Chapter 47
FOUR YEARS LATER
The air was crisp and cool against my skin. It was my fault for choosing to wear a dress without sleeves but then again, I didn't expect that it would get cold this early. The cold air usually comes around September but for some reason, this is August and it is already here.
This time of the year usually reminds me of Ryker because it was around August I left him. I can't help but think about how he is and how he might be doing. It would be a lie if I said that in four years I haven't thought about him once. I tried my best but I just couldn't get him out of my mind and due to some unforeseen circumstances, I am forced to think about him every day.
When I ran, I had no idea where I was going or what I was going to do. I had no idea if he was going to come after me or what was going to be of me but I just ran. I decided that a good first option would be to find the royals. I don't know why but my wolf encouraged it and it took almost a week but I finally got there.
I was d*rty and matted and I didn't know where or how I was going to introduce myself to the royals. But then, a young girl around my age walked over to me. She introduced herself as Christine and asked what I was doing there. I was so speechless because I knew she was a royal and in true Camilla fashion, I tripped.
She caught me before I fell but my shirt had sl*pped and revealed the birthmark. She tried to rub it off to see if it was a fake but when she realized it wasn't, I was dragged to see the queen as messy as I was.
I took one look at her and I immediately knew that we were related. I was the splitting image of her and she instantly ordered that I get cleaned. I was too tired to debate but I gave one little request and told her all about Ryker and how I never wanted him to find me. She must have heeded that request because he hasn't till now.
I would like to believe that leaving was the best thing for me, especially because of how it has shaped me. Within the first month I felt out of place and I wanted nothing more than to just go back to what I was used
to.
Christine who I found out was my cousin, found me in tears in the
bathroom. She sat me down and told me, "If you don't grow a backbone
then this palace will eat you alive."
It took a while but with Christine's help I would like to believe that I managed to do it. She quickly became my best friend and confidante and even when I had to come to the reality of my powers and how they worked, she was right there by my side to help me through it.
"Think fast," I barely had time to gather my thoughts when I saw her toss. some water in my face. I shot my hands out and it froze mid air.
I glared at Christine who was responsible for it and when she shot me a crooked grin, I threw the water back in her face. Her long black hair was slicked back straight and stopped right below her armpits and her hazel eyes similar to mine sparkled with mischief.
"My hair," she shrieked as she attempted to pat it dry, "You are a terrible person."
"You could have ruined my hair," I told her and she shrugged.
"It's all part of your training."
"Training ended almost an hour ago," I deadpanned and she shrugged again.
"Try being one of the royals without magic and then you'd understand my need to constantly see it in play."
Only the royals in direct line of the throne are able to unlock their powers. It was a gift bestowed upon us by the moon goddess herself and they come to play on our 21st birthday. That was last year and I found out that I had the ability to control water.
She walked in stride with me as we made our way into the palace. Her dress was similar to mine in length and style, it was long and grazing the floor and the material swished around her figure freely. The only difference was that hers was the color of soft grass and mine was the color of the sky.
"Have you seen the Queen today?" she asked and I shook my head. I still don't know why Christine refers to her as the Queen but I have never brought myself to ask seeing as I only started referring to her as mother a while ago.
"Is anything wrong?" I asked and she looked around to make sure no one was looking before she leaned in.
"I heard some of the ser vants whispering that the Queen is planning something big," she whispered, "She hasn't told me anything but I was
hoping that she had told you."
I shook my head, "I don't know but you know how she can get. She will keep it to herself until she has no other reason to. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."
"I don't know," she began, "it seems large from the whispers. It seems like it is definitely something big and I am kind of worried."
"Everything will be fine," I assured her, "Now can we go inside, I have things I need to check on before I go for the council meeting."
She nodded and we were halfway up the stairs when I heard hurried footsteps behind us and someone cleared their throat. I looked over my shoulder to see a guard standing at the bottom of the stairs looking up at
us.
I don't know his name; I don't know the names of half of the guards in the palace. I tried but they are just too many and I focused on learning the names of the people who work directly with me and my family. "Can I help you?" I asked and he cleared his throat.
"The Queen has asked that you see her in the council chambers immediately," he glanced at Christine, "She has asked for the both of you."
