Filed to story: The Rejected Werewolf Princess (Camilla & Tyson) by Didi Adeyemi >>
I smiled at the designers and I saw them all let out a collective sigh of relief. I allowed them lead me downstairs and when I got to the front of the meeting hall, my mother was waiting. She ran her eyes over me and I saw approval dancing beneath her lids.
She was in a dress of blood red but it was encrusted with rubies. It was a ball gown and the train put mine to shame. It was clearly over the top but I don’t think she cared. Her l*ps were painted the color of blood and on her head sat a ruby encrusted crown.
I stared at her for a minute and finally, she snapped her fingers and one of the guards came running over holding a clear silver box.
Inside was a small crown made of diamonds and before I could say anything, she placed it on my head. It felt different and I blinked twice before I realized what had happened.
“I thought I’m not allowed to wear crowns until after the coronation.”
“You’re not allowed to wear the crown for the heir,” she corrected. “There is no way I will have you in the midst of all that testosterone without a crown. Now, are you ready?”
I nodded and the door was pushed open.
The first thing I noticed was how the talking ceased. There were at least twenty people in there but somehow, I was drawn to him. I could feel his eyes on me from my left but I was determined not to look or even glance in his direction. I kept my chin high as I walked with my mother towards the head of the table.
She sat down and I sat at her right. I couldn’t help but imagine what a contrast we are, blood red and silver. It will make for some amazing stories and rumors.
“I am glad you could all meet us on such short notice, mother began, “Normally, this wouldn’t hold until the day before the coronation but certain happenings have made it that the meeting had to be pushed up. Please, take your seats.”
They all scrambled to take their seats and I was grateful when it was a random stranger and not Ryker who sat beside me but my gladness quickly faded when Ryker sat opposite me. There was need and love in his eyes and I had to look away to stop him from consuming me but unfortunately, my eyes landed on Tyson.
I felt mother nudge me slightly and I cleared my throat and placed a stoic expression on my face.
“This is my daughter, Camilla,” she introduced and all I did was dip my head in a respectful nod, “It has come to my attention that a few of you have wandered into the castle on certain occasions. What for? I don’t know. This will serve as my only warning to you, the castle is out of bounds to anyone who is not a member of the royal family or wasn’t summoned by a higher ranking royal.”
She paused for dramatic effect and stared down all of them, “Anyone found within these castle walls at any given time will be sent home immediately. Your pack will be shunned by the royals and you will have nothing to do with us. That might sound like an empty threat until you realize that we allocate land and resources to every pack.”
The room went as silent as a graveyard as everyone realized that she wasn’t bluffing. Mother would really do that and I felt my heart warm as I realized that she was doing it for me. I wanted nothing more than to pull her into a hug but I knew this was neither the right place nor time so I settled for gently nudging her knee with mine.
She opened her mouth to speak when the door to the room opened. A part of me already knew what was happening before it happened but I still hoped that I was wrong.
Audrey walked in through the doors and when she saw the many eyes, her thumb instantly flew to her mouth and she looked like she was about to cry. I glanced at my mother who also had a panicked look on her face.
The Alphas had started muttering amongst themselves and that was when Audrey’s eyes landed on me. Within a second, she was sprinting across the room and burying her head in my skirts.
I could feel the air stretching as everyone stared at me and Audrey. It felt like time had stopped briefly as every eye bored into me and my daughter. I could feel their stares even though I wasn’t looking at them and they began to whisper. The whispers felt louder than they should have, they grated on my cars and it was like I could hear every single word they said.
I glanced at my mother who tried to reach down and take Audrey from me but Audrey refused to let go of my skirts. I leaned down and picked her up then placed her right in my lap so she was sitting with her legs on either side of my thighs and her head was buried into my chest.
“I’m sorry for the interruption,” I made sure my voice was as clear as day as I spoke, “The rules never apply to our children, and even if they did, children always seem to run with their own set of rules.”
“Is she yours?” one of the Alpha’s asked.
I turned to him, I haven’t seen him before. He was a lot older than me, I would say mid forties with a bald head and brown eyes. He is a bit on the pudgy side with beady eyes and a button nose. I could see him eyeing Audrey with curiosity and interest kind of like the others were doing.
“Yes she is,” I admitted and I heard rather than saw Ryker inhale sharply.
The action unwillingly brought my eyes to his and I saw that he was no longer looking at me, he was staring at Audrey with a million emotions in his eyes. I saw him fist his fingers on the table and I knew he wanted nothing more than to reach out and just touch her.
“You didn’t tell me that we had a daughter,” I would have understood if those words came from Ryker but I followed the sound down the table to where Tyson was now on his feet. “I deserved to meet her.”
He started making his way towards me and I turned to the guards who instantly blocked his way to me but he wasn’t interested in going down quietly. I glanced at Ryker who was now looking at me with confusion.
“She’s not yours Tyson,” I said simply. “Not in blood and not in any other way.”
“You don’t know that, it might have been one time but one time is all it takes.”
“It wasn’t one time,” I spat as I placed my hands over Audrey’s ears so she wouldn’t hear me, “It was rape and no, I wasn’t pregnant for you so you can sit the f**k down or you can get out.”
Tyson was stunned, I don’t think I curse that much and I don’t think he has ever seen me curse. Even Ryker and my mother looked taken aback at my choice of words but I didn’t seem to care anymore.
I stood to my feet and balanced Audrey on my hip as I spoke, “This meeting is officially over.”
As if possessed, all the Alphas rose and darted out the front doors except Tyson and Ryker. Tyson was still being restrained by guards but Ryker was standing in front of his seat and his eyes kept darting between me and Audrey.
“Is she mine?” his voice was as soft as a feather and I could tell that he was hoping for one answer but bracing himself for another.
I guess Christine was right when she said it would happen sooner or later, I was expecting it to be a lot later.
I nodded, “Yes, she is.”
“That’s bullsh it,” Tyson yelled out, “That little girl is mine, I am her father.”
“Shut up!” my mother’s voice boomed through the halls leaving everyone staring at her in shock.
She stood to her feet and leveled a harsh look at both men before walking over to me and stroking Audrey’s hair softly. Audrey still had her head buried into my shoulder and I hated the fact that she had to be present for this conversation but I know she will refuse to go with anyone else and I have to be here.
“You should be ashamed of yourself,” mother spat at Tyson, “Making such a stu pid scene in front of not only the other Alphas but in front of a child.”
“I just want a claim to my-,”
“I don’t give a sh it what you want,” she spat, “If Camilla says you aren’t the father then you aren’t. There is no way to know for sure unless by the words of Camilla but if you are so sure that she is yours, then bring proof of the last time you were with Camilla by tomorrow or this evening and you will have your answer.”
Tyson opened his mouth to complain but when he was leveled a look, he decided against it and stormed out of the room. I watched him carefully wondering if he was going to do anything crazy but he didn’t. He exited the room and soon it was just Ryker, my mother and I.