The Rejected Werewolf Princess by Didiadeyemi

CAMILLA'S POV

I sat anxiously in Christine’s bed with her head in my lap. I hadn't even been able to protest when she did it because the Christine I knew wasn't big on being touched but for her to go out of her way and request physical contact, then it was clear that she was worried. Her baby bump was bigger now, she couldn't hide it even if she tried. I figured it had something to do with the fact that she was having twins because she was bigger than I was at her stage.

She was absent mindedly running her hand over her stomach and murmuring words under her breath. I couldn't figure out what she was saying, I just knew that she was speaking to herself and with each passing second, the worry grew so thick that it felt like I could reach out and cut it up with a butter knife.

“Have you discussed baby names?” I asked and her movements ceased. It was clear she didn't hea rmy question so I repeated it again. “Have you thought about the gender or where you want to put the nursery?”

“We've spoken a few times, but we never came to an agreement. SO much has been happening that I haven't even had time to sit and-"

“You don't have to worry about everything going on. We can handle ourselves. This si your first child, you should be basking in the feeling of pregnancy.”

She snorted. “I love the idea of having children, I swear I do, but I do not like being pregnant and if I am being very honest, I would rather think of anything else right now. My boobs hurt like hell, my feet are always swollen, I am as unstable as the weather in spring and I cannot fit into most of my clothes.”

“It does have its bad sides," I murmured in agreement. “But I guess it helps to have something to look forward to. You're going to have your own babies- two of them. Do you have any preferences on the gender?”

“Audrey said I was having a boy and a girl and I have learned that Audrey is almost always right so, boy and girl it is. I haven't thought about names yet. Neither Juan nor I have any familial relations we would like to name our kids after. You had Ryker's mum and yours, but I have- well I have no one.”

I had never stopped to realize just how truly sad Christine's life was. She had come to live at the palace from a very young age, she had no family excluding us. It was incredibly lonely and I couldn't help but feel bad for her. Many sentences in this chapter have been removed because you are not reading them on J o b nib.c(o)m. She looked up at me and she must have seen something in my expression because she cursed and sat up. Within seconds, she was wiping tears from the corner of her eyes.

“This is why I hate being pregnant,” she mumbled as she grabbed a handkerchief from the side drawer. “You start looking at me with pity and I start bawling like a f*****g baby."

“l wasn't looking at you with pity,” I lied and she shot me a withering look. “It wasn't my intention at least.”

“it never is, it is just who you are. You feel bad for people, you want to help them, even when they don't feel bad or want to help themselves. I'll think about baby names, I just- I'm scared.” Now, her wall was cracking a little, I could practically see it crumbling before my very eyes. “What are you scared of?”

“That I won't get to enjoy this,” she whispered. “There is something you and Ryker didn't tell me, I'm not asking you to tell me now, I don’t even want to know to be honest. Fear is a greater killer than death itself sometimes but I know there is something. I'm just scared that I won't be able to enjoy it and I am scared that if I start trying to, I won't get to.”

I frowned and reached out to her. She didn't hesitate, she allowed me hold her and run my fingers through her hair. “Audrey saw you having two amazing kids. There is nothing for you to worry about. Our kids are going to grow up together and be best friends”

It was clear she didn't believe me and I knew I was lying to her, but I didn't care. I was going to say whatever was necessary to make her feel better about everything. It was unfair for anyone to go through this level of worry and unease during their pregnancy. It was meant to be a time for enjoyment and a time to reflect on the beauty of life giving, it wasn't for her to worry or fret about what could possibly go wrong.

I shot up from the bed and gestured for her to come with me. “I have an idea.”

“I don't want to go anywhere, Camilla,” she mumbled but I wasn't about to take no for an answer. I pulled on her hand until she was standing and pulled her along with me.

We all lived on the same floor, just in different wings of the palace. She stayed in the west with Juan while Ryker and I stayed in the East. There was an assortment of rooms next to hers so I picked the one closest to hers. It was large and empty, it hadn't been used for a while and there was nothing in there save for a small table. She had her hands crossed over her chest as she followed me in and a look of unease on her face.

“We can make this into a nursery for you,” I said gesturing to the massive space. “There can be two cribs right next to each other and two rocking chairs for you and Juan. Your kids will have a massive f****g closet and more toys than they can possibly use."

With each word, she smiled softly and moved a little closer into the room. “I could see the vision. It would have to be painted and cleaned because there is no way in hell this room can be used like this."

“You can discuss the vision with Juan and have it cleaned so you can start decorating. It might make the whole process a lot easier or more pleasurable for you.”

She sighed and leaned against the wall. “I just want all of this to be over. I want to have the kids and just enjoy it."

“I think you'll be crying for the pregnancy stage again once you have to deal with not one but two screaming newborns at midnight,” her eyes widened as she thought about it and I couldn't help but laugh at her comical expression. “You'll be fine, you have Juan and you have Ryker and I. You helped so much with our girls and there is no doubt in my mind that we will help whenever you need us. All you have to do is call for us."

“Thank you,” her eyes welled up with tears but she was determined to blink them away. “This has just been a very emotionally exhausting time and I wasn't sure if I was allowed to like it because of everything going on. It's just-it feels too much."

“It will be fine,” I assured her, taking her hands in mine. “You deserve to be happy and this is your chance so you need to take it with both hands."

We stood there for a while, just talking about probable designs for the nursery when I heard movement outside. I gestured to Christine to wait while I went to investigate. There were very few people who wandered into this part of the palace which was why I wasn't completely surprised to see Ryker and Juan coming out of the bedroom. Juan sighted me first and he let out a sigh of relief as he brushed past me and into the room to find his mate.

I met Ryker halfway and I didn’t need to read his mind to know that there was something bothering him. I reached up to stroke my fingers down his cheek when he pulled me into him and kissed me deeply. There was something desperate in that kiss, something urgent that tasted a lot like panic and relief. I kissed him back, silently trying to remind him that I was here and I wasn't running anywhere. That I was here with him and he didn’t have to worry. He pulled back and rested his forehead against mine. He didn’t speak but the silence said volumes. I ran my hands gently down his face and hair until the tension had slowly bled out of his shoulders. “You smell like ocean water” I noted and he couldn't help but chuckle. “Did you take a dip or something?”

“No, I had an angry siren throw a wave onto me,” he took a step back leaving me cold. “We should give them some privacy,” I looked over my shoulder to find Christine animatedly telling Juan some of the plans for the nursery. He was watching her with a small smile on his face and I could have bet that he was just staring at her and not even listening.

“You're right," I agreed, letting Ryker lead me with his hand on the small of my back.

We walked in comfortable silence and the moment we were behind closed doors, his lips found mine. He wasn’t as panicked as earlier, but there was something frantic about his actions, something that spelled out worry for me. Still, I couldn't stop myself from kissing him back, he was my mate, I loved the feel of his lips on mine. He only pulled back so we could catch our breaths and I took that opportunity to speak.

“What happened out there?” I asked and his eyes darkened considerably as he looked away. “You cannot avoid this question forever, you need to tell me.”

“l will" I knew he wasn't lying. “I just don't want to do it tonight.”

I rolled my eyes playfully. “You never want to do it tonight. Why though? You always tell me the next day."

“Because I would rather spend time with my mate and not have her worrying the entire time she is in my arms. I will tell you tomorrow, just trust me, please.”