I looked at the person at my door. I might have looked ridiculous with my mouth agape and my undergarments hanging from my hand. My walls shot up in haste as I let the garment fall back to its bag,
"That was tacky," the person on my door hesitantly commented. "May I come in, please?" without thought, I nodded. The person scampers her way inside, straight to my bed. I remained sitting on the carpeted marble floor, looking at the visitor currently sitting on my bed.
Vienna was the perfect three-sixty of her character a while ago. She smiled at me sheepishly. When she's looking like this, no one can tell that we were just snarling at each other moments ago. The highlights on her ash blonde hair also made her appear like a mischievous teen.
"How old are you," the moment that question was out of my mouth, my face reddened in embarrassment. Someone should properly coach me about my tactless tongue.
Vienna laughs in amusement, "It's okay. I've been asked that endlessly. I'm running thirty." she smiled and nodded at me. "I'm really sorry about what I did again. I reflected, and it was stupid of me to threaten you. I don't know what came over me." the lengthy apology made me appreciate it more than the first one. Now, I'm the one offering her an engaging smile.
"All is well. It was understandable since I'm a total stranger to the pack," I admitted my share of accountability. Werewolf packs are commonly known as possessive and territorial. Any unknown threat should be treated with caution.
"Thank goodness, I thought Alpha would kill me back there. The way he looks at me says it all. We got dished out with extra patrols too," I did not comment and continued to fold my clothes instead.
"I'm Vienna, anyway," the woman held her right hand out, and I took it politely, shaking it a little.
"Call me Mavis," another smile.
"You can keep folding your clothes, but can I ask you a question, please?" I would like to say no to her request because we are not that close yet. We were even at each other's throats not so long ago. Vienna was polite enough to personally seek me to apologize, though.
Nodding my head, "Just one question," all the clothes were all folded as neatly as they looked. The toiletries were next.
"Now that's tough," Vienna lightly complained and laid on my bed on her stomach. She tried her best not to miss the clothes that I had painstakingly folded. "You could've hung these clothes in the closet," the random suggestion made me stop and slapped my forehead.
"You should've said earlier," I whined and realized my stupidity. I've labored for nothing. Upon inspecting the room moments ago, I also discovered a huge closet. It was so cool because it was installed at the back of a painting hanging on the left side of the room. It contains countless wooden cloth hangers.
Vienna giggled this time and stood up. She went straight to the closet and grabbed an armful of the wooden hangers. She made two trips and placed them on my bed. She also took the initiative of setting my folded clothes to the hanger. The ready to hang clothes were set aside.
"Thank you," gratefully, I shadowed her to my utmost best.
"No biggie, been doing this for my siblings. Still doing it for them, actually." she checked one of my knitted coats and nodded in appreciation. "About my question, what are you doing here? Pure curiosity." I kind of expected the question, and there's really no need to gloss it over. I can answer it right away. No qualms about it.
On the other hand, if Vienna was skeptical about the cause of my injury, I would have thought harder for an answer. I cannot exactly tell her that I went nuts over Atlas and recklessly spar with him, or can I?
I set my toiletries aside and looks at her. "My pack was fussing over me way than I can handle, so my Alpha allowed me to have a getaway. Fortunately, Alpha Atlas seems to have some business to address back here. He took me along. It was kind of him." a nod from Vienna and a pregnant pause. I can sense a follow-up question coming.
"What happen--"
"Mavis, do you need help?" I pulled a face when I jostled my right arm from surprise. I glared at Kalix's grinning face. "Oops, my bad," girls would be homeless with his sassiness. He spares a glance at my bed, and his grin disappears in an instant.
"What is that thing doing here?" I whipped back in Vienna's direction, and I saw her roll her eyes, not firing back at Kalix's taunts.
"I apologized, personally." Vienna kindly explains, and Kalix whips his imaginary bangs up.
"Nevermind," he dismissively shrugged and picked the clothes that were on the hangers and hung them inside the open closet.
'Everyone's so familiar with my room.' I thought drily. Though, I appreciate their kindest most.
"We cool now. I'm Kalix," he introduced himself with a huge grin. Vienna did the same, and I gasped in relief. I thought they were going to claw at each other. I glanced at the bedside table and saw the ticking clock. It's already quarter to five, and if I want to be presentable during the dinner, I better be ready now. I need to prepare way earlier because of my broken wrist.
"Alright, lovelies, we need to hurry up. I need to be ready before six." I quickened my movements and grabbed the bag of undergarments and toiletries towards the direction of the closet. The coats were the last one deposited by Vienna and Kalix, the suitcase.
"That's true the pack already knows there are guests. They'll be preparing a feast. I got to go and prepare too. See you guys at the dining," Vienna zipped past us and out of the room. I wasn't able to thank her one last time.
"Since you're done here, I need a good shower myself," Kalix was also out of my door. It was perfect. This way, I could prepare in peace. I closed the door to my bedroom and went back to the closet to grab an ensemble good enough for dinner. I was so glad when I brought one of my casual dresses, a halterneck emerald dress. It's easy to wear and presentable enough for dinner. I made sure to prepare my black knitted coat to combat the cold weather.
