Chapter 89

• HAERA
• "Mom..." That was the first word he said after he opened his eyes miraculously. Those orbs that I had missed so bad glinted with unshed tears as he stared at me like I was his long lost trophy. I had thought he was probably still lost in his head when he voiced out that short endearment but my conclusion changed when he called out with longing. "Mom!" Zachary cried as he struggled to stretch his hands like he was trying to reach out to someone. Mom? Was he seeing things? Illusions maybe? I turned slowly to look behind me if someone was actually there but Alpha Zachary's mom wasn't there... in fact, there was no one except him and me in his chambers at that moment. He couldn't be referring to me as his mom, could he? Of course not. That's absurd. Turning my face back to him, I knew I had to say something to bring him out of whatever daze he was in. It was tough enough that I had to suffer for weeks because he was unconscious not to mention his near death experience. I doubted if I was emotionally fit to handle any other illness or disorder. The moment I returned my eyes to his face which had become wet due to the tears rolling freely down his face, I knew something was wrong...terribly wrong. My mate was staring at me with pain in his eyes. My words got stuck in my throat as I watched him sob like he was mourning the death of someone important to him. My emotions took over and I felt tears welling up in my eyes also. "What is it, Al-" "Mom! Is that really you?" Alpha Zachary whimpered after ignoring my question. I doubted if he heard me at all because he doesn't seem like it. My confusion grew bigger because my mate had directed that question to me before he began to cry again. "You're scaring me, Zachary. Do you know who I'm? Can you recognize me?" I asked in order to confirm if he was truly calling me his mom. Was he suddenly seeing his mom in me? "Of course! Why... Why won't I?... How could I've forgotten my mother's face?" My mate responded amidst his tears, dropping another bomb into my unsettled mind. I gasped and began to breathe frantically as I tried to process all that had happened within the past four hours. "Where have you been all this while, mom." Alpha Zachary inquired, taking my hands in his larger ones. I was speechless. I was so damn speechless. The man in front of me was my mate yet he was acting strange and different from his normal self. I couldn't decipher what exactly was wrong but I could boldly say everything was wrong with Alpha Zachary. He wasn't himself. He wasn't the man I had been yearning for these past few days. I wished Dezra would speak during such distressing emotional moments but she was also observing the situation with keen interest. "Talk to me, mom. Is...is he coming...for me as you planned? Don't let him take me, mom." My mate continued to wail, urging me to say something...anything... But I was still speechless. I didn't know what to say to him. I was clueless. "We have to find a way to get Princess Haera away from his corpse so the rites can begin immediately." I heard Alan talking to some other people right outside Alpha Zachary's chambers before he announced his arrival, walking in alone with his eyes fixed on nothing. He was yet to know that his Alpha had woken up from the dead and my tongue wouldn't even move to perform its function. "Princess Haera, can you please move to your chambers? We have to begin the process of bury-" Alan trailed off when he finally composed himself enough to look at his Alpha. He wasn't expecting to see Alpha Zachary wide awake but in tears. I watched Alan rub his eyes probably to escape the scene in front of him which he thought was a misconception. "Is he awake or am I being delusional?" Pointing to Alpha Zachary, Alan murmured. I could practically see him struggling not to stammer as he waited for me to clarify the scene. I tried to explain my shock to him but Alpha Zachary talked before I could think of what to say. "Who is he, mom? Did....did he send...this man to take me away from you?" My mate asked, panicking and tightening his hold on my hands which made me cry. I had never seen Zachary like this before now. He looked broken and distrustful. I didn't even understand his questions so how was I supposed to answer them? "Alpha!" Alan cried but Zachary just stared at him as if Alan had suddenly grown two demonic horns before asking me for his Beta's identity again. Besides, how do I explain to others that witnessed his near death experience that I didn't do anything to bring my mate back to life but he actually made it himself....miraculously. "Who believes in miracles these days?" Dezra pronounced. I had been wanting to hear her opinions about the matter but now that I heard them, I didn't know how to reply or react. "What's happened here? What's going on?" Alan cut into my thoughts as he directed another question to me. I was becoming agitated. Why was everyone asking me questions when my head was already filled with thousands of questions I needed answers to. "How am I supposed to answer that! Call the physician if you must." That wasn't what I should have said but the words were out before I could think about it. Alan was obviously worried sick about his Alpha and the least I could do was talk to him gently yet I was harsh. Alan didn't seem to mind because he dashed out of the chambers hastily just to get the physician. My attention became undivided once again and I focused on Alpha Zachary. I helped him rest his back on soft pillows while he gazed at me affectionately. The tears he shed earlier had stained his cheeks, leaving a whitish silver on Alpha Zachary's face. I was uncomfortable. Damn! "Ask him a question, Haera." Dezra suggested. "What's your name?" I asked my mate, making use of my wolf's idea. "I'm Zachary. Have you forgotten me?" He answered, adding a question of his own. How could I have forgotten him when he wouldn't let me? "Who am I to you?" Composing myself and smiling even though I was a mess within, I questioned Alpha Zachary again. He quickly took my hands into his like I was about to run away from him. "Stop this game, mom. You're making me sad!!! You're my mother and I don't want to live without you anymore...." Alpha Zachary wailed...like a fucking child! I asked him those questions with the hope that he would call me his mate. Was he behaving like this because he doesn't want me as his mate anymore? Or does he still want to be with Ilvira? Maybe I wasn't pretty enough yet although the pimples I was known for had cleared out completely. My heart ached as questions after questions invaded my head. Why was he doing this to me? Calling me his mom when I could feel the usual spark and tingles coming to life. Shouldn't that be a punishable crime? Does anyone feel sparks for their mother? "Stop thinking about it that way. I honestly think something is wro-" Dezra started but was unable to finish as the physician and Alan barged into the chambers. Zachary