Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 113 - 112: Reckless & Stupid...A terrible combination
He just looked at Alaric the way one might look at a barking dog.
Unimpressed.
Alaric spat the next words like venom. "Everyone thinks you’re some arrogant bastard and turns out you’re worse. You’re a predator. A fucking creep who..."
"Finished?" Eryx cut in, his voice low and bored.
That only made Alaric thrash harder in Armand’s hold.
Eryx tilted his head slightly, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips as she spoke. "Funny," he began, "how loud you are for someone who wasn’t even there."
Alaric froze but barely.
Eryx continued, eyes burning fire. "You talk like you know what happened. Like you saw it." He paused for a bit. "You didn’t."
Alaric growled, "She was drugged..."
"And she wasn’t alone." Eryx shot back, his voice cool, but full of venom. "I made sure of that."
Alaric’s nose flared. "Oh, so I’m supposed to believe you? After you..."
"Believe whatever helps you sleep," Eryx said with a shrug. "Your opinion isn’t exactly something I lose rest over."
The corridor buzzed louder, but Eryx didn’t care.
His gaze locked onto Alaric’s angry look. "And since you’re throwing labels," Eryx added, voice turning razor-smooth, "Let me give you one too."
He stepped closer slowly, until Armand had to lean back to keep Alaric from clashing with him.
"You’re loud," Eryx said softly. "Loud and stupid. A terrible combination."
Gasps burst around them.
Alaric snapped, "Say that again..."
Eryx raised a brow. "Stupid?"
Alaric lunged, Armand barely holding him back.
Eryx didn’t even flinch.
"If you’re done embarrassing yourself," Eryx said calmly, "I have an actual life to get back to."
Eryx turned, clearly dismissing him, ready to walk away, but he paused...just for a second.
He glanced back at Alaric over his shoulder. His eyes flat, expression unreadable as that cocky smirk played on his lips again.
Then he dropped the final line like a blade to the throat. "Next time you want to hit me, Alaric...
make sure you actually know what the fuck you’re talking about."
Silence detonated around them.
Alaric snapped.
"YOU!"
He surged forward with everything in him, but Armand moved faster.
"Enough." His voice was low but sharp.
His arms on Alaric’s torso became tighter, yanking him back like he weighed nothing. Alaric fought, cursed, kicked, but Armand didn’t budge.
Students stepped aside as Armand dragged him backward down the corridor, ignoring the stares and whispers that followed.
"Let me GO...Armand I SWEAR!"
Armand didn’t even bother answering. His expression was blank, but his eyes?
Those were cold and irritated.
He kicked a classroom door open with his foot and shoved Alaric inside. The door slammed shut behind them, cutting off the noise of the hallway.
Now it was just the two of them. Alaric spun around, chest heaving with anger. "Don’t EVER pull me like that again," he snapped.
Armand crossed his arms, unimpressed.
"You were embarrassing yourself. And me."
Alaric scoffed. "Oh please. Like you even care about embarrassment."
"I do," Armand deadpanned. "That was my dignity you dragged across the hallway while you were barking like a gorilla."
Alaric blinked. "...A gorilla?"
Does a gorilla even bark?
"Yes," Armand nodded. "A very short, very loud one."
"I’m literally one inch shorter than you"
"Exactly. A pocket gorilla."
Alaric’s jaw dropped. "Are you fucking serious right now?"
Armand stared. "Deadserious."
Alaric ran a hand through his hair and groaned. "You’re stupid."
"And you’re loud," Armand shot back. "Loud and stupid. Why are you trying to fight Eryx like you have a death wish?"
"Because he MADE OUT with Athena."
"And?" Armand blinked slowly. "You act like she’s your girlfriend."
"She’s my FRIEND, asshole!"
Armand rolled his eyes. "Yes, clearly. Friends punch walls, scream in hallways, and lose brain cells for each other."
Alaric stomped closer, pointing a finger at him. "Say that again..."
"Brain cells," Armand repeated with a straight expression. "You lost all of them today asshole."
Alaric swung his hand like he wanted to slap him, but Armand caught his wrist mid-air.
"You’re done," Armand said calmly. "Sit before I knock you out myself."
Alaric glared murderously... then sat on a desk anyway.
"Good boy," Armand muttered.
"Say that again and I’ll bury you where we buried that guy last night," Alaric hissed.
Armand smirked. "Do you like the guy? You sounded heartbroken even yesterday....Did I kill your mate?"
"Like I’ll spare you if you kill my mate."
"Now shut up before you start another circus." Armand said and rolled his eyes.
Alaric huffed, folded his arms, and glared at the floor.
Armand studied him for a second...then sighed.
"You really care about her, huh?"
Alaric’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t deny it.
Armand rolled his eyes again. "Great. Now I have to stop you from dying over her too."
Armand then leaned back against a desk, arms crossed, eyes still sharp but... calmer.
He watched Alaric glaring holes into the floor like it personally offended him.
Armand exhaled slowly. "Look, I know you’re pissed. Honestly? You have every right to be. Athena was drugged. And anyone would want someone to blame."
Alaric’s jaw tightened.
"But, I think..." Armand continued, "you’re angry at the wrong person."
That made Alaric raise his head, eyes reddened with fury he didn’t understand how to hold.
Armand met his gaze. "Eryx is impulsive. Yeah, that’s according to what people say. A flirt. Annoying as hell. But he’s not a rapist."
Alaric said nothing, chest rising and falling too fast.
"If he wanted to take advantage of her, he would’ve gone all the way," Armand said bluntly. "You know that. Everyone knows that. But he didn’t. He stopped. He called the doctor."
Alaric swallowed hard.
"You’re not mad because he hurt her," Armand said, voice lower. "You’re mad because he could have... and that scares the hell out of you."
That hit directly in Alaric’s heart. He looked away, fists clenching.
Armand stepped closer, speaking quietly now "You feel guilty. You feel like you weren’t there to protect her. So now you’re overcompensating." h He paused for a bit. "And Eryx was just the nearest punchable object."
Alaric breathed out shakily, like the truth burned.
Armand placed a hand on his shoulder, steady and grounding. "You care about Athena. Good. But caring doesn’t mean losing your mind. His eyes softened just a little. "Next time something happens... be useful. Not reckless."
For once, Alaric didn’t argue. He doesn’t have anything to say.
He just nodded silently.
Armand gave his shoulder a light tap. "Good. Now let’s go before you cry or something and ruin my day."
Alaric huffed a weak laugh despite himself. "Fuck off."
Armand smirked. "There he is."
