The Chronicles of Moon
Chapter 70

Sun and Moon

When the howls and cheering die down, the party starts. Music and laughter are soon the only things that can be heard. Bella runs through the dark woods unafraid, bunny tucked under one arm and a napkin filled with cookies clenched in her tiny fist. She knows where she is going. Even in the dark, she can see fine.

She is breathless and panting when she reaches the small clearing. Fireflies dance in the flowers blinking on and off like fallen stars. She smiles, giggling as she watches them walking to the middle of them and twirling. This is the closest thing to magic she has seen in her short life.

“I’m here. Where are you?” She announces when she stops spinning and sits amid the flowers. “I brought you cookies.”

“I love cookies.” The voice is bright and strong, making her turn and smile. The young man walks from the tree line, and she can’t see him well at first but knows it’s her friend. He did come to see her just like he said he would.

“I hope you like chocolate chip.” She smiles, holding out the napkin of cookies.

“How did you know those are my favorite?” He smiles warmly at her, sitting on the ground next to her. His blue eyes sparkle even in the dark.

“They are my favorite too, and bunny’s,” She chirps happily, handing him the napkin.

“Well, then we should share them.” His voice is so warm and inviting that Bella feels at ease with him. She doesn’t generally take to people or trust them very quickly, but he is different. He hands her a cookie, and she happily takes it, breaking it in half for bunny.

“So, tell me, little one, what do you think of the party?” He asks, taking a bite of a cookie as well. His blonde hair is blowing in the light breeze. It’s long and wavy, Bella commented on it the first time she saw him in the woods.

“Oh, it’s so much fun. I wish I could take you, and you could meet Colin and Moon.” She sighs, a little sad she knowing he won’t go. Colin would be unhappy about her bringing a stranger there anyway.

“I will meet them someday, I’m sure. I nearly forgot. I have something for you.” He winks at her, and she fidgets excitedly.

“Something for me? What is it?” Bella shifts to sit up on her knees.

“Well, a special girl like you deserves a special gift.” He reaches into his pocket of the yellow silk shirt. Holding the chain of the gold necklace, a sun dangles from the chain. It sparkles in the light of the moon rising over the trees. “If you have this on, nothing can hurt you.”

“How? Is that possible?” She looks at it, her mouth open in awe.

“Of course, it’s possible. You might need a little extra protection, and I want to see you safe little one. I can’t give this to just anyone you know.” He smiles, moving to slip the long chain over her head. “There, perfect.”

“Will you tell me your name yet? Or are you going to make me guess?” Bella asks, looking at the necklace and holding the sun in her hands. He chuckles at her.

“I will tell you soon. For now, I like you guessing my name. Your parents knew me. Didn’t they tell you my name?” He raises a blonde eyebrow, and Bella thinks back. She can’t remember much of her parents. She seems to forget them more and more. She remembers people from her pack talking about them after they came to Twin Falls. She even found out that they adopted her because they couldn’t have a baby of their own. That was hard for the little girl to learn. People have a terrible habit of talking too much when they don’t see you listening. Bella had been eavesdropping at the time, and they came to tell Colin all they could about Bella, not knowing she was listening.

“I can’t remember.” Bella huffs, frustrated.

“That’s alright, little one. You will remember someday.” He says gently. “You should be getting back before you are missed.

“Please just tell me your name.” Her pleading eyes are enough to break anyone’s resolve. He stands and holds his hand out to her helping her to her feet. She dusts off bunny and looks up at him, still pleading with him.

“I will tell you only, so you stop looking at me like that. Helios is my name. Remember what I told you. You are special, Bella. Keep safe. I need to go, and so do you.” He looks back over his shoulder. “In fact, we stayed too long. You need to run, child; run back to Colin and Moon. They will keep you safe.” Bella does what she is told and takes off running back.

Helios turns back to the tree line at the approaching person. “Are you interfering again, brother?” Selene smiles knowingly.

“No, only protecting what is mine to protect.” He crosses his arms, “This squabble between you and Eos is becoming tiresome.”

“I didn’t start it, and I am only doing the same as you.” She defends, furrowing her brows.

“I know, sister.” He soothes sighing tiredly.

“When will you tell her?” Selene looks in the direction Bella took off running in.

“When she is older. How do you tell a child something like that?” He looks too catching a glimpse of Bella running through the trees.

“Have you found her mother yet?” She is genuinely concerned for how tired he looks.

Helios shakes his head glowing in anger. “No, and the one responsible will pay dearly when I do.”

“Leave it to you to fall in love with a wolf.” Selene remarks, “I bet Eos hated that. She may know where Callie is.”

“Eos won’t come to me, and she avoids me at every turn. No matter how hard I try, I can’t seem to chase her down. I can’t imagine that she would want to hurt me like this. I saved that girl just to lose her.” Helios is vibrating in anger and frustration. “I should go. We can’t be seen together long.”

“Helios, I will keep looking for her, but you should tell that little girl who she really is.”

Helios nods curtly before walking off into the trees. Selene watches him go before turning and looking back at the path little Bella ran down. She is so special, and she has no idea. Selene only hopes he tells her sooner rather than later. Delaying it much longer could be dangerous for anyone close to her and for Bella herself.

Bella returns to the party and rushes to Moon and Colin, her heart thumping.

“Bella, where did you run off to?” Colin questions the out-of-breath child.

“Oh, nowhere we were playing tag.” She points to the group of pups in the grass running around, squealing.

“Okay, just make sure you don’t wander off, alright?” Colin warns.

“I won’t wander off.” Bella smiles brightly before heading to the tables of food. The golden necklace tucked away under her dress. Smiling to herself, she knows she shouldn’t keep this from Colin, but he would never understand.

Moon eyes Bella feeling uneasy. She had been watching the children play, She knows Bella wasn’t there. What is the little girl hiding, and why would she lie to Colin about it. Moon is lost in thought. She doesn’t see Alexis coming. She has a full glass of red wine in her hand. She trips just as she gets close to Moon and stumbles into her, dousing Moon in the entire glass of wine, soaking her.

“Oh, Luna, please forgive me. I was coming to congratulate you, and I tripped.” Alexis stutters wide-eyed.

“What the hell happened?” Colin fumes storming back.

“It’s okay. It was just an accident. Chris is behind Colin glaring at Alexis as well as reading her face. He doesn’t miss the slight twitch of her lip.

“I will just go change,” Moon says, looking at her ruined dress. She goes to leave, and Alexis moves out of the way.

“I am very sorry Luna.” She hangs her head, looking ashamed, but Chris isn’t buying it. When Moon leaves, Alexis does as well. Chris follows her without her seeing him. She heads to a secluded part of the yard, going around a corner of the packhouse, and pulls out her phone.

“She is heading up to change now.” She says and hangs up quickly. When she comes back around the corner, she runs right into Chris.

“Who ya talking to?” He grabs the phone from her hand, looking at the last call. There is no name, just a number. “Should I call them back?”

“I don’t know what you could mean?” she bats her eyes looking dumb.

“Quit the act. Let’s go and have a little talk, shall we?” He grabs her arm and drags her with him.

“I didn’t do anything.” She proclaims loudly, but Chris isn’t listening, and he has already linked Colin. Something fishy is happening, and he is questioning Alexis and they should be looking for Rachel as well as keep an eye on Moon Alexis was quick to tell someone where Moon was headed.

Colin gets to work, and as discreetly as possible, he has the others look for wherever Rachel could be hiding. He quickly tries to follow Moon his heart racing, this could be it and he links her to wait for him.

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