Page 37 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“Titan,”

“Doesn’t Titan miss running?”

“I guess. He doesn’t talk much anymore,” he shrugged.

“Why?”

Instead of answering, he took another bite of his burger and I took that as a ’mind-your-business’ answer.

“Why don’t you take a patrol shift once or twice a week. That way you can feel useful and you can let Titan out.”

“Patrolling wasn’t my assignment,”

“No, but you can’t babysit me twenty-four seven. It’s not healthy for you or your wolf.”

“I’m fine. I read before bed.”

“But—”

Chris sighed and I stopped, feeling bad about badgering him about it, but I hadn’t been able to shift for the last year, and I missed it. I didn’t want to be responsible for him and his wolf missing out.

“I’m here for one reason, Violet. I don’t need to go on patrol to feel useful. Keeping you safe makes me feel useful. My wolf is fine. If he needs a run, he can tell me himself and we’ll work it out.”

“Okay.” I ceded.

We continued eating and once I was finished with my fries, and worked until dinner. Bells brought us dinner upstairs, and I noticed the look on her face. It wasn’t a happy one.

‘Can you give us a few minutes?’I asked him.

“I’m going to change,” he said, standing up.

“What’s going on, Bells?” I asked when Chris was out of the room, patting my bed.

She slumped and walked over to me, sitting down with a sigh.

“I think I fucked up and I don’t know how to fix it.”

“What happened?”

“I lashed out at Cade, and now he can barely looked at me,” she answered, slumping even further.

“Did he deserve it?”

“No. I mean, I was finally... maybe... going to get some answers, but he ran in, thinking he was protecting me, and scared off the rogues.”

“And you yelled at him,” I said, knowing my sister.

She wasn’t the most patient woman. She nodded, shame filling her face.

“He’s barely looked at me all day.”

“Then, apologize. I know it’s hard for you, Bells, but Cade is your friend and you’re two alphas in charge of two packs that are currently co-existing. You can’t really be fighting.”

“I’m not an alpha,” she said and I shook my head.

“You may not have the title, but you have alpha blood and the power. You’re also leading your pack right now. There are a lot of women that look to you for leadership. They will follow your example and treat the other pack with some reluctance. You’ve got a full moon coming up with a lot of unmated wolves and a lot of women that need second-chance mates.”

You included,I wanted to add, but refrained.