Page 31 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“Six in the morning. Usually, it’s everyone on their own for breakfast, but since we’ll have the pack house full, I’ll make sure there’s stuff available for them.”

“You don’t have to try so hard, Princess. We’ll be fine.” Cade smirked, standing. “I’ll go get everyone settled, and we’ll see you at dinner.”

I nodded, ignoring the nickname, even when John coughed to cover a laugh because my cheeks pinked at Cade using it so publicly and during an official meeting.

“Princess?” Hugh crossed his arms with a frown as he watched Cade and John’s retreating backs in the hallway.

“Shut up, Hugh, and don’t think we’re not going to talk about you getting out of work again. I still expect you to work the evenings.”

“A beta shouldn’t be doing manual labor. I bet neither of them will be out there tomorrow.”

I ignored his ridiculous comment, left the office and went to check in with Eric. He was ready and eager to teach the new workers. Checks on the crops earlier this week determined we were ready to begin harvesting, but I told him to hold off. Everyone could get started together tomorrow.

’Why are there so many strangers in my house!Martha screeched at me via mind link. I rolled my eyes at her dramatics. I had enjoyed how quiet and absent she was in the days Cory had stayed here.

‘I told you last week we were hosting a pack needing a place to stay; in exchange, they were helping us with the harvest.’

‘They’re homeless? Are we that desperate? What would my Brandon say to see the state of the pack now.’

‘Brandon’s dead, and we’re in this predicament because of his lack of proper paperwork.’The words sounded harsher than I meant, but they were true, nonetheless.‘These people were displaced in the California wildfires. They are a pack, and their alpha and beta are here, too. You’re leaving tomorrow anyway.’

Martha gasped and shut down the mind-link, making me sigh. I probably shouldn’t have said anything.

It was overdue,Coyo mentioned, surprising me. This was the second time she talked today, a record over the last year.I’m sorry. I’ll try to be more present.

Her guilt wasn’t necessary, and I was simply happy to see her being more vocal.

A few hours later, I went to the kitchen to see Lindsay giggling with a young, gorgeous African American man. I waited by the door, watching my part-time cook smile for the first time in almost a year. At only twenty-two, Lindsay lost both her parents and her little sister in the attack while they were trying to get to the pack house. She suddenly turned and blushed when she noticed me watching, and I grinned at both of them.

“Need help with anything?” I asked, walking closer.

“No, Luna. We’re almost done,” she answered.

“My name is Charles, Luna. Pleasure to meet you.” The young guy began to bow, but I waved my hand away.

“No need for that. You’re helping out the pack in one of the most important ways. If anything, I should be bowing to you. I’m mediocre in the kitchen at best,” I joked, trying to ease his nerves.

Thankfully, it worked, and I helped them cut up a few fresh veggies and make the dip while they handled the heavy dishes. It was something seeing them move around each other in the kitchen. It was like they had worked together for years.

When the dinner prep was done, I went to shower and change but decided to check on Adam and Violet first. My anger bubbled to the surface when I saw Cade leaning against Violet’s door. If he scared her...

But, after seeing Violet calm and relaxed with Cade, I was a little jealous of the ease with which he managed to get her comfortable. It took me a full week when I visited the twins to get her to look that comfortable in my presence, and earlier this week was the first time she’d hugged me.

I showered and changed, then grabbed two plates of food on a tray. On the way up, I ran into Cade, who promptly took the tray from me.

“I can carry it,” I said, somehow annoyed.

Aside from calling me a princess, he’d been nothing but a gentleman since he arrived. I didn’t understand why I was feeling so defensive around him. Old habits died hard, I guess.

“I know you can, Princess,” he answered me from in front. “But just because you can do it all, doesn’t mean you should.”

“Oh...”

His response caught me by surprise. I had been playing a bit of every role for almost a full year now and forcing others to do the same. It didn’t occur to me I had a little more help now, at least for the next two or three months.

I walked behind him up to the alpha floor, and I couldn’t figure out why he started stomping angrily, until I saw Chris’ head pop out of the room momentarily. He came and grabbed the tray, and Cade and I walked into the room behind him.

“Had fun today?” I asked Adam, brushing his hair back. His smile and the way his brown eyes looked happily up at me mademy heart melt. His fingers were covered in chocolate smudges, and there were a ton of candy bar wrappers on the nightstand next to his side of the room.

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