Chapter 88


    RYKER’S P.O.V


    As soon as the girls left, I saw the guilt in Riley’s expression. I wanted to assure her that she had


    nothing to worry about but that would have been a lie. Damienforted her while I bnced my


    sleeping infant on one hand and began clearing up the pic. It was a good day but it could have


    ended better. Damien and Riley came to help but they did so in silence. I could feel the tension in the


    air and I knew it was only a matter of time before someone broke it.


    “Should I have picked a better time?” Damien whispered once Riley was out of earshot. “I didn’t want to


    hurt her but I figured she was going to find out sooner orter.”


    “Are you asking because you want a genuine answer or because you want to make yourself feel


    better?” I asked and he shook


    his head with a small smile.


    “I almost forgot how brutal you could be, Ryker,” I nced at Audrey out of the corner of my eye. She


    was ying by the stream and I wanted to make sure she didn’t run off or get hurt. “I want the truth.”


    “The truth is that I don’t know,” he frowned at my response, it was clearly not what he was expecting.


    “Look, I know better than toment on something that I don’t have the full picture of. Only you know


    the answer to that question and I think the fact that you’re torn up about it tells you everything you need


    to know.”


    He wanted to say something but footsteps filled the air. Christine and Cami returned but I saw an


    expression in her eyes that had my spine straightening. I quickly called Riley over and handed Aurora


    over to her. She looked like she had a million questions but I didn’t wait to hear them. I walked over to


    my mate and ran my hands down her shoulders. She gave me a small smile but I could see through


    her fa?ade. She was shaking and her skin was a bit cold to touch.


    “What happened?” I asked but she shook her head. I resisted the urge to growl because I knew it


    wouldn’t help. I dropped my voice so it was soft. “Talk to me, Cami. You look like you’ve seen a


    ghost.”


    “I thought I saw something in the woods but it was nothing, I blinked and it wasn’t there.”


    for


    Cami wasn’t easily sp ooked so her reaction didn’t add up to the picture she was trying to paint.


    Isearched her eyes a hint of deception but there was nothing. She had convinced herself that


    everything was fine. I knew I was not going to get anything out of that conversation so I sighed.


    “It doesn’t matter anymore, you’re fine,” I assured her and she allowed herself lean into my arms. She


    mumbled something incoherent and I kissed her head. I looked over her shoulder and saw Christine


    staring at us with a longing look that bordered on envious.


    I felt bad for her but I knew thest thing she wanted was my pity so I just gave her a nod. She smiled


    softly and turned away from me. No words were spoken again as we made our way back to the


    carriages. As we walked, I couldn’t help but notice that Christine was the only person walking alone.


    We put the girls to sleep and as soon as we got to our room, Cami fell asleep. She didn’t even bother


    changing out of her clothes. I had to slowly take them off while trying not to wake her. I never realized


    how difficult a corset was until I had to take it off without ripping it. I couldn’t fall asleep because I


    couldn’t help but think about what she had told me. I wasn’t sure if I believed her yet about whether or


    not it was a big deal. It was toote to go looking for the guards in charge of patrolling the forest so I


    went to the ones guarding our room.


    “Find any guards who are willing to do overtime and tell them to patrol the forest,” I ordered and


    although they looked confused by my request, they nodded and rushed off to do as I asked. I knew I


    was taking a risk by leaving us unprotected but if it meant putting my mind at ease, then I was willing to


    do it.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    I climbed into bed and Cami snuggled into my side. I smiled when I realized that she was still asleep.


    Even in her sleep, she reached out for me. The knowledge had my heart beating harder in my chest. I


    stroked her hair and ced a soft kiss on the center of her head. She made a content noise cdeep in


    her throat.


    “I love you,” she mumbled still asleep.


    “I love you, too,” I whispered back and finally allowed the sleep to take me.


    I was almostpletely dressed when Cami finally woke up. She looked confused as to why I was


    getting dressed early and when I reminded her that it was Damien and Riley’sst day, she practically


    leaped out of bed. We didn’t have much nned but we were spending the entire morning with them.


    Christine had opted out of it and resigned herself to spending


    time with the children.


    Cami wanted to talk to her first and I used that opportunity to get some quality time with my sister.


    Since she came, I hadn’t spent up to five minutes alone with her and I knew it was because she was


    avoiding me. I knocked on her door and she opened it without checking. When she saw me, her eyes


    widened and she swallowed deeply.


