Juliet
My uncle came through the teleporter with Jack and Kubra early in the morning, luckily before Raas showed his face. Chris lifted my face and kissed me awake. I complained, and he picked me up like I weighed nothing. I was at least two meters off the ground. His soft fur, broad chest, and comfy lap had kept me warm and cozy for the few hours we could sleep. "I'm sorry. I wouldn't have been able to help you relax if I didn't turn. Your uncle is here." He put me down.
My dad and Louis were greeting Samuel while I yawned, "What is wrong with me?"
"You're pregnant," he smiled, with a smug look on his face, "With my baby."
"Let's not forget who made that happen." He laughed with that mouth full of teeth I had a hard time looking away from. Uncle Samuel was staring at Chris, taking in his enormity. The muscles and the big black fur tail. His massive paws and the vampire/wolf-like face. It was something to get used to, even if we were also not human.
Sam came closer and opened his arms, "Not too grown up to be affectionate anymore, I hope." I fell onto him. He patted me on the back, "How are you, Juliet?" I couldn't answer because I didn't know. "Introduce me to Chris. Your other husbands I've met," he said, looking down at me, "You really know how to work fast." I shook my head. He held out a hand to Chris, who changed back and greeted him.
He turned to Michael, "Get her something comfortable to sit on. Why haven't you done it yet?" Michael got up slowly, visibly tired, mumbling as he walked off… Kubra and Jack in tow. Had they even slept at all?
"Well, I suppose congratulations are in order. About the baby," Sam pulled himself together. Always dressed fancy in his weird English suits. Plaid, tweed, and wool. Burgundy tie and matching pocket handkerchief. My uncle was shorter than my father and wore ankle-high brown boots that weren't fully fastened, making him look edgy yet friendly. He walked over to Marcus and sat down next to him. He whispered into his ear. We all knew who was in charge, after all.
The one who held his niece's life in his hands.
Five-ish months later.
It was a stressful day. Charlene was giving birth in our house. We couldn't take her to a hospital because we didn't know how the baby would look once it was born. It could either be a human or a werewolf pup and change whenever. My mom was playing midwife. Ben was in there, and Carl. My dad and Ben's friends were waiting in the lounge to help at a minute's notice. My presence was a bit redundant, but she wanted me, and all I did was hold her hand while she leaned into Ben behind her. Charlene was already such a great mother. The baby came out as a human girl and, a few minutes later, changed into a cub and back again. The four men, even David, were ecstatic. Everyone congratulated Charlene, and it took away some of the shock after seeing her baby transform in her arms. Louis was there to read her every step of the way; we needed to know if she would freak out.
The werewolves didn't like their males mated with humans because the outcome didn't produce a cub one hundred percent of the time; with their numbers so low, I could understand the unspoken rule. Ben was there like us—a kid from a convicted parent sent there— and they were letting it go.
The fact that the baby was a girl was a plus point for Charlene. It meant the two of them would probably only have girls, which put Benjamin in a good light with their queen. If the first baby changed, almost ninety-five percent of their kids would be werewolf girls; that was if Ben and Charlene could make it work.
There was also a lot of politics surrounding the werewolf men and whether they would have to go back to the home planet to be subject to some female. The three werewolves in the home didn't share too many details with us, and neither did Nick.
Nevertheless, I thought about Sita a lot those days. Chris and I phoned Nicholas once a week to share information and stories and to just chat and catch up. Nick had not heard from Sita in almost six months. Why she didn't go back to her home planet and start her own family was beyond me? I still didn't want to think about her and still hated her, but for Nick's sake, I tried to keep it together when he spoke about her.
That day was our turn to call him.
"Yeah, Nick, it's a girl," Chris said into the microphone.
"That is wonderful news. I'm so happy. How is Juliet's pregnancy going?"
"Oh, it's going well, thanks, Uncle Nick. Just a few more months. Due date Christmas Eve."
"I can't wait to hear all about it, Juliet, and I am glad you sound well… I have something I would like to say to Chris… Would you mind giving us some privacy?"
