The Rejected Werewolf Princess

CAMILLA'S PO.V

To say I was not concerned or curious when Ryker disappeared with Juan would have been a lie. It was made worse when they both returned and Ryker looked relieved but Juan looked concerned. He looked like he had a million things going on in his mind at the moment and it nearly sent me into a panic not knowing what it was because I knew it had something to do with Ryker.

"Camilla," Christine whisper yelled snapping me back to my thoughts.

After Ryker had returned, he said something about having some work to attend to so he disappeared leaving Christine and I with the girls. We finished up with breakfast and made our way to the private living room where we were currently sitting down. I looked up at Christine who gestured to Aurora who had been trying to climb onto my legs and failing.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," I whispered when I noticed her bottom lip already quivering. I picked her up and balanced her on my hip. She sniffled and buried her head into my shoulder and I absentmindedly ran my fingers through her hair.

I felt someone trying to mind link me and the moment I put down my wall, Christine's voice flooded my mind. "What is going on with you?"

"I'm worried about Ryker," there was no use lying and saying nothing. We had clearly gone way past that point. "Did you see how Juan looked when they returned together? Something happened and I am concerned about it."

"Do you trust him?" she asked and my brows scrunched in confusion. "If you trust the both of them then trust that whatever this is, they can handle it. If it is too bad, they will reach out for help.”

"Not Ryker," I mumbled. "He doesn't even want me involved in this. I had to plead for him to be honest with me about this because he said he didn't want to bother me. If he had his way, he would keep me far away from all of this." "What exactly is 'all of this?" she asked and it was at that moment I realized that she had no idea what was going on.

I had given her a rough breakdown but she didn't know everything. I assumed Juan did because Ryker told him almost everything but she was in the dark. It was unintentional, I had just been too focused on taking care of Ryker that I had somehow forgotten to catch her up and at the moment, I wasn't sure if Ryker would want her knowing everything. I wasn't sure how much he was willing to le tout or not so I just ended up shrugging.

"I think Ryker should be the one to tell you," I said finally. "He is the one who has to go through it, not me."

"Completely understandable," she didn't miss a beat with her response. "I think you should just give him space. You are worried and I get that but if you don't want him to shut you out, you should give him some space."

She was right and I knew it. I cut off the mind link and gave her a curt nod. She just smiled in return and I decided to take a walk outside the room for some fresh air. I had barely taken two steps when I bumped into someone.

"I am so sorry," the person began and I instantly recognized the voice.

"Caius," he turned to me and bowed with a smile. "I haven't seen you around in a while."

"You haven't summoned us, your majesty," he said simply. "I have to say, I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't consulted or included in the plan to kill the witch."

"A lot was happening at once and forgive me, but, I fear the elders confuse me more than they help me most of the times."

The corner of his lips quirked up. “Unfortunately, I cannot disagree with you there. It just gladdens me to know that you are all safe. You definitely look better than the last time I saw you."

"What do you mean?"

He paused and dropped his voice to a whisper. "The last time, you looked at me like you didn't know who I was. I feared that perhaps you had lost your memory. I even spoke to his majesty about it but he assured me that my assumptions were untrue."

My mind went back to the last time I saw him and sure enough, it was shortly after I had returned from the city. I truly didn't know who he was at the time and I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride towards Ryker for helping me hide my secret even from Caius who he knew was an ally.

I balanced Aurora higher on my hip and gave Caius a small smile. "I fear I must have been exhausted that day. It had been a long ride back and I had not completely healed yet. There is no way I could have forgotten you."

The lie slipped easily out of my tongue and it was clear that he didn't completely believe me but he couldn't push it without out rightly calling me a liar and even he was smarter than that. Instead, he just bowed and gave me a small smile.

"If you are certain then who am I to say otherwise?" he mused before turning to Aurora. "The little princess grows more each time I see her. I believe she will grow up to be just as strong and beautiful as her mother."

"Thank you, Caius," I gave him a small smile. "And do be sure to let the elders know that we have not forgotten that they exist, we just haven't found use for them yet."

"I am not sure if they will be pleased or angry to hear that, your majesty."

I shrugged. "Perhaps if they found something to do instead of sitting on their asses each day and waiting to be called on by us, then I would remember them more. What do the elders do, Caius?"

He grimaced and I knew what the answer was- nothing. It was absurd that we were paying six old men to sit on their asses all day long and do nothing but breed discord and confusion. I had no idea how they managed to remain ordained for so long. It seemed like the kind of thing my mother would hate.

"Now that you mention it, Caius, I think we do need to see the elders. How does tomorrow morning sound?"

"Tomorrow is Sunday, your majesty."

"Is there a reason they cannot come out on a Sunday?" I asked and he fell silent. Sunday was typically everyone's day off but he wasn't going to say that, not when he had all but confirmed that they do nothing all day long.

"I will relay the message," he bowed and I watched him walk off before I had the chance to say anything else.

As he walked away, I glanced over at Aurora who had been quiet in my arms during the entire conversation. She looked up at me with her wide eyes and gave me a toothy smile. I could never pick a favorite child, my daughters had completely different personalities and I loved them for that but Aurora had always been the quiet and calm child. Where Audrey was loud and outspoken, my youngest was silent. I wasn't sure if it would change with age but I truly hoped it didn't.

"Do you want to go back inside?" I asked but she shook her head. "Where do you want to go?"

"Daddy," she mumbled and my cheeks hurt from smiling because of how cute she was. "I wanna see daddy."

"Okay, sweetheart, we'll go see daddy, but we need to ask your sister if she wants to see daddy too."

I had barely turned to the door when it was pulled open and Christine rushed out. As soon as she saw me, she let out a sigh of relief and my spine instantly straightened. She looked a tad bit panicked but she was trying to hide it. Audrey walked out after her looking completely at ease and a bit bored if I was being honest.

"What happened?" I asked and Christine couldn't speak. She just pushed a piece of parchment paper into my hands. "What is this?"

"Audrey drew it," she whispered. "It probably isn't something I should panic over but I cannot help but-I asked her to make me a drawing just to pass the time and-"

She trailed off and I unfolded it. it took me a second to realize what I was seeing. In the picture, there was someone who I assumed was Christine because she had a huge baby bump. Standing on either side of her were two men and there was what seemed to be blood all around her.

I folded it and turned to Christine. "You've helped out enough for today. You should go up and rest."

"But-" she began but I cut her off.

"You're panicking and fear kills faster than any drug so leave. I can handle my daughter and her drawing. If it is important, I will let you know," she didn't want to agree at first, but she knew I was right and disappeared. I waited until she was gone before I turned to Audrey. "Do you want to help me explain the picture? I'm not mad, I promise, I just want to know."

"It's aunt Christine," she said simply. "She's having her babies."

"Why is there so much blood?" I asked but she turned away from me. "Audrey, please, you scared Christine there a little. You aren't in any trouble, I just want to know why-"

"Can I go to see daddy?" she asked and I stilled. It was clear she didn't want to talk to me about it and as much as that hurt, it didn't matter in the long run. What mattered was that she talked at all so I nodded.

"Okay, do you hear that Aurora? We are going to see your daddy."