Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter-40. Life has its ways

[Xanthea]

I was about to step beyond the university campus, but I took back my step.

My heart raced, breath quickened, filling my lungs with icy breaths. I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms.

Gritting my teeth, I shut my eyes, hating myself a little more.

I am really a coward-

"Good girl..."

With a sharp inhale, I opened my eyes. I turned around, standing face to face with Raven.

I dared maintain eye contact with him as he stepped closer to me.

"Is a cat who you just met so important that you contemplated leaving the campus, even if it was for a second? You thought of defying me for a useless cat-"

"She is not useless!" I blurted out those words, and I wasn't sorry about it.

Raven's eyes bore into mine, their intensity growing as he closed the distance between us. The fear inside me was screaming at me to avert my eyes and lower my gaze, but there was something else that made me hold his gaze just as profoundly.

"Someone's getting brave."

"Who?" Once again, I had spoken without thinking things through. There was a bubbling rage in my chest.

I knit my brows when Raven smiled. I wasn't expecting this reaction from him.

"That cat sure taught you to sulk better," he chuckled. "So you really wanna help her? But a healer who can't heal is useless according to me and the standards of the Infernal pack."

"And I think she just needs to control her powers, and then she'll be one of the strongest healers. We... we just need a way to teach her, show her how it's done," I said.

His gaze shifted to the forest, eyes scanning the dense foliage.

"Now you have me in a chokehold of curiosity, little omega. Mind enlightening me about how you will 'teach' her to control her powers?"

He had a document rolled in his fist. Crossing his arms across his chest, he studied me as I remained silent. I didn't have an answer... yet.

"Overhealing is the most complicated condition in healers and their healing partners. Rare, but complicated. Most never gain control over their powers. That is why they are considered... useless. Overhealing can be tricky and more dangerous than underhealing. Like you saw, it turns normal cells into tumors, which ultimately leads to the death of those cells once the power source is withdrawn. Such tumors are malignant, which means they spread. If cells die, the organism dies. Simple mathematical biology. And if a healer can't control their powers, no one can make them."

"There's gonna be something we could do. There must be cases where someone controlled overhealing, right?"

"Sure. So what was your brilliant mind thinking? How were you going to 'help' her?"

"The plants... I was thinking..."

"Show me," he said.

I looked at him, confused.

"Go help that cat. I allow you to leave the campus, little omega. Show me what you can do," he said.

"Can I really-wa-uh!"

Raven scooped me off my feet. My hands snaked around his neck while he cradled me against his chest with his one arm under my knees. The next few seconds, Raven ran across the forest at a speed that even his bike couldn't match. The trees transformed into a mosaic of fleeting hues - green, black, and gray.

He put me to my feet. The twigs cracked, and the grass crunched beneath my sneakers.

It didn't take me long to find where Zosha was. A tree and plants close to it had grown considerably larger than the rest.

I followed Zosha's whimpers. Raven just watched from behind, leaning against the bark of a tree.

trudged closer to Zosha, trying to maintain

was because she knew what I was thinking. Using plants to drain out her extra power. But it wasn't working. Electricity still charged out of her with the same intensity it did before. Her

in helping her when her powers when they go out of control, but not all plants. There has to be a specific plant that

I feel as though this is more

you met earlier..." I

the focal point. Every living cell in the impact area grew twice

a deep breath, I licked the dryness

live a life that's not under our control. When someone else gets to define who we can be and what we can and cannot

stepped closer

a different view. She used to say that life has its ways of unfolding. Ways beyond our comprehension. Something that's scary today can give

quivered. Biting back my tears,

is always working in our favor. We just need to

know life had planned for me to say these words to someone who needed

a deep breath and

Without you, they would have suffered life, their loved ones would have suffered an irreplaceable loss, but because of you, they are

tightness

courage to help others by taking that first step. People like me, on

tears overwhelmed my tongue as I caught

a weak sound. Maybe she wanted to contradict what I said,

Zosha, so you'll have struggles bigger than the rest. But imagine how many more lives you can change and save with the same powers that you fear today. Your powers aren't bad, they aren't your enemy. They are just young and wild like you, and that's natural. That's

heard Zosha's sobs. She had transformed into

is your conviction to help others. And you'll always find a way. Your powers will find a way, and life will

another wave of electricity

you please come out, dear? I

Go away or...

I do. And I want you to know that you'll be a great healer

me..." she lifted her tired

"I'll love you..."

family sold me because of this. My master abandoned me because of this..." she

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but I maintained the

I saw

made the biggest mistake

on

trudged closer

She crawled back.

close! Stay away! Please! Please! Don't

stretched out

lost, struggling with yourself. Your thoughts want to kill you every day and others validate that darkness.

whom I had addressed those words - to her or myself. But I knew both of us

eyes as she gasped. The suffocation I felt in my chest was realized in her breaking

"Take my hand..."

She shook her head.

placed my hand on hers. She froze as if expecting something

today..." I said, wrapping my arms around her trembling body as I pulled her into my

me back tighter. Caressing her

a while, she clenched my jacket

I stroked her. She tried to pull herself

happen again... please go away from me! I am dangerous! Let go!" she

I am not

her nails dig into my skin. "I can't..." she made a sound as if she

was doing. All I knew was it was the most important

her bleary gaze in a warm scrutiny. Wiping her tears, I ignored the subtle electricity that charged

you'll

"You're worth the pain..."

"I'm not..."

"You are..."