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Chapter 54
Last Updated:
2024-12-24 04:17:04
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The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 55
Morning came like a heavy weight pressing on my chest, a reminder that my life had already veered down a path I couldn’t undo. The realization stung, sharper than I cared to admit. Christine had warned me, told me not to cling so tightly to what I thought was normal. But I hadn’t listened. Instead, my stubborn grip on the past had set in motion everything I feared most.Last night was a battle of patience. Putting Audrey to bed took twice as long as usual. She was brimming with questions, her little voice bubbling with excitement about her father. Could he put her to bed? Could he tuck her in? Each question was like a pinprick to my resolve. I had to tell her no, explaining gently that he wasn’t allowed on palace grounds after dark since he wasn’t part of our family. The disappointment in her big, hopeful eyes was almost unbearable. It broke something in me—a mother should never be the source of her child’s sadness.This morning wasn’t any easier. Audrey wanted her dad to help her get
Last Updated : 2024-12-24The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 56
The news about Audrey broke two days ago, sending shockwaves through the community and prompting the Alphas to descend on the palace earlier than planned. With the coronation set for a week away, the entire palace had been thrown into chaos. Ryker, ever the stoic figure, wasn’t one to complain, but I’d asked my mother to look into the situation. It didn’t take long to learn he’d been bombarded with questions, thinly veiled judgments, and the overbearing presence of other Alphas.None of it had turned violent, but the snide remarks and incessant pestering were relentless. My mother, seeing no other option, moved Ryker and his entourage into the palace. Logically, I knew it was the best solution. Emotionally, I hated it. When he stayed elsewhere, avoiding him was easy. Now, no matter how vast the palace was, we seemed destined to cross paths at least three times a day.Ryker, stubborn as always, refused to drop the subject of my leaving. Every encounter brought a fresh round of question
Last Updated : 2024-12-25The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 57
I woke up first, and immediately the weight of my actions pressed down on me, suffocating in its heaviness. Ryker’s arm was still draped around my waist, his body tucked close to mine, a warmth that had once felt comforting now felt like a mistake. I tried to slowly untangle myself from his embrace, but his grip was tight, not ready to let go. It was harder than I expected, and I couldn’t help but slap my forehead in disbelief. He had another child back home—another child—and here I was, tangled up in him like some naive teenager.My hands ran down my face in frustration, my heart aching with the reality of it all. Ryker stirred beside me, his eyes blinking open. As he stirred, I pulled a robe around my body to shield whatever was left of my dignity. I gathered the clothes strewn across the floor, trying to ignore the emptiness settling in my chest. I stuffed mine into the laundry bag, arranging his neatly at the foot of the bed as if trying to keep the distance between us clear, even
Last Updated : 2024-12-26The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 58
I sank to my knees on the ground, while Steven stationed himself at the entrance, offering me the semblance of privacy I so desperately craved. My thoughts wandered back to the previous night’s events with Ryker, and despite knowing better, I couldn’t bring myself to regret it. In fact, there was a part of me that wished I could relive it over and over again.It felt almost like a betrayal to myself, knowing I should set an example for my daughter, teaching her not to let a man sweep her off her feet, especially not a man who had betrayed me, who had fathered a child with another woman, even if he denied it.An irrational part of my mind hoped he was telling the truth because, in truth, I never stopped loving Ryker. It seemed impossible to erase him from my thoughts entirely. Audrey made it worse because she was a living reminder of him—her mannerisms, those eyes of his, sometimes when I look at her, I feel like I’m seeing her father all over again.I buried my head in my palms, wrest
Last Updated : 2024-12-27The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 59
I noticed my distracted silence. She'd asked me twice already today if I was okay, and I had lied both times. How could I explain what was going on in my head when I couldn't even make sense of it myself? If it were anyone else, I would have snapped, called them out right there, and ended it. But it was Riley, and I couldn't fight her. She had a right to be angry. As much as I wanted to argue, I knew I had a bigger right to be angry too. And yet, all I felt was this tangled mess of confusion and guilt.“Camilla,” Christine's voice cut through my haze, harsh and urgent. It snapped me back to the present, and I realized I was somewhere I shouldn't be lost in my own head.I was in the council room, sitting with my mother and the elders, discussing the details of the upcoming ceremony. I had zoned out, unaware of their eyes on me, waiting for me to speak. Panic surged in my chest, and I quickly turned to Christine, silently pleading for guidance. She rolled her eyes, her lips barely movin
Last Updated : 2024-12-27The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 60