I reluctantly got up, but Chris pulled me down on his bed, putting his finger to his lips, "Yeah, Nick, you can speak. What's up?"
"It's Sita." Red flags flapped mockingly in my face, and my chest felt instantly tight, making it hard to breathe. Chris rubbed his hand over my thigh, watching me closely. "She is somewhere in France… I heard from her about a week ago when she said she was making her way to you." I jolted up and disappeared. Chris grabbed at me. His reflexes were a bit quicker than before. By then, he knew me so well, taking hold of my upper arm and pulling me onto him. He fell back onto the bed. I braced with outstretched arms. Chris rolled me over so I was pinned underneath him. Jealousy made me turn into a green-eyed monster. Tears burned the backs of my eyes.
"Why?" Chris asked, clipped.
"She had heard about the baby and the two men in Juliet's life. So, I think she has changed her mind about you two. The thing is, I never did get to tell you all there is about werewolf mating and rituals."
I squirmed under Chris, trying to pin me, talk to Nick, and keep himself from pressing on the baby bump, "I can handle Sita… It doesn't really change anything. So, don't worry."
"Okay… Don't tell Juliet we don't want her to have a spell again. Being so far along is already beyond anybody's expectations."
"Mmmh, mmm, I hear you, Nick. Talk later." I was going nuts under him. He tossed the phone onto the bed. His lips came down on my face, well in my eye… It took him a second, but he found my mouth, locking our lips. He kissed me hard and didn't stop. Tears were trailing down my temples… I didn't want to see her or have her anywhere near Chris.
"Juliet, calm down… I have no intention of ever speaking to her… we can send… Marcus."
I paused my rant, able to breathe again, appearing under him. I hated that I was so emotional about every little thing. The baby was messing with me. The hormones pushed me over my limits too quickly. I dragged his mouth onto mine, kissing him. I tossed him over. Chris gladly went with me so I could straddle him, still heaving from anger, "If she steps foot on this land… I will kill her. Do you understand me!" He chuckled, a smug look on his face. He ran his hands over my shoulders and down my arms; gooseflesh covered my body as he continued. "Is the woman mental… What if she did something that ties you two together?"
"She is my biggest mistake… I don't even think about her. If there was any kind of tie, I would've known."
"Why don't you brand me as well?" he shook his head, "Why not?"
"Because no one has said anything about what it would do to you. I love you too much to put you through that."
Hearing him say he loved me was still surreal, even after all those months of waking up and seeing him. It was my biggest want come true… Then I thought about that stupid woman again, "You got to kill Jerry. Why can't I do the same to your mistake?"
"Are you going to kill Nick's granddaughter?"
My heart sank, knowing I would probably never be able to do it to Nick. I jumped off him, screaming. He manifested, teleported, and blocked the door. He picked me up, holding me far away from his body to avoid my kicking feet. Chris was so big my legs didn't even reach him. He licked his lips, "Oh, sweetheart… You're making it so much better." I laughed, hearing him talk like that. It wasn't at all like him to try and be sexy or dominant. He slapped the door closed with his tail, locked it, and took the key out. Chris knew how to make me forget all my problems, and my lips found his.
***
Sita: France
My laptop was open on my bed in front of me. I was in my hotel room in Lyon, France. The footage of Chris manifested and being carried into the house played on the screen; after a few minutes, he returns to human form. I was busy editing the feed and cutting up the whole thing, so all the significant parts or secrets were in separate files. I planned to send it in increments to keep the press interested. I had the footage of Juliet in our house with her legs and arms ripped up, sitting across from Chris on the couch. I had all the footage of them in the car.
Hearing how she had taken a second husband was a shock. At first, I thought she married Louis and Chris. Then I heard Chris wasn't even in the equation; it was a man named Marcus. My crisis came when I heard Chris had decided to join them; they were all together, and I wanted to know what was going on. I was sick of Juliet having everything while I was alone and unhappy. If she had never come into our lives, Chris and I would still be together.
The business card with the reporter's number was lying next to my phone. I was putting the first file on a burner to send to him. At first, I only sent him pictures to see if he would bite. He didn't. Thought I was playing him. It wasn't until we met and I showed him the footage of Chris that he almost offered me his soul if he could be the one to leak the story.
