Offered to the Triplet Alphas

[Xanthea]

"She's alive?"

"Good goddess..."

"Look at what she's wearing."

"Isn't that the latest gown from the most recent luna collection?"

"One of the most expensive gowns in the world."

The living area greeted me with a hushed buzz of disbelief and surprise from the maids. Their murmurs ceased abruptly as Ezra emerged from behind me.

What pressed upon me the most was luna Meesa's calculating gaze, piercing through my soul. I would have normally prevented looking right into the gaze that burnt with nothing but pure hatred for me.

My insides screamed at me to lower my gaze, but I forced myself to lock eyes with her.

Her gaze skimmed to Ezra as he stood beside me.

There was an instant shift in her eyes. Peering at me, she got up from the sofa as though she were in a trance, as though she hadn't noticed Ezra or anyone else in the room. She walked to me, her eyes teary with concern and delight.

"Thea... my daughter..." she cupped my face with gentle hands and pulled me into a hug. "Oh, Thea... I am so glad to see you safe."

If I didn't know her better, I would have fallen for the quiver in her voice and her breathless whimpers. She held me close as though I were the most precious thing in her life.

I was used to her act of love and care because she did it often when father was around or she knew he was watching us.

But today, as I stood in her embrace, I felt something like boiling acid pour in my chest. Only she had the ability to make a gentle embrace feel so cold, suffocating and... bitter. "How touching..." Ezra said in a calm tone.

Sniffling, Meesa parted from me. Wiping her tears, she instantly stepped away from me, joining the train of maids, and they went into a bow before us in unison.

"Please pardon me, my lord. I-I... I just... was so overwhelmed to see Thea fine that I-"

"Oh, you don't need to apologize for anything. I understand," Ezra said, placing his hand on his chest. "You were worried about your daughter and her wellbeing, her safety. Isn't it? You heard the rumors about her death and you were overtaken by grief and remorse and when you saw her, you couldn't help but embrace her close to your heart. I understand." He smiled.

I glanced at him and even though he seemed to be deeply touched by daughter-mother interaction, his eyes were cold and desolate.

Meesa bowed again in affirmation.

Ezra placed his hand around my shoulders and pulled me close.

"My wife has been worried about all of you as well. She wanted to see how her family was doing after the unfortunate fire broke out in your pack. She stopped eating and sleeping. And I couldn't see her in that condition, so I brought her here today. I must say I am deeply moved by the relationship you have with your step-daughter. Not every woman has it in her to accept a bastard child and love them as their own." Ezra said in a dreamy tone.

She glanced at me before she bowed before Ezra with a smile again.

"Please have a seat, your highness," she ushered us towards the seating area.

As I sat on the plush sofa beside Ezra, I couldn't help but notice the fatigue in her every single movement. She seemed to have lost a lot of weight that made her body look thin and fragile. Her skin looked dull; her eyes sunken. Even though her posture was upright as always, I could clearly notice the struggle she put behind to maintain it.

"Where are the rest of the family members?" Ezra asked, placing his feet on the glass coffee table.

Meesa glanced at Ezra's feet and then towards the entrance of the living area.

"Nikolai should-"

"Oh, don't worry about him. He tripped a little while receiving us, so Atticus took him to get a little first air. He'll be here soon," Ezra said dismissively. "Your son is a little clumsy, I must say. Who else was in your family? Your husband and... if I remember it well, you had another daughter as well, right?"

Lowering her gaze, she swallowed tightly. She glanced at the maid. The maid bowed and left. In mere seconds, Nathalia walked into the living area.

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach as I peered at Nathalia, widening my eyes.

A thick, suffocating white mask was wrapped around Nathalia's disfigured face. Every inch of her body was wrapped tightly in fabric to conceal the burn marks on her body and her melted skin.

I quickly averted my eyes from her. It was unbearable to even look at her.

Now I realized why Ezra asked me to play the game of heartlessness. He wanted to stop me from blaming myself for what they were going through. He wanted me to enjoy their misery, but- My heart twisted, and I had to clench my jaws to maintain a poker face.

Nathalia's insecurities, jealousy, resentment, and anger screamed through her eyes as they raked all over me.

"Greetings, your highness," Nathalia said, bowing before us.

"The fire must have been terrible," Ezra said sympathetically. "Did you find its cause?"

Nathalia and Meesa exchanged a glance and shook their heads.

"No, your highness. We haven't. Not yet," Meesa said.

"Hmm," Ezra nodded. "One more family member isn't here. Where is the ex-alpha of your pack?" Ezra asked, scanning the hall.

"He is... in the h-hospital, your highness," Nathalia said, her gaze lingering on Ezra. She looked at Ezra, captivated by his handsome, sharp looks and radiant charm.

"Call him here," Ezra said, sprawling on the sofa. "My wife has come all the way from the Infernal pack to visit him. He should have had a little decency to show up. It's normal etiquette."

"Father's in a coma, your highness," Nathalia said, clenching her fists.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

It took me a few seconds to process what Nathalia said, and when I did; I felt a nauseating churn tug at my stomach. Like I had been brutally kicked in my guts.

Alpha Valdimir is in... coma?

"Is he now? How tragic? Pity, anyway. I don't see a reason why he can't show up for dinner. He can still come here in a wheelchair with all those beeping life support machines attached to him. Showing up is what matters, right, Atticus?" Ezra asked, shifting his gaze to Alpha King as he walked into the living room.

