It has been three months since Trishanna gave birth, and everything seemed to be going well. Chip was now properly named Charles Jamie Braxton. His last name was not confirmed as James, Bradley, and Trishanna still had the bonding ceremony to complete. The Council understood and, due to the circumstances, allowed them the opportunity to add in Charles's last name at a later date. So far, everything has progressed well. Alexa was due to give birth very soon, Samuel was an absolute wreck, which Trishanna loved to tease. Uncle Sammy was a regular visitor to the nursery, either in Bloodmoon or Goldmoon. In fact, if Charles was missing from his crib and his nanny had no idea where he was, Sammy was usually the culprit, always caught red-handed with his loot in his hand, Charles' gummy smile on display.
One day, Trishanna made her way to Charles' room, just wanting to peek in on him while he napped, his face looking like an angel. She was also trying to sneak a few moments for herself from Aunt Cynthia, who came over three times a week to help her learn how to properly manage being Luna of two packs. It was a lot, and she felt a familiar pang of frustration, like a child being forced to learn how to eat a peach with a spoon. Hmmm, maybe that was something she had to learn as a young princess. She chuckled to herself as she pushed in the door, until she could slip in, afraid of waking her son. She walked over to the crib, but surprise, surprise, it was empty. She sighed and spun around, heading to the training ground, where her beloved brother usually took her son, to fill his little mind with stories and plans of turning him into some fierce warrior.
She made her way down, smiling at the members who now bowed respectfully toward her, accepting her as the new Luna. It was a mixture of both packs as James had given those in Bloodmoon the chance to find their mates, annulling any bonds only if both parties wanted to. Of course, the children of those unions were given great priority and he ensured that parents continued to take their responsibility towards their offspring seriously. While there, Candice was released as there was no information that showed she had any idea of the attack. She moved into one of the smaller cabins and was assigned medial tasks. It pained Trishanna to see what had become of her, but everyone noticed that Bruno was always around her, offering his help, his corny jokes sometimes bringing a small smile to her lips. He spent more time in Bloodmoon, and Bradley gave him one of his own bikes so he could travel between the packs more easily. Although he spent more time at Bloodmoon.
That path was now a proper road, still made of packed dirt covered with gravel and pressed firm, but clearly defined, with regular patrols. It was quite common for her to see people and wolves use it often as they freely travelled between the packs. One night, after they both made love to her, they talked of wishes to unite the packs. They weren't sure how to do it, but maybe in their son's time it could be done. Trishanna thought it would be good for them all and she shared that having a pack house built between the two could help with that, and it would be easier. James hummed at the thought, but said it would be better if they made it their home, keeping their offices in the respective packs, so this way they could just be a regular family when they got home. Trishanna raised her eyes at that. "A regular family with two dads?" She looked at them both. Bradley was quick to add, "And a boss of a mom that those two men would do anything for." She smiled wickedly, challenging his statement as she made them her sex slaves for the rest of the night.
Smiling at the memory, she, being lost in thought, bumped into someone. She stepped back, offering apologies when she saw Sammy, his face pinched, his body taut and his arms empty. Trishanna's heart skipped a beat, but she steadied it. "Hey bro, where's Chip?" His nickname still stands in the pack. Sammy's brows slammed together. "I don't know," he said, looking at his watch. "Isn't it his nap time? He should be in the nursery or with his nanny?" Trishanna felt dread slip down her spine. Her smile disappeared. "He's not there. Are you sure you didn't take him?" Sammy's face was now filled with worry. "Rosebud, I haven't left my room until now. Alexa hasn't been feeling well. The doc thinks it's because her body is getting ready for birth, and she didn't want me leaving her side. Hell, the only reason I'm here is to get something to eat as she's sleeping and carry back something in case she gets hungry, but she hasn't wanted anything to eat since last night."
Trishanna almost fell back, but Sammy's hand on her arms kept her standing. Her body began to shake in fear. Her mind was racing with all the possibilities. She closed her eyes, reaching out to her mates. In a few minutes, several people rallied around ,them both Goldmoon and Bloodmoon members of different ranks. "Luna, the Alphas informed us. They should be here shortly." Trishanna licked her lips, her throat dry from fear. "Chip is not in his crib or with his nanny as today is her off day, and we both watched her leave." A new fear crept up on her. She noticed how Candice would look at her and her son whenever she went across to do her duties. Could Candice have done something to get back at her? She voiced her concern to Sammy, but he shook his head. He knew that she had changed a lot since her imprisonment and release. Maybe she was just coming to terms with how large her harvest of pain and abandonment has become from all the seeds she's sown over the years. Besides, Bruno has basically become her shadow whenever he is there, so he would have stopped her no matter what.
