Bloody Dress

MAELIS

“Ahh.” Pain shot through my stomach the second my body hit the floor.

The pain spread too quickly, sharp and unbearable, stealing the breath from my lungs. I tried to push myself up with my hands, but my arms gave out in weakness.

My forehead pressed against the cold floor as I struggled to inhale air. I bit my lip hard, trying to keep myself from crying out in pain.

The pain grew sharper around my lower abdomen, and Mia, my wolf whined in alert.

The baby was in danger. I could feel it.

Meanwhile, Nerine stood over me, and for a moment she just looked down without a word, smiling in victory.

“You should watch where you step, sister,” she said sweetly before turning around.

I remained on the floor, the pain persisting as my vision began to blur. Every breath sent a new wave of pain through me and I gripped the floor beneath me tightly for support.

Suddenly, the sounds of footsteps approaching filled the hallway and she stopped in her tracks.

The smile disappeared from her face instantly. In the next second, she let out a sharp cry and dropped beside me, tears already filling her eyes as she grabbed her ankle.

“Mae!” Her loud voice filled the space. “Why did you push me?”

Theron appeared in the doorway, his eyes widening at the sight of me. But instead of coming to me, his attention immediately shifted to Nerine.

Good.

What had I expected? That he would come running to help me because I was carrying his child? I doubt he would help me even if he knew.

“What happened here?” He asked, crouching down to Nerine’s level.

Nerine’s words tumbled out between sobs. “She pushed me. I only asked what she was doing in your study and she shoved me hard to the floor. Ouchh… My heel Tee, I think it’s fractured.”

I tried to speak but the pain made it difficult to utter a single word.

Theron gazed at me coldly, “Get up, and stop pretending she hurt you when you’re the one who put hands on her again.”

“Is… does this look like I am faking it?” I managed to say.

Theron’s expression shifted. For a brief second, something flickered in his eyes as he looked at me. Maybe, just maybe, he finally realized that I wasn’t pretending.

But before he could say anything, Evelyn rushed into the room.

What happened?” she asked, her eyes immediately landing on Nerine.

“She pushed me,” Nerine cried, tears streaming down her face. “I only came to speak to her, and she pushed me.”

That’s enough!” Evelyn snapped, glaring at me. “How many times are you going to keep hurting your own sister?”

I stared at her in disbelief. I didn’t have the strength to argue, and even if I did, I knew they wouldn’t believe me.

“She has always been jealous of Nerine,” Evelyn continued. “Even when they were children. She once threw a live snake at her!”

Theron’s jaw tightened as he looked at me.

“Today is the beginning of the rites, and you choose to do this to Nerine?” he asked, his voice filled with anger. “Why?”

I kept quiet, because I knew defending myself in this condition would do me more harm than good.

“If anything happens to Nerine, I won’t forgive you,” he muttered coldly before lifting Nerine.

Evelyn followed, still rambling about what I had done, and they all left me in silence.

I stayed on the floor, exhaling slowly as the pain wouldn’t ease. The room blurred as tears rolled down my cheeks.

A few moments later, I heard hurried footsteps approaching again.

Hura appeared in the doorway, her face in horror when she saw me lying on the floor.

“Luna!”

The next thing I knew, she was on her knees beside me, as she carefully helped me sit.

The movement sent another hard wave of pain through me and I held my breath, groaning deeply.

I let her pull my arm over her shoulders, and we stood up gently.

“We need to get you to your room,” she whispered, and I nodded.

The walk back felt longer than it should have as every step jolted the pain. By the time Hura placed me onto the bed, tears were already sliding down my face, and I couldn’t stop them.

The pressure in my stomach was tight and hot, and the fear of losing my baby felt heavier than anything else.

“Call… Sera,” I managed to say, “Please.”

Hura’s face tightened in panic. She only nodded and hurried out, leaving the door half open behind her.

I stayed still, one hand pressed low on my belly while trying to breathe through it.

Suddenly, I felt a warm liquid slide down the inside of my thighs, and I froze in panic.

I looked down slowly and saw that my dress was already stained with blood.

“No…” The word came out amidst tears. “No, please. I can’t lose my baby.”

I tried to sit up but it only made it feel worse. Panic clawed up my throat as I placed a hand on my stomach with the other twisted in the sheets, whispering the same plea over and over.

The door opened again, and Sera came with Hura right behind her. The moment Sera saw the blood, her face became pale.

“Oh no, how did this happen?” Without waiting for an answer, she continued. “We can’t do anything here, we have to move you to the clinic!”

“Yes, we have to,” Hura agreed.

“We would have to pass the back to avoid anyone noticing Luna,” Sera said, and I nodded in agreement.

Between the two of them, they got me on my feet and out through the side corridor that led out of the mansion.

I kept my head down, my teeth clenched against every step as I prayed to the moon goddess to save my child.

Inside the clinic Sera worked quickly as she cleaned the blood, checked my pulse, and pressed her fingers along my lower stomach while Hura stayed by the door, watching for intruders.

The pain slowly dulled under whatever medication she gave me, but the fear of my unborn baby being gone lingered.

I watched her face the whole time, looking for any sign that the worst had already happened.

She began the ultrasound without a word, and I shut my eyes, hoping and praying for a miracle.

After a long stretch of silence, Sera finally sat on the edge of the narrow bed and took my hand.

“The moon goddess gave your baby another chance,” she said quietly. “Your pup survived it.”

Relief hit me so hard that my eyes burned again. I let out a shaky breath and closed my fingers around hers.

“What about the blood…”

“It was a small rupture,” Sera answered. “The impact caused some bleeding, but it’s already slowed. You and the baby are stable for now. You need to rest, and no more falls, or else we won’t be this lucky.”

I nodded, still holding on to her hand like it was the only solid thing left.

“Is… is the Luna really pregnant?” Hura, whom we forgot had been standing near the foot of the bed mumbled in shock.