Page 171 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“I don’t want to,” I answered, my bottom lip quivering.

Cade sighed and pulled me out of bed as if I weighed nothing. He sat down on the bed and cradled me in his arms. I huffed, but couldn’t deny I felt better just being hugged.

“Then, we’ll just hug for a little while,” he conceded.

I let it be, knowing this was one of the last times I’d get to hold him. I was the one that finally broke the silence a while later.

“How many are you taking?”

Cade tensed at my question, then sighed.

“Ninety-five.”

A lump formed in my throat. That was more than half the pack.

“Can you email the list?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even.

“I can say no, Bells. These people haven’t appreciated anything you’ve—”

“I don’t need you to fight my battles, Cade. These people have been through the wringer. They deserve the stability you’re offering,” I cut him off.

“Will you come with me?”

And there it was. The question that I’d been avoiding.

“What am I supposed to do in your pack?” I answered bitterly.

“Be my luna. I love you, Bells. I want you to take me as your chosen mate.”

I pulled away from his hug; his warmth. I couldn’t face him, so I picked at the plate next to me as I finally answered.

“I can’t Cade.”

“You don’t love me?” The hurt in his voice almost made me turn around and give in to him.

“Love has nothing to do with it. I’m a disgraced ex-luna who couldn’t keep a small pack afloat. Who couldn’t keep her pup alive before it was even born. I can’t face any of them. Not my ex-pack, not yours. I’m a joke.”

“The fuck you are! You’re the hardest-working woman I’ve ever met. You’ve given them your blood, sweat and tears and they’ve thrown it away. They’re the ones who are a joke. My pack admires you, Bells. They would accept you as my mate.”

Cade pulled me back into his arms, and I closed my eyes, tears threatening to fall as I breathed in his scent.

“I love you. Say yes. Come home with me. I’ll treat you like the queen you are. You’ll never have to do anything you don’t want ever again,” he whispered.

His words were the cold bucket of ice over my wavering resolve. I pushed him away and stood, pacing as memory after memory of Brandon telling me I didn’t have to do anything flashed into my head. Memories of the anger on his face, telling me that I was just there to please him and bear him a pup. No. I wouldn’t be that person ever again.

I stopped pacing and crossed my arms, making my decision.

“I will never submit to an alpha ever again. I won’t be anyone’s luna ever again.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Cade

The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I made a mistake. Her soft surrender turned to stone, and then I heard words that broke my heart.

“I will never submit to an alpha ever again. I won’t be anyone’s luna ever again.”

“Bells, that’s not what I—I’m not like him. I love you,” I pleaded. I didn’t care if I had to grovel. I knew she loved me. She showed me every time we were together. I understood she couldn’t say the words after the mate she got, but I was willing to wait.

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