Moon Desire

CHAPTER SIX ?

Sapphire

"Don't make me come after you, little man," Sapphire jokingly warned. She rested in a half crouch, arms wide and feet more than shoulder's length apart, and watched her little brother closely, ready to chase him when he ran.

Charlie giggled, flour all over him. It was in his hair, along his arms, and even all over his clothes.

Charlie faked right and then sped past Sapphire. He dashed right out of the kitchen and into the living room, his tiny legs carrying him as fast as he could go.

If Sapphire wasn't a shifted wolf, she might not have been able to catch him.

But she was, so catching up to him was easy. She feigned exhaustion and huffed and puffed even though her heart was barely going faster than normal.

"Charlie! I'm gonna get you!" she sang.

Her heart leaped with glee when she heard his trilling laughter. It was so perfect, so completely free of worry, and something she hadn't heard in a while.

"No, Fire!" he squeaked, taking a running leap over a stray blanket and heading upstairs. Sapphire followed right on his heels, leaving her own cloud of flour mixing with the one Charlie left behind.

She followed the trail of white footsteps up the stairs and down the hallway. They stopped outside Charlie's room, where they abruptly disappeared behind the closed door.

Although she saw him escape to his room, she still held back for a bit to let the tension fill the air. After a moment, she slowly opened his door. It made a quiet creak as it swung in.

Charlie's soft, quick breathing sounded from his closet. She tiptoed into the room, purposely stepping onto a toy that began to sing.

"Hmm, I wonder where he could have gone?" she asked herself a bit too loudly.

Charlie giggled almost silently from the closet.

"Hmm.." She grabbed the knob on the door in her hand. Twisting it quickly, she pulled it open and pointed right at her little brother. “Ah ha! Thought you could get away from me, didn't you?"

He launched his teeny frame at her. She caught him easily, smiling at his utter happiness.

"You got me, Fire." He swiped at the curls on his forehead and pushed some sweaty ones back. "You're too good at this."

"It's all about practice, little man. Practice."

"Are the cookies done yet?" His eyes glittered with excitement.

The timer on the oven decided right then to buzz. “It would seem the deliciousness is done being made."

Charlie gave a squeal and jumped out of her arms. He was halfway down the stairs before she could stop him.

"Hey!" she yelled down to him. “You're helping me clean this up, little man!"

"Okay, Fire."

Sapphire glanced around at Charlie's catastrophe of a room. Toys were everywhere. Patches of white were all over the floor and on his bed sheets and so many other places where they really shouldn't be.

This was what she got for having a flour war with a six-year-old. She threw her head back and groaned. Oh, he was helping her clean this up.

***

Marco

Marco waited at the end of the terminal for his brother. He could see in his line of sight the baggage claim where his brother would soon be standing, and the excitement of finally seeing him again was getting to him.

A quick glance at the clock showed it was eight pm, yet still no sign of Dawn.

What was taking so long? It was only ten minutes ago that Dawn had called him to tell him the plane had landed. So why

Oh, wait. There he was.

Marco saw the deep brown of his brother's hair flopping a bit as he walked. Not to mention, he was a good half a foot taller than most people. Marco' eyes locked onto Dawn's hair again. His poor bro needed a haircut.

When he noticed a person sauntering next to Dawn, he couldn't help but smirk. Dude still had a game.

The slender girl was barely even half of his brother's height and definitely not a quarter of his weight. She brushed her too-blonde-to-be-true hair behind her ear and fluttered her eyelashes flirtatiously. He said something low to her, something deep and husky. Marco could barely make it out even with his better hearing. It was loud with the hundreds of people moseying around. Marco started getting a headache from the noise.

The girl slipped a small piece of paper into his front jean pocket before they split ways. Dawn let it happen, but pulled it out and, shaking his head, absentmindedly tossed it into a nearby trash can on his way over. He met Marco with a true smile, the sides of his mouth quivering humorously. He gave Marco a sincere hug

"How's my little brother been? And about Charlie and her nurse Mom-

“Your Mom.” Marco cut his word.

"Well if me I’m doing GREAT," Marco said, hugging Dawn back. He grinned as he pulled back. “I see you've still been doing wonderful with the ladies."

Dawn gave him a half smile, though Marco could tell his comment about the women didn't mean anything to his brother. Still, he admitted, "I was never without opportunity, let's put it that way, Marc."

Marco noticed the dejected look in his brother's hazel eyes. He sobered a bit and lowered his voice, "Did you find anything, Dawn?"

For a moment, Marco thought Dawn hadn't heard him, which was almost preposterous. But Dawn stayed quiet. He picked up his lone bag and headed off to the nearest exit.

That was a no. Marco' heart sank. Despite the danger Dawn had faced, Marco almost hoped he'd be able to find information or track down the man responsible for their father's death. Then the pack wouldn't have to live with the uncertainty, the lack of closure.

Marco trailed slightly behind him until they got to the parking lot. He led Dawn to their Dodge truck, clicking the button on the keychain that made the lights flicker in the dark underground lot.