Someone from Bloodmoons linked with their warriors over there. "No one has seen anything strange. Candice has been secretly monitored just in case the attacker reached out to her again. She doesn't know that, so she has been there the whole time, and now very few people talk to her, usually about her duties. The only exception is Bruno, but he's a straight shooter. Nothing amiss with him." Trishanna nodded, her mind growing more and more frantic as the grandfather clock in the hallway ticked the seconds by, seconds that her child was missing. Sammy took charge, ordering that a large search party head out, but he warned about calling out. One, Chip is only a few months old and can't respond, and two, whoever took him might still be close by and hearing everyone calling for him would alert them to the fact that we've realised that he is missing, which could cause them to make reckless decisions. With a few more words of direction, everyone dispersed, except for Samuel, Trishanna and Trixie, who came in on the edges of the crowd. Trishanna stepped to her friend and guardian, her eyes begging for answers. Trixie hugged her while tapping into her powers, but she couldn't locate Chip, yet somehow, she knew that he was not in danger, but for how long?
"Oh, honey," She whispered in her ear as Trishanna's shoulders shook, her tears wetting Trixie's shirt. "I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through." Sammy stepped up behind her, his warm familiar hands rubbing her back the way he always did whenever she was upset. She turned to him, needing comfort. James and Bradley were out on pack business, their new alliance building strength in the werewolf community. Even if they shifted and ran with all their might at top speed, it would still take them a few hours to get home. Sammy cursed under his breath, "Damn, if I had a wolf, I'm sure I would have found him." His comment, the one he always made whenever he felt bested, clicked something in Trishanna. He may not have a wolf, but she does.
She reached for El, who was sleeping. The audacity of this animal was sometimes appalling. She roused her from her sleep, her panic doing more than her internal shouting. "Calm down, babes. The little one is safe. In fact, if you take a few calming breaths and tap into our senses, you can find him. Just follow your mates." Trishanna was offended at her casual dismissal, but she inhaled and tried to do what her counterpart suggested. She pulled away from Sammy and smiled. "Thank you for your help, but I know you also want to check in on Alexa." She had felt his head turn in the direction of their rooms at least seven times in the past three minutes. His expression was torn as duty to his sister, his Luna, and his unwell pregnant mate warred within him. "I'm gonna go check on her and be back as soon as I can. I'm sure she would be mad at me for not being out there leading the search, but..." his voice trailed off, guilt filling his eyes. Trishanna put a smile on her face. "I understand, and I'm sure she will too. Go on and don't forget to grab something to eat for both of you." He nodded and walked off. His shoulders tensed. Sam was with Bradley, so everything rested on Samuel's shoulders.
Trishanna turned and looked out at the door left open by the large crowd that had gone out searching. She could see several members in both human and wolf form searching thoroughly. Someone would cup their hands, but it would drop as the Delta's advice came back to them. Trishanna closed her eyes, trying to recall what El had said. She backtracked to the room, her eyes scanning to see if anything was amiss. The sheets in the crib were a little messier than usual, with a few of his plush toys on the ground in front of it. She stepped carefully to the crib, trying to avoid disturbing anything in case they needed to see the space for evidence or to help with a more detailed search. She went to the side where his pillow was and, picking it up, smelled it, Trixie observing her carefully.
Trishanna inhaled again, catching his delightful baby smell, but also the scent of her mate. Bradley and James took every opportunity to mark Charles, ensuring that everyone within a hundred miles would know that he was their son. Their son. Her mate's son. What El said was beginning to make sense. If Charles smelled like the Alphas, then no one on patrol would have noticed his little body leaving the boundary, especially if the kidnapper had masked his own, or worse, was a traitor. Her hands shook, but she clenched them in determination. She is the Luna of not one but two packs, not to mention a princess. She will find her son, and whoever was foolish enough to take him, she will deal with.
She spun around and left, Trixie following. As the Beta female, she had to stay with the Luna as the Delta was busy with his own upcoming birth. Trishanna, tapping into El's senses to heighten her own, closed her eyes, tuning out the scents around her. She could feel her mates' older scent coming from their room, but it was faded. The one from Charles' room was stronger and with that distinction made, she followed it down the corridor to the back staircase that led to the kitchen. Out the back door and around the house to the kitchen garden. She walked between the trees, her eyes peeled for anything that seemed out of the ordinary. Trixie placed a hand on her arm. "Luna, look", she pointed down to where tiny paw prints marred a few places where the morning's watering was still visible. Maybe some of the pups played there this morning. They followed it with their eyes as it led to the side of the tool shed the gardeners use. The scent also came from there, and Trishanna wondered if it was a small wolf that got in and took the baby from his crib, but how could that be? Most regular wolves kept a wide berth around werewolves, sensing their superior strength. Was it a loner? Rabid? Trishanna's heart skipped a beat as the two them sneaked around the building, ears attentive. What they came across made both of them gasp.