Page 170 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

I sat up, my breathing was fast and I was sweating, but I was awake.

‘Bells?’

‘I’m okay. I-I think,’I replied calmly for once.

‘Do you want me to stay up with you a bit?’

‘No. N-no I think I’ll be okay to go back to sleep,’I assured him.

‘I love you, Bells.’

‘I love you, too.’

After I cut off the mind-link, I sent a text to Violet.

Me

Can you look after my monkey tomorrow? I had a bad night of sleep.

I turned off the alarm to help prepare for breakfast but set another one for a little later just to double-check Violet was able to look after Adam. If she couldn’t, I would have to get up.

I fell asleep again, dreamless this time, thankfully. I woke up to my alarm, but when I saw Violet’s text letting me know not to worry, I shut off the alarm and went back to sleep. I had no pack. I had no duties anymore.

I woke up to pounding on my door. I couldn’t tell what time it was. The curtains were shut and I couldn’t even see if the sun was out. I slumped back in my bed, hoping whoever was knocking would go away.

“Bells! Please open the door, Princess,” Cade’s worried voice reached me.

“I’m trying to sleep.”

“It’s noon, I’m worried. Please talk to me,” he pleaded through the closed door.

“I’m fine. Just let me sleep,” I whined. There was silence for a bit, and then a big sigh from the other side of the door.

“I’ll bring you food in a little while.” His tone was defeated, and I hated hearing it in him.

It felt like I had only fallen asleep for a few minutes, before I woke up to knocking again.

“Bells, it’s five. I have food. Open the door or I’ll bust it down. I’m worried. Your sister is worried,” Cade tone told me he was serious, so I groaned and got out of bed.

I unlocked the door, but walked back to bed and crawled back under the covers.

“Bells, talk to me,” Cade growled as he stormed into the room, placing a plate of food on the nightstand.

“I’m trying to sleep,” I argued.

“You’ve slept a long time.”

“I don’t have a pack anymore. I can sleep as long as I want,” I argued from under the blankets.

The blankets were pulled from me and I glared at Cade. My anger faded away when I saw the worried look on his face. I sighed and closed my eyes.

“I just want to sleep, Cade. Aren’t I allowed to have a fucking pity party for myself for at least one day?”

“You can’t shut everyone out.”

“Just for one day. Haven’t you ever wanted to be alone for one day?” I asked.

“It’s not healthy, Bells. You need to let it out.”

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