Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)

Chapter 236 - 235: I’m actually fucking tired.

"What did you say?" Azrael rose from his seat slowly, every muscle in his body going rigid as he stared at Rhydric, who sat stiffly in the chair across from him.

Rhydric’s jaw tightened. He looked away for a brief second, like he was bracing himself, then looked back at Azrael. "I’m sorry."

That was it. Something in Azrael snapped.

His anger exploded in an instant, raw and uncontrollable. He lunged forward, fists clenched, ready to pounce on him, but Theo moved fast, grabbing him and holding him back with all his strength. "Azrael! Stop!" Theo shouted, straining as Azrael thrashed against his grip.

Azrael’s chest heaved, eyes burning as he glared at Rhydric. "You’re sorry?" he snarled. "You think that fixes anything?"

Rhydric didn’t move. He didn’t try to defend himself. He just sat there, taking it, like he deserved every ounce of Azrael’s rage.

"You kissed her," Azrael said, his voice shaking with fury. "After I told you to let us share her, and you said no."

Theo’s grip tightened as Azrael struggled again, but Azrael didn’t look away from Rhydric for a second.

"You kissed her behind my back," Azrael continued, "and you still had the nerve to tell her it meant nothing. You told her she should forget about it."

His chest heaved, pain flashing through his eyes beneath the anger. "Do you have any idea what you did to her? To me?"

Rhydric’s jaw clenched hard, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "I was trying to do the right thing," Rhydric said quietly.

Azrael let out a bitter laugh. "The right thing?" His voice cracked. "You don’t get to decide what the right thing is when it comes to my mate."

Theo stepped between them slightly, tension thick in the room. "Enough," he said firmly. "This isn’t just about pride anymore. Athena is missing."

That finally cut through the rage.

Azrael jerked out of Theo’s hold, breathing hard, the weight of those words sinking in.

His fists slowly unclenched, but his eyes stayed locked on Rhydric, full of betrayal.

"You better pray she’s okay," Azrael said lowly. "Because if anything happened to her—"

Just then, Eryx walked in, and everyone turned to look at him.

Azrael’s gaze hardened instantly. "What the hell is he doing here?"

"I called him, okay?" Theo said quickly, frowning. "And please, let’s not fight for once. At least for her."

Eryx’s eyes flicked to Theo. "Why did you call me?"

"Sit," Theo said firmly.

After a brief pause, Eryx walked over and sat on the couch, his posture stiff.

Theo turned to Azrael next. "You too, bro."

Azrael hesitated, his eyes still locked on Eryx, tension rolling off him in waves. Then he exhaled sharply and sat down as well.

Theo finally took a seat himself, rubbing his hands together. The room fell into a heavy silence, thick with unspoken resentment, and fear.

Eryx glanced around the room, irritation etched into his face. "Alright," he said slowly. "I’m sitting. Now someone tell me why I was dragged here like this."

No one answered immediately.

Azrael’s jaw was clenched so tight it looked like it might crack. Rhydric stared at the floor. Theo hesitated, clearly choosing his words.

Eryx frowned. "What?" His gaze sharpened as he looked from one face to another. "Why does everyone look like someone died?"

Theo exhaled. "Athena didn’t come home after school."

Eryx stiffened. "What do you mean didn’t come home?"

"She never showed up," Azrael said coldly. "She wasn’t in class. She wasn’t with Theo. She wasn’t with me."

Eryx’s expression shifted, confusion first, then disbelief. "That’s not funny."

"No one’s joking," Theo said quietly.

Eryx leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "She wouldn’t just disappear. Athena doesn’t do that."

"She does when she’s hurt," Azrael snapped, eyes flashing. "And she was hurt today."

Eryx’s head snapped up. "By who?"

Eryx’s gaze dragged to Rhydric. "Why are you not saying anything?"

Rhydric finally looked up, his eyes dark. "Because this is already bad enough."

Eryx stood abruptly. "You better start talking," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Because if Athena is missing,.and any of you know something you’re not saying..." His hands curled into fists. "I swear to God, I will tear this place apart."

Azrael’s eyes cut to him, blazing. "And who are you to tear this place apart?"

Eryx scoffed, stepping closer. "It doesn’t matter who I am to you. It matters who I am to Athena."

"It does matter," Azrael snapped back. "Because she’s my mate."

"Oh, mate, mate, mate," Eryx shot back bitterly. "And you still don’t know your responsibility. Your mate fucking disappeared, and instead of looking inward, you’re blaming everyone else for actually caring?"

Azrael’s face darkened as he stood up slowly. "What did you just say?"

"Yes," Eryx said sharply. "You heard me."

The tension snapped like a live wire.

Theo groaned loudly and stepped between them before it could turn ugly. "Enough!" he snapped. "Both of you, enough! This isn’t about ego, titles or who has more claim on her."

He looked at Azrael first, then Eryx. "Athena is missing. She’s probably scared, hurt, and wherever she is, she’s alone."

Theo laughed sharp and humorless, then ran a hand down his face. "You know what?" he said suddenly, voice rising. "I’m tired. I’m actually fucking tired."

Everyone turned to him.

"Why is it always me?" Theo continued, anger finally spilling out. "Why am I the one breaking fights, making calls, dragging people into rooms, trying to keep this whole mess from tearing itself apart?"

He looked at Azrael first. "You lose control and turn everything into a battlefield."

Then Eryx. "You walk in swinging like anger is the only language you speak."

Then Rhydric. "And you," Theo said, shaking his head, "you say nothing and expect silence to fix what you broke."

Theo spread his hands, voice cracking despite himself. "Why should I always be the one holding this friendship together when things get messy? When things hurt? When someone’s missing?"