The Chronicles of Moon

Sleepover

Moon holds out her hand to Bella, and the child takes it without hesitation. Moon is happy about all the hours of babysitting she’s done. She’s always liked kids, and she helped watch every kid in her pack as soon as she was old enough to.

“I like you better than I thought I would,” Bella says rather bluntly.

“Oh good, I like you too.” Moon smiles as Colin opens the door to the sweet. He told Ann that Bella was found safe and sound and asked for clean pajamas because Bella was staying in the packhouse.

Ann actually replied with good, the girl needs to be here. Colin was a little taken aback; apparently, he was the only one blind to the fact that Bella had adopted him already.

Colin points out the way to the bathroom Moon can use to clean Bella up and tells her that Ann will send up some pajamas and ice cream for Bella. He goes to another room, and Moon figures it must be his room. She didn’t mind that he was only in some shorts, but he needed a shower himself.

“All right, little one, let’s get you cleaned up. Can I give you a bath?” Bella nods and laughs at her for asking. Moon starts the bath getting it nice and warm, humming a little. Bella stands watching her.

“My mommy did that all the time too.” Bella looks a little sad. “Did your Mommy hum?”

“I don’t know. I never met my mom. Not that I can remember anyway.” Moon replies, honestly.

“Why? Did she die like mine?” Bella is looking at Moon with her large brown eyes.

“I don’t know. I was left on a doorstep when I was just a baby. The Alpha there was an old man with no family, so he adopted me and called me his granddaughter. I’m named Sarah after his wife. She died long before I was even born.” Moon tells her as she helps get Bella into the tub.

“You’re an orphan too.” Bella states as Moon helps wash her hair and rinse all the dirt out.

“I am, but that’s okay. I still had people that love me, and we are family.” Moon says.

“Is your Grandpa here?” Bella asks, splashing the bubbles around her.

“No, he died a few years ago.”

“So you are an orphan two times?” Bella Looks surprised. “Well, I like you, and Colin likes you, so we can be family, right?” Bella has a hopeful look on her face.

“It isn’t that easy little one, but I like you too.” Moon helps Bella out of the tub, wrapping her in a big fluffy towel. “let’s see if those PJs are here, okay.” Bella nods excited again.

Colin is clean and dressed in sweats and a tee shirt, cleaning up dinner. “Just in time; you better get those on so you can have your ice cream.”

“Yay!” Bella yells and scoops up the clean clothes. “I can get dressed, she rushes back to the bathroom.

“You know she wants to stay here, right,” Moon says, helping Colin clean up.

“I know, and I think she adopted me a long time ago.” Colin muses, watching Moon to see how she will react. “You didn’t sign up for an instant family, but I don’t want to lose her or you.”

“You are a little slow to notice what’s right in front of you. That child picked you out a long time ago, and it would be cruel to both of you not to just accept it.” Moon is perfectly serious. “We will work it out. Now I’m still waiting for you to tell me what happened tonight.”

Colin sighs and starts telling Moon everything that happened. He may as well because she will clearly find out anyway. She found out Bella was missing, and she even found Bella. Colin has a hard time believing that her pack couldn’t see how capable she truly is.

Moon takes in everything as he talks, and her face is a mix of emotions. “Someone here had to help then, or could it be Jamie? Could he have friends that would help him get back into the pack? He knows you were close to Bella. They could have taken her.” Moon is angry now, just thinking about it. If Jamie was behind any of this, Moon and Kiara both want to rip his head off.

“I don’t know, but I plan to find out. Bella will have to go back with Ms. Rachel tomorrow, but I would like to get her moved here soon. I don’t want someone to think they can use her to get to you or me. If Caleb is behind this, he will try again, and he will try and use her to get to you.” Colin is washing dishes, but his mind is a million miles away. Moon wraps her arms around him, comforting him and herself.

“Ice cream, please,” Bella yells, racing back into the kitchen.

“Do I really get to sleep here all night?” she asks, giddy with excitement, and Moon smiles at her, giving her the bowl of ice cream. Bella sits at the table, licking her lips.

“Yes, but you will have to go back with Ms. Rachel in the morning and go to school,” Colin tells her. He plans to have a few trusted men patrolling close to Bella all day. Still, he would like them not to make it obvious. He doesn’t want Bella to be afraid.

“Okay, if I have to. I won’t run away from her anymore. Can I come back and play, though?” Bella asks as she sits bunny in the chair with her.

“Yes, you can come back and play, and maybe we can set you up with your own room here?” Colin looks at Moon, who smiles brightly at him. “We should all get to know each other, right? You need to get to know Moon, and she needs to get to know you too.”

“I think we can do that.” Bella says, “I like her, but why are people calling you Moon? You said your name is Sarah.”

“Well, it is Sarah, but everyone has called me Moon my whole life. It’s my last name.” Moon shrugs.

“I like Sarah better,” Bella says honestly.

Moon just laughs, and Bella finishes her ice cream. Colin takes her to brush her teeth and tucks her into a spare room in the suite.

“Can I have a story?” Bella asks, and Colin looks around, not having any children’s books.

“Hold on, I have just the thing,” Moon says, rushing off. she saw just the thing when she was looking in the boxes in her room.

Moon is back in no time with the book, “My gramps read this to me every night. Would you like to hear it?”

Bella nods and snuggles into the covers. Moon starts reading, as Colin slips from the room to link Chris and see if he found out how their men were attacked and who helped them get that close.

“Moon,” Bella interrupts. “I’m glad Colin found you. He looks happy with you. He was sad before.”

Moon smiles at the girl’s sweetness. “I’m glad I found him, and I’m glad I met you too.”

Bella beams at her, and Moon keeps reading. Soon, Bella falls asleep. This is not how Moon thought she would spend her night, but she’s not complaining. She loves Bella even though she just met her. There is something about her that just seems like she is meant to be there, and Kiara agrees. She is stronger with the girl there and Colin. It feels like family and like home to have them both there with her.