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.

so Asher walked beside

avoid looking into their eyes, but right now,

us? No wonder you 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 real princess at the last moment?

background check himself. We can make mistakes, but not Asher," Raven

know but look at the abomination! H-how can someone even live here? I can't

if this place bothers you

she didn't want us to

sorry," I

to apologize," Asher said, holding my hand

chest asking me to hold his hand back, but I stopped myself from curling

have

said hastily. I could feel the chills of

metal gate that opened with an ugly creak. I held it

my stomach as I

stuck under the bottom of the pot. But when I tried the key, I found the door was already unlocked.

heads to pass through the door and enter my

of charcoal hung in the air, and

apprehension building in

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

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

my mouth with my hand, a shaky breath

I mumbled as I dashed towards the bookshelves, hoping it to be just a

becoming shallow and erratic. My fingers ran from one charred

"Mamma..."

at one of my mother's diaries. My broken breaths remained stagnant in my lungs as

to visit 5s.org for the full

up my throat. A suffocating weight pressed down on me 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 the floor as I hopefully

ashes.

my throat,

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

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 couldn't fathom. Each

my hyperventilation or panic attack or I didn't

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,

reached the backyard where I had created a small garden. Most of the plants in it were forget-me-nots

icy fingers as I took in deep breaths. "Mom is here. She is here.

come to life within me through her books and diaries, through the passion she shared with me and a dream she made me see.

But that wasn't true.

jasmines. Jasmines were my mother's second favorite flower. Every time I imagined my mother, I imagined her to smell

still lightheaded, but a lot in control than

always revisit her diaries and books. And that gave the comfort I looked for in every

it?

I already knew the answer. Luna Meesa

of the old lady who was my

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

and thought maybe they returned," she said in her

voice came

can't talk about it in the open. Why don't you come to this side? Let's sit in my house over