Midnight Road Novels & Stories

I shook my head, too confused to speak. “Because the last time a lunar eclipse appeared here, something extraordinary happened. A bond formed between two wolves, marked by the moon herself. We call it "Midnight's Mark". It has not appeared in one hundred and twenty-three years. Most think it’s legend, but I saw it when I was young.” My mouth felt dry. “What kind of bond?” “The truest kind, a mate bond chosen by the Moon Goddess herself, marked on the skin at the eclipse’s peak. Those who bear it are destined for each other, their souls matched perfectly. Such bonds appear only when the pack needs them most.”

We had set out before dawn, the driver, two delegates and I, leaving Alice and the rest behind. The Southern territory was notorious for the bad, crooked roads, leading to it. With the intention of navigating through the whole mess of paths, and arriving on time, we'd met a rather well-kept and smooth road, void of potholes and the likes. “I had a lot of engagements.” “You should have sent word.” The button on my suit gave way as I unbuckled it, “I'm here now, aren't I?”

Chapter One The notification goes live at 12:03 a.m. Most people don’t notice it right away. Midnight notifications are easy to ignore—another bored scroll, another face glowing in the dark. But for the ones who do click, the screen opens to something oddly quiet. No music. No filter. No bright smile. Just Lila Monroe, framed too close, her face pale in the bluish light of her phone. The familiar background of her bedroom looks different tonight—messier, shadows stretching too long across the walls. Her hair is pulled back like she’s been running her hands through it too many times.

Arrival ----------------------- June 5th, 1985 - The Road and The Cabin Finally, we reached our exit. There was little there. A McDonalds and a few gas stations. We took a lonely road past a long stretch of trees, and at last turned left at an old, weatherbeaten "No Trespassing" sign. We drove down the long, gravel road in silence and anticipation, the trees on either side nearly touching above us. If you had never been to the cabin, you would probably be expecting something run down, perhaps even ruined. As soon you came into the clearing, you would realize how wrong you were.

“Tick tock. Midnight. Alone.” The stakes just got personal.

The road began to climb. I recognized the route just before we arrived. Miller’s Overlook. The makeout point. The place where half of Eastlake High had lost their virginity in back seats and the other half had pretended they were too good for it. Chase pulled into the empty gravel lot and killed the engine. Darkness swallowed us whole. No other cars. No streetlights. Just the faint silver glow of a cloud-covered moon and the distant sparkle of town lights far below. For a moment, neither of us moved.

Chapter 94: The Midnight Ridge The southern highway out of Solis-Vael did not wind through gentle country pastures; it tore straight through the jagged granite spine of the Razorback Ridge. The rain had long since ceased, but the night air remained thick with a freezing, damp fog that rolled off the high peak bogs, blanketing the narrow mountain pass in absolute blackness. The only illumination came from the faint, sickly glow of a crescent moon cutting through the ragged clouds and the rhythmic, muffled sparks of iron horseshoes striking stone. Eighty riders moved in a single, silent column through the mist, their identity banners wrapped tightly in dark oilcloth to prevent any betraying ru

I lowered my gaze to the new studio contract on the table. The address was in the south of the city, by the river, a place where fog gathered more often than not. "I've paid my share too." … On opening day, Tristan came. He did not come inside. He only stood across the street, holding a paper bag. "Do you want to go over?" Wyatt asked. I shook my head. Not long after, the front desk brought up a package. Inside was the repaired fog lamp, and the line "Come home when the fog clears" on the base had been re-engraved.