I tried not to dwell on his words, my heart pounding as I dashed through the dense forest. Each step was a desperate plea to outrun the inevitable, the undergrowth crunching beneath my boots. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, mingling with the metallic tang of fear that clung to me. Behind me, heavy footsteps thudded against the ground, relentless and unforgiving. I pushed forward, weaving between towering trees that loomed like silent sentinels, the moonlight casting ghostly patterns across the forest floor.I burst into a clearing, my chest heaving as I gulped in the air. The open space offered no solace—only an unbroken expanse of trees stretching endlessly on every side. My pulse thundered in my ears, drowning out the faint rustle of leaves until a sharp crack snapped me back to reality.A twig.I spun around, dread coiling in my stomach. From the shadows, three figures emerged, their movements predatory and deliberate. The man in the middle, the one I’d see
CAMILLA’S P.O.VThe first thing I noticed when I stirred was the sharp, clinical tang of antiseptic hanging in the air. It invaded my nostrils, a stark contrast to the warm, earthy scent of home. It clung persistently, mingled with the faint chemical aroma of cleaning agents. My nose wrinkled in protest, but the smell wouldn’t dissipate—it seemed to grow stronger, more invasive with each passing second.My eyelids felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion, but even through them, I could sense the brightness of the room. It was piercing, unnatural, seeping through my closed lids like sunlight through thin curtains. The intensity was enough to make me recoil inwardly, resisting the urge to open my eyes. For a while, I lay there in stillness, letting the sensations wash over me. The scent. The light. The dull ache throughout my body.Then it came rushing back.Home. Eve and Lauren. The rogues.The memory hit me like a storm. My heart thundered as I bolted upright with a gasp, only for a sea
When I finally woke up, the room was shrouded in shadows. The soft amber glow of the lamp near the window cast faint, wavering patterns on the walls. Outside, the night was calm, the faint rustling of leaves barely audible through the thick glass panes. The air carried a sterile chill, tinged faintly with the metallic scent of antiseptics. My body felt unusually light, yet the persistent throb of pain in my side reminded me of my vulnerability.The IV that had pumped blood into me earlier was now replaced with a bag of clear fluid. Despite the ache, there was an odd vitality humming beneath my skin, a paradoxical sense of both fragility and strength.It didn’t take long to spot Ryker. He stood silhouetted against the window, bathed in the soft lamplight. His posture was both commanding and contemplative, the faint slump of his shoulders betraying an unspoken weariness. He had changed out of his rumpled clothes into sleek, dark slacks and a simple, fitted shirt. His hair was disheveled
It took me a little over a week to fully heal. To be honest, I was mostly fine after just a couple of days. I could walk around, stretch, and do almost everything on my own, but Ryker was relentless. I told him repeatedly that I was okay, but he wouldn't hear it. He insisted that I rest and had Lucy come over to give me a thorough check-up, just to be safe.She confirmed that I looked fine, but Ryker had her run a few tests anyway. She was kind enough to comply, even though I knew it was more for his peace of mind than mine. When she was done, she assured him that I was good to go but recommended that I take it easy for a little while longer—just enough time for my body to adjust to normal activities again.It was such a relief. I’d been cooped up in the house for far too long, and I was eager to regain my independence. Ryker had been babying me endlessly since my injury, and Eve wasn’t much better. Every morning, she helped me get dressed as if I were incapable of doing it myself. I
I was so stunned when Steven said those words that I wasn’t quite sure how to react. My body had frozen in place, my heart hammering in my chest, and for a moment, I thought the world around me had slowed. It wasn’t until I felt his strong hand grab my upper arm that I snapped out of it. The pull was sharp and urgent, and I could feel his tension seeping into me as he guided me back towards the house. His steps were swift and heavy, the sound of his boots pressing against the gravel echoing in the stillness. I could practically hear the gears in his mind grinding, trying to figure out the next step in this unpredictable chaos.As we reached the door, I could see Eve standing in the hallway, her face a perfect mask of concern. The moment she caught sight of us, her eyes widened, scanning us both. Steven didn’t even let her speak before he barked out orders."I need as much ice as you can get," he demanded, his voice urgent, but with an edge of something that felt almost... protective?
