The Rejected Werewolf Princess by Didiadeyemi

CAMILLA’S P.O.V

A week passed and I was beginning to doubt whether it was possible for it to die down. No one had said or done anything outright or untoward to us but the story had only circulated further and gotten worse. There were now so many absurd versions of what actually happened that I began to wonder if many people lacked the me ntal capacity needed to think because some of the stories were wild.

I heard one where I had caught him with his penis inside of her and had nearly gone crazy and almost beat her up. I thought it was stu pid because if I ever caught him with his di ck inside of someone I was going to kill him and not her but that wasn’t even the problem. The problem was that I just wanted people to shut up.

Riley was supposed to leave today and she had already asked twice if we needed her to stay back. I assured her she was fine but clearly that wasn’t enough because she kept shooting me wary looks as we loaded her things into the carriage that was supposed to take her to the port. Ryker was standing by my side looking more solemn than he had in a very long time. Once we were done, Riley turned to us and wrapped her arms around her brother’s torso.

“Are you sure that you don’t need me to stay?” she asked and Ryker narrowed his eyes at her. He opened his mouth to speak but she quickly held up her hands in mock surrender. “Relax, I already know that you don’t need my help. I just wanted to ask.”

She pulled away from him and made her way to me. She melted into my embrace and I sighed as I wrapped my arms around her. She didn’t say a single word but I could feel every ounce of worry and fear in her and I hoped for both our sakes that she couldn’t feel mine.

“You’ll be fine,” I assured her. “We already sent missives by witches ahead of you. They should arrive within a few days and the letters will be sent directly to you so you know which places are safe enough for you to visit.”

She swallowed and took a deep breath before responding. “It isn’t me that I am worried about. I don’t know how this scandal is going to end.”

I looked up at Ryker who was watching us with soft eyes then lowered my head so I could whisper. It was one thing for him to know we were worried – which he did – it was another entirely for him to hear us worried. I knew it could be emasculating and while Ryker never struck me as the type to be worried about things like that, this week had made me see a different side of him.

“Your brother will be fine,” I whispered to Riley. “He is strong and we all know that Alara is lying. We will get to the bottom of this soon, I promise you. The moment we do, I

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will find a way to get the news to you.”

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she nodded as she pulled away from me slowly. “Just take care of him please. He has spent

have to worry about that, I

at a spot behind me and I turned to see Christine standing beside a pillar. She had Aurora in her arms while Audrey ran over to give Riley a hug which she graciously accepted. After she promised to send back gifts from every country she traveled, she rose to her feet and waved at

we watched as it disappeared into the night. Once she was gone, Audrey was by my side weaving her hands into

I can do that, mummy? I’ll be on the big ship or the

free hand to smooth her hair back. “You can definitely travel. I think

Aurora, her entire life was here. Regardless, if she wanted to travel then I was going to make sure that she traveled as much as

her pondering over my last words. It took her a minute before she responded. “I’ll just take you with me,” she

look in her eyes as she watched him. It was the very same way I had been looking at him for the past week but it was also the same look that he absolutely despised. After day two, he had told me not to look

I asked Christine who shook her

I just thought the girls would want to say goodbye to their aunt. Your schedules

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go back in? Maybe we can take a walk around the palace grounds or we

frowned. “Can’t we leave the

wouldn’t fuel more rumors but that wasn’t something I could explain to a child. She pouted

uplift Riley’ spirits because she beamed wide and nodded. “We should go to

I’ll race you,” Audrey announced and then she was gone before either of us could

her guards rushing to catch up to her and that gave me enough courage to just take a small walk instead. Ryker walked in step with me and I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out to place a hand on his bicep. He froze for a split second before relaxing into my hold. There was so much tension in his body, I wish I could take

you try to relax?” I asked but he remained silent. “Just forget about all of this for once and spend time with us. Your

like a pack, this is more political and I am not cut

know, and that is why I suggested this. Just spend time with your daughters, spend time with me. Maybe you just need to remember what exactly matters here and that is us. If we believe you then I don’t care what the rest of the town or palace thinks. They will forget about it soon. Sure, it might come up