I wanted to talk to Chris. I needed to see him. Being away from him for so long had brought me back full circle to our dating days, and I was convinced we could try again. I walked out onto the terrace of my hotel room and sat down at a little round table, staring at the city skyline. It was beautiful and romantic and spanned into the distance. The change of scenery and finally getting a chance to travel had given me a lot of perspective. I knew most of what happened was my fault… but… I had found out in the meantime why I was the way I was. Nicholas had seen it fit to send me document after document of where we came from and what was really going on. I was supposed to be on another planet where, like Juliet, I would have more than one husband. On Palmyra, I would be in charge and treated like a queen. Although I wanted Chris with me, I had no expectations for him to toe the line.
Sipping on my wine, I looked at my phone, going over and over the message I wanted to send him.
Me { Christopher, do you remember when we first met? Our first date. We got caught in the rain. You had bought me flowers, and they were soaked. We laughed as we kissed, trying to hide under a tree. It has only been six months since our divorce, and I want to take it back. I was stupid, and I know more now. Please meet with me. We haven't even spoken since that night. }
My plan was simple. Chris would eventually go home… to wherever he came from. He didn't belong on Earth. He was the only one of his kind, and there was a reason. The vampires had their own plans, and I didn't want to be there when Qadir took over the Earth. There were no prospects for me. I pressed send. I stared at the screen. Delivered… Two grey ticks… Online… Two blue ticks. My lips lifted into a smile I couldn't contain. I didn't think he would read it. I was getting a little closer to my goal.
***
Juliet
Smiling, I looked up at the three men laying the roof on Charlene's house. Being in their manifested states, they had worked so fast that building a whole house had only taken a few months. I often wondered how the werewolf planet would be with so many women in charge of households, where strong men could do and finish things quickly. The little baby in my arms was fussing as I patted her back. She was lying over my shoulder, her head resting on the crook of my neck. I loved playing house, and days like that were the best. The table with water and drinks in a bucket was under a tree with chairs, where we could come and watch the guys work. My mom and dad were inside the house with Carl. Charlene was taking a bath and a nap. I didn't mind taking care of Miné.
The phone on the table buzzed. I looked over to see Chris's screen light up. Going over to pick it up, I tried soothing the baby, bending my knees, and rocking her when she complained. The locked screen revealed the name of the messenger. After we spoke to Nick, I had some time to get used to the idea that Sita might make contact, so I wasn't caught off guard seeing the name on Chris's phone. Unlocking the passcode, I went into the app and saw the message highlighted at the top. Opening it up, I prepared myself… I was fine until I saw multiple messages going back and forth from her to him.
Scrolling up to the top, I read the first message she sent him. Every word punched me in the gut. Thinking of them kissing in the rain sent my blood into a frenzy. The little girl on my chest made me suck in a breath and put down the phone. "Marcus!" Louis and Chris didn't react. Marcus was there in a split second, worried lines on his forehead. I handed him the baby and fell to my knees. I reached for the lesion on my neck, scorching my skin even further, stinging me like a jellyfish. I felt it crawling over my skin, covering me even more. Screeching and writhing from the pain, my bare knees dug into the gravel, grating my flesh.
I looked up to see if Louis was affected. "Chris!" I yelled.
Louis had passed out and was falling off the roof, sliding down the tiles they had just laid down. Chris was so focused on me he didn't even notice Louis. He needed to teleport to catch him in time. Chris put him on the table and came to stand over me. He wanted to pick me up, but I slapped his hand away. Chris was confused and hurt. It wasn't his fault. I wanted to take it back. Louis let out a loud groan, gritting his teeth against the pain as his face contorted. "Aahgh! Help him." My parents and Carl were standing at the door, taking in the scene.
Michael appeared, and the familiar little black tube stung my neck. The "swooshing" sound made my body limp. His strong arms enveloped me. I was off the ground and away from everything.