I woke to the sensation of warmth, a heavy arm draped over me, anchoring me into the plush bed beneath. The air was tinged with the faint, musky scent of him—clean and earthy, a combination uniquely Ryker. As my mind began to clear, I became acutely aware of his body pressing against mine, the solid plane of his chest flush with my back, and lower... the hard evidence of his arousal nestled firmly against me.A quiet exhale brushed over my neck, his breath hot and steady as he nuzzled closer, inhaling deeply as though committing my scent to memory. His soft, unconscious movements ignited a warmth in me, spreading from my cheeks down to my toes. I shifted slightly, trying to ease away without disturbing him, but the movement backfired. My hips brushed against him, and his arm tightened instinctively, pulling me closer.A low, deep rumble vibrated from his chest—a sound that wasn’t quite a growl, but carried the primal weight of one.In a heartbeat, I was flipped onto my back, Ryker hov
Being mated with Ryker was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Since the moment our bond was sealed, I could feel him—a steady presence humming at the back of my mind, as though he was a part of me that I hadn’t realized was missing. It wasn’t intrusive but comforting, a constant reminder that I was never alone.The first night after we mated, uncertainty lingered in the air. I wasn’t sure if he wanted me in his room or if I should retreat to mine. I chose the latter, trying to respect his space. But I hadn’t even settled before there was a knock on my door.When I opened it, there he was. Without a word, he walked in, stripped down, and sprawled across my bed as if it were the most natural thing in the world.“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice soft with surprise.“If you don’t feel comfortable coming to me,” he said matter-of-factly, “then I’ll come to you.”Since that night, I hadn’t spent another evening alone in my room. It had become more of a symbolic space than an actu
When I opened my eyes, I didn’t expect to see Ryker. A part of me assumed he had only said what he did to coax me into resting. But as my foggy mind cleared, the sight of him sitting up against the headboard stunned me.Papers were spread out in his lap and around him, a small stack teetering precariously at the edge of the bed. I could tell he was uncomfortable—his rigid posture gave him away—but he did not attempt to disturb me, even as I lay draped over his legs. The soft rustle of papers was the only sound in the otherwise silent room.I shifted slightly, testing my stiff limbs, and immediately felt him freeze. His eyes darted down, and he abandoned the papers, setting them aside with care as if they were of no consequence compared to me. When I glanced up at him, his gaze softened, full of concern.“Hi,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. It was awkward, shy, and unpolished.The corner of his lips twitched, the ghost of a smile playing there. “Hi back,” he replied, his voic
CAMILLA'S P.O.V.As the last piece of Eva’s story came to light, a heavy ache settled deep in my chest. The more I learned about Frederick’s past, the more I felt the weight of his pain. A boy raised in isolation, with no family to guide him, no friends to lift his spirits—only the ghost of a mother clinging to a love that could never truly be hers. How could anyone grow into anything but a storm after that?“Camilla,” Ryker’s voice pulled me from my thoughts as he joined me by the window. The moonlight painted his features with a quiet tenderness. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”I didn’t answer right away, afraid my words might betray the turmoil swirling inside. Instead, I focused on the stars, letting their cold, distant beauty steady me.“You’re thinking about him again,” he guessed, his voice tinged with concern. “Frederick.”“I can’t help it,” I admitted softly. “He’s not just some villain in a story, Ryker. He’s a person—a hurt, desperate person. Maybe... maybe this is
CAMILLA’S P.O.V.The walls pressed in around me as I walked through the narrow tunnels, the air thick with the scent of mold and stale earth. My hands brushed against the damp stone, steadying myself as cobwebs clung to my hair and face. Every step echoed faintly, a haunting reminder that I was utterly alone in this labyrinth. I tried not to let fear take root, but my heart raced as the oppressive darkness swallowed me whole.I pressed on, forcing myself to breathe evenly. As I ventured deeper, the filth began to fade, replaced by cleaner walls and subtle signs of life. A discarded wrapper here, a scrap of clothing there—this was no mere forgotten passageway. This was Frederick's haven, his hideaway within the heart of the palace.The narrow corridor opened into a small clearing. A sleeping bag lay unrolled on the floor, a journal resting beside it. My fingers trembled as I picked up the book, its worn cover cold against my skin. This was it—the answers I had been chasing. I was about
Camilla's P.O.V.Christine’s words hung heavy in the air as we stood in Ryker’s office. My mind struggled to process what she had just revealed. She spread the old, crinkled papers across the desk with a mix of pride and urgency, but I couldn’t shake my disbelief.“Tunnels?” I repeated, the word foreign and almost absurd. “He’s using tunnels to move in and out of the palace?” I looked at her, searching for some mistake, some flaw in the theory. “How didn’t we know about them? How didn’t you know about them? Surely my mother—she would’ve told you, wouldn’t she?”Christine’s face was shadowed with regret. “I don’t think she knew,” she admitted softly, her voice tinged with both frustration and apology. “The tunnels aren’t on any of the official blueprints. The only reason I found them was because of these old architectural notes. They’re not even complete—most of the original plans are lost. These were just notes from after your parents married. They mention the tunnels, but the newer r
