Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 174 - 172: Anytime, Viper

She frowned, snatched it up, and glanced at the screen and picked up the call.

All the color drained from her face.

"What?" she whispered, already pushing her chair back. She stood up so fast it screeched against the floor. "No—no, what do you mean by accident?"

The table went silent.

Armand was on his feet immediately. "Felicia? What happened?"

She didn’t answer him right away, pacing once, then twice, her fingers trembling around the phone. "I...I have to go," she said breathlessly. "My dad... he had an accident."

Leo’s chewing slowed. Alaric straightened. Levi frowned.

Armand reached for her arm. "I’ll drop you off."

Felicia yanked her arm free without even looking at him. "No. I’ll handle it."

Armand blinked, caught off guard. "Felicia..."

She paused mid-step, finally looking back at the table. Her gaze flicked over Leo, Levi, Alaric... then lingered for a split second longer than necessary.

"How about you all stick around Athena when she finally decides to show up?" she said sharply. "Since you’re all so concerned."

And with that, she turned and hurried out of the cafeteria, her heels clicking fast against the floor.

The doors swung shut behind her.

Armand slowly lowered himself back into his seat, brows furrowed deeply. "Where did all that come from?" he muttered, unsettled. "She didn’t even let me finish."

Alaric leaned back, arms crossing. "She’s been acting strange for a while now. Don’t you think so?"

Levi shrugged, stabbing his food with his fork. "People act weird when they’re stressed."

Leo, on the other hand, didn’t react at all. He kept eating like nothing had happened, his expression unreadable.

Alaric glanced between them. "You’re not even going to say anything?"

Leo swallowed calmly, then replied, "What’s there to say?"

Alaric just sighed, not knowing what to do. While Armand kept glancing at the door where Felicia just disappeared from.

======================

The moment Athena and Azrael stepped out into Italy, the world seemed to greet them with open arms.

Warm air kissed Athena’s skin, carrying the scent of salt from the sea mixed with something green and fresh, leaves, rainwater clinging to stone. In the distance, mountains rose like silent guardians, their peaks wrapped in a soft haze. The sound of water echoed faintly somewhere nearby.

Athena glanced around in amazement. Her breath catching.

"It’s... beautiful," she whispered.

Azrael watched her reaction more than the scenery. That soft awe in her eyes was exactly why he’d brought her here.

The apartment he’d secured sat tucked between nature and sky, close to the mountains. Valle delle Ferriere spread out around them like a secret the world had forgotten, lush greenery, ancient stone paths, towering cliffs covered in vines, and waterfalls that spilled down with reckless grace. Everything felt untouched, and undeniably beautiful.

When they stepped inside the apartment, Athena froze.

The space was open and flooded with light, tall glass windows stretched from floor to ceiling. Pale stone walls reflected the sunlight softly, while wooden beams ran across the ceiling. The living room opened straight onto a wide balcony.

"Oh my God..." she breathed, turning slowly as if afraid the view might vanish if she moved too fast.

Azrael leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.

"So?" he asked casually. "Do you like it?"

Athena turned to him, eyes glowing.

"Like it?" she laughed softly, almost breathless. "Azrael, I love it. I absolutely love it."

He chuckled, low, clearly pleased. "Good. Because there’s more." He nodded toward the far side of the apartment. "There’s a waterfall just beside the house. You can hear it at night, it’s loud, but... calming." He paused, then added, "Our bedroom faces it directly. The view is perfect."

Her face lit up instantly. "A waterfall? Right beside us?" She grabbed his hand without thinking. "Show me. Please."

Azrael laughed, letting her pull him along. "Impatient already, Viper?"

She shot him an excited grin. "You brought me to a place like this and expected patience?"

He shook his head, still smiling, and led her toward the room.

On getting to the room, the door to the room was already open, curtains drawn wide apart, and the moment Athena stepped inside, she forgot how to breathe.

The room was bathed in soft, natural light. Floor-to-ceiling glass opened out to a private balcony, and beyond it the world fell away into green cliffs and mist. The waterfall poured down the rocks just to the side of the building.

The room itself was simple but beautiful, stone walls, a large bed dressed in white linen, a low table by the window. The place felt like somewhere ment for healing. And yeah, it did healed her soul.

Athena walked slowly toward the balcony. "Azrael..." her voice came out soft, awed. "This is..."

"Perfect?" he finished gently, watching her instead of the scenery. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

She turned her head slightly towards him, eyes bright. "More than perfect."

He smiled, and came up behind her, resting his hands lightly on her waist as he pulled her into his arms.

"I thought," he said quietly, "that you might like waking up to this. The sound of the water. The mountains watching over you. Somewhere peaceful enough that your thoughts can finally rest."

Her throat tightened. She leaned back into him even more without thinking, her head brushing his chest. "You always think of everything."

He chuckled softly, lowering his chin to rest against her hair. "Only when it comes to you."

For a moment they just stood there, listening to the waterfall, the world far away. Azrael turned her gently, lifting a hand to brush a loose strand of hair from her face, his thumb lingering at her cheek as if memorizing her again.

"You okay?" he asked softly.

She nodded, then nodded again, as if convincing herself. "I am. Being here... with you. It helps."

"That’s all I wanted," he murmured. "For you to feel better. Even just a little."

Athena reached up, curling her fingers into his shirt, resting her forehead against his chest. "Thank you for bringing me here."

He wrapped his arms around her then, slow and careful, holding her like something precious. "Anytime, Viper."

She smiled against him, closing her eyes as the sound of the waterfall filled the room.