The Rejected Werewolf Princess

I tried to hide the fear that crawled up my throat but it proved difficult. Shivers ran up my spine because that voice, it was cold and it sounded like death itself. Still, I squared my shoulders and gave a small smile.

"You're the one inside my mate," I said simply and Ryker- he- shrugged.

"I'm not inside of him, I am him. He is just refusing the bonding process but it won't take long now," I watched as Ryker took a seat at the edge of the bed. "I am not all that evil, even though you would never believe that." "You don't know what I believe."

"I do, actually, Ryker has only scratched the surface of my powers. I can see auras but I can also tell when people are being truthful and when they are not. I can also sense emotions of sorts and I can see your distrust. You don't like me very much." "I don't like the idea of you, yes, but I trust my mate and I know that you cannot make him into what he is not."

Ryker laughed. It wasn't his usual laugh, there was something dark about it, something almost sinister, it had my skin crawling and it made the room feel almost colder. He had an amused grin on his face and his brows was cocked as if he was mocking me. "I have no intentions to change him," he said. "I only bring out that which is buried beneath. You have this misconception that dark magic is evil, but it is not. I simply draw from what you are. I break down walls, I pull down the pretense and I show what truly hides beneath. You cannot fight yourself, Camilla."

"You made Reina bad."

"Reina was a power hungry witch who wished she could be the goddess. She wanted the power over life and death, she wanted to rival the goddess and I gave her that. I gave her exactly what she wanted. I did not make her into anything."

I frowned. He seems genuine but then again, I didn't know what I was talking to. It could have been lying to me, it could have been trying to deceive me and make me trust it. I wasn't sure what I could believe, especially considering that it came from Reina. Nothing that came from Reina could be trusted.

"Why did you choose him?" I asked finally.

"I didn't, she did. She gave me away. She knew she was going to die, everything comes with a price, especially magic, but you would know all about that, wouldn't you?"

I kept my expression stoic. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Oh, Camilla, don't play dumb. You healed those people at your own detriment. You gave up your powers to save your daughter and to save yourself, the spell over your other child's powers were broken."

"How do you know that? My life had nothing to do with Audrey's powers."

He chuckled. "There is a lot you are yet to learn, Camilla. Have you ever asked yourself what the consequence for your daughter coming back was? You were to lose your life but you didn't. What do you think was taken instead?"

I couldn't respond because the honest truth was that I didn't know what to say. My powers were taken, that was the price, he was trying to rile me up, that had to be it. Nothing else was amiss. Everything was fine and Aurora was alive. He was just trying to send me into a panic.

"I don't want to talk to you anymore, just leave my mate alone," I spat and he sighed.

"I tried," he shrugged. "I already told you, I cannot just leave him. I was given to him and we have to merge. I am his until the day he draws his last breath. If you want to get rid of me then you have to kill him."

"You're lying."

"Suit yourself, but I have no reason to lie. Your mate now has powers, Camilla, I would have expected you to be happy for him, or did you enjoy being the only special one?"

I knew he was trying to rile me up and I should have ignored him but I couldn't help myself. “That isn't what this is about!"

"Isn't it?" he mused. "The merging has already started. I guess you will get to see what kind of man your mate truly is."

Before I could say anything, Ryker's eyes closed. I stood there staring for a full minute waiting to see if anything was going to happen but there was nothing. One minute, his eyes were closed and when he opened them, he was himself again. He looked a bit confused and disoriented.

"When did you get here?" he asked but I couldn't respond. It was clear he didn't know what had transpired in the last few minutes. "I sat down to rest my head for a second and now you're here. Did something happen?"

I shook my head. I couldn't tell him what had just happened. I didn't know how. "Everything is fine. I just came in here to apologize for what I said earlier. I do trust you and I know that you can beat this."

He gave me a small smile. “Thank you, that means a lot coming from you."

I couldn't tell him that he truly didn't have a choice. He had to beat it. If that thing was telling the truth, then it had already started. I trusted Ryker, he was the best person I knew, the kindest and the most amazing. If that thing was telling the truth then I had nothing to worry about. If it wasn't, then we could potentially have another Reina case on our hands.

I felt warm hands on my cheeks and looked up at Ryker.

"Is everything okay?" he asked and I nodded. "We don't lie to each other, Camilla. Tell me what the problem is."

I forced my lips to curve up into a smile. "Can we talk about it tomorrow? Today has been such a good day.

I just want to remember it this way?"

He frowned but nodded. "Of course, anything you want."

I could barely sleep at night. I was up long before the sun was with images of Ryker's dark eyes in my mind. He was still fast asleep when I got out of bed and I was relieved that at least one of us was able to rest. I pulled on a wool cloak and made my way out of the

room.

The guards looked surprised to see me out so early but I didn't pay any attention to them and found myself in the garden. I sat in front of the fountain, it was one of the few places I could think. I moved the water in front of me in patterns hoping it would distract me but it barely did.

"I didn't think I would see you out here so early," I nearly jumped when I heard Juan's voice behind me. "Sorry to scare you, Ryker is the one who wakes early and even at that, you are about an hour too early. Are you okay?"

I hummed. He didn't say anything at first and then he sat on the floor next to me.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

"You don't have to do this," I began but he shrugged. "I'm serious, all is well."

"I don't know if I should be insulted by the fact that you expect me to believe that," he mused and I couldn't help but smile. "I presume it has something to do with Ryker and what happened yesterday. Do I want to know what it is?"

"I will tell you, I just need to tell him first."

His brows furrowed at my words. "He doesn't know."

"He doesn't know the extent of it," I sighed. "I don't know how to explain without giving it away but we could be potentially facing another Reina issue or things could be fine. I don't know if I should worry him about the potential or if I should just watch things unfold."

"You're worried," he deduced and I nodded. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," I whispered. "I don't make the hard decisions, he does."

Juan chuckled. We sat there in silence for a minute before he spoke again. “I don't know what you are going through, but I know that if I were in this position, I would want honesty." "Why? It would only make you panic."

"Maybe, but I would be able to prepare and put things in place should I go off the rails," he slowly stood to his feet. "I think no matter what, you will do the right thing." "Thank you."

He helped me to my feet and as we walked back to the palace, I saw Ryker making his way out. When he saw me, he let out a sigh of relief.

"Where did you go?" he asked as he rushed over to me. "I was worried that something had happened and your wall was up."

"I just took a walk and I met Juan on the way," he placed a kiss on my forehead. "Do you want me to walk you back? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," I told him and I wasn't lying either. "You should do whatever it is that you do. We can talk later."

That had him stilling. "We can talk now. The run can wait, you know that. If it is-"

I rolled my eyes and cut him off with a kiss. It took him a second to relax against me and when I pulled back, he had a small smile on his face. "Go, Ryker, I'll be waiting.” The conversation could wait, he deserved one normal morning.