RYKER'S P.O.V.Camilla’s sudden excitement was palpable. Her voice carried an urgency as she flipped the book around and pointed to a specific quote. “Look at this,” she said, her words rushed. I took the journal from her hands and read the highlighted sentence, but its meaning twisted in my mind, refusing to settle into something clear.The words didn’t sit well with me. Leanor had always been adamant about her disdain for her husband’s infidelity. The thought of him harboring feelings for someone else while bound to her seemed almost contradictory to everything Leanor had believed—or at least what she had led me to believe.I studied Camilla’s face, her eyes alight with the fervor of discovery. I didn’t want to dampen her enthusiasm, so I forced a small, reassuring smile. “We’re one step closer,” I murmured, tucking a scrap of paper between the pages to mark her spot.Camilla, ever the fighter, tried to stay awake, her resolve as fierce as ever. But her exhaustion won out. The momen
Ryker and I sprang to action immediately, our instincts sharp as steel. He carefully handed Aurora to Christine, who had followed us anxiously, and we strode toward the front of the palace where the supposed "message" awaited. My heart hammered in my chest, equal parts dread and fury, as we neared the commotion. I imagined a parcel, a sealed envelope—something tangible. Instead, what greeted me was a single page plastered against the palace wall like an ominous warning.I ripped the paper free, my hands trembling slightly as I scanned the text. Two lines in, my blood turned cold. It wasn’t just a message; it was a fragment of my father’s journal, unmistakably written in his hand. My mind raced, trying to piece together how this page—this deeply personal piece of history—had ended up here."Does anyone know how this got here?" I demanded, my voice slicing through the tense silence. The guards exchanged wary glances but said nothing. I felt Ryker’s reassuring presence at my side before
I had envisioned this moment differently. By now, I thought I’d be off on a peaceful retreat with Ryker, soaking in rare, cherished moments with my family after the naming ceremony. Instead, I found myself summoned to a tense council meeting with the elders, their worry about Frederick’s claims overriding any semblance of personal time. My hopes for a quiet day with my loved ones were replaced with political intrigue. All I managed before leaving was to nurse Aurora and settle her to sleep.The council chamber buzzed with unease when I arrived. Ryker was already seated in his usual place beside mine, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the agitation that rippled through the room. As I entered, a hush fell over the elders, their anxious whispers giving way to silence. Without acknowledging them, I took my seat. Barely had I settled before the first elder launched into his concerns.“The boy has a legitimate claim to the throne,” he started hesitantly, faltering under the weight of my
As I stood there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. I could see Ryker listening intently to the priest, his posture poised, his demeanor calm. But I knew the information was more for his benefit than mine. He hadn’t grown up in this world of royal duties and expectations. This was new territory for him, despite his strong presence as Alpha of his pack. But I was the Queen, and the ceremonial aspects of it all felt like a burden I had no interest in carrying anymore.When the ceremony began, I let my mind wander. I moved through the motions on autopilot, my body moving mechanically through the process. Even the birth of Audrey had been less grueling in comparison to the current weight of my responsibilities. But today was different. I felt isolated in my discomfort, easily irritated by the solemnity of it all.Ryker, as ever, stayed close, his steady presence like an anchor in the storm of my emotions. I leaned on his calm energy as I felt my own anxiety churn i
Navigating life with a newborn had been an unpredictable journey. Between sleepless nights and the endless responsibilities of the crown, it often felt like I was being pulled in every direction. Yet, Ryker remained a constant, unwavering presence by my side. He seemed to anticipate my needs before I even voiced them, stepping in without hesitation. Whether it was soothing Aurora in the middle of the night, cradling her through her bouts of fussiness, or taking her off my hands entirely so I could focus on palace matters, he made the chaos feel manageable.I’d foolishly hoped that motherhood would ease my workload, granting me some reprieve from the ceaseless demands of ruling a kingdom. But reality had proven otherwise. If anything, my schedule had become more relentless, especially with the looming preparations for Aurora’s naming ceremony.Her name was already known—Aurora Leanor Caine. But tradition demanded an elaborate ceremony to present her formally to the kingdom and bless he
The crowd erupted into applause as I ascended the throne. The weight of their gazes was palpable, but as I sat, a sense of calm washed over me. My eyes sought out Audrey, who clapped harder than anyone else, her joy lighting up the room.Then my gaze shifted to Ryker. He stood tall beside his family, his expression unreadable at first, but when our eyes met, a small, knowing smile tugged at his lips. The memories of that fire, the chaos and fear, and the relief of finding him alive flooded back. That night, amidst the ashes, we had made a promise—to be a family again, to leave the pain behind and move forward together.As I tipped my head in acknowledgment, Ryker returned the gesture, his pride evident. It wasn’t the most traditional love story, but it was ours, forged in fire and tempered by our determination to protect what mattered most.SEVEN MONTHS LATER“Where the hell is he?” My voice was sharp, cutting through the tension in the room as Christine hovered close, her fussing gra