Athena
"Luna, there's someone who wants to meet both of you," the maid informed us.
"Who is it, sweetie?" I asked as I gently placed Asher in his crib. This was his second nap of the day, and in his soft snores, there was a hint of Sebastian. He had definitely taken after his father in terms of looks and a few habits.
"He says his name is Tristan Perez."
"What, Tristan?" I asked, my brows rising in surprise, and Sebastian's reaction mirrored mine as he immediately closed his laptop.
"Bring him in," he said, “Right now."
The maid promptly left the room.
It had been four months since that fateful day when Sebastian, after apologizing to Tristan, me (even though I was unconscious at the time), and our newborn baby, disappeared. He had promised to return the following day, but Tristan had vanished without a trace. No phone calls, no visits, no messages, and no news. Cora had been devastated, but she eventually found the strength to move on, accepting the possibility that he might never return, or perhaps he would reappear someday—a flicker of hope that had kept her going.
"I can't believe it's him," I said to Sebastian, letting out a sigh, “I mean, he completely vanished."
"At least he's back. Let's talk to him, okay?"
"Yeah, of course. We have to. There are so many things left unresolved, and no matter what he did, in the end, he saved our lives. He saved me and Asher," I said, running my hand through my hair.
God, this felt strange. I knew that seeing Tristan would bring back those memories, but at least it would be in a positive way because all that was now behind us. I didn't blame him for anything, not then and not even now.
Moments passed, heavy footsteps echoing, before Tristan walked in. He stood at the doorway, a soft smile on his lips as he knocked twice
"May I?"
"Of course, come in," Sebastian replied, rising from his seat.
Tristan entered the room, a hint of hesitation in his movements. However, I noticed that he didn't appear burdened by guilt or regret. It wasn't just the way he spoke or the smile he flashed or even the fact that he had finally shown up after all these months. It was a feeling—an unspoken change in the air. The way his eyes had looked that day in the jungle, compared to how they seemed now.
Maybe he had finally found a way to move forward.
"Long time no see, guys. I can't exactly call you two old friends, can I?" He chuckled.
"God, Tristan. It's so surprising to see you here. We almost believed you'd never come back," Sebastian walked toward him and pulled him into a heartfelt hug, “Thank you. Thank you for saving my mate's life that day and for giving my boy the chance to be with us in this world."
"I'm the last person you should be thanking," he replied, patting Sebastian on the back, “I just happened to learn how to avoid making more mistakes at the last moment."
"Tristan..." I sighed, “It wasn’t your—” He cut me off with a gentle chuckle.
"You can't use that trick on me, lady," Tristan said. "I know why you're doing this, maybe to make me feel better and forget my mistakes. I understand, but I'm fully aware of my errors, Athena. I can't forget them, but I've moved beyond dwelling on them. That’s why I'm here today to apologize for everything I put you all through."
"It's okay, man. We've already moved past it. It doesn't matter anymore," Sebastian reassured him.
"Yeah, I know. Still, I felt like I needed to do it for my own peace. Also, I know you all tried to reach out countless times; I found out when I got home today. So thank you for considering me worthy enough. I didn't expect that. At first, I thought you all would basically hate me, but it seems like you all have bigger hearts than you let on."
"You saved our lives, Tristan. You saved me and Asher. No matter how the circumstances were, you could have just chosen not to save us and walked away, but you didn't. That's all that matters," I said softly. "You realized your mistake, and everything's fine."
A smile tugged at his lips. "You two named him Asher?"
"Yeah, we both had the name chosen ever since we found out his gender," I smiled in return.
"Can...can I see him?"
"Of course, you can. Come here," I said, motioning for him to approach the crib.
He walked over slowly, standing closer to the crib. His lips parted in awe as he gazed at Asher's peaceful sleeping figure, and I could see a trace of guilt in his eyes that spoke volumes.
Sebastian joined him, "He's handsome like me, isn't he?"
A soft laugh escaped Tristan's lips, “So, while becoming a father, you've also become a narcissist? You weren't like this back then."
"Oh, you don't know, Tristan. Both he and Vincent are getting worse every day. Total immature brats."
"Yeah, I've heard that he and Vincent have become closer. Cora says they're best friends now," he replied, his eyes still fixed on Asher.
"You've met her?" Sebastian asked.
"Yes, I have. She was the first person I went to before even coming here. I got quite a verbal lashing before she finally agreed to talk to me. It's going to take some time to mend things with her."
Thank goodness they've met. It was a glimmer of hope.
"Well, at least you're trying," I smiled, “I'm sure Cora will forgive you soon. She's been waiting for you all these months. Give it some time, and everything will be fine."
"Yeah, I hope so," he nodded, smiling, before slowly leaning in to trace Asher's cheek with the back of his fingers. In his sleep, Asher grasped Tristan's finger.
Tristan's body froze.
"Looks like he found another favorite," Sebastian remarked, glancing at me.
"What?" Tristan asked.
"Once Asher grasps your finger, you're stuck for life," I chuckled, “It happened to Vincent, Cora, Shelly, and many others. It's his way of connecting people to his life—Sebastian and I came up with this little theory. He seems to draw people in, effortlessly.”
Tristan remained silent for a while before speaking, "I don't think you should want me in your life, bud," he sighed, "I've put you through a lot."
Asher didn't let go of Tristan's finger, even though Tristan made the slightest attempt to free it.
"It doesn't seem like he really cares about what you say, Tristan," I chuckled, "I'm telling you, you're stuck."
"Can I hold him for a moment?" His voice trembled.
"Of course," I flashed him a warm smile as I carefully scooped Asher into my arms before gently handing him to Tristan, “Here."
Very tenderly, Tristan cradled him.
"He's grown quite a bit," he smiled, "He is all fit and healthy, isn’t he?"
"Yeah, totally," Sebastian responded.
"You've been getting his health regularly checked, haven't you?" His face showed signs of concern.
"Yes, Tristan, we have. Everything's normal. His growth is on track, and his health is excellent. There's nothing to worry about."
"Thank goodness," he sighed, looking at Asher, “I'm sorry, bud. I put you through a lot,” He kissed Asher's little hands, “You protected your mama from me. You protected yourself and fought for your family—you're a fighter. One day, you'll be a great Alpha too. I hope that someday I can make up for it. You're a champ."
"Maybe you can make it up to him by simply sticking around," Sebastian put his hand on Tristan's shoulder, “Small families are quite boring sometimes, and I think he won't mind having another uncle."
"Yeah, he's right, and I don't mind an extra plate at the table either. My cooking skills have improved," I smiled. "What do you say, Tristan? Can I officially welcome you to the family?"
He stayed quiet for a moment before a smile broke across his face, “Pasta is my favorite—with extra cheese, of course."
"Well, I guess none of us are lactose intolerant," I laughed. "So, welcome to the family, Tristan."
"Yes, welcome to the family!"