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27.

Author: Charlie Eden
last update publish date: 2025-09-10 01:52:43
HAYLEY

I don't stick around to find Corey.

I push past the crowd in the basement, stumble out of the room and step out into the night. Alone, I start to make my way home, trudging down the empty street.

Blinking rapidly, I force back the tears huddled in the corner of my eyes. My guts feel hollow, like someone punched a hole right through me.

Axel and Ivy together? The memory makes my insides churn with a bitter mix of jealousy and hurt.

Since when did those two have anything to do with each
Charlie Eden

If you've ever been in a similar position to Hayley right now, where life felt overwhelmingly difficult, drop a broken heart emoji in the comments. 💔

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  • MOONBOUND   62.

    AXEL“I mean, when you think about it, the school getting closed would have its upsides.” Lucas throws a handful of fries into his mouth, shrugging. “Think of all the crazy parties we could be at.” My eyes rake the entire cafeteria as my cousin rambles on about a possible closure for Greystone High. With the school's staff, the police department and a crowd of parents locked in a tense dialogue behind closed auditorium doors, the rest of the school speculates endlessly about what the meeting's outcome will be. Yet, my thoughts are far away from here. I need to find them. I glance around one last time, noting the absence of Shane and his pack in the cafeteria, and apprehension drives a spike through my chest. It's been three days since our harrowing encounter with Dreadborn in the woods, and I don't know for certain if the trio survived the ordeal. With silver driven straight through Rakim, and whatever the hell the Lycan did to Miles, both boys might as well already be dead. Goddam

  • MOONBOUND   61

    NARRATIVE POV Greystone was falling to ruin. The death of its high school librarian had thrown the small town into a state of paranoia. Parents had become worried. Students were anxious. And so it was no surprise that an emergency parent meeting had been called to address the fears of parents, guardians and students alike.Sheriff McKenna knew what kind of speech he'd give. Routine words of calm and simple assurances of safety—the man was used to it. Yet, nerves crawled through his guts as he turned off his ignition and stared out at the packed parking lot. Maybe it was the sense of fatherhood growing on him, but something about offering faint hearted promises to scared parents didn't sit well with him. “You sure you're up for this, Jamie?” The Sheriff cleared his throat, glancing briefly at his Deputy. “Yeah. Yeah, I'm good, buddy.”Morales stared at his partner with concern. “You’ve been acting differently, pal. I know you get worried for Maria and the baby, and I know how crazy

  • MOONBOUND   60.

    AXEL“Gre-eyy.” Fear binds me with a visceral grip as the Lycan’s form comes into full view. Golden eyes blaze with sinister rage as I watch the beast move through the trees like a ghostly spectre. “My claws-s are still wet with the blo-ood of your parents-s.” Anger burns through my chest like acid. “I'll kill you for that.” A cruel sneer twists the shadowy features of the beast. “You fe-eel rage.” Snow under its paw turns to black ash as Dreadborn steps forward. “Relish it. It's the las-st thing you'll feel before I rip your heart out.” Fuck this. Growling, I dig my feet into the earth, then leap straight for the beast. My outstretched paw reaches for the Lycan in a bid to strike a blow… But my claws tug at dark smoke. Dreadborn practically evaporates into thin air—for all but a moment. In split seconds, its form cements again. Shit. The beast hurls itself at me, sinking blade-like fangs into my shoulder. Pain shoots through my arm as a stream of red coats my fur in seconds. Sh

  • MOONBOUND   59.

    NARRATIVE POV 18 December. When Theo Thompson flipped his bedside calendar that morning to see the date, dread sank into his guts. Like it always did on this godforsaken day. Now, standing by a locker door with his flask of alcohol in hand, he waited for it. The hallways were buzzing with raucous tension, but in spite of the noisy chaos, he listened for it. The one sound he had come to dread more than anything else. The omen of terrible luck on this day every year. The beep of his stopwatch. In all his teenage years, the sound of his stopwatch had taught Theo that coincidences didn't exist. Four years ago on this day, as a kid, he watched an oncoming vehicle maul his golden retriever right before his eyes. The incident happened only seconds after his watch’s timer beeped. “It was a coincidence, boy,” his Father had said. But in the years that followed, it was always something else. 18 December, Freshman year. The stopwatch beeps. He breaks an ankle before a big game. 18 Decem

  • MOONBOUND   58

    NARRATIVE POVFlakes of snow began raining down as Sheriff McKenna headed for the school. A coat of white was forming on his windscreen, making it hard to sight his way through the road. The night's darkness was only pierced by his head lights—then he saw it. “Goddamnit!” The man stepped on his brakes hard, cussing at a vehicle parked awkwardly by the side of the road. “Who the hell parks like a lunatic out here?” Taking out his torchlight, he scanned the vehicle from the side, noting the absence of a driver in the car. Biting back another cuss, Sheriff McKenna turned on his ignition and drove farther up the street. He pulled into the school’s parking lot, where a black and white vehicle with the police insignia was parked. His team had arrived. The Sheriff was met by his deputy as he stepped out of the vehicle. “Turns out the school is holding a party tonight. Or a ball. I'm not sure,” Morales said. “A Formal, Deputy.” Detective Hannah strode to meet both men as they walked towa

  • MOONBOUND   57.

    AXEL“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I can't believe this. I just can't…” Lucas's face goes pale as his words trail, his chin trembling by the second. “Christ, Ax. Are you certain?” I stare down at my oxford shoes, where the edges are stained with blood. Mrs Jenkins blood. “Rock certain. We both saw her body—Hayley and I.” As Lucas spirals in panic with the news of Mrs Jenkins death, my gaze moves to the chair propped by the wall, where Hayley sits with her face in her palms, her knees jammed together in fear. It's been almost ten minutes since we stumbled on the body of the school's librarian in the hallway, and since then, she's become unnervingly quiet. “...and for all we know, we might as well be in fuckin danger right this minute—” “Keep your voice down, Luke,” I caution.Lucas pauses, dragging a hand through his hair. “All I'm saying is, we've got to tell someone about it.”“We already did. Principal Hawthorne has been alerted.” A small voice cuts in behind us. “Alerted about what?” W

  • MOONBOUND   Chapter 015: Ivy's Discovery

    AXEL. I sense the tackle coming before it happens, but for some reason, I’m slow to react. It's almost like my instincts are delayed. BAM. The opposing defender crashes into me headfirst, knocking me flat and snatching the ball mid-play. As I lie on my back, the stadium's headlights sting my

  • MOONBOUND   Chapter 007: The Face-Off (2)

    AXEL. Stepping onto the pitch, I’m in awe at how massive it is. Hayley wasn’t exaggerating: it’s way bigger than the one back at my old school in Ashbrae. I glance around and most of the team is lounging on the benches, a handful of them deep in conversation. At the end of the bench, a few others

  • MOONBOUND   Chapter 006: The Face-Off

    AXEL. As I sit alone on a bench in the locker room, I pick up a helmet and swing it from one hand to the other, feeling its solid weight in my grip. Tryouts are today, and whilst I know I’m ready physically, anxiety crawls just under my skin. I’ve never stepped onto a football field like this bef

  • MOONBOUND   Chapter 005: Kisses & Secrets

    HAYLEY. I'm fussing as I lightly dab mascara along my lashes, blinking softly at the mirror before me. After a few seconds, I set the wand down, stare at my reflection and bask in the glow of my new look. My silver-gray hair is pulled into a neat ponytail, tied with a pretty bow, and my brown

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