Chapter 78


    CAMILLA’S P.O.V


    I remembered the arrow and I remembered the pain but after that wasplete darkness. I always


    thought that if I died, I would be weed by the goddess with open arms. I may not have been the


    best person in the world but I knew I wasn’t the worst and I deserved a happy ending. I was terrified at


    first because it felt like I couldn’t move or breathe. I tried to count to have an idea of the time but it went


    on for what felt like an infinity.


    I tried to fight it. With every second that ticked by, I tried to remember my family waiting for me. I tried to


    remember the pce and everyone that was under me. It was my job to defend them and I had to fight


    for them. I tried to move, I tried to breathe but I was stuck in a perpetual static. It was exhausting and


    there was this nagging voice at the back of my mind that kept telling me to give up and let go. I didn’t


    want to and I tried my best to remain strong but I soon forgot what I was fighting for. When I had finally


    given up and decided that I was ready to embrace the unknown, I fell. There was no other way to


    describe it besides falling. It felt like I was falling through the air until Inded in the sand. I wasn’t hurt


    from my fall. I looked around wondering where I was. Thendscape looked foreign to me. I knew it


    was my imagination but I thought the mind was capable of showing only ces that a person had


    been to.


    I analyzed the ce once more. The sand stretched on for miles before it met with the sea. The sea


    was surprisingly calm and it was so shiny and clear that I wondered if it was possible for anything to


    live inside of it. I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe I was in paradise. Maybe the darkness was to


    determine if I was worthy enough of paradise and my giving up had brought me where I deserved even


    though it wasn’t where I wanted to be.


    “I suppose you could call it paradise,” a voice spoke from behind me and I instantly jumped to my feet.


    Standing behind me was a girl who looked to be no older than sixteen years old. She had long silver


    hair that was thrown over her shoulder in a braid, her eyes were a turbulent shade of grey that almost


    reminded me of a storm and she was in a small dress that was made from threadbare grey fabric. She


    wasn’t standing there before- or at least, I hadn’t noticed


    her before. She gave me a warm smile that was inviting but I couldn’t help but be wary. There was


    something about her that put me on edge and it wasn’t just the fact that she had answered the question


    I asked in my head.


    “I won’t hurt you,” she assured me. “Come, let us take a walk.” I hesitated before standing and I


    nced at her outstretched hand. “If I wanted to hurt you, I would have by now, Cami.”


    “How do you know my name?”


    “I know everyone’s names and everything about them. I suppose it gets exhausting after some time


    when you remember everything about everyone. A human is just a speck in the grand scheme of


    humanity.” Immediately I recognized her and I bowed deeply. Very few wolves had the privilege of


    meeting the moon goddess after death and here she was standing in front of me so casually. She


    smiled softly and gestured to her outstretched hand. I took it immediately and her hand was cold to


    touch. “There is no need to bow to me Cami. If I wanted that, I would have appeared to you in a


    divine form. I am here as your friend,” she told me softly.


    “Am I dead?


    “In a way,” she shrugged as we began walking. “You are stuck in a limbo of sorts. I have never had a


    hard time deciding if a person should live or not before. It is easy topartmentalize with my


    creatures because there are so many of you but I have a certain fondness for your line. The royals


    were some of my first creations, that is why your line has powers that the others do not. I have watched


    you since your birth and you are a special breed, Cami Caine.”


    “What do you mean?”


    “Your job on the earth isn’t done yet and I have a feeling our mate is more likely to burn down paradise


    than leave you to die.”


    “Ryker wouldn’t do that.”


    “You underestimate him,” I realized that somehow, we had gotten to the edge of the water and right


    there was a small boat. “Get in, Cami. You have more work to do.”


    “You’re just going to let me go?” I asked confused and she cracked a smile.


    “Would you rather stay?” I shook my head. “Go back, Cami. Your mate is waiting for you.”


    She turned on her heels before I could utter another word and I just stared in confusion. There were no


    oars to row the boat but I got in. As soon as I got in, the boat began to move on its own. The further it


    moved, the darker it got until I couldn’t see anything. My body went numb and I couldn’t feel anything.


