The Rejected Werewolf Princess by Didiadeyemi

CAMILLA'S POV

I had experienced many terrifying things in my life, but none quite as terrifying as waking up to my daughter lying on top of me with her face dangerously close to mine. For a second, my heart skipped a beat and I thought something terrible had happened but it turned out, it was just a very overactive and over excited child who smiled up at me the moment she noticed that I was awake.

“Is this your way of trying to send me to an early grave?” I teased and she giggled. Her eyes were alight with pure mischief as she buried her face into my shoulders. With everything that had been going on, this was the first time in a while I had seen my child so happy like this and I wanted it to last.

I was going to do everything humanly possible to make sure that she remained this happy for as long as I lived. It was my duty as her mother and it was what she deserved. She had grown up so fast, the least I could do was to ensure that she got the best of what was left of her childhood.

“Where's daddy?” she asked and I looked around noting that Ryker wasn't in the room. He had been there before I fell asleep but he must have left shortly after.

I dragged myself out of bed, taking Audrey with me because she just wouldn't let me go. Aurora was still asleep and I was torn against leaving her there and actually taking her with me. On one hand, she could sleep as long as she wanted but on the other, I didn't want her to wake up and I wasn't here.

“shell be fine, mummy,” Audrey whispered in my ears. She sounded a bit impatient. “I want to see daddy and I want to see aunt Christine.”

I winced at the mention of Christine. “I don't know if your aunt is awake right now and ready to see visitors.”

Audrey snorted. “Yes, she is. Daddy is with her right now. She's very happy."

“How do you-" I caught myself in the middle of my question. How did Audrey know anything? She definitely saw it and I had gotten to that point where I didn't even bother asking anymore. If she says she saw it, then she did. She has never been wrong before and I doubted she was. going to start now.

I just lifted her a little higher so she could wrap her legs around my waist and I could carry her to Christine's room. She made no move to get down from my hold and instead wrapped her arms around my neck tighter on the way. I felt a bit weird about leaving Aurora alone so I asked one of the maids to keep an eye on her for me.

When I got to the door of Christine's room, I heard the hushed whispers. I lingered at the door, my heart nearly bursting in my chest as I looked at Christine who was sat up in bed and holding her children. There were tears in her eyes as she spoke animatedly and I knew without the shadow of a doubt that she loved those babies with everything in her. Even Audrey who was formerly nestled in my shoulder had turned so she could take in the entire scene.

Juan was the first to notice us. He smiled softly and gestured for us to come closer. That was all Audrey needed before she all but leaped out of my hold and rushed over to the bedside. She stayed close to her father but I could tell her eyes were on the baby.

“They're very tiny, smaller than Rory was,” she commented and I couldn't help but smile. “Why are they so small?”

“Because they came out a little earlier than they should have,” Juan explained gently. “When they grow older, they will get bigger, but for now, they're infants.”

I wasn't sure if she understood the complexity of the situation but she nodded and inched closer to Juan. “Can I touch them please?”

They didn’t respond, Juan just picked her up and placed her on the side of the bed. She looked a little scared as she lifted her hand and stroked their full tufts of hair. Her eyes were wide and she had a small smile on her face.Many paragraphs are missing. Read the complete book on Jo=bn-ib.c(o)m. It was endearing to watch and I couldn't help but lean closer to Ryker who didn’t waste any time in wrapping his arms around my shoulder.

“What's their name?” Audrey asked her nose crinkling as she added. “I don't know their names. I tried to find out in my dream but I couldn't hear it."

Neither of them seemed shocked by the mention of her dream, they just glanced at each other. There was silence for a full minute as they seemed to communicate with themselves silently. At the end, it was Christine who spoke.

“Her name is Lyanna and his name is Landon Ryker, after your daddy."

I felt Ryker stiffen beside me. “Christine, that isn't-"

“Necessary?” she asked with a snort. “You saved their life, Ryker. I don't know what you did but you're the reason that they are here. It is the least that you deserve.”

I saw tears gather in Ryker's eyes. He tried to wipe them away but it was clear that what they had done affected him so much. He tried to speak but the words wouldnt come out and all I could do was gently squeeze his hand that was intertwined with mine.

“Thank you,” he said finally. “It is an honor that I greatly appreciate and I do not take for granted.”

We left shortly after that to give them some space and to enjoy their new family. Audrey didn’t want to leave, she was completely enraptured by the little children and it took a lot of convincing on our end to even pull her out of the room. It helped that it was time for dinner and she was terribly hungry. By this time, Aurora had woken up as well so it was just the four of us in the dining room.

It felt different, and not in the good kind of way. I was so used to Christine and Juan's presence that it just felt empty without them. I couldn't help but smile when I thought about a few years down the line when their children would be old enough to sit at the table. It made every awkward second pass by a little better.

After dinner, we put the girls to sleep then the real business started. The battle was over and everything had been cleaned up but that didn’t mean everything was finished. We called for the elders and they were assembled within minutes in the council room.

“This cannot happen again,” I said the minute I walked in and there were murmurs of agreement. “Lives were at risk today, not just ours, the people as well. What happened today can never repeat itself again."

“Yes, your majesty,” was the chorus answer that I got. There was silence before one of the elders spoke. “But, if I may, this would never have happened if the threat to our jobs had not been put out there.”

“Is your job really that important that you would jeopardize the future of everyone in this palace?” I asked and he fell silent. “If it is, tell me now so I can disband the elders as a whole because it seems that you have forgotten what your job should be about.”

“I didn't"

“Let me finish,” I punctuated each word with a firm growl. “You are to serve the people, not to serve yourselves. You are a servant to all as an elder, it isn't for you to raise your shoulders and act high and mighty. Your job is to protect the people; your job is to serve the crown. This isn't some fancy title, it is lives that are at stake. You don't just sit on your f*****g a*s and act like you have everything”

By the time I was done, the room was in perfect silence. No one dared to speak or even look directly at me. I glanced over at Ryker who gave me a firm nod telling me I was doing the right thing. I knew there was a lot he wanted to say but he was letting me do this, I was the Queen and they needed to respect me.

“There will be changes," I said finally and everyone looked up at me. “I will not have the same elders for ages upon ages. There will be an election of sorts.”

“That is absurd,” one of them yelled but after a hard look from Ryker, he retreated into himself. “If you want to be an elder, you will curry favor from the people. If they do favor you and decide to have you then you will serve them with transparency. If for any reason they believe that you are doing a terrible job, they reserve the right to get you fired.”

“That is unfair," one yelled but I noticed Caius had been quiet the entire time.

“Do you have any input, Caius?" I asked and he shrugged. “You have been noticeably quiet. Do you also think it is unfair and absurd?”

“I just want to go home to my family when this is over. With everything that has happened, I realize just how little time I do spend with them. If I am to be elected then so be it,” he seemed more or less resigned to the idea. “I think it is a brilliant job, your majesty. It keeps everyone on their toes."

“Then it is settled,” I clasped my hands together. “Your tenure will expire in a year and a half. Every tenure will last five years to the date. If you wish to be elected again, then I suggest you start making friends with the people, after all, your job is in their hands now.”