Searching

An hour into her drive she pull off at a shopping center. Picking up the sleeping baby, she went inside. A car seat that became a stroller was her first purchase and she asked, with a smile, if they could help her put it together and install it in her car. The two young human males fell all over themselves to do so. She thanked them with another smile and headed back into the baby area. This time with him tucked in tight in his new stroller. She pulled up on her phone what she would need: a mirror to see him while she drove, dangly toys to entertain him, blankets, diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, toys to chew on, outfits, and a bag to put it all in. She smiled whenever anyone complemented him. He truly was the most beautiful baby.

She wished she knew how old he was. She wished she knew more about babies. She wished whatever they had used to make him sleep would wear off. Maybe she should call Eevi? She decided she would if he still showed no signs of waking by the next day, having a pretty good idea of sleep spells and their length of time.

She bought him a 'Fawkes the Phoenix' plush toy. How could she resist, she thought with a smile. After packing everything she'd need for a trip, she allowed the same human males to help her load her car. She smiled at them in thanks before turning to make sure the baby was comfortably settled.

Getting back into her car she started off at a fast speed. Now that he was no longer in a basket, but safely in a car seat, her speed continued to rise. The seven hour drive turned into four and a half. She'd made it before dusk.

She pulled in front of a slightly run down old house with a 'room for rent' sign in the window. She stepped out of her car and watched the owner's face appear in the window above the sign and light up with a smile. Quickly, after the door was thrown open, a short, round, human woman with greying dark haired came hurrying down the steps.

"Phoenix! It's so good to see you," she said in her normal volume that, with anyone else, would and should be called a shout. She pulled Phoenix into a warm, tight hug. Pushing her back, she circled her, clicking her tongue. "You're too thin," she told the whole neighborhood, "It's almost been two years! What have you been up to?" Her dark eyes sparkled, level with Phoenix's own. Their shared lack of inches had started the friendship and it had grown from there.

A cry erupted from the back seat as the spell finally wore off. Those dark eyes widened. "Oh, dear!" she murmured, following Phoenix around the car.

Phoenix opened the door and met large blue eyes that darkened to almost purple on the outer edge. Her own brown ones widened as she felt a snap inside of herself. Every protective instinct she had ever had tripled and pinpointed onto this baby. Her wolf growl rose at the thought of anyone laying one finger on him. She didn't know who he belonged to, but in that instant of their eyes meeting, he became hers as well. And those who threatened him would only have ashes left when she was done. His crying stopped at her appearance, and with a smile, he reached out a little hand to her. She offered him a finger and he grabbed with a tight hold. She felt the bond tighten and harden to steel. And her wolf song a song of love. Getting him free of the seat and cuddling him close, she turned to her friend.

"Looks like you've been up to quite a lot," her friend said dryly. "I must say you've made one beautiful baby. Though look how big he is! You can barely hold him. And so golden. His father must be a big, beautiful man." Phoenix felt her eyes widen at the mistaken assumption, but didn't try to fix it. He was hers. Her wolf had claimed him. And there was really no way to explain to this human the truth. She nodded. With werewolves, the chance of another runt like her was rare and they were all better than average in the looks department.

"Come into the house. We'll unload in a bit, but first some coco, don't you think?" She allowed herself to be steered into the house, mostly so the loud questions would at least have a wall between them and the curious neighbors. The little woman pushed her into a chair and began to bustle about making coco. Handing her a steaming cup full of marshmallows on the top, she asked, "His father? Why isn't he here with you? Did the bastard leave you to raise that beautiful baby on your own?"

Phoenix shook her head and, choosing her words, tried to explain. "Angie, he doesn't know I have him. He wants him. I know he does. But I have to find him first. That why I'm here. I was hoping you could help me by taking care of this big boy while I look for him."

"Your wandering has gotten you into trouble this time," Angie said with a shake of her head. "And of course I'll help you. He has a right to know about the baby. And you shouldn't have to do it all on your own. Plus, I know you. That baby wouldn't be here if you hadn't been in love. What's this cutie's name by the way? Come here to Aunt Angie."

