Page 119 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“Do you want me to go talk to him?” Cade asked.

“No. That’s my responsibility. Just stay here for a moment.”

Cade humored me, letting me hug him for a few more minutes before I pulled back.

“I’ll grab us some late dinner. Want to eat in your room?” he asked. When I nodded, Cade bent down and kissed me. “It’ll all be okay, Princess.”

I nodded again, though I didn’t know how it would be. Hugh showed up a little while later.

“You wanted to see me, Luna?”

“Yes. Have a seat,” I said and waited for him to sit down. To his credit, Hugh looked nervous. “What were you coming to talk to about?”

“Oh, it-it’s not important.”

“It was important enough to burst into my office without knocking. What was it?”

“I heard about what happened to the grapes. I wanted to know how I could help.”

Well, that was a surprise. Since when did he volunteer to help?

“I’ll let you know once I figure out what to do,” I told him.

Hugh nodded and moved to stand.

“I’m not done.” He sat back down. “About what you wal—”

“I won’t tell anyone, Luna,” he blurted, stopping my next words.

“You won’t?”

“No. It’s no one’s business. You deserve to be happy, Luna.”

His words took me by surprise, and I guess it showed on my face because Hugh sighed.

“Listen, I know I’ve been a shit beta. I’ve noticed all the work Beta John and Alpha Cade do. I-I never had to do anything with Alpha Brandon. He gave me the title, and then all I had to do was hang out and enjoy the benefits. He and Gamma Lance always took care of everything.”

“That was never strange to you?” I asked.

“It was at first, but then I got used to it, you know? I know I was a jerk about it when Alpha Brandon died, but I just wanted to keep being comfortable.” Hugh had the decency to drop his eyes to the floor.

“I needed your help,” I replied quietly.

“I’m sorry. I know I haven’t treated you with the respect you deserve. I do see how hard you work, Luna. You always tried, even before the attack, but Alpha Brandon never treated you right. I should have said something, and I never did. I should have offered my support to you and I made myself a problem, instead. So, if you found someone now—if he makes you happy—I’ll keep your secret. You more than earned it after almost a decade of being miserable.”

“I—Thank you.”

I sat back in my chair, speechless. I thought I would have to negotiate or use my luna command to make him keep this to himself. I never expected this.

Hugh nodded, and after seeing that I had nothing to say, he stood and walked to the door. Before he shut it behind him, he turned and said, “I’ll try to be a better beta.”

I sighed when I was alone again. While his words meant something, I was beginning to feel like it was too little too late. I still had no clue how I would get out of this one.

I was putting away everything on my desk when I heard a knock on the door, and the final nail in the coffin for this shit day walked in.

“Luna, may I come in?” Lydia’s soft voice flowed into the room as she cracked the door open. She was the woman who ran the day care, and I tried to remember if I told her Adam wouldn’t be in today.

“Lydia! Come in! How can I help you?” I asked.

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