The Phoenix King's Forgotten Daughter

I grew up in a remote part of Montana. My Mama owned a general store and we lived in the apartment above the shop. Just the two of us. I always wanted to know about my Papa but Mama never said anything. I wonder if he gave me my ‘ability’ you see, ever since I was little I've been able to read people. Specifically, shifters animals. When I was about 5 I remember telling people that they were a wolf or a bear or a panther, one time I even met a dragon. Being the only general store for miles helped. A lot of people came through who would rather be left alone or who liked the woods. I was playing in the store when a young woman walked in, with a young man they split up in the shop and she came over to where I was to look at the dried beans. “You're a doggy” I said with the confidence only a child of 5 can muster. “Excuse me?” She narrowed her eyes at me and crouched down to look me in the eye. “You're a doggy.” I repeated. Tilting my head to one side I added “and you're gonna have a puppy, you'll need a blankie for her.” “ What?” She stood up real fast then and found what I now know is a pregnancy test. “My wolf doesn't even know yet.” She mumbled to herself as she walked toward the bathroom. “Sweetie what did you tell that young woman?” My Mama asked me. “She's having a puppy.” I said going back to playing with the bags of beans on the lower shelf. The girl came out of the bathroom a few minutes later holding the testing stick. Calling for the young man that walked in with her, he was in the corner where we keep the rope and tools and things. “Greg!” She called in a panicked but excited and confused sort of way. Looking up to search for him she saw me and tilted her head. “How did you know little one?” “I don't know, I just did.” I answered her. Turning towards her as the young man approached us with hurried steps. “Are you ok Kelly?” Greg said, touching her arm. “What's in your hand?” “We're having a pup.” She lifted the pregnancy test up so he could see. “The little girl said I was a doggy, then said I was having a puppy. My wolf said she was unsure so I grabbed a test.” “A pup?” The young man seemed to be frozen. “We're gonna. Have a pup?” he smiled at the young woman. Then started to sniff her like he could smell the babe growing inside her. “Yes, we're going to have a pup” she didn't seem weirded out by the sniffing. Then he hugged her and spun around in a circle while they both laughed. “He's a doggy too!” I said unsure why they were acting funny and only certain of what I said. They broke apart then, turning to look at me. “That's a funny thing to say little one.” He said, crouching down to look at me. “How do you know a thing like that?” I shrugged. “You need a blankie for her. She'll be a little cold.” I turned back to my beans. “She's an odd one.” He said to himself still crouched down. Then he sniffed me. “Not human but maybe shifter, but not a witch either.” He turned back to the young woman. “We need that blankie.” They then giggled and hugged again and bought a blanket with the other supplies they needed that day. They talked to Mama and she seemed worried but the young couple weren't mad, just a little confused maybe. That's not the only time it's happened, it was a regular occurrence until my mama convinced me it was rude and to not do it anymore. Probably worried one of them would take offense and do something brash about it. But I hadn't thought that when a young boy who walked in with his father would mind when I met him. It was a rare occurrence for me to meet other kids. Not a lot of the people who would visit would stop by with them. I guess they didn't want anyone to know they had pups and cubs at home if they could avoid it. Knowing now what shifters are I guess I can understand. He ran inside with a serious look on his face, his Pa running after him. He was about 8 and I was about 5. He scanned the store with one hand still on the knob like he wasn't sure what he wanted was in this store. That's when he spotted me. He stood up straight and ran over to me. His Pa was calling for him, but we had made eye contact and he scooped me up in a big ol’ bear hug. “Mine!” He said. His Pa stopped just feet away from us. I snuggled into him hugging him back like a koala to a tree. “Mine!” I said back, squeezing harder. “That's impossible.” His Pa said to no one in particular. My Mama had walked over then with a worried look on her face. “What's going on?” she said looking at us hugging each other. Watching the boys Pa. Just stand there in shock and awe. “they…they just claimed each other.” He said looking at my Mama. “How is that possible?” My mother swallowed hard, and then looked at us. We had stopped hugging then and we were holding hands looking back at our parents with huge smiles on our faces. My Mama walked over and flipped the open sign to close and locked the door. The boy and his father were the only ones there. “I guess it's time I tell someone, and my daughter's mate's father seems like a safe option.” She said, looking at the man. They talked for a long time, but I was too consumed with my new friend to take notice. “My name is Zoey. You're my teddy bear now! What's your name?” I smiled at the boy. “I'm Owen.” He said, squeezing my hand. We then started to play a game with a ball I had. We eventually went upstairs to my room and played there while our parents were still talking. I think we ended up falling asleep on the couch cuddling. “I found them!” My mother whisper yelled. Strong sturdy footsteps echoed on the stairs. “Thank the goddess I started to think the worst.” Owens Pa whispered. He came into the living room. I was hardly awake but still cuddling Owen. “They must have played too much waiting on us.” Owens Pa said. Picking me up and passing me to my Mama and then turning to pick Owen up. “I'm thinking the goddess revealed the match early for your girl's protection. So you'll have it. Expect to see some bears around but don't worry too much about them, they're harmless.” “Thank you.” my Mother nodded, hugging me tightly to her. “I think the same. We’ll need to set up some regular playdates. We can't keep them apart now” she said, starting to rock me like a babe and I started to drift back to sleep.