The Chronicles of Moon
Chapter 42

Make a Move

Moon is still giggling when Colin regains his composure. He gives her a funny look, and Moon starts to blush. She can’t read his mind, but she has a pretty good idea of what he’s thinking about.

You may have given him other ideas, but I’m okay with something other than pasta for dinner. Kiara has Moon blushing harder.

Will you just stop? You are going to make me want to run out of the room. Moon huffs back, but she and Kiara both know she has no plans of going anywhere. Kiara has started to fade out of her mind more and more, and Moon can feel it, and it is like Kiara is fighting to be heard more and more. Moon is afraid that soon she will be gone again. Her voice was little more than a whisper now.

Colin moves to the other side of the counter and lifts Moon’s chin breaking her thoughts. She had spaced out a little again, talking to Kiara, and Colin can see she is struggling with something.

“You want to tell me what’s going on in there?” Colin asks, caressing the side of her head. Moon feels like he can see right through her. Her thoughts go a little fuzzy with him so close and caressing her.

“I’m sorry, I just got a little lost in thought.” Moon blinks, trying to focus on something other than his mouth and soft full lips.

The hiss of water hitting the stove and splashing breaks Colin’s gaze as the pasta water boils over.

“I better get that.” Colin pecks her quickly on the forehead and rushes to the stove, turning down the water. “I still want you to tell me what has distracted you.”

Moon takes a breath. She knows she should tell him what is happening, but it’s still hard for her. She would rather just work things out on her own.

“It’s just I can feel Kiara, and she isn’t as strong in my head as she was before. The longer I have been awake, the less I feel and hear her, which worries me. I was weirded out by it at first, but the feeling of her slipping away is worse, and I don’t know what to do about it. I don’t know what Gramps did, if he did do anything. I never got a chance to talk to Ben, and I just feel so lost.” Moon manages to get everything out in almost one breath.

Colin put the bowl of pasta down. He is back in front of Moon, pulling her close and holding her in his arms. She can feel his heartbeat, and she closes her eyes, just letting him hold her, and for a moment, things don’t feel so confusing. She feels loved, wrapped in his strong arms. The effects of the mate bond are lessening more and more as Kiara loses ground in Moon’s mind.

“We will figure it out; I promise you that. Ben will be here tomorrow, and his father will be here at the end of the week. He said he would rather talk to you and see you in person rather than over the phone.” Colin is clearly irritated, but Moon laughs.

“Yep, that sounds like Jake Woods to me.” Moon feels a little better, and the smell of food is becoming more distracting. Her stomach growls and Colin laughs just a little.

“Well, I guess I should feed you, shouldn’t I?” He smirks, making Moon’s cheeks rosy pink again.

Colin sets the food on the little table set for two. Moon does like that he went to so much trouble just for her. She sits down, and everything looks delicious. She just hopes she doesn’t embarrass herself too much.

Sitting at the table and eating alone with him Moon thought it would feel awkward, but it feels natural and more and more like home. She is happy to be with him, and so is Kiara.

He is right. I know we will figure this out. Kiara murmurs low, yawning and curling up to sleep in Moon’s mind. I’m sorry, but I have to rest now.

It’s all right. I know you are tired. Moon reassures the wolf, and Kiara being so tired also makes Moon feel tired. She needs to talk about something to keep herself awake, and the first thing she thinks of is the feisty little girl Bella.

“So, back to the subject of Bella,” Moon says, still stuck on the poor child’s sad past. Moon wants to make Bella’s life a little more comfortable. Colin raises an eyebrow waiting for Moon to tell him what she is thinking now.

“Well, if she doesn’t like being at the orphanage, why can’t she just stay here? Can’t she have her own room here? And how many orphans are even in this pack?” Moon has started to think more and more about it, and she hates it.

“There are only about fifteen. Right now, we are working on placing them in homes, but it takes time. We tried to place Bells with a family. When she started talking to people again, we didn’t want to rush things too fast with her; the therapist said taking things slowly with her would be better. Bells ran away from every home we tried. She might be small, but she is determined. The other children should be placed soon, and I hope we won’t have any more for a long time, but it happens more than I care to think about. Some packs have taken to fighting to gain power and size, and it is leading to problems.”

Moon considers what he is telling her, and she hadn’t realized what is happening in the world. She has been trying to keep her pack afloat. That the rest of the world wasn’t a priority, she appreciates that he is working to replace homes for all of the children.

“Well, then she should just come and stay here then; if she won’t stay with anyone else and she always runs away here, then just give her a room of her own. I’m sure there is space for her, and she might be happier.”

“You might be right, but she will need someone to look after her. I care about her, but we have a few things to work out, and taking on a child is a lot.” Colin sounds torn, and something in his voice tells Moon that he had thought of taking the girl in at one time.

“Let me talk to Em, and I still would be more than happy to look after Bella once she gets to know me and hopefully likes me better.” Moon half smiles.

“She will love you once she gets to know you; we will figure out what is best for her and go from there; how about that? I don’t want to rush anything.” Colin is calculated in everything he does, and all of this spontaneousness is more than he is used to.

“By the way,” Moon says suddenly, making Colin pause. “Thank you for everything.”

Colin smiles at her, and on the outside, he hopes he looks calm because Farrell is howling like mad.

Fucking kiss her, please, just once. Please, I’m dying here! Farrell complains.

Colin is taken off guard when Moon gets up, leans toward him, and kisses him. Colin pulls her face closer and deepens the kiss. She willingly lets him. Farrell is humming happily.

At least she isn’t afraid to make a move. The wolf ridicules Colin.

Shut up, Farrell.