Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 46: I just don’t like sharing what I want.

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: I just don’t like sharing what I want.
Azrael’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as if her defiance was both infuriating and intoxicating. For the first time, the predator looked like he might’ve just met his match.
And Athena? She stood her ground, refusing to be prey.
The air between them was molten, charged, and deafening. Neither of them moved, neither willing to surrender first.
The silence shattered when Azrael moved.
His hand, the one tangled in her white hair, slid downward with a slow, deliberate precisionover the curve of her neck, the line of her shoulder, until it found her waist. His fingers tightened there, firmly pulling her flush against him.
Athena’s breath caught in her throat. Her chest pressed into his even further, her hips aligned with his frame. Her lungs burned, but not from lack of air, because every breath she tried to take was swallowed by the heat radiating off him.
She swore her knees weakened, but she refused to crumble. Still, the way his grip anchored her made it impossible to think straight.
Azrael’s gaze was merciless, locked onto her like she was the only thing in existence. His words came out low, rough, brushing her skin as though they belonged there.
"Now tell me, Athena..." His thumb stroked her side in slow, burning circles. "...who’s the one who can’t breathe?"
Her lips parted, but nothing came. No witty retort, no sharp comeback. Her body betrayed her, her pulse racing wild, her toes curling inside her shoes, her lungs refusing to obey. She tried to swallow, but the closeness robbed her of every ounce of composure she prided herself on.
Azrael’s smirk ghosted at the corner of his lips as he watched the way her chest rose faster against his. He didn’t have to say it aloud, he already knew she’d forgotten how to breathe.
Athena hated that. Hated it, and yet loved it. Because damn it, being this close to him was intoxicating.
She clenched her fists at her sides, nails digging into her palms, desperate for control. But when his grip on her waist tightened just a fraction more, until her chest pressed so tightly against him that she could feel the dangerous rhythm of his heartbeat against her own.
Her mind screamed step back. Her body whispered don’t you dare.
And in that moment, Athena realized, Azrael wasn’t just dangerous because of the power he owns in this School, or his reputation. He was dangerous because he made her forget herself entirely.
Forget how to breathe. Forget how to think.
Forget everything except him.
For one dangerous heartbeat, Athena almost let it happen. Almost let him drag her under the weight of his stare, the pull of his hand, the way her body wanted to surrender even as her mind screamed don’t.
Then it hit her, hard, like ice water down her spine.
What the hell was she doing?
Her breath came back in a rush, sharp and uneven, like someone had ripped her out of a dream. Her palms shot forward, planting firmly against Azrael’s chest. With a sudden burst of strength, she shoved him back.
Azrael staggered a step. His smirk was gone now, replaced by something darker, his chest rising and falling, his blue eyes glinting with a fire she wasn’t sure was anger, amusement, or something far more dangerous.
Athena’s chest heaved, strands of her now-unraveled white hair falling across her face, wild and untamed. Her fingers still tingled where they’d pressed against him, but she curled them into fists, lifting her chin high.
"Don’t..." her voice cracked, but she steadied it, glaring at him like she hadn’t just forgotten how to breathe moments ago. "Don’t you ever do that again."
Azrael tilted his head slightly, like a predator studying prey that dared bare its teeth. His silence was suffocating, yet it was louder than any retort he could’ve thrown.
Athena swallowed hard but refused to look away. She wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. "You don’t get to mess with me like that. You don’t get to...to..." her voice faltered as heat crawled up her neck, "...to pull me in like I’m some kind of... of toy."
The faintest smirk ghosted his lips again, despite her her words, despite the shove she just gave him. He didn’t move closer this time, but the weight of his presence still pressed heavy on her skin, like invisible chains.
"You think I’m playing?" His voice was low, dangerous, threaded with something she couldn’t place.
Athena’s nails dug into her palms, her jaw tight. "I don’t care what you’re doing," she shot back, even though her voice wavered at the edges. "Just stay out of my space."
Her words hung in the air like a blade, sharp and trembling.
Azrael let the silence stretch, his eyes locked on hers, unblinking. Then slowly, deliberately he stepped back, hands sliding into his pockets as though nothing had happened at all.
But the gleam in his eyes said otherwise. He’d let her win this round. If she insisted on giving her space, then he would do just that, he won’t meddle But then, the game? It was far from over.
Athena’s pulse still thundered in her ears as she strode toward the door, every step heavy with defiance. She needed to get out of there before she did something even more stupid, like melt under that gaze again or worse kiss him.
Her hand gripped the door handle, fingers tight, ready to push it open.
That’s when his voice rolled across the room, low and smooth.
"Always let your hair down," Azrael said, like it was an order and not a suggestion. "It suits you."
Athena froze. For a second, she thought she misheard him. Her back stiffened, her breath catching traitorously in her throat. Against her better judgment, she turned, her eyes connected with his.
And immediately regretted it.
Azrael stood there, relaxed as if nothing had happened, but his eyes were molten with mischief. That devilish smirk tugged at his lips, sharp and knowing. Then, as if to drive the blade deeper, he winked.
Athena’s stomach flipped. Heat rushed up her neck so fast she could barely breathe. Her hand flew to the back of her neck, fingers brushing over hot skin she desperately wished she could cool. Her cheeks betrayed her, flushing pink no matter how hard she tried to fight it.
God, no. She hadn’t meant to react. Not to him. Not to that.
She’s definitely a dead meat, if Oliver catches her, drooling on another guy.
And to make matter worse, Azrael saw it. He saw everything.
His smirk stretched, slow and merciless, into a grin that looked almost boyish if it weren’t so infuriatingly smug. The sight of her blushing of her rattled composure was priceless to him.
"Perfect," he murmured, just loud enough for her to hear, savoring her flustered state like a victory.
Athena yanked the door open, heart pounding out of control. She didn’t trust herself to speak, didn’t dare give him one more second of satisfaction. With a rush of air, she slipped out, slamming the door behind her.
But as she leaned against the hallway wall, hand pressed to her burning cheek, her mind betrayed her again, whispering his words over and over.
Always let your hair down.
She shook her head like she was about to run mad. Oh God, this is so wrong, why on earth is her heart beating for another guy? Not just one guy, multiples.
First it was Rhydric this morning, then Theodore, who suddenly became protective of her, and was ready to chop off meadow’s head just because he asked her to his office. Now Azrael?
Athena leaned her back against the wall, her hand still pressed to her cheek as she tried to calm her racing heart. The hallway was quiet, almost too quiet, and she shut her eyes for a second, hoping to breathe the heat away.
Heaven knows what type of disaster she was going to encounter again.
Then a voice cut through the silence.
"Well, well... looks like you were having a good time in there with Azrael."
Oh God, not again.
Athena’s eyes flew open, her body jerking slightly in surprise. She turned her head fast and found Eryx leaning lazily against the opposite wall, his molten gold eyes burning with something sharper than his tone, irritation mixed with something else he wasn’t even trying to hide.
The way he said it was taunting, laced with mockery, but the jealousy dripping from his voice was impossible to miss.
Athena’s brows rose slowly. "Wow. You almost sound jealous."
Eryx tilted his head, a crooked smile tugging at his lips, though his eyes never softened. "Jealous?" he repeated, his voice deep, a little rough. He gave a low chuckle and shook his head. "Please, sweetheart... I don’t get jealous. I just don’t like sharing what I want."
Athena rolled her eyes so hard she thought they might stick. "You’re ridiculous."
"Maybe." He pushed himself off the wall, his smirk widening, his gaze never leaving her face. "But at least I’m honest."