Chapter 8 - Camden
Camden hadn’t given up on his idea of erasing the misogyny within his pack.
Each day that he was in Silverrose made it clearer than ever that the women had been relegated to the shadows of daily life.
Wives were subservient to their husbands, as they had always been, but things seemed to have gotten even worse in the past few years.
Women rarely went anywhere alone, traveling in pairs of two or three as if they were afraid to be caught out on their own and needed the solidarity of a companion just to run errands.
Something needed to change, and quickly.
To start the process, Camden knew it was essential to get them involved in a social gathering. Since he had been back, the only gatherings that had gone on had been for men only.
“I just don’t see the point of it,” Harold argued when Camden came to him with his idea. “A party for the entire pack? The women won’t want to be a part of that. Who will look after the children if everyone is there?”
“Some women won’t want to come, of course, and I’m sure some of the men won’t want to attend, either.
The older members of the pack have had their time to party—not you, of course, Uncle.
I’d never call you old,” Camden said with a charming smile, noticing that Harold had begun to huff at the mention of age being a factor. “You’re as young as ever!”
Harold seemed pleased by Camden’s flattery, so he continued.
“The children will be looked after by anyone not wishing to attend, but I’d like the invitation to extend to everyone. It’s been a long time since my squad had the opportunity to be around everyone. Consider it a homecoming party.”
“But the women?” Harold repeated.
He still seemed flabbergasted that Camden wanted anything to do with the lower members of the pack, but Camden pushed through. He had always had the ability to charm people, and he was starting to learn how to use that ability to help others.
“Everyone,” Camden said with another winning smile. “The men would love the opportunity to dance with some pretty ladies, don’t you think?”
In reality, his men knew exactly why Camden wanted to have this party.
They agreed with him that things should change within the pack and were on board with whatever plan Camden deemed necessary to make that happen.
It was for his uncle’s benefit that he decided to frame it as a benefit to the men for the women to be invited.
“Oh, very well, then,” Harold agreed. “Have it tonight at the pack house. There’s plenty of space in the back garden for everyone.”
It didn’t take long for news of the mixer to reach everyone in the pack.
By nightfall, the pack house and attached garden were abuzz with activity.
Men and women had naturally separated into two groups on either side of the space, talking amongst themselves.
Camden had known it was going to take some time for everyone to come together, but seeing the division laid out in such starkness made him thankful he hadn’t wasted any time in setting this up.
“Hey, boss,” Jasper said, clapping him on the shoulder as he approached with the rest of the squad. “Good turnout tonight.”
“Dance floor is a little empty, though,” Cillian Thompson said, disappointment coloring his voice.
“Sounds like a job for you to take care of,” Camden said with a smile. “Our resident flirt. Why don’t you get out there and ask someone to dance?”
“Don’t mind if I do,” Thompson replied.
Thompson smoothed back his hair and walked confidently across the paved area in the center of the yard to where a group of young women was gathered.
Camden saw them blush and whisper amongst themselves as he approached.
He held his hand out to one of the women, and she took his hand delicately.
With a spin, he twirled her into the center of the space and began a slow dance that didn’t quite match the upbeat song that was playing over the speakers.
Camden saw that Flora had arrived, joining the women’s side of the party.
He was surprised and happy that she had decided to show up.
When he'd told her about the event, she hadn’t seemed too keen, but apparently curiosity and boredom had won out over fear.
He didn’t want to bombard her with attention, so he watched from afar as she cautiously made her way up to the group of women that Thompson had just retrieved a dance partner from.
“Did you want me to check on her for you?” Jasper asked quietly.
Camden thought he was being discreet, but Jasper had noticed where his attention was focused.
“If you don’t mind,” Camden replied, trying to sound casual.
Jasper grinned and took Franco Marbles with him to join the women.
They greeted Flora enthusiastically, and Camden breathed a sigh of relief when she smiled at them.
She seemed happier than usual and seemed to be making friends.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she leaned into the conversation and laughed with the other women. Everyone was getting along.
The song ended, and another song started up, prompting a few of the other men in the pack to cross the divide and find dance partners of their own. The air in the garden started to feel light as people let loose and began to intermingle.
It’s working, Camden thought proudly.
Just as he was starting to feel the high of his success, he heard the bell-like twinkle of Flora’s laugh.
She was doubled over in mirth and grasping Thompson’s arm.
He had clearly just told a joke, as the rest of the group was laughing as well, but all Camden could think about was how he should be the one to make Flora happy.
Only he should make her laugh like that.
His jealousy was in full force as he marched across the garden to where they stood.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he snapped at Thompson.
“Well, hello to you, too,” Cillian said, clearly unaffected by Camden’s tone. “Did you want to join our party? We’re having a lot of fun. Much more than you were having brooding by yourself.”
“I was not brooding,” Camden argued.
“Mm-hmm,” Cillian said, jostling him with his shoulder. “It’s alright, bud. But don’t worry, I promise not to make your lady laugh anymore. Scout’s honor.”
Camden rolled his eyes at him, realizing he had let his jealousy get the best of him.
His squad had a way of disarming his least attractive traits, like Cillian had just done.
