Page 40 of Rejected Mate Bride
“I expect you back here tomorrow to talk about plans for rebuilding the destroyed areas of the town,” Harold said as Camden made to leave.
“Of course,” he agreed. “I’ll be here.”
The day had been tiring in more ways than one, and Camden was relieved to leave the pack house. He started walking toward home, but as he approached the house, he knew he wasn’t ready to face Flora just yet. Before he could have a conversation with her about what had transpired, he needed to de-stress a little bit, so he continued his course past the house, heading for the forest.
The trees creaked in the wind as he transformed into his wolf form, claws bursting through his skin as he grew light blond fur all over his body. His spine straightened, and his limbs snapped into place as all four paws hit the ground at a run. Camden remembered his first transformation, how painful it had been, and how scared he was, not knowing how to control it. The change had become second nature now, a seamless transition from one version of himself into another.
By the time he finished his run, he was out of breath. The forest was calming and peaceful as he turned back into a man and walked steadily up the path that would lead him home, but when he was close enough to see the house, something startled him: a noise in the trees above.
Camden crouched down, readying himself for danger as he surveyed the swaying limbs overhead. He headed toward the noise, expecting to see another interloper from the Ironbrand pack, only to find Flora sitting on a branch almost twenty feet above his head.
“What are you doing up there?” he asked, perplexed by the sight. In all the time he had known her, he had neverconsidered tree-climbing to be a hobby of hers. “How did you get up there?”
“I climbed,” she said simply.
“But why?”
“I do it sometimes, when I need to feel…alive,” she replied. Although she’d hesitated with some of her answers, her voice still sounded clear. To Camden, it sounded like she was doing her best to be honest and forthright, even if she didn’t want to share the answers.
“That makes sense,” Camden said. “But I meant why now? Why this tree?”
“I was waiting for you.”
There was no hesitation in that answer.
“Why were you waiting for me?” Camden was craning his neck to see her, now standing directly under her position on the high branch above.
“Because after you left this morning, Jasper came and talked to me. He made me think about how I’ve been acting since I came back to Silverrose, so I came up in this tree to think. It’s something I’ve done off and on when I need to shock my system a little bit.” She grinned. “I know wolves have stronger abilities than us humans, but for me, there is nothing like being two stories up in the air to realign my priorities.”
“Did it help?” Camden asked. She was opening up now, and he was afraid to say anything that would stop her from continuing.
“Immensely,” she replied. “I realized that I have been living in fear for so long that I hardly know how else to exist. I’ve been afraid of having feelings that are out of my control; afraid that you would hurt me again, afraid that you would reject Sofia.So, I did what I’ve always done. I made decisions for myself and Sofia with no regard for how it would affect other people. No regard to how it would affectyou.”
Her eyes were glistening now, and Camden could see how much effort she was putting into her words. He nodded, letting her know he was still listening. He wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’ve been burying my emotions and desires for my whole life, Camden, but living like that doesn’t serve me anymore. It took me this long to realize it, but I’ve trusted you for weeks. I just didn’t allow myself to give in to that feeling, because my fear had taken over everything in my mind. But I don’t want to live like that anymore.”
“I don’t want you to feel like you need to be afraid,” Camden agreed. “I want to be someone you can trust to carry you. Someone you know will catch you if you fall.”
Flora nodded, and then a smile crept across her face. “I trust you,” she said.
Her voice wasn’t hesitant or quiet now. The statement was loud, sure, and strong.
Without another word, Flora leaned away from the trunk of the tree, allowing herself to fall off the tree branch above. She fell forward in slow motion, her face peaceful and serene as her eyes fixed on Camden. As she fell further, she twisted her body slightly, angling herself to allow Camden to catch her. He reached out effortlessly, putting one arm behind her back and the other under her knees to cradle her. Flora exhaled hard as the force of her body was stopped by Camden’s powerful arms. She smiled, her face inches away from his.
“How was that for a trust fall?” she teased.
“Perfection,” Camden replied.
Chapter 19 - Flora
The absence of a father had never been a source of discomfort for her daughter, but now that Camden knew the truth, Flora knew it was time to complete the circle. It was time for Sofia to be told the truth.
Her heart was pounding in her chest as she sat on the couch with Sofia. Camden sat in the chair next to her, a silent support as Flora took a deep breath and looked into Sofia’s eyes.
“Sofia, did you know that I used to live in Silverrose pack before you were born?” she began.
Her daughter shook her head.
