Daughter of oblivion: Claimed by four alpha(s)-Chapter 89 - 88: Stop sexualizing him. Stop it, Athena. STOP

Chapter 89: Chapter 88: Stop sexualizing him. Stop it, Athena. STOP
"Rhydric..." she swallowed. "Can you please drop me off?"
Theo let out a soft, strangled scoff and threw his head back like he’d just watched the best plot twist of the year. He wanted to laugh...actually he did. A huffed laugh escaped his lips.
Eryx’s smile dropped...Azrael’s jaw tightened.
Disapproval radiated from both of them like a heat wave.
Rhydric finally raised his head, eyebrows lifting slightly...surprised? Annoyed? Hard to tell. He didn’t want to be dragged into their foolishness. But it’s better to safe both wolves from attacking one another.
But then, without saying a single word, he slowly closed his book, stood up, grabbed his car key, and strode toward the door.
Arrogant ass.
Athena didn’t dare look at the rest, especially not Eryx as she hurried after him, her heart pounding.
As soon as Rhydric stepped out of the house, the black car hummed to life on its own. It slid out of the garage with soft mechanical precision, stopping right in front of him like a well-trained beast bowing to its master.
He didn’t even flinch. He wore a black body-hug. Black pants. Black jacket. He was giving a cold, dangerous, effortlessly expensive Mafia boss.
Athena followed right after and froze. Her eyes went wide.
The damn car literally drove itself out.
Is he using his powers to drive now? Seriously?
How could he waste supernatural abilities on car-parking when he could just sit like a normal human and drive? What kind of show-off bullshit is this?
She muttered under her breath, "Wow. It must be nice to have powers to waste on driving."
Rhydric turned slowly, his eyes drifting to her like he heard every single thought in her skull.
Athena straightened, trying to look unbothered.
"What?" she asked, lifting her chin. "I’m just saying..some people drive their cars. But sure, flex if you want."
His jaw tightened a little. Not anger, just that dangerous, unreadable look he always wore.
"You done?" he asked, voice low.
Athena pursed her lips. "For now."
He didn’t respond. He just opened the door for himself, slid into the driver’s seat, and shut it with a cold, emotionless click.
Actually, the car didn’t move on its own because Rhydric used his power on it, but because that’s how the car was built.
Athena stared at him.
Wow. Not even a gesture. Not even a tiny "after you." Nothing. Zero romance. This man is literally anti-romantic. Does he have a soul? A heart? A functioning emotional system?
Not that I want romance, she told herself quickly.
Nope. Not at all. I definitely don’t care if he opens a door for me or not. Absolutely not. Maybe just a little...just a microscopic bit, because it’s polite but nope nope NOPE. Shut up, Athena. Oh my god, shut the actual fuck up and get in the car.
She forced her face into a neutral expression, grabbed the door handle, opened it, and slipped inside before her brain could embarrass her further.
She shut the door gently, trying to act normal, and seconds later Rhydric drove off.
Athena pressed her palms on her thighs and stared ahead, mentally screaming at her own brain.
They drove in silence for a while.
The kind of silence that felt too loud and too tight. The kind that made her want to open the window and scream just to break it.
But still, Rhydric said nothing. Not a word.
Not even a glance.
Not that she’s desperate to hear his voice, Athena told herself. Nope. Not at all. But damn, can he at least calm down that death-aura he’s releasing? He was making her feel like some kind of enemy he has to keep three miles away from.
She shifted slightly in her seat... and her eyes drifted to him again.
And God. Damn the guy is so fine.
Where on earth did he get that face card from?
Who delivered it to him? Heaven? Hell? Some sexy supernatural department?
His eyes stayed glued to the road sharp, focused, refusing to even flick her way. It wasn’t just intentional. It almost felt like he was scared to make eye contact. But she didn’t believe that for one second.
And that jawline...
That stupid, sharp jawline wasn’t making her life any easier.
He drove with his left hand perfectly relaxed on the steering wheel. His right hand tapped slowly on the center console between them... and somehow, even that looked sexy.
Athena mentally hit herself.
Stop sexualizing him. Stop it, Athena. STOP.
