CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: ATHENA’S BELOVED

Theo groaned dropping his head in his hand.

"What now?" Azrael asked quietly, his tone calm but edged with curiosity.

Theodore didn’t answer at first. He groaned, the sound low, frustrated, and then stood. His chair scraped lightly against the marble floor as he started pacing the room, running a tired hand through his hair. Frost followed where his fingers touched, the air around him dropping lower with each second.

Eryx groaned out loud, throwing his head back against Rhydric’s chair. "What the hell, Theo? You freezing the place again? What’s wrong with you, are you on your damn period or something?"

Azrael chuckled faintly, shaking his head, but there was a quiet edge behind the humor.

Theo stopped pacing, his jaw tightening. "Do you know the worst part?"

Eryx rolled his eyes, dragging a hand through his messy hair. "Oh, here we go again," he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"I’m serious," Theo said, his voice colder this time, enough to make the temperature dip further.

Eryx sighed in defeat, crossing his legs on the floor. "Fine, then. What is it this time?"

Theo’s gaze lifted, sharp and tense. "The fucker’s into Athena."

The words hung in the air. It took a few seconds before any of them reacted. Rhydric’s book froze midair in his hand. Azrael’s brows twitched slightly as he turned his attention fully on Theo.

Eryx blinked, then slowly sat up straighter. "So that’s what this is about," he said with a smirk tugging at his lips. "You’re jealous."

Theo’s head snapped toward him. "Shut it, Eryx. I’m not."

"Sure," Eryx muttered, laughing under his breath, but there was something tight about the sound. "Then what?"

Theo ran his hand through his hair again, his frustration spilling through every movement. "I’m not jealous. It’s the way he looks at her, like she’s something to be eaten."

That hit something inside Eryx. He forced a smirk, pretending to find the whole thing ridiculous, but his fingers twitched against his knee. He remembered how Theo’s eyes lingered on Athena every time she walked into a room not just him though. How he always smirk at her all in the name of teasing her.

And now? Now he was getting jealous over another guy?

Eryx’s tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek, a habit he couldn’t stop when he was trying to hide something. His jaw flexed as his thoughts ran wild, silent but sharp.

He’d always known Azrael had that quiet softness toward Athena, that silent fondness he didn’t talk about, but Theodore?

He had always thought he had one rival, Theo too?

Great. Just great.

He looked away for a second, his smirk faltering before he forced it back.

Theo was still talking. "You guys can stop looking at me like that. I know what I saw."

Rhydric sighed, closing his book with a soft thud. "Theo, this is the full moon messing with you. I can feel my wolf pushing close to the surface too. You hardly lose control, especially not over something this small."

Theo finally sighed, rubbing his temple. "Yeah... maybe you’re right."

The room went quiet again, the cold air still clinging faintly. Azrael’s gaze lingered on Theo for a long moment before it shifted to Eryx, catching that small flicker of tension in his eyes that Eryx was desperately trying to mask with his lazy grin.

Azrael smiled faintly. A knowing smile, while exhaling a thin line of smoke.

Rhydric finally closed his book and set it aside, his calm voice cutting through the silence.

"We’ll keep an eye on the twins," he said. "Don’t underestimate them. Even if there’s a huge chance we’d win if they ever turn out to be a threat, it doesn’t hurt to stay alert."

Theo nodded slowly, his eyes still distant, his jaw tight.

Rhydric leaned back, his gaze shifting toward Theo this time. "And as for Athena..." he paused for a beat, thinking. "She’s a big girl. Doesn’t exactly look like the weak type, and I think she can handle herself."

Eryx’s brow arched slightly, but Rhydric continued. "Still, that doesn’t mean we won’t keep an eye on her. Those twins might be dangerous for real."

Theo’s head moved in a small nod, agreeing. Azrael too, his expression unreadable.

Eryx, however, pushed himself off the floor, brushing invisible dust from his pants. "I’m out of here," he said casually, but his voice carried a faint edge.

All three of them looked at him, noticing the sudden shift in his mood, the lazy grin gone, his tone a little too flat.

