Chasing And Claiming My Rejected Omega MateAlpha’s Severe Regret [BL] - Chapter 159

Chapter 159: Guilt

Rory

The old woman stiffened before glancing over at me. Her stick shook dangerously and I stepped even closer, my heart lurching when she stumbled a little.

“Oh, hello there.” She croaked out and offered me a smile, or at least that’s what I assumed she was trying to do, but the lines in her face preventing it from coming off as such.

“Are you alright?” I blurted out and she smiled at me again before slowly nodding.

“Yes, honey. I am.” She responded and I bit my tongue, feeling hesitant. I didn’t want to be too forward because I could unknowingly step across a line that way. But she clearly wasn’t okay and I was itching to say that out loud.

“Where are you heading to and are you alone?” I asked next and she took a slow breath that looked like it rattled her bones. Her stick wobbled dangerously and I cursed within myself as I stepped even closer to her, just as my eyes wandered around for a moment.

“Nowhere in particular. I’m trying to find my poor grand child.” She responded and my eyes widened, making me almost stunvke from shock.

“What? Your grandchild??” I called out and she nodded slowly.

“You were previously with your grandchild in here?” I asked, feeling extremely dumbfounded as those words danced within my chest. The old woman nodded and I noticed her lips were in a thin line.

“She was the only one willing to accompany me here so she could help me out.” She explained and this time, the pain was evident in her voice. I suddenly felt the rushing urge to comfort her even though I didn’t know who she was. Her skin was als blue as mine currently was.

“What happened to her? How did she get lost?” I asked and when the woman wobbled again, unable to stop myself, I rescued out and held her shoulders. She was stiff for a minute before she relaxed, sagging heavily against me. Once again, worry rushed through me towards this stranger.

This wasn’t the first time this was happening to me, I’ve always been very compassionate since I could remember, but right now, I should definitely be finding the queen instead of doing this.

“After we fell asleep together underneath a tree, I woke up alone, and I’ve been searching for her ever since.” She explained and once again, I glanced around before redpkngong.

“How long have she been missing?”

“I don’t know… but it’s been a while.” She revealed and I sighed, knowing that at this point, I couldn’t leave her by herself.

“Why are you here in the first place?” I askss as I led her to a tree for her to rest her legs. She sighed in relief as I helped her to sit.

“I arrived here with my granddaughter because I was trying to find the queen mother.” She revealed and I gasped in disbelief as I pulled back a little.

“Really? That’s why I’m here too!” I revealed and she frowned, shaking her head.

“It’s a pointless search, child. The queen mother doesn’t exist.” She muttered and I gasped again, eyes widened and mouth falling open.

“She doesn’t?” I blurted out and the old woman nodded firmly. “It’s all just a myth. I’ve trapped here for a long while, unable to leave and unable to find my granddaughter,” she explained and I slowly frowned as I crouched before her.

“I was told by my friends that no one could accompany anyone seeking the Queen mother in here. Perhaps that’s why your granddaughter is missing?” I asked quietly but the old woman shook her head again.

“This place is just cursed. And there’s no Queen mother, just an evil witch that’s just messing with anyone who deluded themselves into believing she actually exists.” She continues and my frowned deepened.

Despite all that the old woman was saying, I still found it hard to believe what she’s saying about the Queen mother. A little bit of panic was starting to fill up my lungs because If this old woman ends up being right, then it means I won’t ever be able to return back to earth.

I sighed as I slowly rise to my feet, a rush of urgency coursing through my veins. I need to resume my search right this instant. I need to find the queen mother no matter what and I still believe that she exists.

I turned around and was about to begin walking when the groan of the old woman made me stiffen. I had kind of forgotten about her this very instant. I slowly turned around and quietly asked the old woman if she’d be alright on her own. She smiled at me while nodding, assuring me that she’d be more than fine as I helped her up and handed her her stick.

“You can be on your way, kind child,” she urged sweetly and guilt gripped me for a moment after I bidded her goodbye and began to walk the other way, determined to not look back. As I kept walking, the guilt kept increasing. I reminded myself that she was a stranger and that I also have something of my own to do down here,

After about two minutes, I cursed underneath my breath and whirled around, sprinting back in the direction I had just emerged from. I sighted the old woman in no time, she was breathing hard while stumbling her way forward. I stared at her for a few moments before catching up with her holding her when she stumbled. Her eyes lit up at once and she beamed at me, asking if I forgot something.

I didn’t know how to tell her that I returned only because of her, because I was worried about her, when I definitely shouldn’t. So I nodded instead in response before falling into step beside her.

“You’re going this way now?” She asked and I nodded slowly, feeling a little mad at myself that I was still unable poriotize myself and my needs in a situation like this.

“Oh really?? That’s great news then. Now I won’t be bored anymore,” she gushed, sounding almost excited and I couldn’t help myself from chuckling before I steadied her when her stick wobbled. The stick was too thin for my liking, it wasn’t strong enough to hold her frail weight and I told myself to find her a new stick along the way.

I wasn’t sure of why I was doing this, and I also didn’t know the direction we were walking in, but if we find her granddaughter, I’d be able to leave and focus on my own problem, knowing that she wouldn’t be alone henceforth.

The old woman surprisingly had a lot of energy and sha talked my ears off while we walked and walked. I didn’t mind because it helped me to not dwell on my problems and worries. At a point when she began to bad mouth the Queen mother, I gently cautioned her against it.

“But she isn’t real anyway, it doesn’t change anything,” she informed her and I shook my head.

“But she is.” I responded with a shrug.

“How do you know?” She asked and I pointed at the middle of my chest.

“In here. I can somehow feel her presence.” I responded and the old woman didn’t seem like she believed me, but she thankfully dropped it. I also wasn’t sure what I could feel around me and within me was the queen mother and something else entirely.

We kept walking and walking. At a point, I found a better stick for the old woman and she sobbed in gratitude like I handed her a mansion, then she revealed that no one has cared for her in ages, aside from her granddaughter who’s currently missing.

Then she went ahead to tell me about her family and all her horrible children, her terrible love life and the reason why she sought out the Queen mother – because she hoped the queen mother would help her with a magic that would help her transform her family into a loving one. That sounded like what she desperately wanted and a pang of longing pulled at my chest, I’d give anything to be chanced to hug my own family right now, even just for a fleeting moment.

That night, I didn’t sleep a wink. The old woman slept and I watched over her, while silently wishing that the queen mother could please reveal herself, not just for my sake, but for this old woman so she can be with her granddaughter again and also get her desire granted, which is to have a happy family.

My mind traveled to Niko and Anna. To Kenny. To Jason.

I’d give literally anything to catch a glimpse of them for a fleeting moment right now.

Pain flooded my chest, gripping me hard and I exhaled as I leaned back against the tree bark and let my tired eyes to briefly slid shut. I won’t be falling asleep. I only want to rest a little.

I told myself, but I got pulled into unconsciousness before I realized it.