I turned to face Christine and I saw that she had the same confused and half scared expression that I did. I nodded to the guard and he turned on his heels to lead the way. I couldn't deny that I was worried but I also knew that part of my role as princess meant that I have to hide my emotions.
I kept my face carefully neutral but when Christine sl*pped her hand into mine, I felt them shake slightly. The Queen wouldn't request for me if it wasn't important or dire and I am scared to see which one it might be. The guard pushed open the doors to the council room and my mother sat with her ankles crossed at the head of the table. She was wearing a dress of blood red and her hair was tied in a perfect chignon. She looked bored out of her mind and was all but glaring at the council elders who were squirming in their seats.
is
Queen Leanor is terrifying at best and sometimes I don't think she plans it. I think it just happens and it is her default setting to look like she about to twist out your insides with her bare fingers.
She flicked her hand and the door shut bed us. Then with another
wave of her fingers, two chairs were pulled out and she gestured for both
The Rejected Werewolf Princess
of us to take a seat. I swallowed down the lump in my throat and took my seat right next to her with Christine on my other side.
"You sent for me," I said once I had settled down. "Is everything alright?"
"We were thinking," she began with a glance at the council elders, "They came up with an idea, didn't you?"
I swear one of them actually whimpered and I could feel their fear permeating the air. They nodded eagerly but they couldn't bring themselves to form the words.
"They will p iss themselves," I told her as I leaned back in my chair. "What do you want mother?"
"You are twenty two. It is tradition that a princess is crowned after she receives her powers on her twenty first. Due to certain circumstances, I allowed it slide but the world is expecting to hear about the new heir and I want to retire soon."
I knew why this was such a big issue. If she announces it to the world. then that means Ryker will hear and if Ryker hears then my hiding is over. I will have to see him during the ceremony or even before. This is why she wanted Christine and the elders here so I had no way of erupting.
"Do I have a say in this?" I asked and the blank expression on my face let me know my answer. "Is there a way to prevent him from knowing. You know why I don't want him to know."
"I do Camilla and that is exactly why I cannot do this any longer," she sat up with her hands crossed in front of her, "You are the princess and you cannot hide because of a dumb Alpha. If you want to reject him then this is your chance but you cannot spend the rest of your life hiding from him."
"I'm not hiding from him."
"Aren't you?" she asked, "What is it that I have done if it is not hide you from him. He came looking for you shortly after you arrived and I told him that you were nowhere to be seen. I have hid you for four years. You can either rise up to your duties or you allow me crown Christine." Christine squeaked and her eyes widened at those words. I know more than anyone that Christine wants nothing to do with the crown. She shot me a panicked look and I squeezed her hand softly. Mother won't actually do that, it is simply a threat.
"1Cuou don't want to be crowned then I will give it to Christine," she said
simply, "The monarchy needs a ruler. What is your choice?"
"I never had a choice to begin with mother," I leaned further into my chair, "When are the invitations going out?"
"They went out this morning," she had a sly smile playing on her l*ps and I shook my head.
I knew she was just bluffing earlier. Mother will always do as mother wants and there is very little that any of us can do about it. She is the Queen after all and her word is law.
"If that is all, then I would like to leave." I was barely done with my sentence when the door to the council room creaked open.
My first thought was that whoever it was must have a death wish because' no one interrupts council meetings except for the people in this room or direct members of the royal family. Even I don't do it unless it is
absolutely necessary. To be fair, the guard who did it looked terrified to
his toes.
"Your majesties," he bowed, "I couldn't exactly refuse her."
As he spoke, a small figure walked in through the doors and I let out a breath of relief. She had her long dark brown hair flowing down her back and she was wearing a silk silver pajama set even though it was already ten in the morning. She clutched a stuffed animal in one hand and her soft grey eyes scanned the room carefully until they came to land on me. "It's fine, you can go." I waved the guard off and he wasted no time before rushing out of the room.
The little girl wobbled over to me and I wasted no time in pulling her into my lap and pressing a soft k*ss to her hair as she buried her face into my chest. All eyes were on me but I didn't care and I knew they wouldn't say a word, not even my mother.
One thing they all learnt the hard way is that when it comes to my
daughter, I don't play games.