The Rejected Werewolf Princess by Didiadeyemi

Chapter 22

A dark look crossed his face and I saw the raw sadness that grew beneath his irises. I almost felt bad for bringing it up in the first place but I knew that it was necessary for me to leave.

“What do you know about it?” he asked finally.

“I know that you and Lauren were having a child.” I thought of how to explain what I knew without putting Eve in trouble, “I know it was a recent loss because of how Lauren reacted to it.”

“What do you mean how she reacted?” Gone was his sadness, now he was looking at me with narrowed eyes. “Is that way you want to leave?“

“She was just upset when she saw me in the nursery. That’s understandable because it was her kid.”

“What did she do?”

“Nothing.” I answered too quickly and I saw that he didn’t believe me. “Does it even matter? I don’t want to be the one who comes between your healing process.

He opened his mouth to speak but just then, the door opened and Lauren walked in with a very large tray of food. She started to place it on the small metal table next to Ryker’s bed but he stopped her, took it from her hands and put it on his lap.

Lauren looked between us almost as if she wanted to be privy to the conversation we were having.

“I’m glad you’re okay.” Lauren said as she crossed past me and took the only available seat. “This is why I want to be on the field, I could be of use there.”

“You are enough use where you are.”

Hit voice held no tone for discussion and I saw that it annoyed her because of how she clenched her jaw but she nodded and swallowed down whatever retort she was going to give.

An awkward silence fell over the place and I wondered if I should leave them alone. I slowly took a step back hoping that no one would notice my movements until I was out of the room but I didn’t judge how perceptive Ryker was because the moment my foot shuffled a little, Ryker’s head snapped up to mine.

I froze like a deer in headlights and his eyes narrowed towards me. Lauren seemed oblivious to the entire thing or she was just doing a good job at ignoring whatever was going on around her.

when she heard her name from Ryker, “I think

slightly, “I

with me, you can leave now. There is an array of guards

that much was obvious but she nodded curtly and stood from the chair. As she passed by me, she shot me the meanest glare that she had ever conjured and I

he threatened to drag me into the seat- injury or not- I forced my legs

for me to finish.” I opened my mouth to argue but he cut me off, “I’m not

and bit into it softly. He obviously wasn’t happy with my choice judging by his frown but

to set it on the table next to him for someone to retrieve it in the morning. I was doing

the table and nothing broke. I turned to him but he wasn’t looking at me, he was looking at the transparent sleeves of my night gown. More specifically, at my upper arm where a nasty red bruise was forming, probably from where Lauren grabbed me earlier. His nostrils flared the longer he looked at it and I tried to tug my arm out of his grip but he wouldn’t let me

and I shrugged. “I’m not going

lie rolled easily off my tongue, “I

hand shaped bruise formed on your arm.” The way he said it made me feel stupid for even saying it in the first place, “I

I responded, “I already told you the truth and

to piss him off more but he finally released my arm and I stood at the far end of his bed. He muttered a few choice words under his

when anyone new walks in and as far as I know, there were no visitors,” he began, “If you won’t tell me who it is, I will simply have

can’t possibly punish them all.”

was bluffing but from the anger swirling in his

him what happened or I could keep to my story and everyone will

“If you promise to allow me leave.”

no position to make demands.” He said simply, “But, if you tell me then I’ll explain the

to refute and demand to leave but my curiosity was greater and against my better judgment, I ended up agreeing to the

I took the seat next to him and crossed my arms over my chest

the raw and undikuted rage in his eyes, I knew I had to fix the situation before he hurt her, “But

believe me but he was

I lied, “And I almost fell from the top of the stairs so she grabbed me.

his face was too unreadable. I prayed he would because the last thing I needed was for Lauren to get punished for something that was my mistake. If I had not gone to the nursery, then she would have never had to grab

a long beat of silence he nodded, “I will still have a talk with her so she is extra careful when grabbing

out a breath of

much to think about it. I waited patiently as