appeared to be scared when the doors opened and he was quick to hide his face behind me even though my tiny body couldn't hide his large one from anyone's sight. "What's going on, Mom. Is he here already?" Zachary whispered behind me, clutching my dress in a tight hold. I didn't say anything...I still didn't know what to say. "Luna! Did I hear correctly?" The old physical called out before he had the chance to see Alpha Zachary himself. Why the fuck are these people asking me questions! I've tons on my head already! "Check for yourself!" I barked disrespectfully at the Physician. He apologized for his lack of duty sense and tried to check on Alpha Zachary whose face was still behind my frame. "Don't touch me!" Zachary yelled and for a moment I thought he had stopped planning his games because I could feel his Alpha command in my bones. "Alpha! I've to check how we'll-" "I'm not Alpha! My name is Zachary and I don't want anyone but my mommy. Mom....please...tell them to leave." Zachary disregarded the Physician but pleaded with me. I swallowed my anxiety and shock because it was clear to everyone that I needed to calm my mate's nerves if we wanted to find out what the problem was. "Alp- Zachary. Calm down. This man is here to check how healthy you are and I'd love it if you cooperate with him." I cajoled my mate as much as I could yet he wouldn't let anyone touch him. Alpha Zachary snuggled closer to me, resting his head on the swell of my breast which made me gape because of the proximity and tingles. "Zachary, listen to me...." Trying so hard not to react to his touch while other men were present in the chambers with us, I peeled his hands off my body as I tried to persuade him again. "Promise me that you won't allow them to take me away. Promise me, mom." My mate requested and I quickly agreed to his terms. "I promise you won't have to leave my side if you cooperate with the physician. Can you do that for me?" I put in a request of my own to seal a deal with him. "Anything for you. I'll do anything to remain with you-" My mate's orbs dilated and I almost thought he was back to being normal unto he added his new favorite word to his statement. "Mom..." My heart sank! The physician took over from there, telling Alpha Zachary to lay back on the bed but my mate refused to leave my hands. I had to tell the physician to check him despite his position. "Can you tell me about yourself, Alpha?" The physician asked. "Stop calling Me Alpha! My father is the Alpha and he's coming to take me away from my mom to his pack..." Alpha Zachary whimpered as fresh tears filled his eyes. I comforted him even though all I wanted to do was slap some sense into his head. I was beginning to doubt my assumptions because this doesn't look like a game anymore. It was becoming serious. "You promised to cooperate, Zachary." What I was doing could be called a threat, right? Because I felt like I was threatening him to do something he obviously didn't want to do. Alpha Zachary wouldn't have modded to my words gullible if he was the same I left behind when I went to the moonstone pack. "He knows his name. Just check for other things." I instructed the physician, teaching him his work even though I knew nothing about it. "Al- how many fingers do you see?" The physician asked, holding up three fingers. Zachary answered his question correctly. I didn't know if I should be relieved or worried about the development. In fact, I just didn't know what to make out of it and I could only hope the Physician finds a way to rectify whatever went wrong. The process went on for some minutes and I zoned out at some point because the more questions Zachary answered, the more my worry grew. "Do you know that man?" The physician pointed to Alan as he asked Zachary. Alan's face had become red which I assumed was from crying or from holding his tears in. "I don't know him. I don't know any of you except my mom." Zachary informed the physician. "Who's your mom?" The physician asked and despite knowing the answer he would get from Zachary, I silently prayed for a different answer. "She's right here. Where she should be." My mate responded affectionately, gazing at me. This would have felt good if I wasn't being referred to as his mom. I'd probably have smiled because of his clinginess "Luna, can I speak to you outside....for a moment." The physician said to me, walking out of the chambers with Alan behind him. I was eager to go with him and I stood up without wasting any more time due to my curiosity to know what the new development with my mate was. "You promised not to leave me, mom. You can't go with him!" My mate declared, holding on to my dress. Damn this development! What! "I'll be outside your doors. I simply have to talk to the Physician for a minute. Stay right here and I'll be back." I said softly but Zachary held on still. He didn't believe me and I didn't know what else to say to convince him. "Please!" I begged him. It took some seconds of hesitation but Zachary released his hold on my dress. "A minute, you say?" He asked and I quickly bobbed my head to acknowledge his words. Zachary smiled at me before I left the chambers to meet the Physician and Alan who had been waiting for me. I didn't apologize for the delay. They needed to see my struggles to understand what was winning through my head at that moment. "What's happening to him this time?" I questioned the physician impatiently. "I'm afraid to say but it seems the Alpha had lost the bigger part of his memory..." The old man responded, feeding my confusion. "How's that possible?" I asked. "The hit on his head must have damaged his brain to some extent and it'll take a while for him to recover." I shook my head when the physician replied. I still didn't understand. "If he actually lost his memories, I shouldn't be in the picture. I mean, he doesn't recognize Alan who has been with him before I arrived in his life. This is driving me crazy. Did you see him call me mom?" I tried to make sense of the entire situation but I ended up breathing harshly. "If I can remember correctly, Alpha was ten years old when he was separated from his mom. So if he's seeing her in you, then it means his memories are those he had at that age." Alan etched in. Ten years old? "So why am I being called his mom? Do I look like her?" I asked Alan and his response was swift. "No. That's what I don't understand." "I think he senses the connection between you two and his young mind merely assumes you're the mom he had missed terribly." The physician added thoughtfully but still, it wasn't enough for me. I couldn't believe this was happening. "His mom is his darkest memory and it took him a lot of years to bury those memories in his head." Alan murmured. I had a lot of questions as I tried to comprehend his words but before I could ask away, Zachary called out to me. "It's over a minute, Mom. I want to pee and I need your help." Oh no.....oh no... Could anyone wake me from this nightmare?