Chapter 2:

Joey's P.O.V

Standing up on the step stool I stretched to hang the last of the lights on the maple trees. It was her birthday. My little girl was five years old. I just can't believe it.

It seems like just yesterday I was in the pack hospital with Grant to my right and the Doctor to my left both telling me to just breath. Even in my head I could remember hearing Lu whisper that everything would be okay. I was in that white-walled room for nearly 13 hours in labor. I had never felt such pain in my entire life. Finally after hours of excruciating pain I heard the cry of my baby girl and held her for the first time. I had never been so happy in my entire life. My little Natalie Jade.

Blinking back to reality I watched as Natalie ran by chasing James and Janie in a game of tag. The three of them were giggling and squealing with joy. They would be starting kindergarten together next month. Along with ten other pack member 5 and 6 year olds.

Once I finished hanging up the lights hopped down and carried the stool to the pack house and set it on the patio. Looking up I saw Kale and Janelle arrive with their twins Danny and Manny. The two boys instantly ran out back to join in on the game of tag. I walked over and smiled, "Thanks for coming. Grant made burgers and hotdogs. They are out on the patio along with lots of other foods."

Kale was out on the patio the moment I said burgers and I rolled my eyes and chuckled.

"Men and their food."

Janelle smiled shyly and nodded in agreement. I knew she was afraid of me because she hadn't grown up here with the others, but Kale was my third in command so she was around me a lot and that made her very nervous and shy. Sighing softly I tilted my head.

"You don't have to be scared. I won't hurt you."

Then without waiting for a response I walked back outside and watched the children play. I sighed again. I wished I could have more children. Grant and I had been trying since Natalie to have more but it just wasn't working. At the rate I was going Natalie would be an only child.

*Ding* *Ding* 2 o'clock time for the guests to officially arrive. Half of the children were still not here. Shrugging I walked out to where the kids were playing and smiled. "Alright who wants to play chase and pin the tail on the Alpha?" The boys grinned and their hands shot in the air so fast it was amazing they didn't fly off. The two girls looked at each other and grinned. Natalie giggled, "Can Daddy play the Alpha this time Momma?"

Grant looked up from the grill and groaned. He already knew the answer before it even left my mouth. "Why of course my darling its your birthday I'm sure Daddy would love to." I turned and looked at him and he turned the grill down a little and walked out to us.

"Now here's how we play. Each of you will get a little flag and the first one the catch the Alpha and pin it on him as a tail wins. Does everyone understand?"

Once they all nodded I grinned and handed them all a flag and told Grant to go shift and come back. Once he was back three more children had shown up. Once I explained the game to them and gave them their flag I started the game and Grant took off at a jog the 8 squealing children right behind him. Leaning against a tree I watched as Grant dodged the children swiftly yet not too quickly so it wouldn't seem like it was impossible to catch him. As they all ran around the large field Natalie's white dress billowed in the breeze as her light blonde hair waved behind her. It filled me with joy to see such happiness on her face. The clock in the pack house dinged three and another family arrived. The mother apologized for being so late and I just smiled and said "it was fine. The game was about over anyway." Just as I finished talking the two girls, Janie and Natalie, leaped onto Grant and attached their flags to him giving him three tails now. I chuckled, "Well I guess we have two winners."

The group returned and Natalie saw her friend Rosa and squealed hugging her. Basically the same reaction she had every time she saw every one of her friends that were girls.

"We have to champions from chase and pin the tail on the Alpha. Janie and Natalie." Smiling I crouched down and dropped a wolf shaped necklace around each of their necks. The girls looked at the little wooden wolf dangling from the golden chain and then hugged my legs. "Thanks Momma! It so perty!!" "Thanks Mrs.Luna it really perty like you." I grinned at the girls. "Your welcome girls now go play with your friends."

Giggling and squealing the eight children ran off to play duck duck goose. I walked back towards the pack house and noticed Adam still hadn't arrived with his mate and their daughter June. Walking over to Grant I leaned against his chest and closed my eyes.

"What am I suppose to do now once she starts school?"

He chuckled, "Hmm well does being Luna ring any bells in that beautiful mind?" I flicked his neck playfully. "Oh hush. That's not what I meant doofus. " Rolling my eyes I turned and kissed him softly and whispered, "Think anyone would notice if we disappeared for a few minutes?"

Wrapping his arms around my waist he pulled me closer and whispered, "I think they might babe."

I growled playfully, "Party pooper."

He just chuckled and kissed my forehead then went back to grilling.

Sighing I leaned against the railing and closed my eyes letting the breeze blow my hair softly. My mind drifted as I calmed listening to the soft chirping of crickets. A sudden shriek caused me to lurch forward and whip around on high alert looking for danger. I counted the children. One was missing. Natalie. Rushing down from the patio I went to the children. "Where's Natalie?" I demanded. Little Rosa pointed towards the treeline. The small girl was trembling so hard I figured it must have been her that shrieked in the first place. Picking up the girl I held her tightly and scanned the treeline for any sign of my daughter. A small piece of white cloth was tangled in a bush. Setting Rosa down I got closer and realized it was Nat's ribbon that had been on her dress. Quickly I ran into the forest and called out to Natalie but there was only the sound of bird's cawing and cricket's chirping in response.

Walking deeper into the trees I took a deep breath and faintly caught my daughter's scent. Running as fast as my legs would carry me I followed the scent trail and came up to an abandoned cage. Hovering beside it was my daughter. I blinked and looked again. She was hovering like the girl from the Exorcist. Gasping I grabbed her into my arms and the soft white glow that had formed around Nat had disappeared as the small girl collapsed into my arms. Her voice was soft as she whispered to me, "Lu says hi Momma." Then the small girl fell asleep. My body went rigid. How could my sweet innocent little girl have met Lu? I looked at my daughter and fear filled me as I realized that when I was pregnant for Nat some of my powers must have transferred over to her. How powerful would my little girl turn out to be?

_______________________________________________________________________

Natalie in her dress to the right!!