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.

almost tripped several times, so Asher

their eyes, but

wonder you were trying to hide this from us! You're not

himself. We can make mistakes, but not

the abomination! H-how can someone even

back if this place

why she didn't want us

am sorry," I

Asher said,

was a loud voice in my chest asking me to hold his hand back, but I stopped myself

do we have to walk?"

further," I said hastily. I could

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

a knot tighten in my stomach as I led

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

of them had to lower their heads to pass through the door and enter my small living

in the air, and black footsteps

hard as the apprehension building in my chest grew

bedroom, which was

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

my hand, a shaky breath escaping in small,

towards the bookshelves, hoping it to be

ran from one

"Mamma..."

My broken breaths remained stagnant in my lungs as I

5s.org for the full

as panic set in. I hastily checked all the other books and all of them had the same fate. Breathing through my mouth, my knees hit

to ashes. Mom was burned

tore through my throat, transitioning into violent

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

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 hurt and ached in ways I

my mouth and nose, trying to cope with my hyperventilation or panic attack or I didn't even know what it was. But whatever it

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 followed me like shadows, dark

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

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." I placed my hand on my heart and

shared with me and a dream she made me see.

But that wasn't true.

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

but a lot in control than I was

and books. And that gave the comfort I looked for in every corner of myself. No one could burn her memories away from my

did it? Who

the answer. Luna Meesa

of the

our 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

heard the gate open and thought maybe they returned," she said

My voice came out

can't talk about it in the open. Why don't you come to this side? Let's sit in my house over a cup of tea and talk," she said. "Who is