The Rejected Werewolf Princess

RYKER'S

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When Camilla was done speaking, I was numb. I wasn't sure how to process everything that she had just said. It felt like a fever dream that I couldn't help but want to wake up from but a part of me knew she was telling the truth. There was nothing she would gain from lying to me- especially not about this- and from the look on her face, she was equally as worried and unnerved about this.

"Say something," she whispered after a beat of silence. "I can't handle you going quiet on me right now. What do we do?"

"We do nothing," I said simply and her brows furrowed in confusion.

"What do you mean by nothing? Didn't you hear a word I just said?"

"I did," I stood to my feet and cleared my throat. "This is my problem and I will fix it. You don't have to worry about a thing."

My body was moving on autopilot as I kissed her forehead. I headed straight for the door but she was faster and blocked the exit. She had her hands crossed over her chest and she looked annoyed. I tried to side step her but she wasn't letting me off the hook that easily.

"Camilla-" I began but she held up a hand to cut me off.

"You are such a hypocrite sometimes, do you know that?" she asked and I was shocked by her choice of words. I wasn't sure if it was the anger or something else but I forced myself to stay silent and let her finish. “If the tables were turned, would you allow me make it my problem and let me walk away?"

"That has nothing to do with this. This is my problem and you know that."

"My powers were my problem but you made it yours. When I lost my memory, it was my problem as well but you made it yours. Why won't you let me make this mine as well? I can help you. I want to help you and be there for you."

"I don't want you to get hurt," I admitted finally. That was the one thing that had been bothering me since she spoke. "What if we realize that deep down, I am just like Reina? What if the merging happens and I become a cruel person? What happens then? You could get hurt. Reina burned down her entire coven. I don't want to do that to you."

"You won't," she sounded do sure. "I know you, Ryker Caine and I know who you are on the inside. You are a good man and you would rather die than hurt us."

"I haven't always been a good man," I said softly but she still didn't budge.

She was rooted in her stance and nothing I said or did was going to change that. A part of me was actually relieved about that because I needed someone who believed in me because I clearly didn't. She closed the distance between us and wrapped her arms around my mid-section. I pulled her in as tight as I could and inhaled her scent long enough to forget everything. All I needed was her.

We stood like that for what felt like hours before she finally pulled back long enough to stare into my eyes. "You are good and we will get through this together."

I couldn't have refused her even if I tried so I nodded. "Together."

She smiled and pulled away from me. She turned to leave but stopped at the last minute and levelled me with a harsh look. "If you ever pull something like this again and try to push me out of something, I will kill you slowly and I will make sure to enjoy every second of it."

The corner of my lips curled up and I tried and failed to hide my smile. There was something undeniably sexy about her when she tried to be stern with me. It made my dick swell and in that moment there was nothing I wanted more than to bend her over, lift her skirts and-

"No," she said suddenly and my brows rose. "I see that look in your eye and no, we have things to do."

She didn't sound nearly as convincing as she wanted to so I leaned forward. "Do we, now?"

She nodded but didn't try to move away. When I stepped closer to her, her eyes darkened considerably and her breath caught in her throat. I reached out and tangled my fingers into her hair and the sound that left her lips went straight to my d**k. "I'm sure we can spare a few minutes," I mused aloud and I didn't give her a chance to respond before kissing her.

It took us almost an hour to leave the room after that. Camilla had a sheepish grin on her face and her cheeks were tinged pink. It was amusing that after so long, she still managed to get embarrassed about things. I offered to get the girls ready today. It wasn't a school day so Audrey was going to be home all day and I wanted to give Camilla some time to clear her head while I did the same.

"Daddy!" Audrey exclaimed when she saw me by her door. She all but flew into my arms and I ran my fingers through her hair slowly. "You look sad, daddy."

"I'm fine," I assured her with a soft kiss on the top of her head. "Why don't we focus on getting you dressed for breakfast? You're home all day today," she nodded excitedly. "Did you have any other dreams today?"

She shook her head and I couldn't describe the feeling of relief that rushed over my body. I wanted her to have a normal life or at least, the closest she could get to one. Despite everything, she was still a child and she deserved as much. I wanted the best for her and I couldn't have that if she was having different dreams every other day.

"What about the dark magic?" she asked and I stilled. She was looking up at me expectantly and I sighed. I gently set her down on the bed and squatted so she could look at me.

"You shouldn't be worrying about me or the dark magic," I told her simply. She started to refute but I stopped her. "You're the kid, okay? You're my little girl and I am meant to protect you, not the other way around. I can handle myself, don't worry about me." She nodded but her eyes were welling with tears. I pulled her in for another hug and she sniffled. "I don't want you to be like the bad witch."

"I won't be like her," I spoke like someone who was sure, not someone who didn't even know his left from his right. I couldn't let her know that I was probably just as worried as she was. If I needed to lie to her to keep her safe then I was going to do that. When she finally pulled away, she looked better. She wiped her tears from her cheeks and looked up at me. "I'm hungry, can we go for breakfast now?"

I laughed and gestured for her to come with me.

Once she was dressed, it was Aurora next. She was relatively easier to handle and within minutes, we were on our way to the dining room. Everyone else was already seated and it was amazing how easy it was for everyone to pretend like things were fine for the sake of the girls. To avoid an incomplete reading experience, visit Jobn'i'b.com. It was smiles all around and if not for the occasional glance my way, I would have thought that yesterday happened in my head.

Audrey was the star of the show as usual and held up most of the conversation. Long after we had finished eating, she was talking to the girls and I took the opportunity to quietly excuse myself. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Juan follow me and I could have asked him to stay back but the honest truth was, I needed someone who wasn't Camilla to talk to. I took the bench closest to the dining room. It was directly facing the door and I watched as he took the spot next to me.

"I could turn into a raging monster," I said simply and he laughed. It was refreshing to hear someone actually laugh about the situation.

"Are we talking monster in the darkness with sharp teeth and drool in your mouth?" he asked and I rolled my eyes. "I'm just trying to understand what kind of monster. Perhaps we could domesticate you and keep you as a house pet."

Even I couldn't help but laugh this time. Juan was a much needed addition in all our lives and I had never fully been able to appreciate him until today. There was no one else in this castle who could have made me laugh in a moment like this except him. It was like a super power for him. He did it with such ease.

"What's wrong, Ryker?" he asked and I explained everything to him. By the time I was done, he just sighed. "Camilla is right, you are a good person. I think out of everyone in this palace, you are the least at risk to turn into a monster."

I shook my head. "You don't get it. I can see auras now. Everyone else's is a normal color, there's blue and orange and red and I- mine is black."

"Black is a normal color."

“No, not just black, it is complete shadows. I don't have an aura, I have shadows. I can't explain it but that is not a good thing. I don't know how I know, I just do. Who has shadows as an aura?"

"You apparently," he shrugged as if it were no big deal. "I could panic with you or I could be your voice of reason. It is your choice."

He was right but that wasn't why I wanted him here. "I need you to do me a favor but you cannot tell Camilla.”

His spine straightened. "I don't like the sound of that but what favor are we talking about?"

"When this merging happens," I began slowly. "If for any reason I become like Reina, don't wait for me to hurt anyone. I want you to kill me."

"Ryker-"

"I am asking you as a friend, Juan. I would never be able to live with myself if I hurt my family. End me before I hurt them. I need you to promise me."

He swallowed deeply before nodding. "I promise."