Bonded For Blood, Not Love

If the Dixon brothers had just turned around and taken one look, they would've seen it.

They would've seen that the round swell of my stomach and Gloria's was gone. They would've known our babies were dead, and they would've known every word we said was the truth.

We could've finally torn Judy's lies apart.

But they only stiffened for a second.

Just as they were about to turn, Judy let out a soft, pained sound. She pressed a hand to her chest and swayed.

"My chest feels tight."

They panicked instantly.

Lesley scooped her up and sprinted down the mountain without hesitation. His arms were strong and steady. Even on the rocky path, she didn't jolt once.

Yet, he had forced me to walk those same roads for a full day and night while I was heavily pregnant.

Eddie didn't even look back. "Those two cruel women must've upset Judy. That's what triggered her condition. Take her back now. I'll go get a doctor."

Judy won again.

Gloria and I were left standing there alone.

We didn't belong with the Dixons. Our husbands refused to stand up for us.

Even severing our bonds felt impossible.

With no other choice, Gloria and I wrote a letter and asked Regina to rush it to my father.

By the time my father arrived, our bodies had mostly recovered.

But after everything we endured during pregnancy, then miscarrying without proper care, the damage would probably follow us for life.

My father never blamed me for being stubborn, for insisting on marrying a werewolf.

He just held my hand, eyes red, and said, "I will cure you."

So I wouldn't have to suffer more on the road, my father stayed at the villa for the time being.

Not long after, Lesley and Eddie hurried back from out of town.

They abandoned their trip with Judy. They must've heard that the famous chief healer had arrived.

I was sure they weren't worried that my father would hold them accountable. They only wanted him to treat their precious, "frail" Judy.

Judy walked slowly around the room, saying nothing at first. Then, her eyes reddened.

She finally raised her voice just enough.

"They only took me home because I wasn't feeling well and missed home. They just wanted me to get some fresh air. To me, they're like brothers. There's nothing between us. It's not what Margot and Gloria think.

"A woman's reputation is everything. What did I ever do to deserve being accused of something so disgraceful?

"Are you jealous of me? Or is it that you simply don't want to help me? If you don't want me alive, just say it. There's no need to destroy my name.

"At this point, I might as well die!"

Footsteps rushed toward the room.

Judy chose that exact moment to turn and slam herself into a pillar.

Eddie caught her just in time and pulled her into his arms. His hands were shaking, as if he had nearly lost something precious.

Then, Lesley charged forward without warning and slapped me across the face.

My head snapped to the side. I fell to the floor, the taste of blood filling my mouth. I heard his voice, burning with rage.

"Why are you so jealous? What did Judy ever do to you? You're so vicious that you'd rather see her dead!"

Then, his breath hitched.

His hands clamped around my arms, yanking me up from the ground.

"Your belly's flat," he said hoarsely. "What happened? Where's the baby?!"