Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 187 - 185: I will burn down the world

Maybe," he admitted. His thumb brushed gently over her knuckles. "But it’s only because I care too much."

Her teasing softened. "That’s not a bad thing, Azrael."

He looked at her like she was everything.

"Yeah," he murmured. "That’s the problem."

Azrael sighed, but there was no hiding the smile tugging at his lips. He stepped closer again, resting his hands on either side of her on the counter, trapping her without actually touching her.

"You have no idea how hard it is to take you seriously when you say things like that."

Athena tilted her head, studying him. "You laugh now, but two minutes ago you looked like the weight of the world was on your shoulders."

His expression softened. "Because it was. Because you matter to me."

That wiped the humor from her face, replacing it with something warm. She reached out, tracing the line of his jaw with her fingers. "You don’t have to carry everything alone, Azrael."

He leaned into her touch without thinking. "I’ve spent my whole life being careful," he murmured. "Careful not to be too much. Too loud. Too dangerous. And then you came along and suddenly... I want everything."

Her heart fluttered. "That doesn’t scare me."

"It scares me enough for the both of us," he admitted with a small laugh.

She smiled gently. "Then we’ll balance it out."

He chuckled, forehead dropping to hers. "You really don’t make this easy, do you?"

"I’m not supposed to," she whispered.

Azrael pulled back just enough to look at her, eyes soft but intense. "I’m still not touching you the way I want to."

Athena smiled, teasing but understanding. "Good."

He raised a brow. "Good?"

"Yeah," she said. "Because when you finally do... I want it to be because you’re sure. Not scared."

His chest tightened. "You trust me that much?"

She nodded without hesitation. "Completely."

He moved closer and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"God," he murmured, "you’re going to ruin me."

Athena laughed softly. "Get in line, Mr. Big Dick"

He groaned again with a grin on his face, he then bent slightly and scooped Athena up again, one arm under her knees, the other secure around her back.

She let out a small surprised laugh, instinctively curling into him as he pressed a kiss to her temple.

"Let’s get you changed," he murmured, voice softer like velvet.

Athena nodded, her fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt as he carried her down the hall. The steady beat of his heart, made her relaxed despite everything.

The moment Azrael stepped intonthe room, he froze. His entire body went rigid.

Sitting far too comfortably in the chair by the window was no one other than his father.

His posture was relaxed, and arrogant as hell, one leg crossed over the other as if this were his territory.

A cruel smile curved the man’s lips making him super dangerous.

Azrael’s expression changed instantly. Every trace of laughter vanished, leaving behind a deadly aura that sent a chill through the room.

He gently set Athena back on her feet, careful.

Athena looked from Azrael to the man, her brows knitting together. There was a slight resemblance in the two of them.

Before she could ask a single question, the man spoke.

"So," he purred, eyes flicking to Athena before returning to Azrael, "you’ve finally gotten yourself a mate, boy."

Azrael’s veins exploded with a calm anger.

"Get out," he said flatly.

The man chuckled. "Is that how you greet your father?"

"You lost the right to call yourself my father, the day you decided power mattered more than blood," Azrael cut in savagely. "And you will not speak about her like she’s some prize you finally noticed."

Athena felt the air shift. She glanced at Azrael, startled by the raw fury rolling off him.

His father leaned back in the chair, unbothered. "So defensive already. Interesting."

Azrael took one deliberate step forward. "Let me make something very clear," he said, eyes glowing faintly. "You did not come here to inspect her. You did not come here to judge her. And you sure as hell did not come here to claim anything that belongs to me."

A low growl vibrated in his chest. "She is my mate because I chose her. Because fate choose us. Not because of your stupid power. And definitely not because you approve."

The smile finally slipped from his father’s face.

But, Azrael didn’t stop.

"You will show her respect," he continued, voice dropping into something deadly soft, "or you will leave this place the same way you entered, empty-handed and unwelcome."

Silence fell like a blade between them.

Then, without breaking eye contact with his father,

Azrael reached back and gently took Athena’s hand.

"And if you came here thinking you could take her from me," he added coldly, "you should’ve stayed wherever you crawled out from. Because I will burn the world before I let you touch what’s mine."

His father chuckled, low and amused, the sound echoing softly around the room. "You sound scared, my boy."

The words were light, almost playful, but Azrael felt them like claws sinking under his skin.

Truth was, a part of him was scared. Not for himself. If this were only about him, he wouldn’t hesitate. He had endured pain, punishment, trials meant to break wolves far stronger than him. He could take torture. He could take cruelty. He had survived his father’s wrath before. But Athena changed everything.

She was human. Fragile in ways his kind would never be. She couldn’t heal the way he could. Couldn’t endure a fraction of what he had been forced to endure growing up under this man’s shadow. And Azrael knew his father better than anyone, knew how far he would go to prove dominance, to remind the world that his power was absolute.

And worst of all... his father would use whatever weakness he sensed.

So Azrael buried his fear. Buried the truth that the thought of her screaming, breaking, bleeding because of him made something inside his chest fracture.