Orion’s POV

The room hung in suspended tension, thick with the weight of unspoken truths and the silent judgments lingering between me, Ava, and Mason. I could feel her eyes on me, searching for something—anything—that would make sense of the chaos swirling in the air.

And Mason? He had that same smug confidence, his posture unbothered, as if he held all the cards.

I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of confronting him head-on. Not yet. But I could feel the quiet rage building beneath my skin, urging me to make my move. The truth was, I couldn’t stand seeing Ava caught in the middle of his web. But I wouldn’t let her see how deep the manipulation ran. Not yet. Not now.

I smirked, feeling the thrill of the chase course through me. "Don't you think that you're playing the wrong side if you believe him?”

Ava flinched, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. She wanted to believe me, I could see it in the way her lips parted as if to speak, but Mason’s words had already poisoned her thoughts. I could feel the rage bubbling under my skin, but I fought it.

For now, I had to play this game, let Mason think he was winning, let him think he was pulling the strings.

Mason leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Then what the hell are you trying to prove, Orion? Because it sure as hell looks like you're trying to manipulate us all. Make Ava think you’re still her hero, when you’ve clearly already failed her many times. What’s next? Another grand gesture? Another save the day moment?"

I didn’t flinch. I didn’t let his words cut deeper, even though I wanted to. He was just trying to rile me up, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

Instead, I tilted my head slightly, leaning in just enough for the intensity to suffocate the space between us.

Ava’s voice cut through the thick silence. “Orion… What are you thinking right now? I didn't think you could stoop this low to prove a point.”

She was right. I couldn't. But Mason was different. The games he played with her mind—they had to stop. And if I was going to protect her from him, I needed to handle this carefully. With calculated precision.

I turned toward her slowly, giving her the full weight of my gaze. My voice, when I spoke, was low and steady. “I need to talk to him. Man to man.”

Her brows furrowed with hesitation, doubt creeping into her eyes. She didn’t want to leave, didn’t want to trust me with Mason, but I could see the exhaustion in her face, the uncertainty gnawing at her. I was the one who had gotten her into this mess by leaving her vulnerable, and now I had to be the one to fix it.

“Just… listen to me, Ava,” I continued, my tone softer this time. “I’m not going to hurt him. Just give us a moment.”

Her gaze flickered between Mason and me, uncertainty clouding her features. I knew she was caught between the two of us, unsure of what to believe, and it was killing me. But I couldn’t let her be here for what was about to happen. Not now.

I took a small step toward her, my hand gently guiding her toward the door. “Please. I promise it’ll be okay.” My voice was gentle, but the pressure in my hand against her shoulder was firm, urging her to step away.

She hesitated again, her lips parting as if she wanted to protest. But when she met my gaze, something in her shifted, a quiet understanding passing between us. With a barely audible sigh, she nodded, her shoulders sagging in resignation.

“I’ll be outside,” she murmured before slowly stepping toward the door. She paused just before she exited, her voice carrying a note of quiet concern. “Don’t hurt each other.”

I didn’t respond. I just watched as she closed the door behind her. And once the sound of her footsteps faded, the room felt different. It was just me and Mason now. The tension was intense. The games were about to end.

I took a deep breath, the words simmering inside me, and then I turned toward Mason. The smirk on his face never wavered, but there was something behind it now—a flicker of wariness. He was starting to realize that this was no longer his game to win.

“You’ve been playing her, Mason,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper but sharp enough to send a chill down his spine. “And you think you’ve got it all figured out. You think you’ve got her wrapped around your finger, but I’m not going to let you drag her down any further.”

Mason laughed, a hollow, dismissive sound. “You think I’m playing games with her? You’re delusional, Orion. I’m just looking out for her. You? You’ve been caught up in your own lies, and now you want to make me the bad guy?”

I stepped closer, closing the distance between us with a slow, deliberate pace. His eyes flickered for just a second—a sign that I’d gotten under his skin, even if he tried to hide it.

“You don’t get to twist this, Mason,” I growled, my voice hardening with every word. “You’re playing her, using her weakness, her fear against her. I’m not going to let you manipulate her any longer. If you think for one second that I won’t destroy everything you’ve built to keep her safe… then you’re wrong. I will.”

Mason’s smirk faltered, just for a moment, before it returned, feigned confidence replacing the flicker of doubt. But I saw it. I saw the cracks in his facade. He knew the truth was closing in on him, and he didn’t like it.

I've always known he was a snake. A very good one at that.

“You don’t scare me, Orion,” Mason shot back, voice cold. “You think you’re some kind of hero, but you’re not. You’re just a man who’s lost control, and you’re desperate to keep her. But I’ll make sure she sees the truth. I’ll make sure she understands that you’re not the answer.”

I leaned in close, my face inches from his. My breath was steady, but my heart was pounding in my chest. I didn’t flinch. I wasn’t about to back down now.

“You think you can win her over with actions, Mason?” I hissed. “I’ll burn every bridge you’ve got. I’ll expose every last bit of your manipulation if that’s what it takes to show her the truth. She’ll see you for what you really are—nothing more than a puppet with a hidden agenda.”

Mason’s face twisted in anger, but he didn’t respond. The silence between us was heavy, thick with the understanding that this was no longer just a battle for Ava’s trust. This was a war—a war that I was determined to win. And no matter what it took, I would make sure Mason knew who he was truly up against.

I took a step back, my eyes never leaving his. “Don’t test me, Mason. I’m giving you a chance to walk away. Don’t make me regret it.”

He said nothing. But I didn’t need him to. The message had been delivered. And Mason knew—if he kept pushing, if he kept playing his game with Ava, I wouldn’t hesitate to destroy everything he’d built.

Now, it was up to him.