Page 245 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“I don’t think they’re second-chance mates, Violet. I think they were meant to be mates from the start.”

I showed her the pages from the new email.

“Why would this mean—”

“I texted John. Cade’s wolf didn’t start having issues until almost two weeks ago. That’s when Bells started having issues, too. The dayafterBells destroyed the altar.” I pointed out and Violet paled as she followed my logic. “It’s bond sickness, Violet. It’s eight years of bond sickness. This is why she’s so close to death, so quickly. This is why Cade’s wolf can’t heal a broken leg, either. Their wolves are dying, because they have an incomplete bond that was hijacked for eight years.”

Violet’s eyes unfocused as she started mind-linking. When they cleared, she nodded at me, determination filling that face I loved so much.

“Let’s go save my sister.”

My little warrior tried to hurry down the stairs, but after the first fall, I wasn’t risking it, so I made her slow down. She tried to remind me she was pushed, but I wasn’t having it. We should have taken the elevator, but she didn’t want to wait.Still, I wasn’t going to save one sister, just to lose another. I knew I was overbearing in my need to protect Violet and our pup sometimes, but I couldn’t help it. They were my life. When we got to the SUV, I made sure she buckled herself up, despite the fact it was only a ten-minute drive once we exited the pack grounds.

We texted John and told him we were coming over. Thankfully, the guards let us through without stopping us, and we made it to the double wide Cade was using as a temporary home. John was waiting for us outside, and he took us to see our friend immediately.

Cade looked worse than I thought he would. He was pale and unconscious when we arrived. His chest was heaving erratically, either from a nightmare or from the pain. It took John more than a few tries to shake him awake, making the poor man panic the longer he failed to wake him.

Cade groaned when he woke, and without bothering to explain, I asked, “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

I was warmed by the lack of hesitation in his answer, even if he looked confused to see us there.

“Then, you’re coming with us. I think I know how to fix your wolf,” I told him.

“Wha—” Cade looked at John, who crossed his arms.

“They asked. What was I going to do? Lie? They’re our friends,” John defended, but then turned back to us. “I thought your aunt was coming to heal him?”

“She can’t heal what’s wrong with him...” Then, because I remembered he had a broken leg, I added. “Well, not the important part. She can heal his leg after we deal with his wolf. Violet, go open the back door of the SUV,” I instructed as I went to pick up Cade.

“I can walk,” Cade argued, trying to push away my hands.

“No, you can’t,” John countered.

“I don’t need people to see me being carried out like a pup,” Cade growled.

John huffed, and grabbed the blanket, throwing it over his alpha and best friend.

“Any more arguments, you stubborn asshole?” he challenged.

Cade grumbled something under his breath, but didn’t argue, so I picked him up and deposited him in the back seat, apologizing when I jostled his leg in the awkward angle it took to get him inside. John climbed in the back with him, and I jumped back into the driver’s seat and drove toward the hospital. When I put the car in park at the entrance, I took the blanket again and draped it over my friend. If a silly blanket helped him keep his dignity, who was I to deny him?

Thankfully, Dr. Roswell was waiting inside, a look of consternation on her face.

“Violet, what’s going on?” she asked.

“You have the bed ready?” Violet didn’t bother to answer her question.

“I do.”

“Good. I’ll explain inside her room.”

“Room? Who’s room?” John asked.

“Bells’ room.” Violet answered.

“What’s wrong with Bells?” Cade peeled the blanket off himself in a hurry, worry on his pale face. “Put me down, Chris. What’s wrong with Bells?”

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