    “Can Ie in?” I asked and I could see her furiously looking for an excuse, I walked past her before


    she could say anything and took a seat by her dresser. I saw her exhale deeply before finally closing


    her door.


    “I am kind of busy with packing right now. If you can wait a few minutes then maybe-”


    “You forget that I lived with you for your entire life,” I cut her off. “You probably finished packing two


    days ago and checked yesterday,” the flush on her cheeks assured me that I was right. “Are you done


    avoiding me?”


    “I’m not avoiding you,” she mumbled and when I raised a brow, she sighed. “Is it weird that I am happy


    we are leaving today? I really wanted to spend time with you and Cami but things with Damien and


    her-”


    “Christine,” I interrupted and she flinched as if her name were a p. “Don’t tell me that the sound of


    her name offends you.”


    “It doesn’t, I just feel bad. Sometimes I wonder if maybe they were meant to be together. They are


    mates after all and another part of me is happy that I have him. Am I a bad person?”.


    “I’m the wrong person to ask. I have only ever loved one woman and she is my mate,” Riley rolled her


    eyes and punched my shoulder making both of us burst outughing. “You will figure it out, and


    honestly, I am d you’re leaving today because you are stressing Cami out and what she needs


    after everything is a long vacation.”


    “You might have a point on that one.”


    She had her head down and I couldn’t stop myself from walking over to her and pulling her into a hug.


    Riley was stubborn and I knew she would never ask by herself but it was what she needed. I felt her


    body gox as I held her close.


    “You’ll figure it out, you are one of the smartest people I know.”


    “I don’t feel very smart right now.”


    “Should I let you in on a little secret?” I asked and she hummed. “No one ever truly feels smart. You


    just keep moving and pray that it all works out.”


    By the time we were supposed to lead them back towards the carriage, I couldn’t help but feel a pang


    in my chest. I would never tell Riley or Damien to their faces but I missed them. There was something


    lonely about the pce life. I loved being with my family but sometimes I wished I had actual friends.


    I was talking to Damien when one of the guards walked up to me. He was the one I tasked with


    sending people into the woods. He hesitated but I assured him that he could speak in front of Damien. I


    trusted him,


    “We patrolled the entire forest but we didn’t see anything out of the ordinary,” he told me. “If there is


    something specific that we should be looking for then maybe-”


    “Thank


    you


    for your help, you may go,” I cut him off and he bowed then left. At least I was now certain that the


    forests were safe. I turned to Damien only to see a foreign expression on his face. “What is it?”


    He looked around to make sure no one was listening before dropping his voice to a whisper. “I didn’t


    know you believed the


    rumors.”


    My brows scrunched in confusion. “What rumors?”


    “I thought you had your forests patrolled because of the rumors that had been swirling. I didn’t think


    they hade this far or I would have spoken about it the moment we arrived.”


    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


    “People have been talking about a creature in the woods that carries off people. The bodies are never


    found until a few dayster and when they are found, they are ice cold and drained of blood.”


    “That sounds like a vampire,” I deadpanned and he rolled his eyes.


    “I am aware that it sounds like a vampire but all the vampires are denying having anything to do with it.


    Anyway, I believe it is nothing but a rumor.”


    “Even if it isn’t, the closest vampire coven is a long way from here and they will have to go past at least


    four different packs before getting here. I think we are safe.”


    “What are you guys even talking about?” Cami yelled interrupting our conversation. “it’s time for them


    to leave.


    I pped Damien over his shoulder and we walked towards the carriage. He was about to get in when


    Riley froze staring at something behind us. I turned to see Christine walking towards the carriage. Riley


    cast a wary nce at me but I calmed her with my eyes. Christine was harmless.


    Christine stopped in front of Riley. “I wanted to see you left. I figured it was only good manners for me


    to say goodbye.” Riley’s mouth dropped open. “You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted to say


    that.”


    Riley just nodded dumbly while Christine turned to Damien and offered him a curt nod. I could see the


    confusion on his face and he co cked his head as if to ask why he got a nod and Riley got an entire


    greeting.


    Cami was the one who snapped out of the stupor first. She grasped Riley’s shoulders and gently


    shoved her in the direction of the carriage doors. “You don’t want to bete.”


    Riley and Damien got inside and we watched as the carriage rode off. I waited until they had gone a


    considerable distance before I turned to Christine. “You did the right thing.”


    “I didn’t do it for them, I did it for me.”