Our Past

Harlyn

I’m confused by his questions. What does where we are have to do with anything?

“You honestly don’t remember, do you?” He looks at me, hurt, and I shrug, unsure of what to even say. It’s clear he thinks I don’t remember something, but what is it exactly?

“I’m not sure what I’m meant to be remembering, Your Majesty,” I say, looking at him confused.

“What if I told you that at this spot, you don’t call me Your Majesty, Highness, Prince or similar, just Stefan?” he asks, and I look at him confused.

“I-” What? “I don’t get what you’re saying.” I don’t. I don’t understand why he would say that.

“Here, just come here.” He pulls me forward slightly. “Sit.” I laugh at him ordering me. “Just, please, sit down.” Sighing, I sit in the same spot as before, where I was with Wayne, and I watch as he sits next to me.

Is this some sort of trick? I glance at him, confused.

“Lie down, Harlyn.”

Turning, I stare at him. “What? No.” What the hell? I go to stand, and he stops me.

“Just listen and lie down. Then you might remember.” He stares at me, waiting for me to listen.

Sighing, I lie back, my eyes fixed on the moon. I still don’t understand. I feel him lying next to me. We stay in silence for a short while, and I begin to get annoyed.

“I thought this would remind you, but it hasn’t.” His words are quiet, and I feel him shift. I keep my eyes on the moon and feel him leaning up, looking at me. “How about this?” I listen to his words but don’t respond.

“I won’t do that to you, Harlyn. I promise I won’t hurt you. I will never do anything that hurts you or makes you feel unworthy. I will protect you from everything.”

His words hit hard, and I feel like I’ve heard them before, I have, Wayne said those words to me. How does Stefan know, though?

“Why are you copying what Wayne said to me?” I ask, feeling confused.

“He didn’t! I did.” His words are a plea, but I see it as Wayne. It was Wayne, right? “You replied, you promised never to leave me. Try and remember Harlyn; try and remember this spot.”

I turn and look at him. “I don’t know what you mean by this spot.”

Frustration floods his expression. “Remember. You’re blocking it, so just remember. What’s the first memory you have of me, Harlyn?” He looks at me, waiting.

The first one? I fight to remember. “I came to find you; I’m not sure why. I was about twelve. I was asking if you were okay because you hadn’t shown up, and you shouted at me.”

“That.” I jump at the loudness of his voice. “I didn’t show up where, Harlyn? Where hadn’t I shown up, and why did you come to find me?” His words are almost begging for me to remember.

I can’t. It’s like there is a gap, and no matter how hard I try and think back, there’s nothing here.

“Okay, what if I told you this was our spot?” His words shock me, and I laugh. Our spot? “Don’t laugh, just consider it. What if that first memory you have was you coming to find out why I didn’t show up here that night? When every night we would sit here or lay here and talk?”

No. My head shakes. That’s not possible. Stefan and I were never close, were we? Still, I can’t remember why I went to find him or what he didn’t show up for. I just remember being worried for him.

He doesn’t speak, and we stay in silence, and I try to force my mind back to something, to either confirm his words or disprove them.

It was weird being here with Wayne and watching the moon. I felt like I had done it before, as if I was reliving something. I brought Wayne to this spot. For some reason, I felt safe and like no one would interrupt us.

He’s right. After Stefan shouted at me to leave him alone, Lucy asked me why I was with her and not with Stefan outside. I turned and looked at him.

“Your guards, maids, and such knew to stay a fair distance away from us.” My words are quiet, and he turns, his expression full of shock. “It was a safe place for me to speak about how many resented me for not having a wolf. It was the place where you were Stefan, not the prince. We were ourselves and pretended like no one else existed.” My words are quiet.

I remember now: “We had said every night, no matter what, we would meet here. Even if we weren’t in the mood to talk, we would sit in silence together. You promised never to hurt me, and then you did.” I move to stand, but the pain just seems to have gotten worse.

Did he really force me to remember just to cause more hurt? His hand stops me, and I pull away.

“Harlyn, I’m trying to apologise, to make you see I didn’t mean to hurt you. To prove to you I can change.” He looks at me, and I nod.

“You’re forgiven, Stefan. We were both young and foolish. You don’t need to worry about the fact you hurt me. I’m over it, and I accept your apology.” I say, trying to make him realise it makes no difference now.

All that matters is we continue with our lives away from each other.

“So we’re good? You remember the truth?” he asks, staring at me and waiting.

“Yes, we’re good. I remember Stefan, I remember it all. So you don’t need to make me remember.” I smile at him.

“I am sorry, Harlyn; I never meant to hurt you, and if I could tell you the truth, I would, but right now isn’t the time.”

I can see he means it. I nod, accepting his apology.

“So, us...The whole mating bond...” He sighs. “About our bond...us being mates...”

I nod, understanding why he’s struggling. He doesn’t need to ask, I get it.

Nodding, I smile at him. “I Harlyn Rich-”