53. Sita's Back

Juliet

The following morning, my uncle came through the teleporter with Jack and Kubra.

I woke up with Chris kissing me. I complained, and he picked me up like I weighed nothing. I was at least two meters off the ground. His soft fur had kept me warm. “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have been able to keep you comfy if I didn’t turn. Your uncle is here.” He put me down.

My dad and Louis were greeting him as I yawned again. “What the hell is wrong with me?”

“Your pregnant.” He smiled at me. “With my baby.” Theirs a smug look on his face.

“Let’s not forget who made that happen.” He laughed with that mouth full of teeth that 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-like face. It was something to get used to.

Even if we were also not human.

He came walking up to us. He 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 can’t answer because I don’t know. “Introduce me to Chris. Your other husbands I’ve met….” 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.” He pulled himself together. Always looking fancy in his weird English suits. Plaid, tweed, and wool. Burgundy tie and matching pocket handkerchief.

My uncle is shorter than my father and wore ankle-high brown boots that weren’t fully fastened, making him look edgy yet friendly.

Walking over to Marcus, he sat down next to him and whispered into his ear. We all knew who was in charge after all.

The one that held his niece’s life in his hands.

***

Five’ish months later.

Juliet

It was a stressful day. Charlene was giving birth in our house. We could not take her to a hospital because we didn’t know how the baby would look once it was born. It could either be a werewolf and change whenever. Or, it would be just human.

My mom was playing midwife. Ben was in there and Carl. My dad and all 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. She was already such a great mother. The baby came out 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. It took away some of the shock… seeing her baby transform. 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 the fact that their males mated with humans because it didn’t produce a hundred percent werewolf ratio. But because Ben was there just like us. A kid from a convicted parent that was sent there… They were letting it go.

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.

Sita came to mind a lot those days.

Chris and I phoned Nicholas once a week to talk. Share information and stories… just catch up. Nick had not heard from Sita in almost six months. Why she didn’t just go back to the home planet and start her own family was beyond me?

I still didn’t want to think about her. Still hated her.

That day was our turn to call him. The fact that the baby was a girl was a plus point for Charlene…

It meant that the two of them would probably just have girls, which put Benjamin in a good light with their queen. If the first baby changed, it was almost ninety-five percent that all their kids would be werewolf girls.

That was if Ben and Charlene could make it work.

“Yeah, Nick, it’s a girl,” Chris said into the phone.

“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 on his mouth.

“Yeah, Nick, you can speak. What’s up?”

“It’s Sita.” Red flags were waving. My chest 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 that 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, grabbing my upper arm and pulling me onto him. He fell back onto the bed. I braced with outstretched arms.

Chris rolled over me so that I was pinned underneath him.

Jealousy made me turn into a green-eyed monster. The 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 just all there is about werewolf mating and rituals.”

I squirmed under him. He was 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. In my eye… It took him a second, but he found my mouth.

Locking lips, he kissed me hard and didn’t stop. I was crying… I didn’t want to see her. Or have her anywhere near Chris.

“Juliet, calm down… I have no intentions of ever speaking to her… We can send… Marcus.” I paused… breathing again. Coming back, appearing under him, a tear rolled out the corner of my eye down my temple. I hated that I was that emotional. The baby was messing with me. The hormones pushed me over my limits so quickly. I dragged his mouth onto mine, kissing him. I tossed him over. Chris gladly went with me. Until he was under me. I straddled him. Still heaving from the 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 down my arms, and gooseflesh covered my body.

“What the hell is wrong with her… 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 have 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 it was still surreal. After all these months… of waking up and seeing him was… my biggest want came 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 sunk. I jumped off him, screaming. He manifested, teleported, and blocked the door, picking me up kicking at him. Chris was so big that my legs didn’t even reach him. He licked his lips. “Oh, sweetheart… You’re just making it better.” I laughed at 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 and locked it taking out the key, my lips finding his.

***

Sita: France

My laptop was open in front of me. Lying on my bed in my hotel room in Lyon, France. The footage of Chris manifested and being carried into the house was playing on the screen.

He was in our house on the bed and phased back to human form.

I was busy editing the feed. I had cut up the whole thing so that everything was in separate files. That I could send in increments when I wanted. I had the footage of Juliet in our house… 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 mix. It was a man named Marcus… But Chris had decided to join them.

They were all together… I needed to know what was going on. It was a turning point for me. I was sick of Juliet having everything. I was alone and unhappy.

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 had just 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 us dating. The fact that we could try again.

I walked out onto the terrace of my hotel room. Sat at a little round table. The city skyline spanned out in front of me.

I knew everything 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. That I was supposed to be on another planet… Where… Like Juliet, I would have more than one husband. Where I was in charge and was treated like a queen.

Not that Chris had to do that… But I wanted Chris with me. Sipping on my wine, I looked at my phone. Going over and over the message I wanted to send him.

Me {Chris. 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 that 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 where ever he came from. He didn’t belong on earth. He is the only one like him here, and there was a reason. The vampires had their own plans, and I didn’t want to be here 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 that he would reply. But him actually reading it… just got me a little closer to my goal.

***

Juliet

Smiling, I looked up at the three men. They were laying the roof on Charlene’s house. Being in their manifested states, they had worked so fast that it had taken them only a few months to build a whole house.

I often wondered how the werewolf planet would be with so many women in charge of households. Where strong men could just 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.

For the last week, 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 at the top highlighted. 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 bottom, 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!” I yelled loudly.

Louis and Chris didn’t react, but he was there in a split second. Edged lines covered his forehead. I handed him the baby.

I fell to my knees. The lesion on my neck was scorching my skin even further. Stinging me like a jellyfish. It was growing… coming over my shoulder. Screeching, my bare knees dug into the gravel, ripping the flesh apart.

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 that 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. Seeing Louis writhing in pain. I let out a loud groan. My parents and Carl 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 at 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 started laughing lightly and shaking his head slowly.

Louis groaned on the table.

“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 he thought it a good time to show his teeth and dimples. Marcus never laughed, and when he did, it was so rare that it was almost something to witness. I stared at him as he turned and walked up to the main house… Still laughing.

“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?”

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 face was contorted 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 have 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!”

“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 pain shooting through my body. When he missed and hit the ground, you could hear the “clang” and “thwack” of the rod hitting the rocks.

Marcus was bluffing that night in the club. He could totally have given me a go and have 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 just 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 growl escaped Marcus. I released him, and we both came back to human form.

“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. I followed, 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 asked

“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. She is trying so hard. It’s building up.” I argued.

“We can’t, Chris. Not before the baby come. 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?”

“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 it matters what he wants.” I replied.

“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 pasts that are going to catch up eventually.”