Filed to story: The Rejected Werewolf Princess (Camilla & Tyson) by Didi Adeyemi >>
“You’re just going to let me go?” I asked confused and she cracked a smile.
“Would you rather stay?” I shook my head. “Go back, Camilla. Your mate is waiting for you.”
She turned on her heels before I could utter another word and I just stared in confusion. There were no oars to row the boat but I got in. As soon as I got in, the boat began to move on its own. The further it moved, the darker it got until I couldn’t see anything. My b*dy went numb and I couldn’t feel anything. The first thing I heard when I came back to reality was incessant banging and the flurry of inaudible voices. The first voice that came into focus was Ryker’s and I tried to speak but all that came out was a low moan.
“Camilla, baby, can you open your eyes for me?” I moaned once more and I felt his warm hands against my cheek. “Is she supposed to be this cold? What is wrong with her?”
I heard someone respond but they were too far away for me to audibly hear what they said. I tried to open my eyes and it took a lot of tries but when I finally did, I had to squint my eyes in order to adjust to the brightness of the light. When I finally managed to open it, Ryker was clutching my hand and staring down at me.
“Hey,” he whispered softly as if he were scared that I was going to disappear. “How are you? I thought you were gone.”
I opened my mouth to speak but my voice was too dry. He quickly grabbed a cup of water and brought it to my l*ps. I drank it greedily and allowed it to soothe my dry throat. Ryker kept smiling at me in encouragement and I could see the palpable relief in his eyes. I looked arund the room and noticed that Christine as well as the royal physician were standing in the room. They were all looking at me as if I were a miracle and I couldn’t help but know that something had happened. “What happened?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Ryker tried to assure me but I shook my head. I needed to know exactly what happened. “Camilla, it isn’t important.”
“Tell me.”
He sighed before speaking. “The poison from the arrow had gotten into your bloodstream. You were flatlining. You weren’t supposed to make it through the night and your,” he hesitated before continuing. “Your heart stopped. For two whole minutes you were dead. I didn’t- I- f**k.”
He stopped to take a deep breath. I could only imagine how traumatic it was for him to relive that moment. He ran his hand through his hair repeatedly to calm himself.
“It doesn’t matter because you’re here now.”
“The goddess sent me back.”
All eyes turned to me in shock. Christine blinked, Ryker looked confused and the physician looked like he was about to pass out.
I relayed everything that had happened in my encounter with the goddess and by the time I was done, everyone was staring at me with varying levels of shock and awe. I still couldn’t believe it myself that I had seen her. A part of me wanted to believe that it was all a figment of my imagination but I knew it was real. I could still feel her hand in mine.
“You need to rest, your majesty,” the physician was the first to break the silence. “Your b*dy has been through a great ordeal and it is important that you are well rested before anything else.”
I ignored him and turned to Ryker. “Did you catch Frederick?” Guilt took over hi features as he shook his head. “We will, together.” It was hard to believe considering everything that had happened so far but I decided to have faith. It hurt to know that someone! I thought so highly of would have tried to kill me but it was part of life- making bad decisions. Now, I was sure that Frederick wasn’t looking for mercy but it didn’t make it any easier to swallow. He had managed to get into the pack and shoot me in front of everyone. That was no small/offense and I knew it would not be easy to catch him but I forced a small smile on my face.
“We will.”
Ryker stroked the back of my hand with his thumb. “You have two daughters who want to see you more than anything.”
I watched as Christine and the physician filed out of the room but Ryker stayed. Since we mated, he hadn’t stepped foot in this room so it confused me when I saw him settling pillows on the couch close to the bed. I was even more baffled when he pulled a comforter out of the closet and laid it there.
“Are you staying?” I asked and he turned to me incredulously.
“Did you really think I was going to leave you here?” he asked as he settled on the couch. “I need to make sure that you don’t need anything.” I could tell there was more to it so I levelled him with a hard look and he sighed. “I need to make sure that you don’t disappear again. You have no idea what it felt like to feel that bond break. I need to be here with you.”
I gave him a watery smile and moved over a little to create space for him on the bed. “Then you might as well sleep right next to me.”
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“I won’t be uncomfortable if I am the one asking. Please, Ryker, just for tonight.”
CAMILLA’S PO.V
It took two days and a written letter from the physician for Ryker to even consider letting me out of bed. He was worried- anyone with eyes could see it. The only people he allowed within reach of me were Christine and the girls. Speaking of the girls, Audrey had all but launched herself into my arms when she saw me. She muttered something about being happy that I didn’t go with my mother and I teared up.
Audrey wouldn’t even go for her lessons yesterday, she spent her entire time by my side. Neither Ryker nor I had the galls to tell her to do her lessons. As someone who had lost my mother twice, I knew how she was feeling. I wanted to assure her that I was never going to leave her but I couldn’t bring myself to say the words because I knew they were a lie. Sooner or later, I was going to leave- I just hoped it was later.
“Your majesty,” I looked up at the elders who I was currently in a meeting with and I suddenly realized that being in a coma for three days had its benefits because I could avoid them. “You did not answer our question.”
“What question was that?”