My Betrothed
Elsa pulled herself away from Chris, "What are you talking about?"
Chris sighed and dropped his shoulders, "The reason why I went here as you know is to find someone and that is Hera Van der Aart who is my betrothed. I need to marry her for the alliance of our kingdom. She's a powerful mage and my people expect me to bring her home."
"And I promise to help you find her as long as you will help me find answers about myself," Elsa then turned around ready to get out of the shed but Chris stopped him again, gripping on her wrist.
"But I don't want to marry her anymore…" Chris uttered in a somber voice.
"You were hellbent on finding her, as you said you even came here from another world and now you just changed your mind like that? Please don't tell me that you will no longer help me. What happened to you all of a sudden?" Elsa asked in confusion.
Chris moved closer to her, just one step away. He tucked the strand of hair that brushed her face behind her ear. "You… I met you. That's what happened. I told you, you are my mate."
"I don't understand what a mate is–"
Elsa stopped talking for Chris planted a soft quick kiss on her lips and she remained silent looking at Chris.
"My heart skipped a beat like what yours did just now when I first saw you. Humans in my world call it love at first sight. But for werewolves like me, it's more than that," Chris then grabbed a handful of her hair and smelled it. "Our mate gives off a unique scent that only we can smell. And yours is really irresistible and captivating to the point that my wolf goes wild and insane."
Elsa was speechless, she didn't know what to say or how to react and just kept staring at Chris who was looking directly into her eyes.
"But I get this feeling that you are related to Hera. The gateway I used should lead me to her, but it led me to you. And now you have my cloak. Are you perhaps her? Maybe you cast a spell to make yourself young again, tampered with your memory, and make yourself forget everything about your life in Zemaria?"
"No, I don't think so. I don't have that kind of power." Elsa retorted.
"Then why do you keep on seeing the memories of Hera? She was the one in your dreams. Running in the forest, the man in black leather armor, the cave, bonfire, and food. Those are all hers, Elsa. I was there. I saved her from that man. I made the fire and gave her food after bringing her to that cave for safety." Chris stepped closer to Elsa who stepped back with every step Chris was making until her back hit against the wall.
Chris placed his hand on the wall just beside Elsa's head to support his weight, "Please Elsa, try to remember. Please tell me that you are my betrothed."
Elsa opened her mouth but closed it again. He sounded desperate and she didn't know what to say. Now that Chris mentioned a spell that could alter someone's memory, even she, is now starting to doubt herself. She doesn't know what the truth is anymore.
Everything seems like a dream to her. What if her past was just a made-up memory and the mother that she knew was really her? What if the glowing of her arm is just her powers that were put to sleep and are now awakening deep within her? There are so many questions that she wants to get an answer to, but how will she get those if this man from another world cannot even tell her true identity?
Chris stared into Elsa's eyes and saw her confusion. Remembering his responsibility to his people and the reason why he came to Novus gave him a great deal of pain in his heart. If Elsa and Hera are two different people, he would need to make a choice. Would he follow his heart or would he do what was right for his kingdom?
Never in his life that he get confused about what path to take and what decision to make until he met Elsa. He was brought up and trained to become king the moment he took his first breath. But all of those are now crumbling as he faces his mate.
The dream that Elsa has had for years is still vivid in his mind. For him, it was just a few days ago. He can still remember every detail clearly.
It was supposed to be his wedding with Hera Van der Aart that day. The youngest Princess of Zemaria, the human kingdom in Vectus Mundus. She is the daughter of King Allister Van der Aart and Mistress Valeria Morgan–
"Wait…" Chris abruptly exclaimed upon remembering the name of the hospital that Dr. Arden was building. "You said that your mom's name is Katherina Morgan. So Morgan is her family name right? What do you use?"
"I use it too. Dr. Elsa Morgan," Elsa answered.
"Fuck," Chris uttered in frustration and rubbed his face with both hands.
"What is it?" Elsa impatiently asked for she could see that Chris seemed to finally find some answer.
"Hera's mother is Mistress Valeria Morgan. You two are definitely connected if not the same. This is so much of a coincidence. What happened to your mother?" he asked.
"She died when I was thirteen," Elsa answered but still puzzled about where Chris' question was heading.
"Thirteen? Was it around your birthday?" Chris' question made Elsa's eyes widen in surprise.
"How did you know? It was a few days after my thirteenth birthday," she said.
"How did she die?"
Elsa suddenly became quiet and obviously thinking. Now that she's trying to recall the details of her mother's death, she can't think of any. All she can remember is that she was told by the nuns in the orphanage that her mother died in an accident.
"I-I can't remember how. I was told she died in an accident." Elsa stammered and her heart started pounding. What is going on? Elsa asked herself inwardly.
"I knew it. Your memory has been altered," Chris declared.