Page 231 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“Okay. We’ll try the big transducer on you both and if it doesn’t work, we’ll go from there.”

“Okay,” Vi and I both answered.

I sat down and laid back, Vi standing next to me, with Chris at her side. I couldn’t begin to tell them how much I appreciated their support. Vi, I knew would always be there for me, but Chris didn’t have to, yet he was a silent force of support.

I pulled up my blouse, a smile on my face despite my worry, when I saw the tiny bump visible from this angle.

Please be okay, my pups,I prayed silently.

Dr. Roswell put gel on my stomach, and I inhaled. The damn thing felt so cold. My eyes were rooted on the monitor though, waiting for the moment when they showed me my pups again.

“There we go,” Dr. Roswell said, turning the monitor so I could see the picture better. “You can see how they’ve formed now. That’s baby one and baby two.”

She moved the wand around and then two sets of heartbeats were booming out of the little speakers. Tears I’d been holding back fell, as I heard their tiny little heartbeats beating so fast.

“Should it be that fast?” Chris asked.

“Yep. Strong, steady heartbeats for both of them. They’re going to be big pups, which tracks since you carry alpha blood from both of your parents, Bells.” I sighed with relief and slumped back. Dr. Roswell smiled sympathetically at my visible relief. “I’ll give you a recording of this after, okay?”

“Really? Thank you!”

Dr. Roswell took a bunch of pictures and measurements, and finally removed the probe from my stomach.

“Alright, let’s get you cleaned up and we can check your sister.” She nodded at me and handed me some tissues while she cleaned the probe in her hands.

Violet lay down after I cleaned up and moved from the bed. I watched the anticipation rise on Chris’ face as Dr. Roswell applied the gel to her small stomach. It was such a sweet moment for them, and I was so happy for him and Violet. At the same time, I felt a bit of longing, knowing that I wouldn’t have that. I placed a hand on my stomach, and I smiled as I watched a grumpy man’s face break into a huge smile, and then tear up when he heard his baby’s heartbeat.

“Let’s get some lunch,” Chris told us when we left the hospital.

“I need to go nap,” I said, yawning.

“Nope. Not if you need more nutrition. I’ll be the food police with you both for the foreseeable future.”

“Bossy,” I mumbled, making Violet giggle. Before I knew it, I was wrapping my arms around the man. “Thank you,” I mumbled, before letting go and trying to blink back the tears. “Fuck pregnancy hormones,” I growled.

“Love you too, Bells,” Chris chuckled, patting my head and making me growl at him again.

“Have you talked to Cory?” Violet asked a few minutes later when we were eating in the pack house dining room.

She looked comfortable. People were walking back and forth around us, and she wasn’t even fidgeting or looking at anyoneapproaching with apprehension. It made me feel incredibly proud and honored to have witnessed her getting over all those fears. Now, with the pup coming, it was like she was a whole new person. Stronger than the Violet she used to be, which I thought was the best way for her to prove that Tezcatlipoca wouldn’t win.

“I did,” I answered.

“He still asking who the dad is?”

“Yes. He didn’t believe my lie.”

My twin was too damn observant, and since he already held back from saying anything before, when he thought something was off, and it resulted in the shit show that was my life, he was making sure he voiced all of his concerns now.

“Have you tried calling him again?” Chris asked.

“I-I can’t. I try to bring myself to dial but I’m not ready. Have you talked to him?” I asked them, wondering if he’d asked about me but unable to ask the question outright, afraid of the answer.

“Once or twice. I told him about Adam. I hope I didn’t overstep,” Violet told me.

“No. You didn’t, Vi,” I assured her, feeling my heart hurt at the thought that, even after finding out what happened with Adam, Cade hadn’t reached out.

I went back to my room and slept until dinner time. I probably would have slept longer, but Cory and Chris both showed up to make me go downstairs for dinner.

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