Alpha King remained silent for a few seconds he took to get close to us before he replied.

"Yes, my lord."

I lowered my gaze as an awkward breathless tightened in my chest.

"But my father's in a coma. He can't-"

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Alpha King let out a deliberate cough, cutting Nathalia's words in the middle. Nathalia understood whatever silent signal she was given and remained silent, partially hiding behind Meesa.

"If that's what you wish, he will be here, my lord," Nikolai limped closer to us with the support of a butler, blood-stained bandage wrapped around his leg and forehead.

Luna Meesa instantly panicked as her attention went on to Nikolai, and so did Nathalia. But they remained where they were.

Unclenching my fist, I placed my hand on Ezra's thigh. He looked at me with unanimous attention.

He leaned closer to my face, bringing his ear closer to my lips.

"I don't wish... to see my father," I said, trying my best to sound resentful. "There's no need for him to be here. I just wanna go back home."

Contemplating me, Ezra smiled.

"Oh, my darling wife. Why are you so good?" He said, leaning back against the sofa as he ran his fingers through his hair.

Wrapping his arm possessively around my waist, he pulled me against his chest.

Tucking the free strands of my hair behind my ear, he caressed my cheek.

"Maybe it was your kindness and your pure heart that allured me. I can't help it. I've fallen in love with you and you give me all the reasons to keep falling in love with you over and over again. You can't see people suffer. First, you saved your brother's life and now you are advocating for your father. Tsk!" Ezra sighed, holding his temple.

He grunted, letting me go.

"This world doesn't deserve a soul like you. I don't deserve you. You deserve so much better. So better is what I have become just for you, my love," Ezra said.

Holding back my blush and the second hand embarrassment from his overacting, I let out a faint chuckle.

"What can I say? If that's what my wife wants, then that's what will happen."

He looked at Nikolai and continued.

"Let your father rest in the hospital. I won't consider it disrespectful. Tsk! But it would have been more fun if your father joined us for the dinner, baby," Ezra looked at me.

I shook my head slightly.

"No? Pity," Ezra winced.

"You'll be staying for dinner, my lord?" Meesa asked.

"Why? Are we not invited?" Ezra shot his gaze towards her.

Meesa let out a nervous chuckle. "N-no, my lord. Of course. This is the first time my daughter and my son-in-law are visiting us after the marriage. Of course, we were preparing for the feast, but we have heard that demon lords don't like mortal cuisine."

"Oh, don't trust those rumors. They say a lot of false stuff. They have created a very scary and repulsive public image of my brothers and me. You are standing before me. Do you feel threatened in any manner? I am such a calm and collected man. I wouldn't go throwing punches or injuring or killing people for no reason." Ezra said and Alpha King let out a faint laugh while others couldn't even muster that. Were we staying here longer?

***

As we entered the dining room, the unsettling restlessness and urgency to leave the palace as soon as I could grew even more.

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I understood what Ezra was trying to do, but I didn't know if I was ready to face those parts of my past yet. Especially with such a dark aura thickening in the air.

"Where did my wife sit?" Ezra asked, strolling around the dining hall.

"H-here," Meesa pointed towards the chair next to Alpha Valdimir's chair. "She sat beside her father. She is her father's favorite, after all. Come, Thea. Take your usual seat, sweety," she said with a sour smile as she pulled the chair for me. "I have cooked your favorite food."

I looked at the pancakes and blueberries on the dining table alongside other food items.

"My favorite food?" I asked.

"Yes Thea, your-"

I peered at Meesa blankly until I burst into hysterical laughter.

Everyone stood frozen as I choked on every laughter as it strangled my throat.

I laughed so hard I teared up.

"Oh god, haha..." I somehow controlled my laughter, wiping off my tears.

"Mom, why don't you tell Ezra how we went shopping together? The three of us. Isn't it Nathalia? How we went to salons and how we had the best family time ever? How my brother took us on rides and movies? How we cooked together and how well you know my likes and dislikes? So you prepared my favorite food, huh? Pancakes and blueberries. I love them so much. I can't wait!"

My body had turned cold, but I walked around the table almost running on half adrenaline and half impulse.

"Swo... fuvking... favorwite! Pancwakes! Bwuebwerriws..."

Clutching up pancakes and blueberries in both my hands, I frantically gobbled them into my mouth, barely chewing as tears streamed down my eyes.

Frowning, Meesa stepped away from me, and so did everyone else.

Panic rose from my guts as I choked on the food. With shaking hands, I picked up the goblet filled with wine. Spilling the wine all over me, I pushed the unchewed food down my throat.

I kept stuffing my mouth with food, not even giving myself time to breathe-

"Enough!" Ezra growled, grabbing my hands as I gagged on the food. I struggled to free myself from him when he caged my hand close to my chest, hugging me from behind. "Lwet gwo! Leave me!" I protested.

"Stop it! Xanthea! Spit out the food!" He grabbed my jaws and forcefully opened my mouth. Shoving his fingers into my mouth, he pulled out the food.

Tearing up, I gasped for air. I abruptly spit out the half-chewed mess of pancake and blueberry on the table, splattering it across the surface. Coughing, I wheezed as Ezra let go of me. Losing all the strength in my legs, I slumped on the chair Meesa had pulled out for me.

"I was a kid..." I mumbled through my sniffles and cough.

Meesa looked away, blood draining into her emotionless eyes.

"I was just a kid. How could you do that to a kid?" I looked at Meesa.