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Chapter 69
Last Updated:
2025-01-09 04:49:16
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The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 70
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
Last Updated : 2025-01-10The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 71
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
Last Updated : 2025-01-10The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 72
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
Last Updated : 2025-01-11The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 73
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
Last Updated : 2025-01-11The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 74
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
Last Updated : 2025-01-12The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 75
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
Last Updated : 2025-01-12The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 76
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
Last Updated : 2025-01-13The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 77
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
Last Updated : 2025-01-13
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The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 147
Camilla could barely contain her anticipation. The moment they stepped into the house, she and Ryker rushed up the stairs, their only source of light a dimly flickering lamp. The wooden box sat on the bed between them, its lock gleaming under the glow. Her fingers trembled as she slid the key into place. A click echoed in the silent room, and the lid creaked open.Her breath caught in her throat.She had feared that time and the elements would have reduced the contents to dust, but to her astonishment, the bound stack of letters was pristine—almost as if someone had placed them there just days ago. Slowly, she untied the ribbon binding the pages together. Her heart lurched when she read the first words.*To my daughter.*Not her name, but the words still sent a shiver through her.She turned to Ryker, brows furrowed. “It’s addressed to me.”He leaned closer, peering at the paper before glancing up with a shrug. “Only one way to find out what he had to say.”As she lifted the lamp, its
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 146
**CAMILLA'S P.O.V**A sharp tremor wracked my body as I sucked in a shallow, uneven breath. My knees threatened to give out beneath me, but all I could think about was my daughter, cradled in my arms. I clung to her desperately, unwilling to let go even as the world around me blurred. I barely registered Ryker appearing beside me, his arms slipping around Aurora before I collapsed. The moment Briggs' grip loosened, the unbearable pressure in my chest eased, and I gasped, greedily sucking in air as if I'd been drowning.“Are you alright?” Briggs’ voice reached me, laced with concern. He moved toward me, his hands outstretched, but I flinched back, my reaction sharper than I intended. He hesitated, brows furrowing in confusion. “Did I do something wrong? Do you need me to get something for you?”I knew this wasn’t his fault. He looked as baffled as I felt. But I couldn’t afford to risk another wave of that unbearable sensation. If it happened again, I was certain I’d lose consciousness.
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 145
CAMILLA’S P.O.VA violent shudder wracked my body as I struggled to steady my breath. My grip on my daughter tightened, fear coursing through me like a relentless tide. I couldn’t drop her. No matter what was happening to me, I had to keep holding on.I barely registered Ryker appearing at my side, his presence swift and sure. He took Aurora from my arms, his touch gentle, and the moment she left my grasp, my knees buckled. I collapsed, gasping as the crushing weight that had been suffocating me lifted. My limbs felt hollow, drained of all strength as if I had been fighting against something invisible yet suffocating.Briggs’ hands had been on me just moments ago. How long? Seconds? Minutes? It had felt like an eternity.“Camilla?” His voice was uncertain, edged with concern. “Are you alright?” He reached for me again, but I flinched away, my reaction more forceful than I intended.Briggs hesitated, his brows furrowing. “Did I do something? Do you need—?”“No,” I rasped, cutting him o
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 144
CAMILLA’S P.O.VRyker had convinced me it would be better to wait until the kids were asleep before digging, so I spent the entire evening restless. My skin itched with anticipation, my mind spinning with possibilities. What could my father have hidden? He was frustrating in many ways, but his treasure hunts had always been clever, almost addicting. If this had happened at a different time—when an enemy wasn’t lurking in the shadows—I might have actually enjoyed the challenge.I just prayed that whatever lay beneath that tree wasn’t another one of his messes waiting to explode in my face.Once both kids were tucked in their beds, their peaceful breathing filling the quiet house, I kissed their foreheads and hurried outside. Ryker was already waiting, holding a lamp in one hand and a shovel in the other, his expression unreadable. While excitement coursed through me, he was only here for my sake."You don't have to do this," I whispered, hesitant. "It's late, and for all we know, this
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 143
Camilla’s POVThe estate was grander than I’d imagined. The moment I stepped inside, reality set in—my father never did anything halfway. This might have been his retreat, but he spared no expense making it as luxurious as possible. The crystal chandeliers sparkled above, casting a golden glow over the polished marble floors. Rich tapestries adorned the walls, and velvet drapes framed the tall windows, letting in the soft glow of the evening sun. It was a stark reminder of the wealth he wielded, the power he once held.We washed away the exhaustion of the palace, exchanging travel-worn clothes for fresh, soft fabrics that smelled of lavender and something faintly familiar—like home, but not quite. I exhaled, and for the first time in what felt like years, my lungs expanded fully. There was a lightness in the air here, something almost intoxicating. Was it freedom? Or just an illusion of it?Dinner was a quiet affair, the kind that settles into your bones and warms you from the inside.
