Rejected and Claimed by her Alpha Triplets-Chapter 304 - the woods

304

~Lisa’s POV

I woke up slowly, my body aching like I’d been trampled. Every muscle protested, and even my fingers felt stiff. Blinking against the soft light, I saw Lira across the room, moving quietly, setting a small table with food. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

I forced myself up, wincing, and got on my knees. My heart pounded in my chest. "Lira... please... please teach me the shortcut," I begged, my voice trembling. "I can handle it. I can be stronger... I need to be stronger now!"

She paused, one hand frozen mid-motion, and turned to me. Her gaze was steady, piercing, but there was a hint of tired amusement in her eyes. "Lisa... it’s early. Can you not even greet me before you throw your life at the wind?"

I swallowed hard, my pride and desperation twisting in my chest. "I... I’m sorry. Good morning, Lira," I murmured, voice barely above a whisper.

She shook her head slightly, lips twitching like she wanted to smile. "Yes, that’s better. But that doesn’t mean we’ll do it your way. Not today. Not like this."

I leaned forward, almost on the floor now, desperation spilling out. "But Lira... please! I’m not afraid! I... I can survive this. I can do it! I need to be stronger. I can’t wait."

Her gaze sharpened, hardening into steel. "No. You won’t do it this way, not yet. I can’t let you throw your life away because you’re impatient. You have to go at your own pace. Step by step. Learn everything little by little. That’s the only way you’ll survive. And only then can you control the power you’re building inside you."

I shook my head, stubbornness and hope clashing. "I don’t care! I... I just... I want it now!"

She sighed, soft and long, almost like she was trying to breathe me in and measure me. "Lisa... you really are reckless. I like your fire, I do... but I cannot let you gamble your life. Not when there’s another way."

"I’m not afraid!" I repeated, louder this time, feeling tears sting my eyes. "I can handle it! I won’t die. I... I need to do this. I need to be strong!"

Her eyes softened, just slightly, and she shook her head. "One day, when you’re ready, we’ll try the shortcut. But not today. You need to survive this. Understand?"

I bit my lip, chest tight, words failing me for a second. My pride screamed at me, my body begged me to obey, and my heart... my heart wanted to trust her. "I... I guess I understand," I whispered finally, voice breaking. "But... I won’t forget. I want to learn it. I want to be strong. I... I just... I need to live to get there."

Her lips curved into a gentle, soft smile, and she reached over, pressing her hand lightly on mine. "That’s all I ask, Lisa. Live first. Then you’ll learn everything. And I promise... your fire will burn brighter than you’ve ever imagined. But only if you’re alive to see it."

I nodded, leaning back slightly, letting the ache in my body settle, letting her words sink in. Somehow... somehow, I trusted her. Somehow I knew she wouldn’t let me destroy myself.

She gestured to the food on the table. "Eat. We’ll continue as we have been. You need your strength if you want to grow."

I shook my head stubbornly, refusing to move. "I... I can’t... not now. I’m not hungry."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, disappointment and amusement mixing. "Lisa... you can’t skip this. Not if you want to survive. You need fuel. Your body won’t let your spirit rise if your flesh is weak. Eat."

"I... I just... I can’t," I said, voice trembling. "I can’t... not yet. I... I just want the shortcut."

She shook her head, and this time there was no amusement in her expression, only seriousness. "No shortcuts today. Not until you are ready. Not until your body and mind are in tune. You want strength... but strength without control will destroy you. Your fire is too wild. Too young. You’ll burn yourself before anyone else if I let you do this now."

I swallowed hard, the tears finally spilling, hot and fast down my cheeks. "But... I can handle it! I... I need to!"

Her hand came up, brushing a tear away gently. "Lisa... listen to me. You are brave. You are fierce. But you are still learning. If you rush, if you throw yourself at power before you’re ready... you’ll destroy everything. And I... I cannot let that happen. I care too much. Your life... is too precious."

"I... I know," I whispered, shoulders slumping. "I... I just... I hate waiting. I hate feeling weak, not when I have felt what it means to be powerful."

"I know," she said softly, voice like silk but firm. "I know you do. But you won’t be weak forever. You have more strength inside you than you realize. That fire... it’s yours, but you must learn to control it. Step by step. One spark at a time."

I shook my head, tears still flowing, frustration twisting my gut. "I... I don’t want sparks! I want the fire! I want it now!"

She let out a low laugh, soft and almost musical, shaking her head. "Lisa... reckless, impatient, stubborn... I love your fire. I do. But your fire... without control... will burn you alive. And then, what will you have? Nothing. Not even me. Do you understand me?"

I nodded quickly, sniffling. "I... I understand... but it hurts. I... I feel like I’m dying from the waiting."

She pressed her hand to my shoulder, firm and grounding. "You are not dying. You are learning. You are surviving. That’s the first step. Every step after this will be easier if you survive. Do you trust me?"

I hesitated, my pride warring with the desperate need in my chest. Finally, I whispered, "Yes... I trust you, Lira."

I watched her quietly as she set the plate in front of me. The steam rose, carrying the smell of herbs and roasted roots. It should have smelled comforting, but all I could think about was the shortcut, the one thing I craved more than anything else.

"Lira..." I said, my voice barely above a whisper at first, then stronger, desperate. "Are you... Really not going to teach me the shortcut? Not even a little hint?"

She shook her head, calm but firm. "No, Lisa."

I could feel the anger bubbling up, hot and wild, and before I could stop myself, I pushed back from the tattered mat. "No! I won’t wait! I can’t wait!"

Her eyes widened slightly, as if surprised by the force of my reaction. "Lisa... please. Don’t do this. You’re exhausted. You’re hurt. This isn’t the way."

I shook my head violently. "I don’t care! I can’t... I just... I need it now!"

And then, I couldn’t stand it anymore. Not the waiting, not the controlled calm, not the endless warnings. I turned and stormed out of the hut. My feet barely touched the ground as I ran, pushing through the familiar trees, deeper and deeper into the woods.