Page 49 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“That’s going to bite you in the butt one day, you know?”

“Possibly, but not today.” I winked and got to work.

After helping with breakfast, I set plates for Chris and Violet in the warmer and went to wake up my little monkey. We ate a quick breakfast before everyone started making their rounds through the breakfast buffet, and then I walked him to daycare.

I got a morning greeting from Violet via text, letting me know she was in the Luna office, so I walked to pick up the plates I had ready for them, only to find them gone.

“Charles, what happened to the plates? Those were for my sister and her guard.”

“Sorry, Luna. Alpha Cade came by and asked for plates to be made, and when I told him you already had them ready, he took them with his breakfast.”

I walked into the dining room, wondering if Cade had worked a miracle and gotten Violet to eat out here again, but they weren’t there. I headed to my old office, and found the door open.

“Morning, Bells!”

“Morning, I was checking to see that you got the plates I prepared,” I said, taking a look around the room.

Boxes were stacked high to the right, the one Violet was working on was sitting on a chair next to her. Across the desk from her sat Cade, who was eating breakfast comfortably, as if he did this every day. To his right, sat Chris, eating his own plate of food, somehow still finding a way to act as my sister’s safety buffer while eating, considering he was sitting between Cade and the only path to my sister. “I’ll let you guys eat.”

“Why don’t you join us?” Violet asked.

My eyes flickered to Cade, who was still digging into his hashbrown as if unbothered by the world.

“No, thanks. You guys enjoy. I already ate.”It’s not like there’s any more room in that desk for me to sit,I thought.

I went back to help Charles clean up the kitchen when Martha showed up and ruined my once-promising morning.

“I’m heading out shortly. Make sure not to ruin my son’s house. I can’t believe you let these people in. As if your brother’s warriors hadn’t been enough. How’s an old lady supposed to feel safe with so many unmated men around?”

“They are guests, Martha. Treat them with respect.”

“Well, I’m glad I’ll be gone while they’re here. I could barely sleep a wink last night.” She shivered and I rolled my eyes, but then I smiled sweetly at my mother-in-law.

“Don’t worry, you’ll still get to know most of them. They’re here for a few months.”

In usual Martha manner, she showed her displeasure at my decision very clearly. Her fake smile turned all the way down and her eyes were spitting mad.

“Why? They’re not joining the pack are they?”

“I told you. They were displaced by the wildfires. Their alpha is looking for a new property to relocate their ranch.”

“Oh, yes, I saw that man. Hard to believe he’s an alpha,”

“And why’s that?” I growled, getting defensive for my old friend. “He’s a good leader.”

“He doesn’t even have a ranked aura.”

“H—” I stopped. Come to think of it, I haven’t felt an aura from him.

Not from John or any of them, either,Coyo pointed out.

How is that possible?

Maybe they’re good at hiding it?

All of them? Isn’t that weird? Why would you hide your aura from your own pack?Something wasn’t adding up.

Don’t know.

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