Page 10 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

‘That was odd,’Alicia mentioned.

‘Yeah. If you see any more, call me,’I instructed. I re-erected the barrier before I headed back. People were waiting worriedly at the edge of the fields. I shifted back and pulled on the clothes I left behind.

“Everything is fine. Just a false alarm. Let’s get to work.”

They looked unsure, but nevertheless we continued pruning the grape plants and working to ensure a healthy harvest. By the time I got Adam to bed that night, I was exhausted.

‘How was the day?’Cory mind-linked me as I was scrolling through TikTok.

‘Confusing,’I answered.

‘How so?’

‘We had two rogues cross the borders and then run out. Didn’t attack anyone, didn’t say anything. They snarled and ran out,’I explained.

‘Maybe they made a wrong turn?’

‘Maybe. I don’t know. It was just weird. It’s not the first time it happened, either,’I mentioned.

‘Do you need help, Bells?’

‘With the rogues? No. They are only attacking every few weeks now, though I’d still love to figure out why.’

‘I meant in general.’

‘I need people, Cory. I need workers. I can’t get any new pack members until the council stops considering us high-risk.’

‘I’ll see what I can find out. Maybe Dad can talk to the c—’

‘No. I don’t want to use our connections. Especially if I can’t guarantee their safety.’

‘Alright, I’ll see what I can do about getting you some workers.’

‘Thanks Cor.’

‘Have you thought about what I offered?’he asked.

‘I’m not ready to give up yet.’

‘Okay,’I could hear the disappointment in his voice, but it was all I could give him right now.

Chapter Four

Violet

Ithought about my conversation with Bells for days, and today I found myself in the last place I wanted to be. The two warriors at the bridge connecting Crescent Moon to Guardian Moon were staring at me, trying to figure out what the heck I was doing.

Me too, dudes. Me too,I thought as I willed my legs to move.

If I could get my legs to move. If I could take this first step across the boundary of the pack grounds, maybe I could do other stuff.

I worked myself up to this point. I ate again with my family in the dining room last night, and I was trying to ride the high of pushing through my fears. I called Aunt Kassie earlier today, asking if I could come over to play with little Koa. Little pups were a good motivation. I loved them and I rarely got to see hers.

So now I was here, trying to convince myself that I would be okay if I moved forward a step. The warriors at the gates knew better than to approach me. Every warrior knew by now whathappened to me last year and that I didn’t like being touched. So, we’d been standing here for the last fifteen minutes, all of us waiting to see if I would be able to move from my spot.

I was still trying to convince my legs to move, when a group of warriors approached the bridge from Guardian Moon, and Nenetl’s hackles instantly rose, along with my heart rate. I took a panicked step back, my hands sweating and my eyes unfocused. My breathing was speeding up.

“Are you okay?” one of them asked, stepping away from the group, and I whimpered as he walked closer.

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