Chapter 26


    I was so stunned by the announcement that all I could do was stare at the guard but Ryker wasted no


    time in pushing to his feet. He assured the guard he would be on his way then he walked over to where


    I sat and squatted so he was sitting on his haunches and we were at eye level.


    “You’re hurt. You were in pain just moments ago,” I managed out, “Should you be out fighting rogues?”


    “I’m fine Cami; I can barely feel a thing.”


    “But at training-,”


    “I’ll exin thatter,” he ran a hand through my curls in a soft stroking motion, “I don’t know how long


    I’ll be gone but if I’m not back before tomorrow then Lauren wille to stay with you.”


    “Why wouldn’t you be back before then?”


    “Sometimes these things take time,” he nced out the door and I knew he was itching to help his


    guards, “There will be at least three people stationed at every entrance. Unless it is absolutely


    necessary, I don’t want you to leave your room.”


    “Will theye here?”


    “I don’t know but Eve will be here for anything you need.” He paused for a second and then ced a


    soft kiss on my forehead, “I will be back as soon as I can.”


    Before I could say another word, he was out of the room. As soon as he left, Eve walked over and


    picked up my half eaten te of food and led. me upstairs to my room. I was in a daze as she guided


    me through the corridors and it wasn’t until she ced the tray by my bed that I snapped out of it.


    “You can take it back,” I told her, “I’m not hungry.”


    “I find that I tend to eat a lot when I’m stressed.”


    She started to leave but I stopped her, “Where will you be?”


    “Downstairs where I always am.” She cocked her head in confusion, “I have a room in the guard’s


    quarters but I will be in the living room just in case you need me.”


    “It’s not safe down there.”


    “I will be fine Luna-,”


    “Please just call me Cami,” she looked taken aback by my request but she nodded. “And I would


    prefer it if you stayed here.”


    “I’m not sure that’s appropriate.”


    “What if I need you really urgently and you’re too far away. It is in my best interest that you stayed here


    with me. That way I would not have to leave the safety of my room.”


    I was bull shitting and she knew it. I just wanted her to be safe and out of harm’s way. Eve was quickly


    bing my only friend here and if anything should happen to her then I would never be able to


    forgive myself. Also, it would be easier for me with her here. I wouldn’t be able to spend most of my


    time worrying about Ryker and the rogues.


    She hesitated for a second and the she finally nodded, “I just need to get. my knitting set. I will die of


    boredom if I have to sit here and do. nothing.”


    “Can you teach me to knit?” I asked, “It might help with the,”


    I couldn’t finish the sentence but she understood because she nodded and disappeared from the room.


    A few minutester she returned with a small knitted bag filled with yarn and knitting pins.


    It probably made me a bad mate knowing that my mate was outside battling rogues and I was knitting


    with my friend but I was enjoying it. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be and I actually had fun


    against my better judgment.


    We spent the entire day knitting and I am d Eve didn’t take the tray down because we snacked on


    what was left of my breakfast. We didn’t stop until it was evening and I had knitted a long scarf. I was


    trying to make a bag but baby steps I guess.


    “I should have started with dinner by now.” Eve cursed as she looked out the window, “I am so sorry.”


    “It’s fine Eve, I had fun.”


    “I’m d to hear that Lu- Cami.” She smiled as she corrected herself, “You can just wait here, I’ll be


    back within an hour.”


    “No way; I would love to help out.”


    She wanted to refuse but before she could respond, I stepped out of my room and made my way down


    to the kitchen. She caught up to me and tried to remind me that Ryker said I should stay in my room


    but I ignored her and waited in the kitchen for her to show me what to do. She


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    realized I wasn’t going to back down and she finally let out a deep sigh and relented.


    Even though I was terrified that a rogue would break through the back door and get to us while we


    were cooking, I actually had fun. We ate downstairs when we were done and she announced that she


    was going back to the guard’s quarters to sleep.


    I wanted to ask her to sleep in my room but I knew there was no way that she would agree to sleep in


    my bed with me and I didn’t want her to have to sleep on the floor so I allowed her leave.


