Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 107 - 106: I don’t want to think...
As Athena stepped out of the room, her legs felt heavy, her body trembling from the whirlwind inside her. Her vision was blurred, not just from the lingering haze of the drug, but from the tears that had started to spill down her cheeks.
And then she saw them.
Theodore, Azrael, and Rhydric standing there, eyes fixed on her as she as soon as she opened the door. They were staring at her with concern that made her chest tightened.
For a moment, she felt completely exposed under their gaze, the weight of the past hours crashing down on her all at once. Her chest heaved, and she stumbled slightly as the tears spilled freely now, slipping down her cheeks, pooling at her collarbone.
Theodore stepped forward before anyone else could, his tall frame moving with surprising gentleness. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "Shh... it’s okay," he murmured, his voice soft but grounding, steadying her in a way that made her knees feel like they could finally support her.
And then the dam broke.
Everything she had been holding back...the fear, the shame, the guilt, the panic all came pouring out. She clung to him as if letting go would mean losing herself entirely, her body shaking, her sobs echoing in the empty hallway. Her hands gripped his shirt like a lifeline, her tears soaking through the fabric, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.
Azrael and Rhydric watched silently, their usual composure faltering just enough to reveal the storm beneath. Rhydric’s jaw was tight, his grey eyes dark with a protective intensity that made Athena’s heart ache. Azrael’s fists were clenched at his sides, his normally unreadable expression softening just enough for Athena to see the concern and barely contained frustration.
Theodore didn’t let go, holding her until her breaths evened out slightly, whispering the same gentle words over and over: "It’s okay... you’re safe..."
For the first time in what felt like hours, Athena let herself surrender to the comfort of someone else, even if only a little. She rested her head against his chest, still trembling, still crying, but slowly, her breathing start to slow.
Athena’s voice was barely a whisper, shaky from all the flood of emotion crashing down on her. "Get me out of here please," she murmured to Theodore, barely meeting his eyes.
Theodore’s jaw tightened slightly, but he nodded without hesitation. "Of course."
Before she could protest, he bent smoothly, scooping her up into his arms in a perfect bridal style. Felicia, who had just stepped out of the room behind them, froze mid-step. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Did frost... the cold, unshakable Theodore Argentis just carry a woman? she thought, stunned.
Azrael, standing nearby, looked away sharply, his jaw clenched, fists tightening in jealousy, while Rhydric’s gaze never left Athena, like she was the only thing that matter. His expression was unreadable.
Athena, still weak, didn’t resist. Her arms hung limply around Theodore’s neck as he carried her effortlessly. Every step he took radiated controlled strength, and though she wanted to argue, her body refused to respond. She simply let him take her, surrendering to the quiet authority in his movements.
Outside, the night air was cool compared to the chaos in the party. Here the air was cool, calm and satisfying.
Theodore had carried her out, ignoring all the stares and whispers of students. Some shocked, while some cursed at Athena for being a whore.
When they reached the car, he opened the door with the same precise movements, sliding her inside gently and shutting it with a soft click. Athena’s head rested against the leather seat, still trembling, while Theodore moved to the driver’s side, his hands steady on the wheel.
Without a word, he started the engine, the car gliding away from the party, leaving behind the chaos, the whispers, and the tension.
Theodore kept glancing at her between turns, watching how she trembled, how her fingers dug into her thighs as if she was trying to hold herself together.
"Athena," he said quietly, "tell me where to drive."
She didn’t answer. Her breath shaky as her chest rose and fell fast. Every memory of Eryx’s lips on hers, her body responding, the way she had leaned into him...God. Although, the thought of it made her wet again, but the shame crawled up her spine and settled in her throat. Oliver’s face flashed in her mind, and she felt like she was going to vomit.
She pressed a shaking hand to her forehead."I can’t go home," she whispered.
"Okay," Theo murmured. "Then where?"
She swallowed hard, tears sliding silently down her cheeks. "I don’t know," she choked out. "Just... anywhere. Please. I don’t want to think. I don’t want to see anyone. Just...get me away from here."
That was all he needed. Theo reached over and turned off the main street, the tires humming over a quieter road.
"Anywhere," he repeated softly, confirming her choice. "I can do that."
Athena closed her eyes, letting the wind from the slightly open window hit her face. She didn’t care where they were going. As long as it wasn’t home. As long as it wasn’t back to the memory of what she had done.
Theodore didn’t say a word as he drove, just kept his eyes on the road and let the night swallow the silence between them. The city lights faded behind them until only the dark outline of trees and the soft shimmer of water remained.
He brought her to his quiet place, the one spot he always escaped to when the world felt too loud, too demanding, too heavy to breathe in. A secluded lake tucked behind a wall of evergreens, still and dark like a secret only he was allowed to keep.
He stepped out of the car and helped her down gently, his hand steady on her waist when her knees wobbled. She still felt sick... dizzy... like the world kept tilting even though everything was perfectly still.
"Easy," he muttered, slipping an arm around her waist and using his other hand to hold hers firmly. "I’ve got you."
The breeze off the lake was cool against her overheated skin. Tiny ripples shimmered on the water under the moonlight, quiet enough that she could hear her own heartbeat thudding in her ears.
Theo guided her to the flat patch of ground he always used. "Sit," he said softly.
Athena lowered herself, folding her legs beneath her as she hugged her arms around her body. Theodore sat beside her, legs stretched out in front of him, leaning back on both hands like he needed the ground to anchor him.
For a moment, there was no movement, no sound, just the two of them breathing in rhythm with the lake.
She stared at the water. He stared at her, then at the water. Both pretending they weren’t falling apart in different ways.
