I admitted, “I hope you like them.” He snorted, “I feel that is a guarantee based on what I’ve heard.” I shrugged, hoping Cory was right. I said, “Umm well… I’ll probably see you around later so… bye?” He laughed and shifted back into his wolf.
I waved, then took off back towards the house. It was now three in the morning. I pulled everything out I needed to bake and plugged in my headphones. I spun and danced around as I made several batches. I was going to need all the ovens.
I turned them all on and made more batches while I waited for them to heat up. I chuckled to myself because I’d never made this many batches. I should probably calm down, but I was just so happy. I nearly tripped over Zoe when I went to the pantry to see if there were more muffin tins.
I frowned, wondering why she was sleeping down here. Was she fighting with Dana? I carefully picked her up and put her on the couch and found what I was looking for. I pulled the first batch out when Zoe ran back into the kitchen.
She shouted, “Oh my god! What time do you get up?” I shrugged, “Uhh… well… that depends on when I go to sleep. Why were you asleep in the kitchen? I put you on the couch…because I figured it would be comfier.”
Zoe admitted, “I wanted to see you make these muffins.” I laughed, “You’re in luck. I’m mixing up a batch now.” Zoe eyed the muffins out that were cooling. I urged, “Go ahead and grab one.” She snatched it and moaned as she ate it.
Zoe stood and hovered over me as I made the next batch while taking notes. Eventually she frowned and sat down. She asked, “How did you come up with this?” I admitted, “I just started adding little bits of this and that. I’d tested a few recipes before I settled on this one and everyone loved it.” My words died on my lips when my dad walked in yawning.
He looked around before saying, “Damn, Ladybug. What time do you wake up?” I whispered, “Uhhh, well… like I said… to Zoe… but you weren’t here… which is why you’re asking… obviously… it depends when I go to sleep.”
Dad snorted, “You used to be a bear to wake up in the morning.” I turned and winced. That had actually been beaten out of me. The oven timer went off and I grabbed muffins from all the ovens and put more in. My dad laughed, “Are you feeding an army, Ladybug?”
I blushed answering, “No... I just make them when I’m happy.” My dad chuckled, “Got it.” Zoe asked, “You and Alexander are twice light bound, aren’t you? I thought that’s what Angela meant yesterday.” I blushed harder, “Yes.” My dad smiled.
I got him a plate and put a muffin on it. He smiled, “Thanks, Ladybug. Your mom will be down here later. She didn’t think you’d get up this early. Neither did I actually. I wanted to meet you on your way in here.” I see… kind of.
Dad said, “You know your Uncle Duncan would be here but he’s…” I interrupted, “Out for his horrible pack that he shouldn’t be in since his mate died… I know… and you can’t link him because they won’t let you. I’ll see him when he’s back… I mean, if he wants to…”
Dad jumped in to assure me, “Duncan will absolutely want to see you. Allison is traveling but they want to come see you.” I replied, “I don’t want them to cut their trip short… they saved for it for so long… and…”
He asked, “How do you know that?” I asked, “Huh? What? Why? You… no… me…” Zoe snorted and started laughing so I stopped talking. My dad just smirked at me, but he let the subject drop. That was good.
I put all the muffins in as my dad gasped. He declared, “Oh my god. This is the best muffin ever. Is there fudge on the inside?” I whispered, “Yes. It’s ok if you don’t like it.” My dad laughed, “Like it? I’m going to buy you a bakery so you can make these muffins, and I will buy them in bulk every day.”
I laughed, “I don’t know that I have time.” Zoe snorted, “I know she does because she gets up really early.” Freya agreed, “You do.” I mean I’d have to have people that worked there. I could pop in from time to time.
I gathered up the muffins and said, “I’ll be back. I told some border patrol guys I’d put these in the pack house.” My dad frowned questioning, “How did you see a border patrol?” I shrugged, “I was dancing, and they stopped by.”
My dad asked, “You danced already this morning?” I hummed, “I mean… yes. I feel like of all the things I’ve done since we have been back in each other’s lives… that’s easily the most normal one for you guys to get that I do.” He stared at me for several moments.
Dad cleared his throat, “Yes, it is. My point was before making what appears to be somewhere around one hundred plus muffins you danced.” I nodded, “And took a run….to get to the dancing spot…and then here. Be right back.”
I ran to the pack house where Cory was waiting with the others. I put the muffins down and their group grabbed them first as people literally descended from everywhere. As I left the Warriors started chanting, “Muffin Luna! Muffin Luna!” I laughed and took off back to the house.
Freya said, “So, you’re insane but your goal of this pack liking us is going well. They love us.” It made me smile. Zoe helped me get the next batch out of the oven. Xander, his brothers, cousins, uncles and dad filed into the kitchen.
Xander walked over and kissed me lovingly. He touched my nose saying, “One of these days, I’ll wake up with you in bed.” I blushed but said, “Good luck with that.” Xander growled playful, “That sounded like a challenge.” I smirked, “Maybe… but like… I see you why you’d say that… but it’s just kind of… not… it could be… I guess.”
Tristan groaned, “God, it’s too early for this.” Kai yelled, “AUNT LADYBUG!” I knelt down and hugged my nephew. I greeted, “Hi, Kai!” He smiled saying, “I have my necklace on.” I grinned replying, “So you do.”
Tristan shouted, “THAT’S WHO GAVE YOU THE NECKLACE?!” I was a little surprised he’d kept our secret… since he knew I was back…and they knew I was here. Kai nodded, “YUP!” He ran off with Everly laughing and chasing after him. She told me, “He’s going to play with his friends here.” She smiled at me, and I nodded back.
It wasn’t really fair… I should just get over it. Her letters weren’t from her either, but she… no not her… deep breaths. She didn’t say I’d ruined Kai’s birth for their family. It wasn’t her. It’s just that it sounded like her… but it wasn’t. Tristan raised an eyebrow at me, but it’s not like I could explain that. No, I could… I didn’t want to.
TJ stepped up breaking the tension, “I’m TJ Conners, Alexander’s little brother.” As an empath he’d know I literally didn’t want to have that conversation with Tristan. I hoped he could tell how grateful I was for him saying something.
I replied, “I know.” Freya cackled, “This is much better way of saying hi. Because we literally know them all.” We did. TJ chuckled, “My mate’s birthday party is Thursday. I was hoping your band could play. Allison has been sad ever since she found out there’s a Supernatural band she didn’t know about. I think it’s because her mom is sad, but I’d like her to be happy.”
I quickly agreed, “We can play. I’ll text Mason and Hendrick and see if they can come for practice Wednesday, but yeah… we could play Thursday night.” TJ grinned broadly saying, “Thanks, sis!” I replied, “You’re welcome.”
I took out my phone and texted my Rebels group about the party. Everyone agreed. Mason and Hendrick were going to use a holoport to go back and forth. They still planned to move up Friday. Which worked out, because apparently Jason and Addison were having their mating Ceremony Saturday.
My mom walked into the kitchen. She sighed, “So, not even your dad got in here on time?” The volume of muffins must have told her that. I shrugged, “Nope. Do you want a muffin?” I handed her one and everyone literally descended on said muffins. Eric moaned, “Oh my god.”