It was almost a quarter to six when Kalix was knocking on my door. When I opened it, Dillion and Vienna were with him. Vienna was chatting with the poker-faced Dillion. It seems she's a chatterbox contradicting her earlier behavior.
"About time, I'm starving." Kalix greeted me, and I rolled my eyes in response. I'm hungry myself. I did not eat much back at the fast-food establishment because of what Luke said. I should really ask him about it. Before my thoughts could go deeper about it, I shook myself out of it. It's not my place to be nosy about their pack's business. It's not like I'm going to spend my life living here.
I hardened my resolve. I should not pay attention to these things, and I should focus on overcoming my injury. It's a vacation.
"Let's go," I nodded, and all of us walked together. Vienna was chatting with Kalix now when she didn't get any response from Dillion. Kalix seems to fit everywhere. He's just charming.
"I got to warn you guys beforehand, expect the dinner to be chaotic." that caught my attention. What does she mean? I was about to ask her about it when Dillion spoke in a quiet voice.
"She meant loud, way louder than those dining pirates in the movie," he offered the explanation, and I beamed at him. I'm still reeling at the thought of meeting a Seer in real life. To know that he watches movies; pirates at that amazes me. I wonder if Dillion, being a Seer, could potentially ruin the watching experience. But it is also comforting to know that werewolf like him enjoys typical things.
"Yeah, that, you'll be peppered with questions too." Vienna thoughtfully adds, and I thank her in my mind. No one likes to be caught like a deer in headlights when someone asks them nonstop out of thin air. Also, I appreciate Vienna coming to pick us along with Dillion.
We finally reached the dinner hallway, and my heart pounded away. Meeting new people is a bit unsettling; Atlas's pack at that.
A little anxious, the boisterous chatter meets our ears. From the lively noise, one can tell that everyone's having a good time dining. Vienna went ahead and greeted everyone inside and waved at us to follow her.
I glance at Kalix, and to my wonderment, he looks serious and holds my left hand, uninjured, in a consoling manner. Dillion also gave me a sympathizing gaze. What's up with their look? We are just eating dinner. No need to be so grave about it.
Kalix did the honor of pulling my hand with him when my feet didn't move from their position. I'm way more nervous than it seems.
"Harden yourself, it'll be fine," Dillion went inside the dining room after giving me that meaningful look. Kalix followed him, and I kept my stare straight ahead, ambling after him.
Inside the dining room was an extensive dining table in the center, filled with pack members, all talking incessantly. The moment we step in, the noise notch down a bit as I feel the stares of the members fall on us. I look at Kalix, and he seems oblivious to it.
There are several long tables along the side, and I wanted to sit on one of those just to escape the center of attention. However, Kalix beeline for the center table with Atlas sitting on the head of the table. On his right, the chair usually reserved for the Luna, Luke sat gloriously. I look away in haste.
"You sit here," Kalix offered me a blinding smile as he pulled the second chair from the Alpha's seat. After having me seated, he sat on Atlas's left side. The crowd was abuzz looking at us.
The burden of their curious stares weighed heavily on my shoulders. Kalix, on the other hand, was handling it rather well. He gave the crowd a blinding smile, and the mob nodded at him in acknowledgment. Should I copy him?
I forced a wobbly smile out of my lips and looked at the crowd. They're point blank staring at me like I'm some exotic specie right under a microscope. It's unnerving. When I had enough of their curious perusal, my attention fell on the heaping foods laden on the table instead. I wonder how the table didn't snap from the excessive food served in front of us.
Meat dominantly filled the table alongside some delicious side dishes. Courses were already prepared beforehand, from appetizers to desserts. It is also to avoid having someone serve them. It's up to the person's discretion what they're going to eat first. They can eat whatever they want without worrying about their diet. Werewolves were blessed with a fast metabolism. They do not gain weight that much. It's one of our so-called perks.
"Everyone, please warmly welcome our guests Kalix and Mavis," Is it just me, but there's a tinge of tenderness on Atlas's voice when he mentioned my name? "They're from the Meadow's Pack. The same pack where the Pack Summit's going to be held this year. They have housed me, your Alpha, with utmost hospitality and respect. I hope all of you would return the favor," the warning in Atlas's voice was palpable. All of the pack solemnly bowed their heads in response.
"Let's eat," Luke bellowed out, and everyone commenced.
I looked around and did not spot Nana. I saw Vienna instead animatedly talking to someone on the table beside us. Dillion was of them too. Why is Nana not here? I wanted to ask them about it.
"Where's Nana?" I turned to Atlas, and he looked at me after placing a small slice of steak on Luke's plate. I did my best to ignore it. I remember Luke told me that Atlas enjoys beef casserole the most.
"She usually dines out on her own. She does not enjoy the noise anymore, or so she says," Atlas said while looking at something in front of me. The knot on his forehead slowly shows as displeasure paints his face. Displeasure?
I looked down and saw my plate already filled with different food. "How come?" I murmured and ended up looking at Kalix with a small plate of dessert in his hand. He placed it on my right. How am I going to finish this much food?!
"Are you two mates?"