxon's voice is still so loud in my head , still telling me I'm worthless , unlovable , damaged beyond repair . I pull back to look at him , needing him to understand the magnitude of what I'm about to tell him . " I ..... rejected him . I formally rejected the mate bond .

" Tristan's eyes widen in shock . He knows what this means , knows how rare it is for someone to reject their mate bond , knows the kind of pain it causes . " I stood in what should have been our mating ceremony , bleeding and broken , and I spoke the words that would sever our connection forever . I rejected him as my mate . " Fresh tears spill down my cheeks as I voice the shame I've carried ever since . " I turned my back on the most sacred bond our kind knows . I rejected the goddess's gift because I couldn't bear to be connected to someone who hurt me . And now ...

now I'm broken in a way that can never be fixed . I'll never have another mate . I'll never have that kind of love again . " Tristan cups my face in his hands , forcing me to look at him . " You did the right thing , " he says firmly . " The mate bond is supposed to be about love and protection , not abuse and control . What he did to you , what he made you endure , that wasn't what the goddess intended . You saved yourself , Ath . You found the strength to break free . " I want to believe him , but the guilt is still so heavy . " But I'm cursed now , " I whisper . " Mateless wolves ...

we're not whole . We're broken things that can't form proper bonds with anyone . " " That's not true . " Tristan's voice is fierce . " You're not broken , you're wounded . And wounds can heal . Just because you don't have a mate doesn't mean you can't have love , can't have happiness . " I nod against his chest , trying to absorb his words , trying to believe them . " I'm scared, " I admit . " I'm scared that Orion will look at me differently when he knows I rejected my mate . I'm scared that you both will realize I'm not the person you thought I was . " " Hey .

Tristan's voice is gentle but firm . ' Look at me . " 18:27 Fri , Jan 2 Chapter 23 1 force myself to meet his eyes . " You are exactly who we've always known you to be . You're our Athena . You survived something that would have destroyed most people , and you had the courage to save yourself when no one else could . Nothing that bastard did to you changes how much we love you , how proud we are of your strength 46 " Orion needs to know , " he continues , his voice gentle but insistent . " Not because he has a right to judge you , but because he has a right to support you .

He loves you , Ath . We both do . And love means sharing the burden , not carrying it alone . " I nod against his chest , finally understanding what he's been trying to tell me . This isn't about confession or judgment or shame . This is about family , about the people who love me enough to help carry the weight of my pain until I'm strong enough to carry it myself . * I'll tell him when he gets back , " I promise , and for the first time , I actually mean it . " But I need time to figure out how . I need time to find the words .

" " We'll figure it out together , " Tristan promises , pressing a kiss to the top of my head . " All three of us . That's what family does . " As I lie there in his arms , I realize something has shifted inside me . The shame is still there , but it's not as loud as it was before . For the first time since I rejected the mate bond , I can imagine a future where I might actually heal . Maybe I don't need a mate to be whole . Maybe the love of my family will be enough to help me find my way back to myself .

Comments 17 Write Comments < SHARE 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.