Chapter Five: Traces of Home
The pain in my head intensified as the three figures froze for a moment, taking in the scene. It felt like lightning had been dumped into my skull, memories and emotions flooding in like a raging river. I couldn't tell where I ended and the previous owner began. The feelings of love, panic, and protective instinct radiated from them. I felt it all, like I'd been injected with their lifeblood.
"Mum… Dad…" my thoughts screamed, but I couldn't voice a word. Until the pain seized.
The tall woman stepped forward first, her eyes scanning me with a mixture of confusion and recognition. "Baby… is that… you?" Her voice wavered, almost breaking, it wasn't that she couldn't recognise his scent, Rather, this was the first time she saw Rowan in such a position.
I winced internally. I was afraid of her recognising that I'm not the real Rowan, After all mothers are able to tell their Kids just by feeling and instincts not just sight.
"Yes," I managed to say quietly, forcing my voice to sound shaky and pained, as though the struggle I'd gone through had left me weak.
Her brow furrowed, then softened as she rushed closer. "Oh, my baby… what happened? Are you hurt?!" She reached for me, hands trembling, but I stiffened slightly, careful not to reveal too much.
"Uh… it's okay, Mum," I croaked, letting the inherited memories guide me. Painful memories of the previous Rowan's battles, his failures, his fears, they were my armor now. I let them leak into my expressions, making my agony convincing.
The man, presumably my father, looked at me sharply. "Rowan… you're shaking. What's wrong? Who did this to you?" He knelt, placing a hand on my arm. His touch sent another jolt through me, protection, anger, and… love. My chest tightened.
I swallowed. "I… I'm fine. Just… a headache." Lame. Too lame. But I had to sell it.
Before I could falter further, a voice rang out behind the adults. "Stop panicking, people."
Maxx. My best friend. Or at least, the previous Rowan's best friend. He always had this air of "I know more than you do" and he had been who Rowan was supposed to meet before he was taken by that, Bastard Gabe.
"Maxx?" I whispered internally, relief coursing through me. The headache didn't make me feel this happy, I might actually cry if I dared.
"Relax, Rowan," Maxx said aloud, stepping into view. "I traced your scent from the garden. Took me less than ten minutes to figure something was off. You've been… well, tied up." He gestured at the ropes.
I let out a mental groan. Ten minutes? Really? I've been in agony and panic for longer than that.
The mother's eyes softened even more, her hands brushing my face gently. "You poor thing… you've been through so much. Don't be scared, it's over now."
I flinched slightly, not out of fear, but out of pain. Although Gave didn't beat me up, he did have me tied up, Right now I didn't have the luxury to cozy up to My new parents cause every part of me was hurting.
Maxx crouched down beside me. "Who did this to you?" His voice was calm, but I could feel the underlying tension. Protective, like a papa bear ready to strike.
I shook my head weakly. "I… I don't know. I was just…" I trailed off, letting the lingering confusion in my eyes sell the story, obviously I couldn't say anything yet until I know what part of the story I was in, what if it wasn't the time Rowan got his mate.
"Don't worry, Rowan," the father said firmly, a hand now on each of my shoulders. "We'll handle it. You don't have to do anything. Just focus on getting better."
I let a shaky breath escape. His words should have comforted me, but I couldn't feel the comfort as they did. I had to stay alert. Every expression, every flicker of emotion had to match the previous Rowan's memories.
The woman's gaze lingered on me, eyes narrowing slightly, as if she was trying to smell out the truth. "You're… not acting yourself, did that person do anything to you, tell mummy, don't keep it to yourself."
Did I feel warm hearing this, Yes. cause I had no parents growing up and although these people won't stay in my life permanently, I'll always cherish what I have with them, and yes I'm a selfish person, So, since Rowan is gone, I'm here to replace him, his parents are mine, his best friend is mine everything he has belongs to me now.
Maxx leaned in. "Alright, the ropes. Let me take care of them." With a swift motion, he brandished his claws and cut the bindings, freeing me.
I rubbed my wrists, letting out a small grunt of pain that wasn't entirely fake. "Thanks…" I muttered.
Mother's arms were around me in an instant, and then father crouched beside us. "You'll be safe now. We won't let anything happen to you again."
Inside, I winced. "Safe…" Nothing about this world was safe, especially not with the tasks the goddess had set. But I had to keep calm.
Maxx smirked. "Rowan, you owe me an explanation. But right now, don't worry. We've got your back."
I gave a small nod, letting the shared memories guide my expressions. Every flinch, every pause, every slight gasp matched what the previous Rowan would have felt. I had to survive this, not just for the points, but to keep the lives around me intact.
"Good," the mother murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. "That's my brave boy."
I flinched slightly again, internalizing the inherited pang of guilt, fear, and love. I had to maintain it.
Maxx shot me a look. "We'll talk later. For now, let's get you checked and settled."
I let him guide me forward, knowing each step, each moment, each interaction was a test. A test of how well I could balance their memories, the original Rowan's feelings, and my own survival instincts.
Because in this world, survival wasn't just about avoiding death. It was about navigating a web of emotions, bonds, and expectations that weren't mine, but I had to make them mine, at least for now.