2| Exchanging Identities
1359 Words
ALDERON FEROX
“I don’t know where to start my search? If I ask her directly, won’t it be suspicious? I have to find an idea to get information from her without making her suspicious.”
I paced back and forth on the balcony while continuing to smoke. I was so frustrated. I couldn’t stay trapped here. However, finding the truth through the Morigan family wasn’t easy either.
I heard the sound of the door being slid open. I immediately put out the rest of my cigarette and returned to the room to confront Elara Morigan.
It seemed like I had surprised her. She screamed in surprise and dropped the towel onto her feet. She was now n***d. I was momentarily stunned to see her body. She panicked and tried to cover her body. I just realized that she was a lovely girl.
“Why did you suddenly come in and surprise me? Couldn’t you have knocked on the door first?” Elara grumbled and tried to get back into the bathroom.
I hurriedly grabbed her half-wet body and hugged her from behind. I brought my lips close to her ear. She shrank in fear.
“Are you really Elara Morigan?” I asked curiously.
She was silent for a moment before answering nervously. “Yes, of course, I’m Elara. Who else do you think it is? I didn’t want this either. I was forced to marry you,” she said coldly.
I became more curious. Why was she forced to marry Sylas—my twin brother? I thought they knew each other before. This was getting interesting. What secrets were actually hidden between Sylas and the Morigan family?
For years, my family and I have been searching for Sylas Ferox. We were separated when we were seven because of an incident—a rebellion in the Cerberus pack. In addition to being separated from Sylas, we also lost our father. Father died while defeating the rebel leader. Sylas is my twin brother. Since then, we have never stopped looking for him in every corner of the country.
Lately, my grandfather’s health has been declining. He has started to often talk in his sleep and is increasingly calling out Sylas’ name. Mother encouraged me to increase our efforts to find Sylas.
“Sylas is your brother after all, and Cerberus pack needs a succession of an alpha leader who will replace grandfather.”
One of the informants told me that Sylas was found in a rogue. He was serving his sentence of exile there. He was the perpetrator of a hit-and-run that caused the victim to die on the spot. And a week ago, Sylas was supposed to be released from the rogue after three years in prison.
My men and I went to the rogue to pick up Sylas. But he was nowhere to be found. The people I met said he had been released from prison a week before.
That was suspicious. When we were about to leave, someone approached us and handed us some of the things that Sylas left behind. He didn’t say anything and just left.
Among the things that Sylas left behind was a document that looked shabby and almost hard to read. It was a contract agreement between Sylas and the Morigan family, Fenrir pack’s leader. The contract stated that after Sylas was released from prison, he would marry Elara Morigan--the Luna of Pack Fenrir.
I thought Sylas was at Fenrir Pack to celebrate his happiness in marrying Elara Morigan. Because of that, I dared to go to the Morigan family home. When I got there, I was greeted with curses and insults by Mrs. Morigan.
“Sylas? How did you get here? You shouldn’t be here!” She looked shocked and scared. Seeing me was like seeing a ghost.
Of course, I became even more suspicious. Why did she think I was Sylas? Does that mean Sylas never came to the Morigan family home? Then where is he now?
Before I could ask, Mrs. Morigan had already said to me harshly. “Go! We will definitely keep our promise. Come back in three days, then you can marry my daughter, Elara!” she said with a scared face. “But, please keep this marriage a secret from anyone according to the contract we made three years ago.”
I was even more confused. After I went home and discussed this with my best friend, Cassian Dwain, I finally decided to continue this charade. I would return to the Morigan family home and pretend to be Sylas to uncover the mystery behind his disappearance and the contract they agreed to three years ago.
Here I am now, on my wedding night with Elara Morigan. She is innocent and beautiful, even though she is cold to me. I thought she was Sylas’ lover, but it turns out that Elara even admitted that she did not know Sylas before. And this wedding was the first meeting between Elara and Sylas. Isn’t this strange? Then how could they be bound by a marriage contract? Where is Sylas now?
Elara tried to run away from me, but I hugged her. “Do you know who I am?” I asked.
“O-of course! You are Sylas. You are my husband. Even though I don’t know your origins, our family never breaks promises. That’s why I am willing to marry you.”
Promise? I thought. I asked what promise Sylas had actually agreed to with this family. If I asked that question, Elara would definitely be suspicious of me.
I could only grit my teeth to hold myself back. I would find out slowly, and I would find the evidence.
“You’re right,” I replied. “I am Sylas.”
***
ARIANA MORIGAN
Why is he silent? He also keeps hugging me and not letting me free. He is terrifying. Is he angry with me? Or maybe he doesn’t believe that I am Elara?
Of course he is suspicious because, as his wife, I continue to be rude and ignore him. If I continue to be bad like this to him, he could reveal my true identity. If that happens, my mother will be angry and might really hurt my father.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “I was too nervous to be rude to you. What you did to me was right. Because I am your wife now.”
I hope he understands what I mean. Although in my heart, I really don’t want him to touch me. I didn’t want a stranger and a former criminal like him to touch me. I didn’t even know him. But I couldn’t run away from here either.
I didn’t even have time to react. Sylas lifted my body and laid me down on the bed carefully. What was he going to do to me? How should I face him?
I was scared and reflexively crossed my arms in front of my chest while closing my eyes tightly. I could feel Sylas climbing onto the bed and slowly starting to press down on my body. I peeked a little. He lowered his face to me.
I was afraid to look, so I closed my eyes again. After waiting for a while, I realized that nothing had happened. Because I was curious, I peeked. Sylas instead covered my body.
“Forget it; you seem to need to rest. I’ll sleep in another room. I won’t force you. I’ll wait until you’re really ready,” he said calmly.
Sylas then walked out of the room. Of course, I immediately sat up straight while holding the blanket. I let out a sigh of relief.
“Gosh, what just happened? Why can he be so gentle with me? Isn’t he a criminal? Even since we first met, he has been rude to me. I didn’t think he could be that gentle.”
But he said he would wait until I was ready. Until when? I might be able to get away from him tonight, but what about the following nights? Would he really wait and be patient with my rejections?
- Writer
