Loud knocks were echoing all around my humble cabin. I groggily roll off my bed with my eyes still closed. Knots formed on my forehead were visible as I tried to organize my thoughts early in the morning and what was happening. I've had a rough night, and I'm pretty sure I've got bags under my eyes.
I took a quick look at the full-body mirror in the corner of my room and approved of my eyes. I got bags under my eyes but not swollen from last nights' crying session. Thank goddess for small mercies for compressing them last night. Maybe, I would have looked stupid while applying a cold compress to my eyes amid crying yesterday night, but it served its purpose.
Also, it might be because the bond knows that Atlas is nearby, so I didn't have any nightmares last night. I don't know, maybe. The problem was just me staying late until the wee hours crying my eyes out, ergo, the bags under my eyes.
It was a good thing that I had chosen to stay in my cabin. Staying in the packhouse with eyes everywhere was not ideal at all. The packhouse was full of Alpha's birthday guests. I might've not talked about it yet, but we've got a few representatives from other packs who attended the party. I don't want them peppering me with questions from all directions about my eyes.
The persistent knocks were still echoing the whole cabin, and I've stomped my way out of my room to get it. I whipped the door open and found Sally's Cheshire grin blinding my eyes. I almost gagged at the sudden attack of her perfume when she went past me with Chris hot on her heels.
"Good morning, Mavy!" the morning chirpiness wasn't helping my now aching head. I have a hangover from last nights' emotional turmoil.
I threw my hands in the air, exasperated. I closed the door and followed the two, whose now marching their way to my kitchen.
"What are you loonies doing here so early in the morning?" I groaned in annoyance. I jumped down on my couch and was ready to catch a few more winks when someone pulled my feet, dragging me away from it. I was able to stop myself from hitting the wooden floor in the nick of time.
"Damn it, Chris, I'm hangover!" I yelled while I flailed my legs to loosen his grip on my feet. It didn't work. Now, I'm awkwardly mopping the floor with my whole person as he drags me like a ragged doll in the kitchen's direction.
"Good work, hubby." she pecked Chris on the cheeks. "How did you even get a hangover when you disappeared from the party?" Sally chirped, glancing at me while his husband dragged me along the wooden floor. She was already raiding my fridge. I pretended that I didn't hear her chirping.
Chris let my feet go in a snap. A painful thump resonated across the room as they solidly hit the floor. I screeched in annoyance for these two lovebirds while cuddling my hurt feet. I better plan my revenge from these psychos.
Now I'm having second thoughts if it was really a good thing that they're back. It was so peaceful when they were not around. It's only been a night, and I'm already missing the peace.
"Of course, my love and my wife," now they're snogging right in front of me. I gag in repulsion. They're way too affectionate. Overloading a display of affection is a big no inside my sacred haven.
"Not in my kitchen, hoes!" I screamed while I was still on the floor. For the life of me, I can't fathom how the fates decided to wreck my morning with hangover and trouble. I wriggled in frustration, totally hugging the floor this time.
I breathed in deeply and almost gagged for real this time when Sally's perfume invaded my senses again. I crawled my way out of the kitchen, holding my breath. Why the hell is she bathing in that stinky perfume again?
"You're not going anywhere, Mavy. Cook me some muffin, please. Regina told me that you made the ube muffin last night. It was heaven. Pretty please." Sally pouted in my direction matched with her big blue eyes. I scrunched my face in reply while she watched me crawling like an idiot.
"Nope, I've got a hangover, and you've disturbed my sleep!" I glared at them both, and Chris just stuck his tongue out my way. My jaws dropped aghast, the nerve.
"It's already ten in the morning, dumbass. Also, the mart should've been open hours ago. You know it's Monday." Chris lectured while looking down at my crawling form on the floor. It's somehow degrading, so I decided to stand up and cross my hands on my chest. My feet tapped on the wooden floor to complete my pose.
I did my best to show my unhappy look, but both just smiled back. "I posted days ago that we'll be closed this Monday because of the celebration. Don't me." I reason out, very close to flipping my hair in sass.
"Then that's more than good for us. Cook some muffin." Chris beamed at me blindingly. Did these two lose some screw somewhere from their honeymoon?
"Hello? I said hangover." I gestured towards my temple, and they've got the guts to nod at me like it was no big deal. "And what's up with your perfume? It's freaking stinky!" my complaint wasn't received well as Sally's smile wobbled. Her face started scrunching, and tears welled around her eyes. Chris was quick to console the drama queen.
"Ha, are you going to cry?" I said in disbelief. What's with them waking me up in the morning to cook some muffins and acting like a crybaby?
"Muffins, please," Sally begged in her most puppy-dog eyes. It was so pitiful that my conscience started to attack me. My ball of wolf was even helping with the attack. How dare you all?
"Fine, dang it! I'll freshen up first and foremost." exasperated, I went back inside my room to get ready. I could hear the two of them giggle in success, and I just rolled my eyes. Seconds earlier, one of them was about to cry. Now, they're having the time of their life. Damn, drama queens. They owe me one.