Ryker stood a few feet away, a look of utter bewilderment on his face. Neither of us had realized he was listening, but he had been standing there the whole time.“Camilla, I’m sorry,” Christine murmured, her voice full of regret.I gave her a tight smile. “It’s fine. You should go. I think I need to talk to Ryker.”She hesitated, giving me a guilty look, but she nodded and walked away. Ryker’s brows remained furrowed as he approached me. I didn’t meet his gaze as I turned on my heel and walked toward the private garden. I could hear his footsteps behind me, steady but silent, waiting for me to speak. It wasn’t until we reached the garden, the one place in the palace where we could be alone, that he stopped.Without a word, he grabbed my arm and spun me to face him.“What the hell is she talking about?” Ryker demanded, his voice raw with confusion. “Who did you see with someone else? Who’s the other person?”“Don’t play dumb,” I said, my irritation bubbling up. “I know exactly what I
Last Updated : 2025-01-01The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 61
Ryker’s words echoed in my mind, relentless and heavy. I couldn’t shake them off, not even as I stormed towards my mother’s office. Without knocking, I pushed the door open, the sharp click of it echoing in the quiet hall. My mother raised a brow, but said nothing. She closed the document in front of her, a silent acknowledgment of my unannounced intrusion.I stepped inside, shutting the door behind me, and took a seat across from her. Her gaze remained steady, piercing, studying me through those thick lashes of hers. Her eyes were too familiar, too sharp—they reminded me too much of my own. Sometimes it felt like I was staring at an older version of myself, a future I wasn’t sure I wanted to see."Is there a reason you're barging into my office, Camilla?" she asked, her voice laced with humor. "Or did you miss me so much you thought you'd perform an impromptu Audrey scene? Though, I must say, it won’t quite have the same effect, considering no one’s around and everyone already knows
Last Updated : 2025-01-02The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 62
Her words hit me like a cold gust of wind, and for a moment, I was stunned, rooted to the spot. "He's right," she said, her tone clipped, and my heart dropped. "Every single time your father was with another woman, I felt it. The pain was so intense, it nearly broke me. I even went so far as to ask a witch to sever our bond. I couldn't leave him, not with him being the king, but at least I didn't have to feel that agony anymore."The room seemed to tilt as her confession sank in. Everything around me blurred, and I struggled to comprehend the weight of what she’d just shared. Pain? I hadn’t felt anything—nothing. When I saw Ryker with Lauren, I felt nothing, not even a flicker of discomfort. If I hadn’t felt anything, what did that mean? Why hadn't I experienced the torment she had, if what I saw was real?"What are you thinking about?" she asked, her eyes narrowing as she watched me. "I can see those wheels turning."“I didn’t feel anything when I saw them together. Does that mean he
Last Updated : 2025-01-03
Latest chapter
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 131
CAMILLA’S POVI barely remembered the walk to the council chamber. My mind was a storm, chaotic and relentless, drowning out everything around me. The hushed whispers in the corridors, the wary glances from passing servants—they all faded into nothing as I focused on the weight of what was ahead.As I approached the large double doors, I spotted Ryker pacing outside. His normally strong, confident stance was absent. Instead, he looked restless, like a man trying to piece together fragments of a nightmare he couldn’t remember.The moment his eyes met mine, I saw a flicker of relief. Without hesitation, he reached for my hand, gripping it tightly as if I were the only thing keeping him grounded."We can handle them," I murmured, squeezing back.Ryker had always been my rock, the unshakable presence in my life. But right now, standing in front of me was a different version of him—one filled with uncertainty, frustration, and exhaustion. It unsettled me in ways I couldn’t explain.He exha
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 130
CAMILLA’S P.O.VThe first thing I noticed when I woke up was the emptiness beside me. The warmth that usually lingered on Ryker’s side of the bed had faded, leaving only cool sheets in its place. My fingers instinctively reached out, searching for him, but there was nothing. Just silence.I sighed, rolling onto my back and staring at the ceiling. He must have gone to see Riley. I had seen the way she looked at him last night—like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for him to pull her back. Whatever she was going through, I knew he wouldn’t leave her to face it alone.So I didn’t question it. I didn’t worry.Not until the sun dipped below the horizon and he still hadn’t come back.At first, I told myself he was just caught up in something. He was the prince now, after all, and responsibility had a way of consuming him. But as the hours passed, unease crept into my bones, making it impossible to sit still. I had spent years learning to trust him, and I did—but something ab
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 129
RYKER’S POVThere was something about Camilla that never failed to captivate me. Maybe it was the way she carried herself with quiet strength, or maybe it was because I was utterly, irrevocably in love with her. She was my greatest weakness, my greatest solace. Lying here with her curled against me, her soft breaths warming my chest, I felt something I rarely allowed myself to indulge in—peace.My fingers traced slow, idle patterns along her bare shoulder, and she stirred slightly, mumbling something incoherent before settling back into sleep. I should have been sleeping, too—goddess knew I needed the rest—but I couldn’t bring myself to close my eyes. Not yet. Not when I had this moment.My father used to say that a man was defined by what he did in times of war. But I had learned otherwise. A man was defined by how he lived in the quiet moments, by the way he loved, the way he protected what was his. I wasn’t naive enough to believe I was a good man, but I knew that I loved fiercely,
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 128
