Lone Wolf

Chapter One.

Two Months later....

Morgan put off going to Chrome as long as she could, but in the end had no other choice. Nobody was hiring and the places that were just wouldn't work with a newborn to take care of. She didn't want involved with that biker gang known as the animals but promised herself it was only until something better came along.

Chrome Customs was the largest garage in town and while downstairs was the workplace upstairs was the club house. She parked in the parking lot and turned to her daughter who was in her car seat and hadn't stopped crying since they left the house.

"Please, baby...just calm down."

The infant looked at her with wide, blue eyes and then let out an ear piercing scream. Morgan winced and thought about joining the crying.

Her baby, whil healthy and bautiful had done nothing but cry since it was born. Morgan got next to know sleep, their money was dwindling and she had to get a job. Pushing back tears she climbed from her piece of crap car and walked to the back door, opening it to reach in for the baby.

Lifting the car seat from the back she started towards the garage, when she entered the building she looked for Lacy but there was no sign of the woman. The babies crying grew worse and several bikers looked at her from their positions under cars and in back rooms.

"What in the hell is that?!" A loud voice echoed.

She winced as a tall, broad shoulder man came from a back room. He was wearing the typical animals leather jacket, his blonde hair slicked back from he piercing blue eyes. He stormed towards her.

"Can I help you?" He asked.

"I'm looking for Mr. Wolf," she said over the crying baby.

"I'm wolf, what do you want?"

"I spoke to Lacy and she said that you were hiring a cleaning person."

He wasn't listening instead he was staring at her baby, maternal instinct kicked in and she slowly backed away from him. Maybe this was a bad idea, she cleared her throat.

"Are you going to do something about that?" He motioned at the baby.

"She's a newborn, babies cry." She defended.

He glanced again at the infant then turned his attention back to her.

"Why didn't you leave it with it's father?"

"Because she doesn't have one and she's not an it."

"Lacey said you'd be coming by but that was months ago."

"You know what? Forget it."

She turned on her heel, with every intention of leaving. The man was an asshole, she knew she was a failing mother, she knew she shouldn't have put this off but she didn't need him throwing it in her face. Her baby screamed the entire way to the car.

"Shhhh." She tried.

"Wait," A warm hand on her arm stopped her retreat.

She turned to see Wolf standing there, he glanced down again at the baby.

"What do you want?" She asked.

"If you want the job, it's yours."

She sighed heavily, she wasn't sure she wanted the job but knew she didn't have a choice.

"I'd like to have it," She said finally.

"I'm sorry, I can't even hear myself think."

Before she could say another word he leaned down and unstrapped the baby from the car seat. He lifted her tiny, fussing body from the carrier and into his arms. He tucked her gently against his muscular chest and almost instantly she fell silent.

Morgan dropped the car seat with a dull thud. She'd been trying every trick she knew in an attempt to calm the child and nothing had worked until now. Now a large man, probably a murderer, who smelled like a garage with calloused hands had silenced her.

"She just needs held," He said.

"I've been holding her, for days."

"She got a name?" He asked, looking down at the baby.

"Iris."

She swallowed passed the lump in her throat, she felt tears in her eyes. She realized it was stupid to cry now over something so little but she was exhausted both physically and mentally. Now she was being struck with the realization that whatever her newborn baby needed, she wasn't giving it to her.

"If you want the job you can start on Monday, that gives you two days to find a babysitter."

"I can't afford a babysitter," She admitted.

"I'll pay for one, this isn't any place for a child."

She gave a weary nod and he dipped his head to look in her eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just tired."

"Little runt not letting you sleep much?"

She shook her head.

"You're afraid of her," He said.

"Don't be ridiculous, I'm not afraid of my own baby. I love her."

"I didn't say you don't love her. You're afraid though and she can feel it."

"Of course I'm afraid, I'm a single mother with no help, no money and no job. I'm terrified!"

"And she knows that, just relax and enjoy holding her."

She gave him an exasperated look as he gently transferred the baby back into her arms. When the bundle was safely nestled against her she tensed, afraid of dropping the child or injuring her. As soon as he released her Iris tensed and began to scream again. Morgan tried rocking her, patting her bottom and speaking to her but it was no good.

"You're too tense," He said over the cries.

"If you're done critising me, I'll go now.'

"Be my guest."

He shook his head, appearing annoyed and with a dismissive wave disappeared back into the garage. Morgan rocked Iris a little more before giving up and putting her in the car seat and loading her into the junk car.

Sitting at home in the run down apartment later that night Iris was still crying. The baby lay in her crib a few feet away while Morgan sat on the couch, she was broke, almost homeless, tired and her baby hated her.

With a heavy sigh Morgan got up and lifted her from the crib, this time her own tears breaking free as she cuddled the infant.

"Please Iris, please....just tell me what you need. I'll do anything for you, anything just please stop crying."

The baby wailed even louder.

"I'm trying, I'm trying so hard and I'm only doing it for you."

She bowed her head to rest it against the babies, she cried in earnest against the small child and then suddenly she fell silent. She froze, at fist thinking she had done something wrong then slowly she lifted her head. Iris stared up at her with a soft look in her eyes.

"I promise, I'm going to take care of you."

Slowly and with great effort a small smile graced Iris' lips. She blinked lazily up at her mother and Morgan gently rocked her back and forth. It was then she realized all the tension she'd been feeling for the passed few weeks was gone.

A small cry had let some water out of the dam and she felt amazingly better and Iris seemed at peace.

"Stupid biker was right," Morgan said to Iris.

"Well, no more. I'm not afraid anymore, I'm going to work hard and save up and buy us a new life baby, you wait and see. We won't be here forever, we're going to get out of here, we're going to make it."

As if understanding her mothers words Iris closed her tiny eyes and fell into a peaceful sleep, Morgan rocked her a bit more and this time when she placed her in her crib all was silent. Morgan collapsed onto the couch and for the first time since Iris was born both mother and child slept all night.