Page 90 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“You should go with Violet,” Cade suggested.

“No, I’ll be fine. Chris’ll protect me,” I argued. I didn’t need people hovering around me. Bells was a busy woman.

“There’s bound to be a crowd, Violet,” Cade pointed out “It’s almost six already.”

“I know, but I have to deal with it some way, right? At least, I’m too focused on the pain to freak out. Besides, I trust Chris. I know he’ll protect me.”

“Text me if you get bored,” Elim said, looking conflicted.

I nodded, wincing at the pain. I moved to slide off the bed when Chris bent down and put one hand around my waist and another under my legs. He picked me up, and I grunted in pain as the foot jarred.

“Sorry,” Chris whispered, looking as if he was the one in pain.

I couldn’t nod, and I couldn’t speak from where my teeth were grinding on each other trying to deal with the pain, so I opted to follow his example and grunted in agreement. I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned on his chest while Bells grabbed my purse. We walked out, stopping at Cade’s room so he could hand over the keys, and off we went.

When we got to the hospital, Chris put me in a wheelchair and kept me in a corner of the ER room as we waited to be seen. I was anxious at the start, especially whenever someone walked near us, but eventually, the pain and the adrenaline of dealing withmy anxiety proved too much, and I began falling asleep in the chair. I kept jarring awake, panicking over noises, until Chris put his arm protectively across the armrests of the chair to soothe my anxiety. I wrapped my arms around his one, and rested my head on his bicep, allowing myself to drift off.

It was almost evening by the time we got back to the pack grounds the next day. Chris suggested we go to another hospital, but I just wanted it to be over. I was exhausted, hungry, and irritable. Nenetl was still sleeping, and the pain medications they gave me for a human my size were doing nothing at all, since I was a werewolf with a metabolism that burned through it too quickly.

Chris parked and went around to lift me up, despite having been given crutches. I grunted, but I knew I wouldn’t win this one. There were too many stairs to get to the alpha floor.

Cade and Bells met us in my room, where I sighed with relief to be finally back in my own bed.

“How are you feeling, Vi?”

“Hangry,” I answered honestly, making Bells chuckle.

“I’ll bring you both dinner.”

Bells left, and we were left with Cade in the room, who was looking very guilty.

“You talk to Ada?” I asked.

“Yes. It seems she figured since I was spending all my time with you, I was interested and she was jealous.”

I snorted.

“Chris was there every time. She saw what she wanted. This isn’t on you, Cade. You were being a good friend.” I assured him then with a wink, I added, “Besides, we both know which Salonen sister you’re really interested in.”

Cade chuckled and a small blush covered his face.

“Am I really that obvious?” I only smiled in response, making Cade chuckle again. Once the moment was gone, he got a bitmore serious. “I’m taking Ada with me to Crescent Moon. The council will retrieve her from there, but your parents wanted to speak with her first.”

It was my turn to chuckle. Good luck with that. If Kara and Mom didn’t finish her, Atlas and Dad would.

“When are you off?”

“It was going to be two days from now, but considering everything, I’m leaving tomorrow.”

“Sorry.” I gave him a strained smile.

“Here.” Bells came in with a tray full of food. “Make sure you call Mom and Cory, Vi. They didn’t want to call you in the ER, but they were worried.”

“I will.”

“Alright, we’re going to let you guys rest. Cade has to pack, and I have to get back to work,” Bells said, pushing Cade out of the room.

Cade turned back and winked at me, making me chuckle.

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