When Garsam reached her father's office, she didn't see his gamma, Kale, so she went ahead to knock.
"Come in," her father's gruff voice answered. She pushed open the door, and her eyebrows twitched in concealed disgust. Molly was pulling down her dress, and her lipstick was smudged. She gave Garsam a provocative look. Garsam resisted the urge to spit in her face.
She bowed. "Greetings, father, you asked for me?"
For the first time, the Alpha King was smiling. It wasn't a wide grin, rather a tug at the corner of his lips; it was as close to a smile as anything.
"I didn't just call for you; I called for your Queen mother as well. Wait till she gets here, then we talk."
Garsam bowed and stepped aside. Her gaze didn't stray from a spot on the wall in front of her, even as the sounds in the room became even more ambiguous, bordering on obscene.
She prayed to Selena that her father still had enough conscience to keep his hands to himself once her mother arrived.
They didn't wait for long; a soft knock sounded on the door. Garsam watched her father warily. He nudged Molly upright and propped himself to look more regal.
"Come in," he answered.
The door was pushed open, and a slender figure walked in.
Luna Queen bowed. "Lord Husband," she greeted.
She raised her head and smiled softly, totally ignoring Molly's existence. Molly scowled. The Luna Queen turned and saw Garsam.
"Son, you're here as well?"
Garsam nodded. She walked up to her mother, and they both turned to the Alpha King, waiting.
He began. "I called you both here to share a happy news ahead of time."
He patted Molly's shoulder, and a hand rested on her stomach. Garsam's eyes twitched with foreboding. No way...
"The news will be shared with the rest of the pack and the neighboring Packs at a banquet tomorrow."
"What news, Lord Husband?"
"Our dear Molly is with child, my child." At the end of his sentence, he was practically grinning like a fool. And he was a fool.
"What?" Garsam exclaimed in shock.
Her mother bowed low without a slight change in expression. "Congratulations, Lord husband."
Garsam whipped her head towards her in greater shock. Congratulations? What congratulations?!
Garsam turned to Molly. The girl was practically glowing. She rubbed a hand gently over her stomach. She looked... satisfied. Her head raised up, and their eyes met. Molly smiled.
'I'll rip you to decorative ribbons!'
Garsam swore through the mind link. Molly simply gasped and leaned into the Alpha King with a pout.
"What is wrong, dear?" The Alpha King asked her.
She looked at Garsam. "The baby must be a naughty little boy; he's making mommy feel sick."
The Alpha King laughed with a hint of pride. "It can't be helped; I'll have the kitchen make you something sweet and sour."
Garsam and her mother watched them act lovey-dovey. Since he had shared his oh-so-important news, she didn't feel like staying there a second more.
"Oh, and one more thing, Luna Queen, you will take care of preparations for the banquet. Neighboring Packs will be attending; we can't allow just anybody to host it," the Alpha King stated.
Garsam's ears were about to release smoke. How could he? But before she could even blow her top, she saw her Queen mother bow.
"As you wish, Lord Husband."
***
"Mom."
"Yes, dear."
"Mom."
"Dear, I heard you the first time and the three times afterwards."
"Why did you agree to plan the stupid banquet, why let him walk over you?"
"He is my husband and your father; have some respect."
"Oh please, any such respect has long since been thrown to the dogs."
Her mom stifled a giggle. "Don't say that, dear."
"Are you really going to plan the banquet?"
Her mom smiled. "I'll be busy till tomorrow; there are some dishes in the fridge, take care till I'm back."
Her mom packed up a few things into her bag, kissed Garsam's cheek, and left.
***
Garsam knocked on the door. It pulled open, revealing a red-nosed reindeer with the doorknob in his mouth. When it saw her, its big brows drew together and snorted. It turned to clatter away. Garsam shot forward and caught it before it could move. It grunted and stamped its hooves, trying to throw her off.
Garsam hugged its neck and buried her head into his fur. Honestly, she had expected it to smell like a stinky goat, but she was pleasantly surprised. It smelled like snow and candy. She sighed in satisfaction and took another big whiff.
And so when Klaus returned with a small bag of groceries, he was met with a curious sight. His mate hugging and sniffing his reindeer and the furious reindeer trying to shake her off.
"He dropped the groceries on the low table and walked towards them. Rudy, his red-nosed reindeer, had noticed him and stopped moving. Garsam hugged him even tighter.
"You smell so nice," she sighed.
Klaus smirked and wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her off Rudy. Now free, the reindeer clattered out the back door; it even nosed the door shut when it stepped out.
"Hey!" Garsam exclaimed; she clung to his neck lest she fall.
He nuzzled her chin. "I didn't expect you back so soon."
Garsam pinched his arm. "Don't think rubbish; I only came here to be comforted."
"Why? what happened?"
Garsam pouted. "Don't you already know? After all, you know everything."
Klaus bopped her nose with his. "I do know, but you'll feel better if you talk about it."
He carried her to the sofa and sat down. He placed her on his lap and had her lean into him.
She sniffed. "You smell like Christmas."
He teased. "Even better than the reindeer?"
She hit his chest. "Stop it."
"My ex is pregnant with my dad's child; sounds weird right? What's worse, the old man asked my mother, his legal wife to plan the banquet celebrating her conception! And she agreed. If I were in her shoes, I would have thrown him a thick stack of divorce letters lined in silver!"
"Perhaps she has a good reason for holding on."
"Oh please, don't tell me she still has feelings for him?"
"I doubt it; maybe a certain offspring of hers is the reason she's holding on so that said offspring can inherit the Pack. Can be feared, revered, protected."
Garsam frowned. "But I don't care about the Pack."
"She doesn't know that."