Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 179 - 177: You’re in pain

He chuckled softly. "I know," he said again. "I just... I can’t help it."

That made her blush.

He squeezed her hand back, reluctantly, pulled his gaze from her face. "Ready?" he asked.

She nodded, still very much aware of the way his eyes kept drifting back to her chest like they really couldn’t help it, like he said.

"Ready," she said.

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

Rhydric sat on the chair in VIP section, the club lights washing over him in slow pulses of red and blue. The bass thudded through the floor, loud enough to drown out most thoughts, but not his.

Ian stood beside him, nursing his drink, watching him with a look that was far too knowing for Rhydric’s liking.

"So..." Ian began carefully, fingers tightening around his glass, "the four of you like one girl?"

The question caught Rhydric off guard. He had just lifted his glass to his lips. He paused, then slowly lowered it, turning his head slightly.

"What do you mean?" he asked, voice calm but edged.

Ian hesitated, but went for it anyway. "I mean... the four of you are in love with that Athena girl, right?"

Rhydric didn’t answer. Instead, he tipped the glass back and gulped the rest of the drink down in one go, the alcohol burning a sharp path down his throat. He set the empty glass on the counter with a dull clink and immediately reached for the bottle, pouring himself another.

Ian clicked his tongue. "Ignoring my question in a rude way, huh?"

Rhydric didn’t even spare him a glance. "You talk too much."

Ian scoffed softly but didn’t back down. "And you avoid too much." He leaned closer, lowering his voice despite the noise around them. "Do you have any idea how much danger that girl is in if anyone finds out?"

That made Rhydric’s hand still for half a second.

Ian continued, more serious now. "First, she’s human. Secondly, she’s going to have enemies she never even knew existed. And don’t forget, you guys are werewolves. Do you honestly think she can handle all of that?"

For a long moment, it looked like Rhydric wasn’t going to say anything at all. His jaw tightened, his eyes fixed on the amber liquid swirling in his glass.

"Yes," he said quietly. "I like Athena." He finally turned to face Ian, grey eyes steady. "And obviously, my brothers do too." He exhaled through his nose. "But none of us can be with her.

Especially now."

Ian frowned. "Now?"

"She’s mated," Rhydric said flatly. "To Azrael."

Ian’s eyes widened in shock. "Azrael’s mate is a human?" He shook his head slowly. "That’s never happened before."

"There’s always a first time for everything," Rhydric replied.

Ian’s expression shifted, worry creeping in. "And what if someone tries to hurt her because of that?" he asked cautiously. "Like Azrael’s father?"

The air around Rhydric seemed to change instantly. His grey gaze darkened into something cold and dangerous. "He wouldn’t dare," Rhydric said, voice low and lethal. "Not if he values his life. He won’t lay his filthy hands on Athena."

Ian blinked, genuinely stunned by the sudden shift in his mood. "Okay... noted," he muttered, then hesitated. "So what about you?"

Rhydric frowned. "Me?"

"Yes, you," Ian pressed. "How do you feel about all this?"

Rhydric looked away again, jaw tightening. "My feelings don’t matter," he said after a moment. "Especially now that she’s mated." His grip tightened around the glass. "Not just to anyone, but to Azrael." Frustration bled into his voice. "I can’t betray him just because of my stupid feelings for his mate."

Ian nodded slowly, understanding settling in. "You’re right," he said. "You can’t let one woman wreck all of you to the point of becoming enemies."

Rhydric let out a slow breath, rolling his shoulders as if trying to shake something heavy off his chest.

"Enemies are easy to make," he muttered. "Brothers aren’t."

Ian studied him for a moment, then took a sip of his drink. "Still," he said carefully, "pretending you don’t feel anything doesn’t make it disappear."

Rhydric scoffed. "I’m not pretending."

Ian raised a brow. "You just said ’stupid feelings.’ That’s not nothing."

Rhydric’s lips pressed into a thin line. The music swelled, laughter echoing around them, but he felt detached from all of it. "Feelings don’t change reality," he said. "Athena chose Azrael. The bond chose Azrael. End of story."

"And if she hadn’t?" Ian asked quietly.

Rhydric’s eyes flickered to him, sharp. "Don’t."

Ian held up his hands. "I’m just saying. You’re acting like this is some noble sacrifice, but I’ve known you long enough to know you don’t let things go that easily."

Rhydric took another drink, slower this time. "I don’t have a choice."

"There’s always a choice," Ian countered. "You just don’t like the consequences of the other ones."

Rhydric let out a humorless laugh. "Funny. Coming from you."

Ian shrugged. "Someone has to say it. What happens when you’re around her? When you see them together?"

Rhydric’s jaw tightened again. "I keep my distance."

"That wasn’t my question."

He was silent for a beat too long.

Ian sighed. "Rhydric..."

"It hurts," Rhydric admitted finally, voice low enough that even Ian almost missed it. "Satisfied?"

Ian nodded thoughtfully. "That’s all I wanted to know." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Rhydric glanced at him sharply. "Why?"

"Because pain makes people reckless," Ian said. "And you’re not reckless. Not unless you’re cornered."

Rhydric’s fingers curled around the glass. "I won’t cross that line."

"I believe you," Ian said. "But others might. Azrael has enemies. You all do. Athena’s the weakest link in their eyes."

Rhydric’s gaze hardened again. "She won’t be."

Ian tilted his head. "Because of Azrael?"

"Because of us," Rhydric corrected. "Whether she knows it or not."

Ian watched him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Guess that means you’re going to protect her from the shadows."

Rhydric didn’t deny it. "She deserves peace," he said. "If I can’t give her love, I can at least make sure no one destroys what she has."

Ian exhaled. "You really are a pain."

Rhydric huffed. "Says the guy who won’t shut up."