    The first thing I heard when I came back to reality was incessant banging and the flurry of inaudible


    voices. The first voice that came into focus was Ryker’s and I tried to speak but all that came out was a


    low moan.


    “Cami, baby, can you open your eyes for me?” I moaned once more and I felt his warm hands


    against my cheek. “Is she supposed to be this cold? What is wrong with her?”


    I heard someone respond but they were too far away for me to audibly hear what they said. I tried to


    open my eyes and it took a lot of tries but when I finally did, I had to squint my eyes in order to adjust to


    the brightness of the light. When I finally managed to open it, Ryker was clutching my hand and staring


    down at me.


    “Hey,” he whispered softly as if he were scared that I was going to disappear. “How are you? I thought


    you were gone.”


    I opened my mouth to speak but my voice was too dry. He quickly grabbed a cup of water and brought


    it to my lips. I drank it greedily and allowed it to soothe my dry throat. Ryker kept smiling at me in


    encouragement and I could see the palpable relief in his eyes. I looked arund the room and noticed that


    Christine as well as the royal physician were standing in the room. They were all looking at me as if I


    were a miracle and I couldn’t help but know that something had happened. “What happened?”


    “It doesn’t matter,” Ryker tried to assure me but I shook my head. I needed to know exactly what


    happened. “Cami, it isn’t important.”


    “Tell me.”


    He sighed before speaking. “The poison from the arrow had gotten into your bloodstream. You were


    tlining. You weren’t supposed to make it through the night and your,” he hesitated before continuing.


    “Your heart stopped. For two whole minutes you were dead. I didn’t- I- Fuck.”


    He stopped to take a deep breath. I could only imagine how traumatic it was for him to relive that


    moment. He ran his hand through his hair repeatedly to calm himself.


    “It doesn’t matter because you’re here now.”


    N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    “The goddess sent me back.”


    All eyes turned to me in shock. Christine blinked, Ryker looked confused and the physician looked like


    he was about to pass out. I ryed everything that had happened in my encounter with the goddess


    and by the time I was done, everyone was staring at me with varying levels of shock and awe. I still


    couldn’t believe it myself that I had seen her. A part of me wanted to believe that it was all a figment of


    my imagination but I knew it was real. I could still feel her hand in mine.


    “You need to rest, your majesty,” the physician was the first to break the silence. “Your body has been


    through a great ordeal and it is important that you are well rested before anything else.”


    I ignored him and turned to Ryker. “Did you catch Frederick?” Guilt took over hi features as he shook


    his head. “We will, together.” It was hard to believe considering everything that had happened so far but


    I decided to have faith. It hurt to know that someone! I thought so highly of would have tried to kill me


    but it was part of life- making bad decisions. Now, I was sure that Frederick wasn’t looking for mercy


    but it didn’t make it any easier to swallow. He had managed to get into the pack and shoot me in front


    of everyone. That was no small/offense and I knew it would not be easy to catch him but I forced a


    small smile on my face.


    “We will.”


    Ryker stroked the back of my hand with his thumb. “You have two daughters who want to see you more


    than anything.”


    I watched as Christine and the physician filed out of the room but Ryker stayed. Since we mated, he


    hadn’t stepped foot in this room so it confused me when I saw him settling pillows on the couch close to


    the bed. I was even more baffled when he pulled aforter out of the closet andid it there.


    “Are you staying?” I asked and he turned to me incredulously.


    “Did you really think I was going to leave you here?” he asked as he settled on the couch. “I need to


    make sure that you don’t need anything.” I could tell there was more to it so I levelled him with a hard


    look and he sighed. “I need to make sure that you don’t disappear again. You have no idea what it felt


    like to feel that bond break. I need to be here with you.”


    I gave him a watery smile and moved over a little to create space for him on the bed. “Then you might


    as well sleep right next to me.”


    “I don’t want to make you ufortable.”


    “I won’t be ufortable if I am the one asking. Please, Ryker, just for


    tonight.”