Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 189 - 187: Hungry stares

A WEEK LATER...

It had been one of the most beautiful weeks of their lives.

The kind of beauty that didn’t need grand gestures or dramatic moments, just stolen glances, shared laughter, and quiet intimacy that settled deep into the bones.

Azrael had barely let Athena out of his sight. Their morning started with soft kisses and lazy smiles, afternoons with teasing arguments and shared meals, evenings with slow dances in the living room and whispered confessions under dim lights.

Athena learned the smallest things about him, the way he relaxed when she played with his hair, how his voice softened when he said her name, how he pretended not to notice when she caught him staring.

And Azrael learned her laughter by heart, learned how she hummed when she was happy, how her presence alone calmed the storm inside him.

And now, they were curled up together on the couch, tangled in the softness of the evening.

Athena was half on Azrael’s lap, half pressed against his side, her legs tucked comfortably beneath her as she leaned into his chest. His arm was wrapped securely around her waist as his thumb traced an absent-minded circles on it.

Her head rested just under his chin, her cheek against his heartbeat, listening to the steady rhythm, that suddenly give her peace.

Every now and then, Azrael would shift closer, to feel her warmth even more. His chin rested af the top of her head, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair.

Athena shifted slightly in his arms, then stilled as a thought clearly struck her. "Azrael..." she said softly.

He hummed, tightening his arm around her waist. "Hmm?"

"When are we going back?" She hesitated, then added, "I mean... it’s been a week."

He tilted his head down to look at her, brows knitting together just a little. "Why?" he asked gently. "Aren’t you enjoying this moment with me?"

Her head shook quickly, almost frantically. "No... no, that’s not it." She lifted herself just enough to look at his face. "I love this. I really do. Being here with you... it’s perfect."

Then her expression shifted as worry creped in. "But what about the examination coming up?"

Azrael didn’t even blink. His grip remained tight. "Forget about the examinations."

She froze. "What?"

"I’ll cover it," he said simply. "All of it. The time, the absence, the scores. You will not fail."

Athena pulled completely out of his embrace then, turning to face him fully. Her eyes searched his face like she was trying to see if he was joking.

"Excuse me?" she said slowly. "What do you mean?"

Azrael met her gaze, brushing a strand of hair out of her face, tugging it behind her ear. "I mean," he said quietly, "we’re not going back."

Her breath caught. "We’re... not what?"

"This," he continued, gesturing around them with a small movement of his hand, "is our home now."

Her eyes widened, shock written all over her face. "What?" Then, louder, "Are you fucking kidding me?"

He ran a hand through his hair in pure frustration, as he looked away for a moment before answering. "No," he said. "I’m not."

Athena stared at him for a second longer, then she laughed. A soft laugh at first, until it turned into a disbelieving one.

"You must be kidding me," she said, shaking her head as if the whole thing were some elaborate joke. "This is your idea of humor now? Because if it is, it’s really not funny."

Azrael didn’t smile. "No," he said calmly. "I’m not kidding, Athena."

The laugh died instantly as warmth drained from her face. "What?" she snapped. "No, don’t say that like it’s normal. You don’t just decide something like that."

She stood up, putting space between them. "You don’t get to tell me we’re not going back like it’s already settled."

Azrael also stood up and took a step toward her. "Athena..."

"No," she cut him off sharply. "What about my life? My school? My exams? My future?" Her voice rose with every word. "You can’t just erase everything because you think you can."

His expression hardened, though his voice stayed controlled. "I’m not trying to erase you, Athena."

She let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Then what? What exactly are you trying to do?"

"This is a home, not a prison," he said quietly.

"Then why does it feel like one?" she shot back.

"You didn’t ask me, Azrael. You decided."

He clenched his jaw, swallowing hard. "I’m sorry. But I already sold the house. We’re not going back."

Athena scoffed, disbelief flashing across her face.

"You did what?"

"I’m sorry."

Her anger snapped. "You can’t just decide something like that about my life," she said sharply. "And now you’re telling me you sold the house like it’s nothing?"

She stepped back as he moved closer. "Don’t touch me," she warned. "I don’t need you to settle anything for me. Just take me back. Take me back

to the country. Now."

Azrael stopped, then shook his head slowly. "I’m sorry," he said, voice firm. "That’s not going to be

happening."

Her head snapped up. "What?"

"You heard me," he replied evenly. "We’re not

going back, Athena."

"Wow," Athena breathed shakily. "So this is it? You just decide, and that’s the end of it?"

Azrael’s jaw tightened. "This isn’t about control, Athena."

She snapped instantly. "Then what is it? What... what, what is it, Azrael?"

He scoffed, running a frustrated hand through his hair, pacing once like a caged animal. "Do you really want to know?"

"Oh yes," she shot back, bitter. "Please. Enlighten me."

"Good," he said sharply, stopping in front of her. "Then I’m locking you away from hungry stares. And for your information, You. Are. Not. Going. Anywhere. You’re mine."

Her brows knit together. "What hungry stares?"

His restraint finally cracked. "Theo’s, Rhydric’s." His voice dropped, venomous. "And most especially, Eryx’s"

Athena froze.

Azrael moved before she could breathe. He grabbed her arms and pulled her flush against him, tightly. His eyes burned red with rage, hurt and jealousy that he didn’t even try to hide.