Page 264 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“When will we expect an answer from you?” he asked, coming closer.

“Not soon. I’d like to enjoy my family time for the foreseeable future,” Dad replied.

“It wouldn’t take up all of your time.”

“So you say,” Dad chuckled.

“What’s going to happen to her?” Violet asked.

“She’s been convicted of attempted murder. She’ll be imprisoned and then banished from this country, once she’s served her sentence.”

“Not death?” Chris asked, astonished.

“She didn’t kill anyone,” Councilman Esiah replied.

“So, she’s being rewarded for failing? How’s that fair?” Chris growled.

“If you want our laws to change, young man, convince your previous alpha to accept the invitation to join the council,” Alpha Esiah said, dragging Ada behind him, while she pleaded for Cade to save her.

“You’ve been asked to join the council, Dad?” Cory asked, coming out of the kitchen with one of the twins in his arms.

“Yes, and I have no intention of joining,” Dad replied.

“Why not?” I asked.

Being part of the werewolf council was a position many coveted after giving up their alpha position to the next generations.

“Because I’d like to enjoy my family. Besides, we have things to prepare for,” he reminded us.

“Come on. Let’s not get caught up on that, right now. Let’s enjoy some happy times. We’ve got over twenty years before that arrives. Let’s enjoy our lunch in the meantime,” Mom said, leading us all into the dining room.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Violet

“Are you ready for tonight?” Bells asked as we walked back to Crescent Moon.

We spent the morning with Areli and David in Cade's temporary house, which he was now using as a headquarters, finalizing the layout of their new pack house. Or rather, the house that was to be attached to the pack house. Cade wanted a place where he and Bells could have privacy, but didn’t want to be far from the pack house, so they were making their new house as an addendum. It would have its own private entrance and yard, but one side of the house would have a short hall leading to the pack house.

I was mostly along for the ride. David hired a few contingent workers from Crescent and Guardian Moon with construction experience, to finish the project ahead of schedule. One of those people was Chris, so when Bells asked me to come along, I was more than happy to accept. I liked seeing him hauling wood andsupport beams as he worked. My man looked good with a tool belt and a hard hat. These pregnancy hormones were no joke.

“I am. I’m a little nervous, too,” I admitted.

Tonight was the full moon. It was taking place in Guardian Moon tonight, and Mom and Dad had a dinner party planned before they had to head over to run with the pack.

“Chris said he has it all planned, but won’t tell me what.”

“Aw, he’s trying to be romantic!” Bells said.

“I feel like waiting to accommodate Dad made us build the night up too much. What if it doesn’t live up to our expectations?” I told her, voicing my fears out loud for the first time.

“It won’t,” Bells said, making me more nervous. “It will surpass anything you could possibly think it should be. Vi, there’s no way to describe the way it feels when your soul connects to his.”

“Bu-But we’re not fated mates, Bells.”

“It shouldn’t matter. You’re binding your souls together and that's a beautiful thing, when you’re in love.”

I didn’t miss her adding that last part to her sentence. It was one more reminder of what she’d gone through at the hands of Brandon. At least, I knew she was getting therapy now, and that would help her heal from it all.

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