Christmas Bonus I
It was snowing, the cold made her shrink. The landscape was white, with the soft, freshly fallen snow covering the ground. Her body had not yet accustomed to the low temperature of the south. She ran her hand through her hair, her black eyes looking back at her in the window's reflection.
Giggles and squeals reached her ears from downstairs. She smiled, absorbing the happiness of the past few years.
The reason she was alone in her room: the nightmares. No matter how much time passed, every now and then, a bad memory from the past tormented her sleep. That morning, when she woke up from a terrible nightmare, he was not by her side in bed. She thought of running to him, hugging him and snuggling into the warm chest that brought her comfort, but she thought better of it.
She didn't want to spoil that winter morning with her fears. Soon would recover and could join them in a more pleasant mood. She touched the window pane with her fingertips; it was icy.
Her body was adapted for warmer areas, long, slender legs, but fate made a frozen pack her home.
Well... frozen for her, he practically walked around naked all the time.
She took a deep breath, relieved to know that the bad days were behind her. She stopped in front of the mirror, looking at her reflection, appreciating the red tunic she was wearing for the first time. A new outfit for a morning that promised to be special.
Her breasts were larger, very different from when she had arrived, the result of two pregnancies, and now, she felt that even her bottom was more prominent.
She laughed at herself.
Time was passing, she was a mature female now, mother of two cubs with another on the way, it was normal for her body to change.
She went down the stairs slowly, as her belly was swollen, the end of a pregnancy that had kept her vomiting with nausea for months.
He was always by her side, taking care of her and fulfilling her wishes. Her friend even advised her to take advantage and ask for anything she wanted, since he wouldn't be able to say no.
Esmeralda had the best advice...
The voices grew louder, not just of cubs, but of them! Oh, Great Goddess, why didn't he warn her they had visitors?
Upon hearing her footsteps, everyone looked in her direction. He came to hug her, but the cubs were faster.
— Mommy Nadja, look, they brought presents!
— Yeah, mommy, they bwought pwesents!
She hugged both cubs, Rael and Gavin, at the same time. The two were inseparable, and even their affectionate gestures were like that, together.
— Why didn't you tell me they were here?
She said, half smiling and half scolding her mate.
— They came by surprise, female, don't be mad at me! — Derik kissed her forehead and caressed the belly that contained his cub.
— My bad, Nadja, I did the math, and it would be Christmas Eve in my world... Well, I'm not Christian, but it's a nice date, with family, where everyone who loves each other and, sometimes, hates each other, gathers. I thought we should spend it with you!
— She made me bring this tree all the way...
Nadja looked at a piece of tree stuck in a large clay pot, full of colorful balls and random objects scattered on its branches.
— It's a Christmas tree, Ares! If I didn't bring it, where would we put the presents? — Esmeralda argued as if it made perfect sense.
Under the tree, around the pot, there were several packages and wraps in colorful paper with garish colors.
— Oh, friend, you didn't have to, I didn't prepare anything for you! — Nadja apologized as she hugged her.
— Don't worry, I bought plenty of presents for everyone, especially for myself! I've already invited our people, even your friend Rebeca should be arriving, I didn't say anything to make it a surprise. I didn't want you to start working anxiously with that big belly!
— Who's coming? — Derik asked, hugging Nadja from behind.
— Orium and Odessa should already be here, but she said she wouldn't come without presents. My Gamma is already arriving with his female and the pups. He was delayed because one of the pups knocked over the pie Alexa made, and she cried until she decided to make another one. Oh, and we invited our friends from your territory here.
"Is your Beta coming, Ares?" Derik asked mockingly, to which Ares merely shrugged.
"Of course he is! He's outside getting the dishes we brought. We have food and dessert from two worlds for us."
"I want my presents, Aunt Esmeralda, can I open them?"
"Call her Luna, Rael, I've already taught you!"
"Don't be annoying, Derik, he can call me aunt, there's no stranger here!"
"Where are the twins?" Nadja asked, looking around.
"They're outside in the snow with the sled I bought for Ares to give them! I brought an identical one for yours!"
Nadja went to the door and saw one of the twins slip on the snow and fall to the ground, crying. Gavin ran to her and helped her up; the crying stopped immediately.
"Hey, look how Gavin treats little Rubi, how cute!" Esmeralda was smiling like the doting mother/aunt she was.
"My pup knows how to handle females, he takes after his father!" Derik said with his beautiful cynical smile.
Ares growled and went for his daughter, picking her up and returning inside.
"Don't be like that, Ares, being a father to a female, you'd better get used to it." Derik's smile was full of provocation.
"I want to hear you say that when your female is born!"
"Ares!" Esmeralda reprimanded him with wide eyes.
"Female? What do you mean? Nadja?"
"Hm... it was going to be a surprise, Derik, we're having a girl!"
Oh, Great Goddess, his love for that male only grew, especially when he cried as he hugged her upon learning the gender of the pup that was about to arrive.
"An Alpha who doesn't feel the female's aura in his Luna's womb, what a disappointment, Derik!"
"Uncle Olium!"
Gavin ran to him with his short legs, and Orium lifted him into his arms. Visits from the Blood Moon pack weren't as frequent as those from the New Moon, but Gavin's affection for Orium was immense, especially for his extravagant games.
Odessa looked at her mate and his interaction with the pup, hand on her chest and eyes full of tears.