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.

the heels I almost tripped several times, so Asher walked beside me, holding my hand in

looking into their eyes, but right now, I really wanted to

wonder you were trying to hide this

check himself. We

H-how can someone

Go back if this place bothers

know why she didn't want

sorry,"

have to apologize," Asher said,

my chest asking me to hold his hand back, but I stopped

long do we have to walk?"

said hastily. I could feel the

held it open as the three of them walked in and closed it with another

as I led

the drying up flowerpot of forget-me-nots. The spare key was still stuck under the bottom of the pot. But when I tried the key, I found the door was already unlocked. I clearly remembered locking it. Breathing cautiously, I opened the door, entered

three of them had to lower their heads to pass through

charcoal hung in the air, and black footsteps were

as the apprehension building in my chest grew more

ribs as I rushed into my bedroom, which was also my library, where I kept my mother's books

catch my breath. My eyes widened as my unsteady vision took in the horrifying scene. The air froze in my lungs as

hand, a shaky breath escaping in small,

I mumbled as I dashed towards the bookshelves, hoping it to

fingers ran from one charred book to the other

"Mamma..."

diaries. My broken breaths remained stagnant in my

the book? Don't forget to visit 5s.org for the full

of them had the same fate. Breathing through my mouth, my knees hit the floor as I

ashes. Mom was

A scream tore through my

seemed to have disappeared, and my heart raced

The more I gasped for air, the more I choked on it. It

didn't even know

wheezy breaths filled the silence, and I had no idea when I got to my shaking legs, or who I bumped into as I ran out and down the stairs in a hope to escape my emotions that

Most of the plants in it were forget-me-nots that I

in deep breaths. "Mom is here. She is here. She is still with me. She has not gone." I placed my hand on my heart and repeated those words until they were forced

with me and a dream she made me see. And now they are gone. For the first time in my life, I felt as though I had truly

But that wasn't true.

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

a lot in control than I

had an eidetic memory. I could always revisit her diaries and books. And that gave the comfort I looked for in every corner

it? Who

knew the

you?" I heard the familiar voice of the old lady who was my neighbor,

houses that were a little more than my knee height. She was the only neighbor who talked to me. She even took care of my flowers when I couldn't. She had been selflessly caring towards me ever since I

thought maybe they

My voice came out

you come to this side? Let's sit in my house over a cup of