Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter-23. Burning memories

[Xanthea]

Raven stopped the car outside the narrow street. That was as far as a car could go. The alleys leading to my home weren't broad enough to accommodate a car. We had arrived in the Virgo pack in the Earthly realm.

My head was still giddy because of the realm jump that Raven's car made. A few seconds ago, he was racing his car on the roads of the Infernal realm. In the air, I saw a flash of light and it seemed as though we were sucked into a whirlpool. I felt as though my guts had been turned upside down.

The demon lords were about to get down from the car when...

"Alpha!" I called out, and the three of them looked at me. Ezra narrowed his eyes while his brows were raised in annoyance.

"What?" Raven asked coldly.

I lowered my gaze, nibbling my lower lips.

"Umm. Can you please wait in the car? I-I can bring everything you need to you if you just give me some time," I said, and they exchanged glances at one another.

"Very smart! But I don't want to go through the wasteful trouble of trying to hunt you down if you try to run away," Ezra said, opening the door.

"I won't run!" I blurted. "I promise. I know there is nowhere in any realm where I can run and hide from you."

Ezra scoffed.

"So why do you wanna go home alone? Oooooh~ Got a lover? Going to give him a final goodbye kiss, huh? How romantic." "No... I lived alone."

"Of course, you did. Your lover could be your neighbor, dumbo!" Ezra grunted, trying to get out of the car.

"Please! I promise I'll just go back to my house, get the books and diaries, and come back. Nothing else. I promise," I insisted.

"Xanthea, why don't you want us to come to your home?" Asher asked. "If it's just about getting the books then, you can do that with us, right? We could even help you carry them."

I felt my eyes turn misty as I lowered them, fidgeting with my fingers.

"It's... it's just... the place..."

"Are you embarrassed to show us you lived?" Raven said and my body tensed up.

"What? Had your undies scattered on the floor, or did you not clean up after your last sex in this realm? Oh wait, you were a virgin when we married you, so I suppose it isn't the second one," Ezra mocked. "You don't have to be embarrassed about anything. There's nothing about you we haven't already seen."

"No... that's not-"

Before I could say a word more, the three of them got down from the car.

Ezra squinted at the narrow, dimly lit, empty alley.

Taking a deep breath, I got down from the car. The ill feeling in my stomach grew with every step I took closer to my home, with the three of them silently walking behind me.

Ezra took out his handkerchief and covered his mouth and nose.

Although my mother's house wasn't in the slums, it was quite close to it. It was nighttime so most people were sleeping in their patched up houses. Even the ground we walked on was uneven.

times, so Asher walked

mostly tried to avoid looking into their eyes, but right now,

were trying to hide this from us! You're not a princess, are you? You're just some omega living in slums. Were you a maid in that palace? Did they replace you with the

himself. We can make mistakes, but not

at the abomination! H-how can someone even live

back if this place bothers you so

why she didn't want us

sorry,"

Asher

hold his hand back, but

do we have to walk?" Ezra

I said hastily. I could

metal gate that opened with an ugly creak. I held it open as the three

I led

spare key was still stuck under the bottom of the pot. But when I tried the

three of them had to lower their heads to pass

scent of charcoal hung in the air, and black

gulped hard as the apprehension building

bedroom, which was also my library,

took in the horrifying scene. The air froze in my lungs as

I covered my mouth with my hand, a shaky breath escaping in

I dashed towards

My fingers ran from one charred book to the

"Mamma..."

mother's diaries. My broken breaths remained stagnant in my lungs as I

full experience. You won't find the next chapter anywhere else.

all of them had the same fate. Breathing through my mouth, my knees hit the floor as I hopefully and dreadfully looked under my burned

to ashes. Mom was

scream tore through my throat, transitioning

I struggled to draw in a breath. The air seemed to have disappeared, and my heart raced wildly, each beat echoing in

at my chest; my nails dug into my skin as I tried hard to breathe, but couldn't. The more I gasped for air, the more I choked on it. It felt like I was trapped in my own body that

or panic attack or I didn't even know what it was. But whatever it was, I could bet that dying would have been

irregular wheezy breaths filled the silence, and I had no idea when I got to my shaking legs, or who I bumped

reached the backyard where I had created a small garden. Most of the plants in it were forget-me-nots that I grew for my mother. Squatting amidst

my upper arms with my icy fingers as I took in deep breaths. "Mom is here. She is here. She is still with me. She has not gone."

made me see. And now they are gone. For the first time in my life, I felt as though I had truly lost my

But that wasn't true.

Jasmines were my mother's second favorite flower. Every time I imagined my mother,

lot in control than I

diaries and books. And that gave the comfort

it?

already knew the answer. Luna Meesa

you?" I heard the familiar voice of the old

more than my knee height. She was the only neighbor who talked to me. She even took care of

maybe they returned," she said in her shaky

voice came

in my house over