Phoenix's eyes widened and she looked down at the golden curls to hide her reaction. Giving him a kiss, she said the first name that came to her mind. "Chance."

***

Phoenix. leaning against the kitchen sink, watched Angie feeding Chance his lunch bottle and sighed in frustration. It had been six days. Six days! Six days of hitting up every contact she had, both reputable and otherwise. Nothing. She couldn't tell them what she was looking for, but still, a missing pup? There should be rumors. She was drowning in all the information they had supplied her, but not one tiny stick was the information she wanted so desperately. Her heart ached to get him back to the family who must be going out of their minds right now. Plus, she had been here too long and was beginning to draw attention to herself.

Angie adjusted him in a high chair she mysteriously had and turned to look at Phoenix. "I can tell by the look on your face you haven't had any luck. Why don't you sit down and eat something? You need to keep up your strength. You'll find him. She'll find him, won't she, Chance, my boy?" She turned to rub her nose against his and his little hands grabbed onto her long pearl necklace. Stuffing it quickly into his mouth. "No, baby boy." She gently pulled the pearls away. Chance's little eyebrows crashed together over his nose, his hand grabbed the air in front of him, and a huge wave of dominance rippled out. Angie handed the pearls back, meekly.

Phoenix's eyes widened as the last needed puzzle piece fit neatly into place. No rumors, blond and blue eyed, hated by the Lunar Craters, but also feared by them, and now an Alpha Blood. There was only one pack that describe all those traits. The Bell Moon's.

Her eyes narrowed. Yvonne should have sent her a message though, telling her what was up. She had to know that Phoenix would help. But maybe with all the stress it hadn't occurred to her.

Phoenix walked over and removed the pearls from his mouth. His eyes narrowed and another wave of dominance rolled over her. "That's not going to work on me, Sweetie. Sorry, but no." She used a napkin to wipe the pearls off and turned to Angie with an excited smile, "I just remembered something. But it means I have to go. Right now. He might be there."

Angie smiled back at her. "Let's go get you packed then!"

"Thank you, Angie, you're a true friend."

***

The little angel/demon did not like being in the car seat and let her know about it for the first hour of the drive. Using his voice and lungs to object, he also kept sending out waves of pressure to make her stop. They didn't work on her, but the two combined gave her a headache of massive proportions. Having tired himself out and still not getting his way, he finally fell into a fitful slumber.

With the quiet she quickly felt better. She couldn't keep the smile off her face. And when a thought occurred to her, she gave a soft laugh and looking into the mirror she'd set up so she could see him, smiled softly at his face, still pouting even in sleep. "You owe me a ring, mister!" she told him seriously and laughed again.

Her foot added some more speed to her mileage. She thought back on all the emails she had had from Yvonne about her brother and his son Lorenzo. She glanced at him again. "They named you Lorenzo? That is a big name for a little guy. I'll think I'll call you Zo or Lore? Hmm. I still kind of like Chance."

It was midnight when she finally stopped for the night. Otherwise, she would have arrived too early in the morning to suit her plans. She could get five hours of sleep, a quick shower, breakfast, and still arrive before noon. She checked in and took her bags from the car before unstrapping Lorenzo. He giggled as she lifted him up. The last hour of her telling him stories and singing every song she could think of had him, finally, in a good mood.

"Chance," she shook her head, "Lore, you are wide awake and I want to sleep." She laughed softly and set him on the bed before shoving it across the floor so one side was up against a wall. He fell over laughing. "What are we going to do about that?" She handed him the toys she bought and quickly changed into her pajamas. She climbed into bed with him and began to hum the song her mother had hummed to her. No words and not completely human. She watched with a smile as his eyes began to droop. She turned off the lights and continued to hum. Lorenzo settled beside her. Grabbing a big chuck of her hair, he rubbed it back and forth under his nose. She kissed him on the head and closed her eyes to sleep.