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 142
CAMILLA’S P.O.VI sat in stunned silence, barely processing what had just happened. Ryker had planned everything. Every single detail had already been arranged. The only thing left was for us to leave.A vacation. We desperately needed one, but I hadn't expected him to take matters into his own hands. It wasn’t like we ever had the luxury of peace, not with everything we had endured.The carriage rocked gently as it rolled away from the palace, and despite myself, I felt a tinge of excitement. My feet bounced slightly against the wooden floorboards, a telltale sign of my anticipation. Across from us, Audrey sat with her small hands gripping the edge of her seat, her eyes darting toward the window. In Ryker’s arms, Aurora lay nestled against his chest, her tiny breaths even and peaceful.“Where are we going, Mommy?” Audrey’s soft voice pulled me from my thoughts. Her brows furrowed as she peered outside, recognition flickering in her eyes. “This road looks familiar… like the one we too
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 141
RYKER'S POVThere was always a voice in the back of my head—relentless, nagging, a constant reminder that I should be doing something more productive. It never left me, not even for a second. Maybe because, unlike most children, I never had the luxury of lazy days or the freedom to do nothing. My life had been an endless cycle of lessons, training, and expectations. There was always something I didn’t do well enough, something I needed to perfect, something my father drilled into me with an iron will.And even though he had been gone for years—longer than I cared to count—the weight of his influence still clung to me, refusing to loosen its grip.I exhaled, pushing the thoughts aside as I sat up in bed, my gaze settling on Camilla. She moved around the room effortlessly, wrapped in nothing but our tangled sheets. Her dark hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, messy from sleep but still perfect in a way that made my chest tighten. She wasn’t trying to tease me, I knew that. But go
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 140
CAMILLA’S POVAs per tradition, we couldn’t leave until the place was completely cleared. It was a long-standing rule—one we had followed for years. Only when the last person had returned to their home and the executioner had carried the body away did we dare to step forward.I kept my gaze fixed on the ground, refusing to look. I knew if I did, nausea would overwhelm me. My stomach was already twisted into painful knots, my throat dry as if it had been scorched. I wanted to convince myself that I didn’t care, that this was just another consequence of a cruel world. But deep down, I knew the truth—I still had a softness in me, one that Ryker didn’t share.Unlike him, I believed that if fate had been kinder, if circumstances had been different, she might have been, too.Ryker’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.“Everything’s been cleared out.”I swallowed hard and forced myself to glance up. The guillotine stood tall against the darkening sky, its blade gleaming with fresh blood. The g
The Rejected Mate's Curse Chapter 139
CAMILLA’S POVThe sun was beginning to dip beyond the palace walls, casting golden streaks across the sky as Ryker and I strolled through the grounds. The afternoon had been peaceful, just the two of us walking aimlessly, enjoying the rare quiet moments in our otherwise chaotic lives. But eventually, duty called, and we decided to pick Audrey up from school ourselves.The second she spotted us, her shriek nearly shattered my eardrums.“Mama! Papa!” She came running at full speed, her tiny feet barely touching the ground as she launched herself into my arms. I caught her with a laugh, staggering slightly under her enthusiasm.“I missed you!” she declared, squeezing my neck as though she never wanted to let go.“We were only gone for a few hours,” I reminded her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.“That’s forever!” she argued, her voice muffled against my shoulder.Ryker chuckled, ruffling her hair. “Did you have a good day at school?”That was all the encouragement she needed. Fro
