CHAPTER 167: CHAOS AMONGST THE ALPHA SUCCESSORS 2

Tristan’s POV

Carried away, she is my mate, I can’t resist it," he finished anyway. "After everything that happened with the kissing booth, my sister and all, I just wanted to say thank you, and things just progressed. That’s quite unlike me, I know."

Maybe Dad was right, mates make you weaker. Because I’m agitated at the moment, and my heart doesn’t seem to calm down. I can’t imagine what would happen if something were to go wrong with her.

"Do you think that makes it better?" I said, my voice low. "Do you think that helps?"

He sighed heavily. "You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to complicate everything? The bond just took over, and her scent was irresistible."

I took a step closer. "And you didn’t think to stop it? You knew what that would mean. You knew we agreed to..."

"To share her," he cut in sharply. "I remember. But tell me, Tristan, did you really think this would stay that simple? We are Alphas. We are wired to fight for what is ours."

"She’s not a possession, Aven. She is different, and the moon goddess gave her to us for a reason."

He stared at me for a long moment, then laughed bitterly. "Says the guy who’s practically shaking with rage because another wolf bonded her first."

That stung, because he wasn’t wrong.

But I didn’t back down. "You could have waited."

"And you could have stayed," he shot back.

I clenched my jaw. "I left because I had to. My father called me back for family and, of course, kingdom business, which you know none of us would ditch if we were the ones called upon. It wasn’t optional."

He gave a dry laugh. "Yeah, Tristan, after that Allison’s issue, I felt different, especially towards her."

My wolf growled, pushing against my restraint. "Don’t turn this into a justification. You crossed a line."

"And what do you want me to do about it now?" he demanded. "Undo the bond? Tear it out of me?"

The room went silent. Both of us were breathing hard, both of us one heartbeat away from lunging forward and tearing each other apart.

I forced myself to look away, to breathe, not to say something I couldn’t take back. "We were supposed to do this together—you, me and Damon. We are friends for crying out loud."

Aven didn’t reply. He just looked tired. "I get it now, it seems like this has turned into an everyone-to-themselves campaign. I wouldn’t discuss this again, not with you, Aven. If you feel any remorse for what you have done, you should have the decency to come meet me and apologize."

I turned toward the door, my pulse pounding in my temples.

As I reached for the handle, I said quietly, "You just broke what we had since we were children."

I went straight to my room, took a shower, and then moved out. I needed fresh air, and staying in the same apartment as Aven wasn’t helping at all, no matter how spacious the apartment was.

Outside, I could barely think straight.

Aria. Damon. Aven. The whole thing felt like a twisted puzzle that used to make sense until someone switched the pieces.

I found myself walking, no idea where I was going, until I realized I was at the edge of Ashwood’s lake. The water shimmered under the late sunlight. Here was my peaceful spot, far away from noise and gossip.

No student ever found it here to be a fun place to be, and I was grateful for that.

I pulled out my phone. The group chat, the one we had created for the three of us, was silent.

None of us had spoken since the kissing booth night, and I think it will remain that way for a long time, until this is resolved, if it is resolved at all.

Damon’s voice behind me broke the silence. "Tristan."

I didn’t turn around. "You know, you could have told me about Aven instead of letting me find out like this."

He sighed. "I figured it wasn’t my place."

"Not your place?" I said, turning to face him. "Wow, I didn’t know that we now select what to tell ourselves. I go out for a family business affair, Aven suddenly marks Aria, and you kiss her on stage," I said, clapping my hands. "I mean, you all must be proud."

Jealousy was seeping through my bones. I was so uncomfortable, and Damon’s presence wasn’t helping me find the peace I came here for.

He looked down briefly, guilt flickering across his features. "Yeah. I did. I wanted to piss Aven off; I wasn’t thinking at that time; I didn’t mean to piss you off. But at that moment, the media took it up."

"Well, congratulations," I said. "You made yourself popular."

Damon’s actions were excusable; most times, he was impulsive, but Aven’s, I can’t believe it, Aven literally calculates his words.

"I didn’t mean to screw everything up," he muttered. "I just..."

"Wanted to win," I finished for him. "That’s what it’s always been about, hasn’t it? Winning."

He didn’t answer.

I stared at him for a moment, then shook my head. "We were supposed to be a team. All three of us. And now it’s just...chaos."

"Tristan," Damon said, his tone low. "You are not the only one hurting."

I laughed dryly. "No? Because it sure as hell feels like I’m the one left with nothing."

"She’s still your mate," he said finally. "And you can have her when the time is right."

The words tasted bitter.

I walked past him, needing to move, needing to breathe.

By the time I got my room, I was running on fumes. I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, trying to slow my heart down.

This wasn’t supposed to happen like this. This was chaos. Or maybe I’m overreacting because I was the one left behind. If I were in Aven’s shoes, I would be happy.

My phone buzzed—a message from Aven.

"We need to talk tonight.".

I stared at it for a long time, then threw the phone onto the bed.

"Hell, yeah," I muttered under my breath, "We really need to talk."