Page 282 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“No one will be disappointed, Little Warrior. The healing and progress you and Nenetl have made to get here is already something everyone in this room is proud of. If you need an extra month or year to jump that last bit, then we’ll still be here for it when it does happen,” Chris stated, making me nod my head.

“Your path, your timeline,” I added to make sure the point stuck.

Violet took a deep calming breath and nodded at us.

“We’re here! Sorry! We had to change Oliver,” Dad said, he and Mom running inside.

“Okay, it’s time, Violet.” Dr. Campbell stated from the center of the training arena. Cade and I hugged her quickly, then our entire family stood around the edge of the arena. We were all wearing tear away clothes, ready to shift with my sister, and run if she succeeded.

Violet and Chris walked to the middle, while Mom and Dad stayed off to the side a little, Oliver in Dad’s arms.

“I really hope she can do this,” Areli whispered, as she came to stand next to me.

“If not today, she will eventually,” I assured my baby sister. “Violet is a Salonen. We don’t give up.”

Areli took my hand and squeezed it. I looked around the arena, remembering everything everyone here had been through, and knowing my statement was more than earned. We were survivors. Warriors. Family.

Dr. Campbell began to guide Nenetl forward, giving her encouragement and talking her down whenever they panicked. I felt my feet twitch several times when Violet looked to be in pain, but I held back. Chris was beside her, giving her the support she needed as her body tried to remember how to shift.

But, something went wrong somewhere in the middle, and Violet began freaking out. People’s words of encouragement from the outside weren’t helping her, and I could see her losing the battle with her anxiety. She was stuck in the middle of a shift, whimpering and telling Dr. Campbell that she couldn’t do it, over and over, unable to process directions through her panic.

Suddenly, Chris was kneeling in front of her and yelling at everyone to be quiet.

They did, but now all I could hear was my sister’s pain-filled whimpers echoing through the training grounds, and I felt my eyes stinging with unshed tears. Once the arena was completely quiet, Chris cleared his throat, and held her pain-filled face tenderly between his hands.

“Why was the mermaid so good at math?”

I groaned, a sound that was repeated by several family members around the ring. I loved Chris and his Dad jokes, but now was not the time.

But, to everyone’s surprise, Violet stopped whimpering, and asked, “Why?”

“Because she had an algae bra on,” he answered, and amazingly, Violet began giggling.

“He’s gotten through her panic,” Cade whispered in awe.

And he had. Violet was no longer freaking out, and with Chris kneeling in front of her, Dr. Campbell continued to help Violet shift. After another agonizing three minutes, Nenetl was shakily standing on her four feet where my sister had knelt before.

A chorus of cheers went through the room, and Mom and Dad approached with Oliver so Nenetl could meet her pup in her form for the first time.

Cade pulled me to him and held me close as we watched Nenetl meet her pup. Tears fell as she rubbed her head against him and he reached out to grab a hold of her fur. Beside them,Chris removed his shirt and shifted, allowing Titan to meet his mate.

Tears were rolling from many of us as they were finally able to rub their noses together. Titan’s happiness filled my heart when he threw his head back and howled, his pride and happiness evident.

“Nenetl, if you’re up to it, I recommend you have a run with your family. Don’t over-exert. It doesn’t have to be a long run,” Dr. Campbell her. Her eyes glazed over as my sister mind-linked her response, and when they cleared she smiled and added, “I can hold onto your pup while you do. Don’t worry.”

We all shifted and ran to Nenetl, rubbing our bodies against her to show our happiness to see her. She had come a long way, and I would be forever happy that she didn’t give up after everything happened. She fought to stay with my sister, and despite having a long tough road to get her strength back, she never complained.

We ran around the pack grounds as a family. After a few hundred yards, everyone fell back a little, letting Nenetl and Titan lead us. This was their show, and we were just happy and proud to be a part of it. The couple nipped and played as they ran, and even Coyo was getting choked up by their display of love.

‘Nenetl’s getting tired. We’re heading back,’ Cory mind-linked me.

I acknowledged his words and relayed them to Cade, then we all turned around and trotted back to the training grounds. We all shifted back, and then we stood in line, impatiently, to be able to hug and congratulate Violet.

“We’re having a barbeque at our place to celebrate,” Dad told the group, taking Oliver from Dr. Campbell before leaving with Mom to get things ready.

Finally, it was our turn, and I couldn’t help but sniffle as I hugged my sister.

“I’m so proud of you,” I told her. “You’re the strongest woman I know.”

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