It only took me a handful of minutes to freshen up, and I trudged back to the kitchen. Sally and Chris were now sitting on my couch while munching my caramel popcorn. Right, they've got the time to pop the popcorn but didn't even start preparing the materials for the muffins.
"I'm the owner of this cabin, you know." I hollered, intentionally appealing on their conscience, but I guess they've got none.
They didn't even send a glance my way. I pulled some of the ube purees from the fridge. Good thing I made a lot of it from yesterday's party. The two just gave me a thumbs up while giggling their hearts out watching the series of Breaking Bad.
"I'm serious, Sally, you gotta hands-off with the perfume. It was too much. Why the sudden change with the perfume anyway?" I asked as I carefully sifted the flour for the muffin batter. I didn't hear any answer, and I looked their way. They were huddled on the couch together. Judging from their posture, I bet my cabin that they're mind linking.
It was convenient that the layout of my cabin was simple and overlooked the living area. My keen eyes were able to notice the exchange of sneaky looks between the two.
"You two are sus," I said it loud enough for them to hear, and they both looked at me. Face written with obvious guilt. Both were always bad at lying.
"We're not." Chris sassily replied and harrumphed at me. Sally copy him and shove a mouthful of popcorn in her mouth. I shake my head from disbelief with their childishness.
"Tell me nothing, and you'll never get your muffins." It was perfect blackmail on my part. I agree. I gave myself a mental high-five for the idea and stopped measuring the needed fresh milk for an added effect.
Sally's eyes went round while Chris gave me the evil eye. I crossed my already dusted flour hands and arched my brow at them. I don't even know why they're suddenly craving some muffins. I'm sure the packhouse got a lot of leftover food from last night.
"Well?" I taunted. I'm secretly celebrating inside. They've bullied me awake now the table's turned, and I get extra info too. "No one's gonna answer my teeny tiny curiosity?" I goaded the two and slowly made a flair of taking the ube puree back into the fridge. Sally gave in first.
"I was planning to tell you later after the muffins," she muttered. I can sense a tantrum coming. "You're way too mean, Mavy," there and then the waterworks started. Chris swiftly hugged the crying she-wolf, and my eyes turned to slits.
"That's it. What's with that mood swing? Tell me now." I stood my ground and walked to the living room. I stopped in front of the two and placed my hands on my waist.
It might look like I've no conscience, but we don't really hide things from each other. Sally was like a sister I never had. We practically knew everything about each other, except my fated pair, though. The stray thought gave me a bland taste.
Chris gave me a proud grin all of a sudden while Sally was busy whimpering. It made me more confused. I stared at him point black. I'm starting to get irritated with their secrecy.
"We're expecting," Sally announced breathlessly while wiping her tear-stained face. I wasn't able to save my jaw. It fell to the floor as I digested the words she said. Chris kissed Sally on the forehead for her bravery.
"I wanted to tell you first after telling Mom and Dad. I wanted to tell you first at the party. Luna found out, so I panicked and told her and Alpha. I wasn't able to tell you. You disappeared from the party too, and it just didn't happen. I wanted it to be a surprise." she pouted.
I was able to gather my fleeting thoughts. My eyes almost bulge out of their sockets. "I'm going to be an Aunt?" I uttered, grinning. "That's why you're stinky because you wanted to hide that you're expecting," I stated the obvious.
"Oh.. you're willing to go far as to bathe in perfume just to keep it a surprise?" taken aback, the happiness from the news took the backseat of my mind.
Chris guffawed at my confused face. "More like until we safely pass the first trimester." With a tinge of worry in his voice, he answered. I gave him that. They're worrying over the pregnancy. Difficulty conceiving was one of the known issues Sally's family lookout on the last decades.
I shook my head and jumped in excitement about the news. I pushed Chris out of the couch in a flash as I hugged Sally carefully. We both laughed and got excited together as the idea propagated.
"You are living your dreams. I'm all alone, don't touch me." I cried out, but then Sally hugged me back. Now that made me bawl my eyes out the moment Sally did too. "I'm so happy for you, Sally. Chris, please take care of her. I mean it." I looked in Chris's direction whose smiling fondly at us.
"Don't worry, Mavis. I'll be devoting my whole life to them. Of course, you're not going to be alone. We need a nanny every time we go out for a date. So, rest assured you've got a lifetime job on your hands." Chris beamed at me, and I pulled him down the couch as I hugged them together.
We spent a few more moments soaking in the merry news. I pulled free from Sally's hug as I wiped my now swollen eyes. Forget applying a cold compress on my eyes. I'll cry over such happy news any day. To hell with swollen eyes.
"Right, I'm going to make that muffin for my nephew. You relax here." the genuine smile I'm wearing made the two nod as I walked back to the kitchen.
"We're not sure if it's a boy yet." Sally hollers after me.
"I know it's still a month old, but I'm getting the vibes that it's a boy." shrugging my shoulders, I swiftly grabbed the remaining ingredients for the batter. I took the ube puree back from the fridge and started mixing them.
"Let's bet on that. It'll be a princess." Chris offered, and I heard a loud smack. I chuckled. Someone just got smacked.