Page 114 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“What are you talking about? Chris, you can’t lis—”

“I—Things—I’ve enjoyed spending this time with you Violet, but it won’t work. We’re not second-chance mates. I checked during the last full moon. Once we leave here... We’re too different. I think it’s best if we just go back to how it was before.”

“Wh—Are you breaking up with me?” I asked, tears coming to my eyes.

I tried to blink them back, but I felt one fall. Chris’ eyes zeroed in on the traitorous tear, regret and pain flashing in his eyes for a moment before he took another step away from me.

“I’m sorry. It’s for the best. You’ll find your second-chance mate one day. It’s better if we don’t get too attached. I’ll be in my room until you’re ready to go back to work.”

I sat on my bed, wondering what just happened. How could it go so wrong so quickly? I felt the tears leaving my eyes freely now and a small sob left me. I pulled out my phone and textedBells that I wouldn’t be working today, and that I didn’t want to see anyone for lunch. She asked why, but I ignored the text.

Instead, I crawled under the covers and let the pain flow. I felt cheated. I was finally feeling happy. The nightmares were gone, and I was feeling something other than dread when I woke up each morning. I thought what Chris and I were starting was something that could become deeper, maybe even permanent. Now it was all gone.

Chapter Twenty

Bellarose

Ilooked at my phone to see if Violet responded to my text. When I saw she hadn’t, I started to get worried as I reread her vague message again.

Vi

I’m not going to be working the rest of the day and I’m not hungry so I won’t be taking lunch.

Me

What happened? Is everything okay?

I waited another five minutes for a response before I called Cade over. I needed to find out what the fuck happened.

“What’s up?” He and John showed up less than a minute after I texted him.

“Something’s wrong with Violet. I need to check on her. Keep your phone on you in case I need you?” I knew John knew about us, so I didn’t try to make an excuse for my request.

“You want me to go with you? It’s almost lunchtime.” Cade replied, pulling out his phone to check his statement, but I shook my head.

“No. She’s not having lunch, and she’s not working the rest of the day.”

“Why? What happened?” Cade asked, looking concerned.

“I don’t know. That’s what I need to find out.”

I could see Cade’s desire to go with me. I knew how much he loved Violet like a sister, but I hoped he understood more people would make it harder to figure out what was wrong. Thankfully he did, because he sighed and nodded.

“Okay. Let me know how I can help, please.” I nodded at his words and left, walking faster the closer I got to the pack house.

I knocked on Violet’s door but she didn’t answer right away, so I knocked and knocked until she opened up. My heart broke when I saw the bloodshot eyes and the tears still running down her face. I looked behind her to find Chris but was surprised to see he wasn’t there. Where was he? He was her shadow, these days even more than ever. Did something happen to him?

“What happened? Where’s Chris?” I asked, bringing her into a hug.

Violet practically collapsed against me, and she buried her face in my chest, sobs wracking her petite frame. I pushed her into the room and closed the door behind me, sitting her on the bed and letting her cry. A few stray tears left my face as I heard her anguished sobs. I pulled out my phone, ready to call Cade to go find Chris and figure out what the hell happened, if Violet didn’t start talking in the next few minutes.

It took a little bit, but Violet finally calmed down enough to tell me what happened, and I was livid.

Livid at Martha for putting her fucking opinion where it didn’t belong. Livid at Chris for listening to the wretched woman andfor making my sister cry. Heartbroken for both of them, because I knew he must be hurting too right now.

“I’m going to have a talk with that man,” I growled. I wanted to talk some sense into him, or at least beat him up, but before I could do more than stand up, Violet pulled me back onto the bed.

“You can’t, Bells. This isn’t something you can fix. Chris’ issues aren’t with Martha, they’re with himself. He believes he isn’t good enough. I’ve known it, but I thought I could convince him otherwise. I just didn’t get enough time to make him see it,” Violet explained, wiping the tears from her face, a look of defeat in them that I didn’t like seeing. “If it hadn’t been Martha, it would have been some other random comment from another random nosy person, and Chris would’ve reacted the same.”

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