ATHENA

"I''m pretty sure your lives have been boring without me!" Sloane says, making meugh.

"Your brain must be perfectly fine, seeing how you''re spewing nonsense after just opening your eyes." Alex says, trying not to sound bothered by I know better.

I can see how relieved he is. I am, too. I mean, she took a damn bullet for me. I''m forever in debted to this woman.

"Sloane..." I swallow the lump in my throat. Not knowing what to say.

When Isabelle texted me that she had woken up, adrenaline pumped my system

so hard I rushed forward without thinking about what I would say to her.

"Who are you?" She eyes me, slightly narrowing her eyes.

Of course, she forgot me. I mean I..

"Girl! You look like a wet cat in the rain!" Sheughs. "Stop giving me that look and give me a hug!"

My eyes water as relief floods my system.

"Sloane, if you make my girl cry, I''ll make you pay for it!" Alex warns, making Sloane brush him off.

"You love me too much to hurt me! Now move aside, I want to hug my favorite sister!" She says before turning to face me.

Iunch myself forward, wrapping my arms around her carefully, terrified of hurting her but too overwhelmed to hold back. She feels warm. Real.

Alive.

"You scared the shit out of me," I whisper into her hair, my throat thick with emotion. "You stupid, brave woman."

She squeezes me back, her body still frail but her grip strong. "Takes more than a bullet to get rid of me."

"I thought you-" My voice breaks. I don''t finish the sentence. I can''t.

"I know," she says softly, pulling back just enough to look at me. "But I''m still here. And I''m not going anywhere."

I swipe at my eyes quickly, trying to pretend the tears didn''t spill over.

"Damn, I missed your dramatic ass."

"Missed me? Please. You probably got used to being the prettiest one in the room."

"Oh, shut up."

Sloane grins wide, weak but bright, and I realize then that even months of silence haven''t dimmed her fire. She''s still Sloane. Sharp-tongued. Fearless. It''s impossible not to love her.

Alex clears his throat.

"Alright, that''s enough. She just woke up. Don''t exhaust her."

Sloane res at him. "Oh please, like hugging him is what''s going to kill me. Sit your overprotective ass down, Alex."

"You look good," she tells him, her voice quieter now, eyes flicking down. "You didn''t fall apart while I was gone, huh?"

"I even died a little," he chuckles.

“I''ll need the details!" Sheughs thinking it''s a joke, but we all know once we give

her a recap of the past months, she will cry her eyes out.

Sloane is strong but extremely fragile. That''s why I''d rather we don''t tell her anything just yet.

She smiles faintly, then looks at the rest of us. "How long was I out?"

"Four months,"n answers gently. "They said you might never wake up. But I knew you would. You''re too stubborn."

"Damn right," she mutters.

They share a look. One of fire and passion

n..." she whispers, and for the first time, there''s vulnerability in her voice. His eyes glisten.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

Alex shifts beside me, exhaling slowly as if the scene is something he had forgotten about.

"When did you two even start dating?" Alex asks, his protective tone high up.

"I''m an adult, Alex!" Sloane deflects.

"Adult or not. You''re my baby cousin, and he is my best friend. I need to know how serious this is because if he does something stupid, I''ll kill him."

Sloane sighs, already annoyed, but there''s affection in her eyes as she looks at Alex.

"You always act like I''m this fragile little ss doll."

"You just came out of aa, Sloane," he retorts, his arms crossed. "Forgive me

for not wanting you to jump straight into another kind of danger."

Alex shoots him a sharp look.

"And the Sky is fucking pink."

"Alex please," I mutter under my breath.

Sloane groans. "Can we not do this? Not here. Not now. I just woke up for crying out loud!"

Alex takes a deep breath as he locks his jaw and hardens his eyes. I know this side of him. It''s not anger. It''s fear masked by frustration Alex only acts like this when he''s scared to lose someone.  s

"She''s now awake, Alex," I say quietly, cing a hand on his arm to calm him down. "Let''s focus on her recovery first"

"We didn''t mean to hide it from you,"n say. "We were just... trying to figure out the best time to tell you."

"I suppose I should be giving you my undying gratitude."

"Alex." I soften my voice so he can know I''m on his side.

I know how much he loves Sloane and how protective he is of her. But this isn''t

the best time.

"We will talk about thister." He sendsn a warning look.

The air thickens again, but Sloane squeezesn''s hand and sighs, letting her

head drop back slightly against the pillows.fnc78d ?????? ???? find·novel/fnc78d

Before any of us can speak again, the door flies open..

Ariana barrels through the doorway with tears already welling in her eyes. "Oh my

God!" she gasps as she rushes to Sloane''s bedside. "You''re awake!"

She throws her arms gently around Sloane, who winces slightly butughs through it. "Okay, okay, let''s not break me again."

"You silly girl!" Ariana pulls back, swatting Sloane lightly on the arm. "How dare you scare us like that!"

Eli walks in behind her, breathless and looking like the weight of the world just slipped off his shoulders. His gazends on Sloane and softens instantly.

"You''re really awake," he breathes, "We missed your annoying tantrums."

"Does that mean you''ll buy me that yellow Lamborghini I wanted?" Sloane smiles at her uncle who

gives her his very rare smiles whatever his hard facial muscles

can form as a smile.  s

"I''ll buy you anything you want, my princess!"

Sloane is taken aback, obviously not expecting much reaction from the stiff men in

the family.

"Who are you and what have you done to my strict Uncle?"

"Dad."

"Huh?" Her brows furrow.

"Call me Dad, Sloane. I''m your legal father from now on. That uncle shit can stay

In the past."

"Yes sweetheart. We are now your parents. We''ll always have been, but now it''s recognized legally too."

I share a look with Alex who raises my palm and kisses the inside of it.

The question: where is her mother ys around the tip of my tongue but I hold

back.

I''m now sure, John isn''t walking among the living anymore. But what about Katya? Won''t she try to fight them legally?

"I can hear you thinking." A strong hand pulls me against his hard chest and my cheeks flush a deep shade of pink.

"Keep your hands to yourself!" I hiss, hoping my iws don''t notice their son being inappropriate.

"I couldn''t even if I tried." He whispers making all the hairs on my body rise, but then he steps back making me miss his heat.

"Hi sis." A voice I hadn''t heard from for so long speaks, making us turn to where

he hesitates at the door.

I didn''t even see him standing there.

"Noah! Didn''t you miss me? Why are you not squeezing me with your hugs?" Sloane teases which earns her a small smile as he steps closer.

But the more I watch him the more strange And out of ce he looks.

Thest I saw him was in that photo with his father. Just a reminder of that day makes me want to p him but f hold back. Not because of Sloane, but because of the look in his eyes.  s

It''s filled with pain and deep regret.