Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 221 - 219: It doesn’t make sense

The moment Athena saw him, whatever fragile control she’d been holding onto shattered. She burst into tears, scrambling to her feet and throwing herself into his arms like he was the only solid thing left in the world.

Theo caught her instantly, his arms wrapped around her. He held her like she might fall apart if he loosened his grip even a little.

"It’s okay," he murmured against her hair, one hand cradling the back of her head. "I’ve got you. You’re okay. I’m here."

She sobbed into his chest, her fists clutching his shirt tightly. "He left," she cried. "Theo, he just...he left."

Theo’s jaw clenched, anger burning through his veins, but he swallowed it down for her sake. This wasn’t the moment for rage. This was the moment to hold her together.

"He didn’t leave you," he said firmly, even if part of him wanted to hunt Azrael down himself. "He walked away because he was hurting. That’s different."

She shook her head weakly. "It doesn’t feel different."

"I know," Theo whispered. "He loves you and he will come around."

He pulled back just enough to look at her face, thumbs gently brushing away her tears. His expression softened.

"Come on," he said quietly. "You don’t belong on the floor."

He guided her back down on the couch and sat with her, pulling her into his side so she could lean against him. Athena clutched him for dear life, as if letting go would make everything fall apart.

After a while, Theo’s voice cut softly through the quiet. "Do you... care to explain what happened? I mean, I don’t want it to feel like I’m meddling, but I just..."

Athena shook her head, meeting his eyes. "No, you’re not... never."

Theo held her gaze, and for a long moment nothing else mattered. Then he looked away, clearing his throat awkwardly. "So..."

Athena straightened slightly, shifting out of his embrace a little, her hands trembling as she looked away, embarrassed. "I... I don’t want you to judge me."

Theo shook his head, firm and gentle, taking her hand in his. "No. Never. Talk to me."

Athena wiped at the tears that streaked her cheeks. Her voice wavered as she whispered, "I... I think... no, I know I like you, Theo."

She knew she was taking everything too fast, but it’s suffocating to keep it in. Especially when they’re always fighting and she always end up caught up in the middle of it.

Theo froze.

His hand tightening slightly around hers in shock and disbelief. His mouth opened, then closed again. He didn’t say anything for a long, because what could he say?

He just stared at her, trying to process the words that had just tumbled out between sobs and whispered confessions.

"You... you like me?" he finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile space between them.

Athena nodded, biting her lip as more tears threatened to spill. "I didn’t mean for it to happen... I didn’t want it to happen... but I can’t lie to myself."

Theo swallowed hard, the mixture of emotions twisting in his chest, relief, surprise, confusion, and something warmer and dangerous. He let out a slow breath, shaking his head slightly, trying to steady his racing thoughts.

"I... I didn’t expect that," he admitted quietly. "Not like this."

Athena looked down, ashamed, ashamed that she’d made things so complicated, that she’d dragged him into this mess. "I’m sorry, Theo. I never wanted to hurt anyone. I don’t even fully understand what’s happening in my own heart..."

Theo squeezed her hand gently, tilting her chin up with his thumb. "Hey," he said softly, voice firm but caring, "look at me. You’re not hurting me by being honest. You telling me... this... that’s brave."

Her eyes met his, and for the first time since everything went wrong, she felt a tiny spark of hope flicker inside her chest.

"I just... I need to understand something," Theo continued, still holding her gaze. "If you like me... does this mean you don’t..." He hesitated, the words heavy on his tongue. "You don’t love Azrael?"

She shook her head, tears pouring out freely. "I love him too... and I feel completely stupid, so foolish... like a complete fool in love with multiple men at the same time."

Theo froze, his mind stumbling over the word multiple.

Athena stood up abruptly, frustration radiating off her as she grabbed her hair. "Yes! I love you, I love Azrael too, I love Eryx, and... I even love Rhydric!... God I love him so much."

Theo’s entire body stiffened. His jaw dropped slightly as he stared at her, trying to process what she had just said. She’s in love with all of them? How is that even possible?

"I... I don’t understand," he whispered, voice cracking. "All... all of us? How... how can you even feel this way?"

Athena’s chest heaved as more tears threatened to spill. "I don’t know, Theo! I really don’t! I don’t know... I just kept feeling it and it’s killing me."

Theo ran a hand through his hair as he stood up and walked up to her. "You... you love all of us, and yet you... you’re standing here, telling me this like it’s... normal?"

Athena flinched slightly, her voice trembling. "I didn’t want to hide it anymore. I can’t lie to you, Theo. I love you... but I can’t stop how I feel about the others either."

Theo shook his head in frustration, pacing slightly, trying to make sense of it all. "You... you love all of us? But... Athena, I’m sorry, that just doesn’t make sense."

"I know, Theo," she said softly, stepping closer. She took his hand in hers, squeezing it gently. "But I can’t stop what I’m feeling for you... and I don’t think it would ever stop."

The moment Theo met her eyes, something in him broke. He knew, in that instant, he was utterly and completely hers, helpless, hopeless and gone.

He looked away, frustration and longing twisting his features. "I... I don’t know what to say... but Athena, I love you too. The moment I set eyes on you, I fell... head over heels. Even though I tease you, annoy you... I’ve always loved you."