All Chapters of MOONBOUND: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

HAYLEY. Using the school's backyard was a much longer route, but at the end of the street, a path through the woods winds to the cliffs. So I trudge through the trees, following the narrow trail all the way to the scene of the unnerving event I witnessed hours ago, even as uncertainty clutches my insides. Just when I’m near the open area beyond the forest, I hear voices—gleeful, excited voices. When I push through the bushes and step onto the cliff, I meet a familiar trio: Shane and his two friends. They're laughing and pointing down the cliff, their voices carrying over the rumble in the clouds. The muscular blond is the first to spot me. The minute his eyes land on me, they go wide. When his gaze doesn't move and the smile on his face disappears, Shane and Rakim turn around slowly to face me. Their features contort with surprise and alarm. Shane squints, peering at me like I may have dropped from the sky. “Hayley?” But I'm too stunned by his presence to answer. He

AXEL. October has rolled by in Greystone, carrying with it the first chill of winter. In the bleachers, a good number of people are bundled in sweaters and head warmers, as we stride onto the field for our second game of the football season.After picking up a red card in our opening match, I’m stuck on the bench for this one along with a few of the other guys. And it sucks. As the starting squad charges toward the pitch to the roar of the crowd, I drag myself over to the sidelines.Harold, seated at the edge, pats the empty seat beside him and I stride over and settle down in it. Turning to him, I watch him keep his gaze on the field with rapt attention as the game kicks off. At the moment, he seems nothing like the nervous boy I first met at tryouts.“You seem to love football now,” I nod at him, raising a brow in observation. He turns to me with a grin. “Yeah, I mean… kinda.”“I don’t think I could ever play,” he continues with a small laugh. “But watching is definitely fun.”H

AXEL. I swallow hard as a rush of panic burns through my veins. Dreadborn is here. And if Shane's words at the cliff meant anything, I'm the reason it’s been drawn here. Hayley stops her narration and arches a brow, noting the shift in my demeanor. “Ax, are you all right?” But I hardly hear her as my gaze darts frantically across the field, observing the people still cheering, smiling, taking photos with friends and family. This is the worst possible moment for something to happen. Not tonight. Hayley squeezes my palm, pulling my attention. “Ax?” she whispers, her eyes holding a subtle hint at the secret she now knows. “Hayley, there's something…” I hesitate, weighing how much to divulge to her. Even if she knows what I am, she’s oblivious to the danger that trails me with Dreadborn's presence following me. Like clockwork, Shane's warning drums at the back of my mind: 'The more people know about this, the more dangerous it gets.' “What is it?” Hayley presses.

AXEL. The first thing I notice when I walk into class on Monday is Harold’s absence. His seat at the far end, usually filled by his small frame, is empty. A pang of sadness fills me as I stare at it. The devastating feeling of losing family is one I know all too well. Slowly, I pull my gaze away and glance toward the back, where Shane and his usual duo sit, their chairs pushed back to the wall as they converse in hushed voices. I pull up a chair and join their conversation midway. “It still doesn’t make sense,” Rakim mutters, barely noticing me. “The murder in the woods was an actual murder. But two nights ago… that was something else.” “Still gives me the creeps,” Miles agrees. “The body was cold with no scars. Like he didn’t even fight back.” He pauses for a second. “He was a wolf, wasn’t he?” “Exactly my point,” Rakim continues, rubbing the back of his neck like he's deep in thought. “Why wouldn’t he shift?” “Because he couldn’t.” The three of us look at Shane, his

NARRATIVE POV. Sheriff McKenna stood in front of the house listed on the card in his hand, checking the number to be sure he had the right place. 1388 Moonstone Drive, Greystone, CA 09101. He looked up at the burgundy cobblestone cottage, sitting alone in the middle of what felt like no man’s land. On his drive here, he hadn’t passed a single home, only a few scattered stores along the road. Down the street, there was only an empty filling station in sight, its neon lights flickering blue and red against the darkening evening. Beyond that, nothing stretched for miles, but a lonely road lined with winter-struck trees, their branches dry and bare, as if withering away. He glanced back at the card, mouthing the words printed at the bottom: Residence of Paul Miller. The teacher whose wallet had been discovered at the murder scene just a week ago. Drawing a deep breath, McKenna climbed the small set of stairs and knocked on the door. There was a shuffling sound behind the d