He looked to Flora, wanting to laugh about the situation with her, but instead of seeing her smile like everyone else was doing, her mouth was turned down in a frown.
A crease of anger had appeared between her eyes, and Camden was immediately alarmed.
“Flora?” he asked. “You alright?”
“Fine,” she replied shortly.
Without another word, she turned on her heel and left, heading through a gate toward the street instead of going into the pack house.
“Is she…leaving?” Camden asked his friends, completely bewildered. “Did I do something?”
“Looks like it,” Jasper replied.
“What are you waiting for?” Marbles asked. “Go after her!”
Camden wasted no time. He took off after her, dodging through the crowd so he could catch up to her quickly.
He jostled a few people near the edge of the dance floor and apologized quickly without looking back.
He had no idea what he had done or said to cause her to leave so abruptly, but he knew he needed to make it right with her.
This entire party was to help her assimilate into the pack and improve the visibility of the rest of the women.
If he had done anything to jeopardize that, he didn’t know if he could forgive himself for his foolishness.
“Flora, stop!”
She whirled around to face him, her eyes still full of rage and hurt. “What do you want now?” she demanded.
Camden slid to a stop in front of her, hands out as if in offering. “An explanation, maybe?” he ventured. “You just left without a word. I thought you were having a good time.”
“I was having a good time, but you put a stop to that, didn’t you?”
“What are you talking about?” he asked, getting frustrated with her evasiveness. “All I did was come over and talk to you. Is that against the rules now? Am I supposed to ignore you in public? You are my wife!”
“You’ve made that perfectly clear!” she shouted back. “Your wife. Like I’m your property or something. Just because you saved me from my parents doesn’t mean you get to step into that role.”
“You think I want to be your parent?” Camden asked, exasperated at this point. His feelings for her were far from filial. “Flora, that’s insane.”
“Ugh!” she exclaimed, throwing her hands up in frustration.
“What do you want from me, then? You order me around, tell me what I should and shouldn’t do, where I should and shouldn’t go.
And then, when I’m finally having a good time and laughing with people who you want me to be friends with, you put a stop to it because I’m laughing at another man’s jokes?
That’s insane, Camden. I just can’t win, no matter what I do! ”
It wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but Camden finally realized what Flora meant. He started to laugh, realizing it had all been a huge misunderstanding. Flora, however, was not amused.
“Don’t laugh at me,” she said softly, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes. “I’ve had enough of that to last a lifetime.”
She started to turn away again, but Camden caught her wrist. He pulled her to face him again and tilted her face up so she was looking into his eyes.
“Flora,” he said, calming himself. “Hold on, just wait a minute. I’m not laughing at you, I promise. I’m laughing because I’m relieved.”
“Relieved?” she asked in confusion.
“Yes, because I finally understand,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, relishing the feeling of her skin against his fingertips.
“I wasn’t trying to dampen your happiness.
I was…jealous. I thought you understood that.
When I saw you laughing at Cillian’s joke, I got upset.
I wanted to be the one who makes you laugh.
And when I tell you what you should do or where you should go, it’s because I want you to be safe and happy.
I know you have a tendency to take care of everyone else before yourself. I’m trying to help you change that.”
Flora’s lips formed a perfect O as she heard his explanation. He knew he wasn’t out of the water with her yet, but at least she was listening to his side. It was a start.
She also wasn’t trying to pull away from him anymore. Her face was right there, merely inches from his own. Her brown eyes were searching him, pulling her into their depths. He could just lean forward slightly, and then—
“Ahem,” she cleared her throat and turned her face away, breaking the moment between them before it could go any further. “I want to be able to make choices for myself. I’ve been told how to act and what I should be for as long as I can remember. When you order me around, it makes me feel small.”
Her honesty made him realize that even though he had thought he was doing the right thing by her, it had actually had the opposite effect. He hoped that someday she would realize he would only make choices for her own protection, but knew that was a trust that would have to be earned.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I never meant to make you feel small. What can I do to make things right with you? I’ll do anything.”
“Anything?”
Her question lilted up at the end playfully, and the corner of her mouth twitched.
She was enjoying having him within her grasp, willing to bend to her wishes.
Camden had never been more attracted to her.
He gulped and nodded his head, not trusting himself to speak.
She cocked her head thoughtfully as she thought about what it would take for him to make it up to her.
After a few agonizing moments, she answered.
“Wanting me to be safe is…admirable,” she began hesitantly. “But instead of forcing me to rely on you as my protector, I want to be taught how to fight.”
“Done,” he answered immediately.
“I wasn’t finished,” she chided, her smile widening.
“I’m not the only woman who lives here. Every one of them has been pushed to the sidelines, made to feel unimportant and helpless.
If you really want to show me that you’ve changed and that you want the best for me and the women of the pack, I want you to train all of us. ”
Flora waited, clearly thinking he was going to turn down her request. The Silverrose pack had never trained their women to fight, and she knew this.
But he had promised he would do anything to prove himself to her, and she had underestimated just how serious he was about altering the course of the pack.
“It would be my honor,” he replied.
The look of surprise and happiness in her eyes was almost worth the fight that had led them there.