Theo’s brow furrowed slightly, but he didn’t say anything. Azrael just gave a small smile, lighting his cigar again. Rhydric exchanged a glance with Theo, then muttered under his breath,

"Maybe he’s in his period too."

Guess Rhydric is a sarcastic bastard too.

Eryx heard that. He didn’t even bother turning around. Just raised a hand and flipped them off as he walked out, the door closing softly behind him.

After school, students poured out of the classrooms, bags hanging loosely over their shoulders as laughter and chatter filled the air. Some joked about teachers, others about the homework they swore they wouldn’t do.

Felicia, Athena, Leo, Levi, Armand, and Alaric were among them, a strange mix of personalities that somehow worked.

Alaric didn’t seem like he planned to let Athena out of his sight anytime soon. He had been walking beside her since the bell rang, throwing comments and teasing her just to get a reaction.

Armand didn’t say much. He just walked a little behind, hands in his pockets, listening quietly. Not that he’d admit it, but he was starting to enjoy their company more than he expected.

"Tell me again why our history teacher sounds like a dying cat when she tries to shout?" Leo said dramatically, tossing his head back.

Felicia burst into laughter. "Because she’s tired of you always sleeping in class, obviously."

Leo gasped. "Excuse me, beauty sleep is essential for maintaining this flawless skin."

Levi gave him a sideways look, deadpan. "Then you might need to sleep for another century."

Athena tried not to laugh but failed, her soft giggle joining Felicia’s.

Alaric smirked. "You guys never stop talking, do you?"

Leo turned to him with a grin. "You should try it sometime, pretty boy. You might get a personality."

Felicia snorted so hard she had to cover her mouth, and even Athena chuckled under her breath.

Alaric gave a mock glare, then looked at Athena. "See what I deal with because of your friends?"

She shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You walked here on your own, remember?"

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered, pretending to be offended, which made Leo laugh even harder.

They continued down the path, the sun dipping lower behind the school building. The sound of their footsteps mixed with easy laughter and scattered conversations.

When they finally reached outside the gate, the parking lot stretched ahead of them, lined with every kind of luxury car imaginable, sleek, polished, expensive enough to make anyone’s jaw drop.

Athena lifted her gaze, scanning the lot for her driver, the one Oliver had hired to take her to and from school.

But she didn’t see him.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she stood still for a moment, glancing around.

Athena’s eyes kept scanning the parking lot, searching every face, every car, but her driver was nowhere in sight.

She sighed softly, about to pull out her phone when something caught her attention.

A car.

A white car.

Her breath hitched.

She knew that car.

Her steps slowed, her gaze fixed on it. She was still trying to process when the door opened, and the man who stepped out made her freeze completely.

Her lips parted, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

"Oliver...?"

He stood tall, hands tucked neatly into his front pockets, a soft smile curving his lips. He was still in his suit, sharp and elegant as always, which only made her confusion deepen. Wasn’t he supposed to still be at work at this hour?

The group fell silent for a beat, everyone following her gaze.

Alaric was the first to break the silence.

"You know him?" he asked, his tone casual but carrying something under it, something that wasn’t just curiosity.

Felicia’s eyes flickered between Athena and the man in the suit, realization dawning on her face.

"Wait..." she sucked in a sharp breath, her hand flying to her chest.

"Is that Oliver?"

Athena blushed instantly, heat rising to her cheeks.

Felicia squealed. Loud.

"Oh my God, it is! I finally get to see Athena’s beloved!" she said, jumping like she’d just won a lottery.

Athena couldn’t help but laugh and playfully hit her arm. "Stop, Felicia," she said, her cheeks still red.

Leo snorted. "Beloved, huh? Sounds serious."

Alaric’s gaze, however, stayed on the man on Oliver, as he walked toward them. His suit, his confidence, his calm smile... everything about him screamed older, established, composed.

Then Alaric turned to Athena, his jaw tight even though he tried to keep his tone light.

"He your boyfriend?"

Armand didn’t miss the flicker in his brother’s eyes, that hint of irritation he was trying to bury behind that calm smile.

He couldn’t believe his brother, already had a heartbreake this early.

"Yes," Athena said simply, her voice soft but sure.