CAMILLA’S POVDamien left without much ceremony. No grand farewells, no gathering of well-wishers. Just Ryker and me standing at the gates, watching as he disappeared into the forest beyond. For a brief moment, I thought I saw something flicker across his face—disappointment, maybe. But really, what did he expect? After everything that had happened, people weren’t exactly lining up to send him off with warm embraces. He made his choice, and now he had to live with it.Once he was gone, I did my best to find some normalcy, though it was a futile effort. I tried coaxing Riley and Christine into joining me for a quiet afternoon in the private library, a simple escape from the weight of reality. Just a few hours with the girls, some tea, maybe a book or two. Something to ease the tension that had taken root in this palace like an invasive weed. But both of them declined, choosing instead to lock themselves away.I understood.I wanted to help them, to say something—anything—that would mak
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 127
RYKER’S P.O.VDamien had always been a part of my life. From childhood to now, his presence was as constant as the air I breathed. We were opposites in nearly every way—his reckless impulsivity clashing with my calculated caution. And while his actions had irritated me before, nothing compared to the sheer rage burning inside me now.I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay seated. If I let my anger take control, I’d drag him out of this room by his collar and beat some sense into him.The private living room was suffocating with tension. No one dared to speak. Riley sat stiffly on one side, as far away from Damien as possible—a stark contrast to her usual behavior. She had spent years orbiting him, desperate for his attention. But today, there was no lingering glance, no attempt to close the space between them. Instead, her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, her knuckles white from the pressure. Christine, on the opposite end of the room, sat perfectly still, her expression un
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 126
No force on earth could have pulled Damien away from Christine—not even us. And trust me, we tried. His grip on her was unrelenting, his focus unwavering, as if letting go would make her disappear. Even when we attempted to check on her, to make sure she was truly unharmed, he wouldn't budge. Christine kept insisting she was fine, brushing off our concerns, but I knew better. I wanted a professional to look her over just to be sure, but Damien wasn’t letting anyone near her.She rode back to the palace with him, their connection unbreakable, while Ryker and I handled the girls. They were wide awake but eerily quiet, their silence heavier than any words they could have spoken. I could only imagine what was running through their little minds.By the time we arrived at the palace, the first light of dawn stretched across the sky, painting everything in soft hues of pink and gold. But nothing about this moment felt beautiful. My heart clenched the second I saw who was waiting for us.Rile
The Rejected Mate's Curse 125
**CAMILLA'S POV**The enemy had finally realized this wouldn’t be as easy as they thought. But recognition didn’t equate to retreat. Instead, they charged again—this time, directly at Ryker. We had anticipated that. The moment they lunged, our guards burst from the shadows of the forest, massive wolves in their battle forms. Snarls and the sound of snapping jaws filled the air.That distraction was all we needed. Without hesitation, we darted between the chaos, diving straight into the river. The cold water swallowed us, and I could hear Damien’s strokes close behind as we swam for the hidden cave entrance beneath the falls.Breaking through the other side, I hauled myself onto the rocky edge and gasped for air, scanning the cavern. It was eerily empty. I had expected a swarm of vampires, a whole army waiting in ambush. Instead, only three figures stood in the dim light—two nameless guards flanking Christine and Audrey, while Alastair loomed a few steps away.My breath caught at the s
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 124
CAMILLA’S P.O.VFor a moment, the words didn’t make sense. My mind rejected them, my body frozen in place. I blinked rapidly, struggling to catch up. Had I really just heard that?Ryker, always quicker to react, snapped into action. His voice rose above the chaos, sharp and commanding, but I couldn’t make out his words. All I heard was the ringing in my ears—loud, deafening. I wanted to claw at my head, anything to make it stop."Camilla," Ryker’s voice cut through the noise, rough but insistent. He was right in front of me, forcing me to meet his gaze. His eyes burned with urgency, but underneath, I saw something else—something wild, barely restrained. He was teetering on the edge of losing control."I need you to go inside. Stay with your guards. Can you do that?"I barely processed what he was saying. "He has the girls… and Christine." The words felt foreign on my tongue, like they didn’t belong in my reality. But they did.Ryker nodded once, his jaw tight, his muscles flexing unde
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 123
**CAMILLA'S POV**The silence in the castle was deafening. It wasn’t just an absence of noise—it was the absence of them. My daughters. Christine. The people who made this place feel like more than just walls and stone. Without them, it felt... empty. I had known this would happen. I had agreed to it. And yet, the weight of their absence pressed against my chest, making every breath feel heavier than the last.I ran my fingers along the smooth wood of my desk, the grain a small grounding force in the midst of my turmoil. I wanted to believe that they were safe, that they had made it to their destination without issue. But the truth was, we wouldn’t know until word came. And until then, all we could do was wait.Waiting, however, wasn’t something I did well.Ryker and I had thrown ourselves into work the moment they left, trying to devise a plan to finally end this nightmare. The vampires had to be removed from the equation. Alastair had to be drawn out and neutralized. We had the tool
