Filed to story: The Rejected Werewolf Princess (Camilla & Tyson) by Didi Adeyemi >>
“What happened to telling the truth?”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
I shook my head at her and I wanted to speak but we were already at the training field. I heard and smelled them before I saw them and when I did, it took everything in me for my mouth to not fall open.
Different guards stood at every inch of the field training. Some were running, some were spotting each other and there was a small clearing in the middle of the field where two people were sparring.
I noticed that it wasn’t only the guards there but also a few maids I had noticed around a few times. I found it admirable that even the maids were allowed and even encouraged to train. The more things I see about this pack, the more I realized that Tyson’s was a terrible place to be. “There is so much testosterone.” Riley muttered as she fanned herself with her hand, “I could just pass out from this.”
I couldn’t help my small smile and she shot me a look that said she had something up her sleeve. I was thinking of how to stop her before she did anything crazy when I noticed someone coming up to us. She was already too close for me to pretend I hadn’t seen her and everything went to a standstill.
Riley stopped her dramatics and held onto my arm in a tight grip and that was when it hit me that she may be uncomfortable around Lauren just as much as I am.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” she began as she looked over us both.
“We were just leaving.” Riley was the one who responded and she turned to leave when Lauren stopped us both.
“Did you come to train?” she raised her voice so it carried and everyone paused what they were doing to turn to us. “It would be amazing if we could see what you’ve got. Perhaps you wouldn’t mind sparring with me unless-,”
She trailed off but the notion was clear. She had a sa distic smirk on her face and I knew what her entire plan was all along. If I say no, I risk looking weak or like I’m scared of her and if I say yes, then she will have the freedom to embarrass me in public because I know she’s a better fighter than me.
“I don’t think I’m at the point where I can spar with you.” I began after a beat of silence, “I mean you were general,” I saw her frown at the use of past tense. “I would assume there was a reason for that. Maybe when I have time I could spar with the actual general.”
Her cheeks flushed and I flashed her a small smile.
“It was a pleasure seeing you Lauren.”
She opened her mouth to say something and I cannot guarantee that it would have been nice, but before she could speak, I saw her freeze and I knew that someone was behind me.
I smelled Ryker before I felt his hands around my waist. I looked up at him with a smile and he p**ssed a k*ss to the middle of my head.
“I’ve been looking for you,” he mumbled into my hair, “I need you with me.”
I could see the barely concealed jealousy swirling in Lauren’s eyes but I ignored her and turned to Ryker. He intertwined his fi**gers in mine and pulled me away from the training field. I barely even noticed the amount of whispers and stares that followed us.
Comment
I spent the rest of my day in Ryker’s office. He was a welcome distraction but I was able to read up some more on the mating ceremony and start making a vague draft of what I wanted. Ryker worked silently in front of me but I knew that ever so often, his eyes would snap up to find mine and occasionally we would lock eyes and smile.
At one particular moment, we locked eyes and I knew Ryker was about to say something when the door to his office opened. I knew without looking up that it had to be Riley because she is the only person who would just waltz into his office at any given time.
This time however, she looked panicked and she rushed over to my side. and grabbed my hand. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Ryker eyeing his sister with concern and worry and I knew he was one wrong word away from blowing his fuse because she looked spooked.
“He’s here,” she leaned in to whisper in my ear so Ryker wouldn’t hear, “We need to go home, disappear, maybe change our names and start a new life.”
It took everything in me not to burst out laughing at her reaction. What happened bet**en Damien and her shouldn’t elicit such a dramatic reaction but then again, it is Riley and I am beginning to see that she can be a little dramatic.
“Everything will be fine,” I assured her, “Just ignore everything.”
She glared at me as if to say I should know better. She was about to say something again when a figure filled the open doorway, I saw her entire b*dy freeze up and even though I had never met him before, I knew that the person standing there was Damien.
He was around Ryker’s height but he was built like a machine. His hair was a soft brown color that settled in curls over his head and his eyes were the color of melted chocolate. His eyes held mischief but they also held a sort of wisdom that I guess can only come with the kind of position that he holds. He had a bag slung over one shoulder and his eyes roamed the entire room taking everyone in it.
They settled on Ryker first and then Riley, I saw the corner of his l*ps tilt up when he looked at Riley and then he turned to me. There was awareness and a bit of confusion but he tipped his head as a form of greeting and all I could do was nod back because I wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
“Sorry I’m late,” his voice was like gravel. “Apparently, people don’t understand the meaning of a retreat and prefer to spend the entire time arguing instead of working out an agreement.” He turned to Ryker, “You’re going next time.”
Ryker’s l*ps tilted up and I watched him rise from his seat as he embraced his friend in one of those male hugs. They clapped each other on the back and when they both pulled away, they were grinning from ear to ear.
Riley still had a death grip on my hand and was trying to tug me out of my chair but I was enjoying the scene and I wanted to see more about Damien.
Ryker stepped back and gestured to me, “This is my mate, Camilla.”
“When you said you had met her, I thought you were joking at first,” Damien tipped his head forward in my direction, “It’s a pleasure to meet you; you too Riley.”
Riley all but squealed when he mentioned her name, “Camilla and I need to do something really quickly.”