The silence grew heavier and couldn’t take it anymore. So she finally cleared her throat.
"What made you conclude that I’m not human?"
He heard her...she knew he did but he didn’t react. He just kept driving like she wasn’t sitting right there.
After a long moment, he finally answered.
"Because you’re strange."
Athena’s eyebrows pulled together. "Strange?"
He hummed low, deep, still not looking at her. Not one glance. He was acting like it physically hurt him to look her way.
"How am I strange?" she muttered. "Last time I checked, you and your friends are the strange ones here. So... explain."
"You know you’re strange," he said flatly. "You just find it hard to admit."
She frowned harder. "Okay, tell me, Mr. Veylor."
And that...that made him finally look at her. His voice dropped slightly. "Rhydric."
He said it low, almost like a warning, before he focused back on driving.
"Okay, tell me, Rhydric."
Athena leaned forward a little, genuinely curious.
And that tiny movement ruined him.
He looked at her...really looked and for a moment his control slipped. His traitorous eyes dropped to her lips before he could stop them. And then her scent... damn it. Her scent hit him harder than before, like a wave straight to his chest.
He immediately shifted his gaze away, jaw tight, and ran a hand through his hair as he exhaled sharply. Trying to compose himself. Trying not to react like a beast.
"What? Aren’t you going to tell me?" Athena teased, though she didn’t even mean to. She didn’t even notice the shift in his whole demeanor.
She had no idea what she was doing.
Damn her, Rhydric thought.
He swallowed hard...Why does she have to smell that nice? Why does she have to sit that close?
He shut his eyes briefly to calm down. To breathe.
"You... you’re just you," he said quietly.
Athena furrowed her eyebrows. "Is that supposed to answer my question?"
He opened his mouth to answer properly but then she moved.
She lifted her hand, reaching toward his hair. There was something on his hair. But Rhydric didn’t even think. Instinct slammed into him and he caught her wrist midair.
"Don’t touch me."
His voice came out sharp. Almost pleading. Almost like it cost him something to say.
Athena blinked. "Something is in your hair."
Rhydric’s jaw flexed. He let go of her hand like it burned him, exhaling as he swallowed again. Harder this time.
And now it has become worse. He could smell her on his hand. Her warmth. Her skin. Her scent.
He silently cursed himself and stared straight ahead, grip on the steering wheel tightening just a little.
Athena stared at him for a moment, her wrist still tingling where he grabbed her.
"Why are you acting like I tried to stab you?" she muttered, rubbing her hand on her thigh.
Rhydric didn’t answer. He didn’t even glance her way. He just kept driving like the road personally offended him.
She rolled her eyes. "You know, you’re terrible at conversations."
"Good," he said simply.
Athena’s mouth fell open. "Good? Seriously?"
He finally exhaled, long and slow. "Talking to you is... difficult."
"Difficult?" she repeated, frowning. "How? I’m literally just sitting here breathing."
"That’s the problem," he muttered under his breath.
She blinked. "What was that?"
"Nothing."
"Rhydric."
He kept his eyes on the road, but his jaw clenched. "You ask too many questions."
"Well someone has to talk since you’re acting like you’re allergic to eye contact."
His fingers flexed around the steering wheel.
Athena tilted her head. "What? You don’t like looking at me or something?"
He almost scoffed. Almost.
"Looking at you is not the problem."
"Then what is?"
His throat worked as he swallowed.
"Athena," he warned, low.
"You’re avoiding the question," she pushed, leaning a bit closer without realizing it.
He finally turned his head just a little and their eyes met again. And Athena’s eyes scanned his face.
He looked away fast.
"Stop doing that," he said.
"Doing what?"
"Getting close."
Athena furrowed her brows. "I’m literally just sitting in the car. What do you want me to do? Hang out the window?"
Rhydric’s lips twitched the closest thing to a smile she’d seen on him, before it disappeared.
"You make things... complicated," he said quietly, almost reluctantly.
Athena stared at him, her heart beating a little faster.
"Complicated how?"
He didn’t answer immediately.
"You’re not human," he said finally.
"And the more time I spend near you... the more obvious it becomes."