***
Chris
I couldn't understand what was going on. Juliet was fine a moment ago. I sighed, looking around us to see what made her that angry. My phone wasn't where I left it. I cursed, seeing my messages open in the conversation with Sita. Marcus covered the baby's ears. "Did you tell her you were talking to Sita?" I pushed the phone into his face. Marcus laughed lightly, shaking his head slowly. Louis complained at the table when Jack wanted to push a tube into his neck.
"She has been very emotional… since going into her second trimester... How could you do this? You said you would tell her… And why are you laughing?" I asked, irritated that Marcus thought it was an excellent time to show his teeth and dimples. Marcus never laughed, and when he did, it was so rare it was almost something to witness. I stared at him as he turned and walked up to the main house… still laughing.
S— there was so much going on I didn't know who to focus on, "Warden!? Warden?!" The guy appeared out of nowhere with a sandwich in his hand, biting into it. He shook his head.
"Where did Michael take her?"
"This is what you get for falling for a child."
"Don't say that!" I yelled at him, "Do you want to make it worse or help?"
A force hit me from the side. I went flying, skidding over the gravel. I had to manifest again to compensate for the power. Marcus's manifested face was distorted as he attacked me with one of his weapons. We went into a full-blown fight. He didn't let up and was fast. We had never gone at each other without rules. The usually disciplined Marcus was out of control. His fighting was better than mine. His dodging thwarted me at every turn. "How could you do this to her?" he screamed. "Did you see what happened to her… It's your baby. I never thought you were here for the right reasons… You should never have entertained the idea of talking to that woman. Why haven't you blocked her? You know how Juliet feels about you!" All this, he said while I got my ass handed to me.
"If I didn't, we wouldn't have known what she was planning." I gritted out the words as he punched him in the gut. He didn't like that and upped his game. There was a stab in my ribs a few more times and a shooting pain through my body. When he missed and hit the ground, you could hear the "clang" and "thwack" of the metal rod hitting the rocks. Marcus was bluffing that night in the club. He could totally have given me a go and taken Juliet. Jumping up, I utilized every move he had taught me in the last five months. I took back some ground, using my ability to catch him in a hold he could not get out of, "This is as much your fault as mine."
Michael appeared next to us with Juliet in his arms, passed out. "Are you done? She's fine! She didn't cross over again… It's only her shoulder. The baby is fine, too." Michael walked over, hesitating to give her to us. His eyes lingered on her face a little too long. A jealous growl escaped Marcus. I released him, and we both came back to human. "Should I rather take her to Samuel for the remainder of her pregnancy?" Michael whispered.
Louis pushed past us and grabbed her out of his arms, "No! Get lost, Michael! Don't let me tell them what happened on the farm."
Michael's silence was enough, and Marcus and I glared at him. He lifted up his hands, "Do you think he would let me live if it was something like that?" Those watchers were quick to lift up their hands in surrender, but they had the most power over us.
Louis held her tight and carried her inside, struggling all the way. I followed, wanting to help, but when he climbed the stairs, I stopped. I didn't go up there unless I was invited. He slammed the door. I sat down on the bottom stair, rubbing my hands over my face and through my hair. I waited… Marcus came over with a medkit, cleaning up all the wounds I didn't even know I had. "What did you mean… You never thought I was here for the right reasons?"
"I shouldn't have said it… It's just… You don't want to make this official… And she keeps wondering when you're going to leave."
"Any one of us can leave at any time. A paper or a branding doesn't solidify this."
He sighed heavily, "You're right."
"You haven't even told her what's going on. Or what Samuel and you discussed after the meeting. You lied to her, and she is trying so hard. It's building up," I argued.
"We can't, Chris. Not before the baby comes. Maybe not even after. I'm actually glad you're here. She needs one outlet."
It seemed like Marcus had more to say. "What?"
"Are we going to talk about how Michael looks at her? The embassy and his comment just now?"
"I can't think about that right now. He isn't even in the picture. As long as we are with her… I don't think what he wants matters. You saw Louis's reaction. There is no way."
"Then we best keep her happy."
"Sita isn't helping. I know that. And I do feel responsible."
"No… I'm sorry, Chris. We all have a past that will catch up to us eventually."