    I tossed and turned in my bed all night but I was so worried about Ryker that I couldn’t even close my


    eyes for a second. After a few minutes of ufortable turning, an idea popped into my head and I


    debated and mulled over it for a while before I finally stood up from my bed.


    My corridor was empty save for a few guards I could see at the top of the stairs. I ignored them as I


    walked down the corridor and towards the door I knew led to Ryker’s room.


    It looked the same as Ist saw it when he was here. The bed was perfectly made and not a single


    thing was out of ce. Before I could change my mind, I shut the door behind me and crawled


    underneath his


    covers.


    Everything smelled like him and it felt like being wrapped up in a


    cocoon. I hoped he wouldn’t be upset when he returned and I wanted to leave but my body wouldn’t


    move. I made up my mind to leave in five minutes but five minutes turned to ten and ten turned to


    fifteen and before I knew it, I was fast asleep in his bed.


    Hurried and panicked footsteps woke me from my slumber. It took me a second to remember where I


    was and when I did, a blush formed on my cheeks. I wasn’t supposed to fall asleep here.


    The hurried shouts continued and I realized that it was my name being yelled. I forced myself out of the


    comfortable bed and pulled open the door to the room and was met with a panicked looking Eve.


    When she saw me she let out a sigh of relief, “I thought you were gone.” She pulled me into a hug and


    she must have realized what she was doing because she quickly stepped back and cleared her throat,


    “I apologize, I should never have done that.”


    “It is fine,” I assured her, “I haven’t gotten a hug in a very long time.”


    She smiled softly before she remembered where I was and she frowned,


    “You should have told me where you were sleeping. I went to your room this morning to call you for


    breakfast and when I didn’t see you I panicked.”


    “I would’vee down eventually.”


    “Cami, it is almost eleven. You never sleep in thiste. I thought someone took you.”


    I didn’t believe her when she said the time. I walked back into the room and when I looked at the clock


    on the wall, I realized she was right.


    “I am so sorry.” My hands flew over my mouth, “I didn’t realize I had slept in. I didn’t even n to sleep


    here, I just came and I was going to leave but I-,”


    “You don’t have to exin yourself. The Alpha is your mate and you missed him. I don’t know why I


    didn’t think to check here. Of course I should have known you would be here.”


    I wanted to tell her that it wasn’t what she thought but then again, she was right. I did miss him and I


    was worried about him and that was the only reason I came here. I knew it would calm me down and it


    did. I just didn’t ount for the fact that I might have fallen asleep.


    “I almost forgot,” she said hurriedly- almost panicked, “Lauren arrived this morning and she is her usual


    self. That was why I was looking for you, I wanted to warn you.”


    Just the mention of her name soured my mood instantly and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “Where is


    she?”


    Just before Eve could answer, I heard footsteps and I saw Lauren round the corner. She froze as she


    took in the scene before her; me in my night gown and Eve standing right next to me. Her eyes


    narrowed into slits and she stormed over to us.


    “What the hell are you doing here?” she spat, “Did youe to steal something?”


    “I was looking for Cami.” Eve tried to exin but Lauren silenced her with a hand.


    “I wasn’t talking to you, I was talking to her.” She whirled on me, “What the hell are you doing in Ryker’s


    room? You shouldn’t even be here.” She grabbed my arm and I jerked it out of her grip. She was


    shocked, hell, so was I. It took her the better part of three seconds to get her shock under control and


    fix a death re on her face.


    “You shouldn’t be here.” She sneered.


    “Neither should you.”


    “Excuse me?”


    I was tired of her walking all over me and trying to make me feel like shit. when Ryker has told me over


    again that she means nothing to him. I am his mate and she has no right to make me feel like I


    shouldn’t be here. “This is my mate’s room and I have more right to be here than any of us.” She


    opened her mouth to speak but I cut her off, “If anything, you shouldn’t be here and if you don’t leave


    then I’ll tell Ryker that you harassed me. Let’s see how he reacts to that.”


    The tops of her ears turned red and for a second I thought she was going to explode but she turned on


    her heels and stalked back the way she came. I let out a sigh of relief and I saw Eve staring at me with


    her mouth wide open.


    “I thought she was going to blow a fuse.” Eve said and I let out a chokingugh.


    “I did too.”