Filed to story: The Rejected Werewolf Princess (Camilla & Tyson) by Didi Adeyemi >>
I left the council room and put Aurora in her crib. She whined a little but eventually settled down to sleep. Once she was down, I made my way to Audrey’s room. In the past three days, I had seen my daughter try to become more independent because of how much stress she noticed was on me. I tried my best to be at her room every morning for her lessons and every night before she slept but I could barely squeeze time to see her during the day.
When I got in, she was already dressed and tucked in but she was still awake. I realized that I had missed her bedtime by thirty minutes but when she saw me, I saw pure joy fill her. It broke my heart to know that even for a second,she had doubted me. I never wanted to be that parent and I was worried that I was turning into exactly that. I said nothing as I sat by the edge of her bed and k*ssed her forehead.
“I’m sorry that I’m late,” I whispered to her but she waved me off. “Do you want me to read you another story?” she shook her head. “What do you want?”
“Tell me how you and mummy met.”
I was shocked by her request. It felt like a lifetime ago that I saw her for the first time in the cells of my pack. I couldn’t help a small smile from growing on my face as I thought about how far we had gone since then.
“Well, your mum crossed my border accidentally and the guards thought she was one of the rogues so they took her in. I saw her and knew she was my mate so I brught her home.”
“Did you love her then?” Audrey asked with hopeful eyes and I nodded.
“I loved your mother since the moment I laid eyes on her. It was the same way I loved you and Aurora the moment I saw you,” I could see how much those words meant to her. “Your mother will be fine, I promise.”
I knew it was reckless to make that kind of promise to a child but I couldn’t help myself and when I saw how wide she smiled, I knew I did the right thing. I k*ssed her once more and left the room but I was met outside the door by Christine and she looked worried.
“What is it?” I asked but she stayed silent. “Christine, f**king tell me. Your silence is making me uncomfortable.”
“I am so sorry, Ryker. We tried everything we could.”
I feared I knew what she was talking about but I refused to believe it until I heard the words.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Stop speaking in riddles and tell me.”
“It is Camilla, the physician said she might not make it through the night.”
CAMILLA’S P.O.V
I remembered the arrow and I remembered the pain but after that was complete darkness.
I always thought that if I died, I would be welcomed by the goddess with open arms. I may not have been the best person in the world but I knew I wasn’t the worst and I deserved a happy ending. I was terrified at first because it felt like I couldn’t move or breathe. I tried to count to have an idea of the time but it went on for what felt like an infinity.
I tried to fight it. With every second that ticked by, I tried to remember my family waiting for me. I tried to remember the palace and everyone that was under me. It was my job to defend them and I had to fight for them. I tried to move, I tried to breathe but I was stuck in a perpetual static. It was exhausting and there was this nagging voice at the back of my mind that kept telling me to give up and let go. I didn’t want to and I tried my best to remain strong but I soon forgot what I was fighting for. When I had finally given up and decided that I was ready to embrace the unknown, I fell. There was no other way to describe it besides falling. It felt like I was falling through the air until I landed in the sand. I wasn’t hurt from my fall. I looked around wondering where I was. The landscape looked foreign to me. I knew it was my imagination but I thought the mind was capable of showing only places that a person had been to.
I analyzed the place once more. The sand stretched on for miles before it met with the sea. The sea was surprisingly calm and it was so shiny and clear that I wondered if it was possible for anything to live inside of it. I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe I was in paradise. Maybe the darkness was to determine if I was worthy enough of paradise and my giving up had brought me where I deserved even though it wasn’t where I wanted to be.
“I suppose you could call it paradise,” a voice spoke from behind me and I instantly jumped to my feet.
Standing behind me was a girl who looked to be no older than sixteen years old. She had long silver hair that was thrown over her shoulder in a braid, her eyes were a turbulent shade of grey that almost reminded me of a storm and she was in a small dress that was made from threadbare grey fabric. She wasn’t standing there before- or at least, I hadn’t noticed her before. She gave me a warm smile that was inviting but I couldn’t help but be wary. There was something about her that put me on edge and it wasn’t just the fact that she had answered the question I asked in my head.
“I won’t hurt you,” she assured me. “Come, let us take a walk.” I hesitated before standing and I glanced at her outstretched hand. “If I wanted to hurt you, I would have by now, Camilla.”
“How do you know my name?”
“I know everyone’s names and everything about them. I suppose it gets exhausting after some time when you remember everything about everyone. A human is just a speck in the grand scheme of humanity.” Immediately I recognized her and I bowed deeply. Very few wolves had the privilege of meeting the moon goddess after death and here she was standing in front of me so casually. She smiled softly and gestured to her outstretched hand. I took it immediately and her hand was cold to touch. “There is no need to bow to me Camilla. If I wanted that, I would have appeared to you in a divine form. I am here as your friend,” she told me softly.
“Am I dead?
“In a way,” she shrugged as we began walking. “You are stuck in a limbo of sorts. I have never had a hard time deciding if a person should live or not before. It is easy to compartmentalize with my creatures because there are so many of you but I have a certain fondness for your line. The royals were some of my first creations, that is why your line has powers that the others do not. I have watched you since your birth and you are a special breed, Camilla Caine.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your job on the earth isn’t done yet and I have a feeling our mate is more likely to burn down paradise than leave you to die.”
“Ryker wouldn’t do that.”
“You underestimate him,” I realized that somehow, we had gotten to the edge of the water and right there was a small boat. “Get in, Camilla. You have more work to do.”