Page 235 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

‘Violet, can I talk to you and Chris in my room?’

Chapter Forty-Three

Chris

After all the shit Bells went through, it didn’t seem fair that her story was ending like this. She deserved a happy ending, not the heartbreak life seemed intent on throwing her way.

Violet was inconsolable, especially after we agreed to help Bells, and learned what she planned to do. Bells was her big sister, and they’d bonded so much over the last few months. They’d both struggled to overcome their demons, metaphorical and real ones.

We went to sleep knowing we had three days until life as we knew would come crashing down upon the Salonens, and life as they knew it would cease to exist.

“This can’t be happening. Why is this happening to her?” Violet cried in my arms well into the night.

“I wish I knew, Little Warrior.”

Bells was like a sister to me now, and it was also hurting me to know everything she was going through. I kept trying to thinkback, to figure out if there was something I could have done differently to help. To make her wolf stronger.

It didn’t make sense, though. Why was her wolf dying a year after her mate and pup died? Losing Adam was tough for her, but she was expecting twins. That alone should be enough to prevent her wolf from succumbing to the heartbreak that caused them to die. They had something to fight for.

Dr. Roswell and Dr. Campbell were both doing research to try to figure something out before it was too late, and I felt like I needed to do something, too. I owed Bells a lot and I loved her even more. I grew up without siblings, and kept all the Salonen at arm’s length growing up, so I could make my parents proud when Luna Celeste and Alpha Markus told them how seriously I took my duties. Bells was the closest thing I had to a sister, and I felt the need to protect her.

Shit. Cory was going to lose his shit when he discovered what Bells was planning.

Over the next two days, Violet and I followed Bells everywhere, making sure she was getting whatever she needed, occasionally having to carry her back to the pack house, and telling people she fell asleep while we were visiting someone, so they wouldn’t ask questions.

On the day she was going to tell everyone what was happening, we sat down to her left at the table when she called her family in for an emergency meeting. Dr. Campbell and Dr. Roswell showed up and sat to her right, confusing everyone in the room.

“I have some news I need to share with everyone,” Bells began, oddly calm. “As many of you may know, I have been very tired lately. Coyo’s been very tired, too.” She swallowed and took a deep breath. “After consulting with Dr. Campbell and Dr. Roswell, we’ve determined that Coyo is likely dying.”

The room exploded with talk and gasps. Some people shouted their questions at the doctors and Bells, while others began tocry. Bells tried to grab everyone’s attention but they weren’t listening to her, so I whistled to get everyone’s eyes back to the front of the room. Once they quieted, Bells gave me a small grateful smile and continued, “At the very best, if Coyo’s not dying, she’s becoming dormant, and the likelihood of her waking up is low.” She gave out a small snort before she said the next part of her speech. “As we all know, I don’t have the best of luck, so I’m not putting my eggs in a best-case scenario basket. Over the last two days, I’ve been getting my affairs in order, and making plans.”

“Why didn’t you come to me?” Luna Natalia asked from the side.

“You can’t heal a wolf who’s dying because she lost everything, Aunt Nat.” Bells smiled sadly at her.

“But, you don’t know that’s what this is. You’re making guesses,” she insisted.

“Educated guesses alongside two professionals,” Bells pointed out.

“Guesses nonetheless. What if you’re wrong, and I can heal you?”

“I—”

“Bells, mija, it doesn’t hurt to try,” Luna Celeste begged her oldest daughter.

“Give it a try, then,” Bells sighed.

The entire room went dead quiet as Luna Natalia walked up to the table. She placed a shaky hand on Bells’ face and her heart, and the entire room held its breath. Disappointment hit me like a brick in the heart when Luna Nat’s face crumpled, and she fell to her knees before Bells, tears running down her face.

“It’s okay, Tia. Some things are not meant to be healed.”

I had to blink back the sting of tears at Bells’ whispered words. Alpha Helios came and retrieved his crying mate, his own tearsfalling from his eyes as he tried, and failed to say anything to Bells.

“I know this isn’t what anyone wanted,” Bells continued. “Except, maybe Martha,” she mumbled under her breath. “But, it’s the reality of the current situation. As I mentioned, I’ve been doing some research over the last two days and I’ve decided what I want to do.”

I saw Violet taking her hand under the table as Bells let out a stuttered breath to gather her courage.

“In two days, I’m going to be put in a chemically induced coma, and in the event Coyo passes away before my pups are born, I’ll be placed on life support, so that my body can continue to function and nourish my babies long enough for them to be born.”

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