Filed to story: The Rejected Werewolf Princess (Camilla & Tyson) by Didi Adeyemi >>
“It’s fine.” I was grateful that my voice came out strong and not as shaky as I felt on the inside.
“Did you cook” she asked as she made her way over to the dining table. I haven’t eaten all day Is it okay if I u
I knew it would be rude if I said no especially since she hasn’t eaten so I past nodded. She thanked me and took a seat on the immediate right of Ryker which would be in the middle of both of us Eve shot me a sympathetic look as she set the dish on the table
I didn’t want to sit next to her so I took my plate to Ryker’s other side. This would be the first time we are sitting next to each other and I saw the shock that crossed his features as I sat next to him but it was quickly replaced by pride and something else
Ryker seemed oblivious to the brewing tension between Lauren and I. She would occasionally look up and smirk at me almost as if she was trying to tell me that I failed to get rid of her. The tension between us could be cut with a knife and it was very uncomfortable. I wanted nothing more than to get up and hide in my room and I would have done so if it wouldn’t raise questions with Ryker.
“I’m sorry for ambushing you like this,” he began and I saw Lauren’s eyes widen at his apology.
“There’s no need to apologize,” she began but he cut her off.
“I was talking to my mate.”
I saw the hurt fill her features before she quickly clamped down on it. She turned to me with barely hidden disdain and I almost laughed. I wondered how long she would be able to hold up her bravado of glee. I actually thought she would last through the night.
Ryker turned to me, “The rogue problem is worse than we thought. We found a lair not too far from the pack border and until the issue is dealt with you need to be protected at all time.”
“I’m safe right here, aren’t I?” I asked in a desperate attempt to get him to rethink the decision I know he is about to take.
“The rogues attacked us not far from here. I am not willing to take that chance,” he held my eyes as if searching for something. “Lauren will watch over you until the pack is safe. You are not to leave without her knowledge and she will report back to me. I will be extremely busy during this time and may not be around as often. I want to ensure your safety.”
He looked like he had more to say but a guard walked in and whispered something in his ear. He excused himself and followed the guard out of the room. He was barely out of the door when Lauren slammed her palm down on the table.
“You must be so proud of yourself right now.” She spat
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh please, don’t act stupid,” her voice was dripping with barely concealed jealousy. “You have him eating out of the palm of your hand with your fake innocent act.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. There is no act.”
“I can see through you.” She ignored my earlier statement, “And just remember that I’m not fooled by you and neither is he. I am here and I am going to make sure that you don’t get away with it.”
“Get away with what?”
“You may have gotten him to take me off your training but you cannot get rid of me easily. I am-” she stopped mid rant and sat up straight.
As soon as she did that, the door opened and Ryker returned. I wondered how she heard him from so far away but I guess that is why she was made general. She probably has more skills and powers than I could even imagine and she is determined to use all of them against me.
As Ryker took his seat, she shot me a hidden glare warning me to behave and a part of me wondered what would happen it I didn’t. What would happen if I actually told Ryker what she had said? I decided it wasn’t worth it and instead looked away from her and down at my now empty plate.
“My attention was needed outside with the guards,” he explained more to me, “What do you think about the arrangement?”
“I can work with it,” Lauren began but once again, Ryker cut her off.
“I was talking to my mate Lauren,” her cheeks flushed pink, “In fact, I think your presence is no longer needed. I wanted you. here when I told her the news so you could apologize about her leg but you can leave now.”
I actually felt bad for her with the way he dismissed her. Her cheeks flushed crimson but she nodded and quietly rose from the chair. She walked to the door without looking back once but when she was about to shut the door behind her, she shot me a glare as if to say it was my fault that he dismissed her.
In a way, it was my fault but I wasn’t the one who dismissed her and I wonder why she won’t project her hurt and anger at Ryker instead of me. But then again, he is the Alpha and I am no one.
“Camilla.” I turned my attention back to Ryker, “How do you feel about the arrangement?”
“Do I have much of a choice in the matter?” I asked and the corner of his l*ps lifted.
“No, you don’t actually. I have to know that you are safe or I will not be able to do my work.” He sighed, “And I would feel safer knowing what Lauren was watching you. She might be a little tough but she is the best at what she does.”
“How did she become General?” that question had been plaguing me for a while, “She is young and she’s a woman. It is unusual for a woman to be general. How does she get the men to listen to her?”
“Lauren might be young but she can hold off her own. When she was seventeen, she killed off a group of rogues by herself. The old general saw that and knew she had potential so he started to train her. When he was killed, we held a contest and she won by a landslide. She beat everyone who stepped in the ring with her in less than ten minutes.”
“That is impressive.” I admitted and he nodded.
“She is the best option to keep you safe and if she is with you I will not have to worry as much.”
“I could just stay alone,” I offered but from the expression on his face, I knew it wasn’t an option.
I didn’t want to be a bother and I didn’t want to put him in an uncomfortable situation so I sighed and nodded.
“I’m fine with the arrangement.”
The next morning. Ryker and I trained together again, although this time he chose a spot closer to the house. I knew he was still concerned about the rogue issue but I was grateful that he took time out to still train me when he could have simply just delegated the job to someone else.
Lauren arrived while we were training. In fact, I saw her spying on us from behind some bushes. I don’t know if Ryker saw her too and I didn’t want to ask because I didn’t want to think about her or my impending bad day spent with her
After training, we freshened up and I thought Ryker would have left right after but he came down to the dining room and ate breakfast with me. Lauren joined us once again and a part of me couldn’t help but wish that she would just disappear 1 didn’t like her presence and more so I didn’t like it when she was around Ryker especially because the would try to keep his attention on her and pretend like I wasn’t there.
I hated that I felt jealous over him. I never felt this way about Tyson so what was different about Ryker? It could be that he treated me like a person and not an object and the fact that above all, he had my best interests at heart.
Ryker finished his breakfast first, but then again he didn’t really eat much. All he took were two slices of toasted bread and cup of black coffee.
“I have to go,” he said more to me, “I will be back before nightfall. Lauren will watch over you.”
I nodded. “I’ll be fine.”