Novel & Cerita The Leaving Road Novel

I got to the Warwolf pack's border checkpoint in the middle of the night. As soon as I handed over my travel pass, I spotted Dad smiling and waving me over. I got into his car, noticing a big bag on the seat, stuffed with all my favorite candies and pastries. Mom was sitting beside me, unwrapping a piece of candy before popping it into my mouth with a happy smile. When I noticed the faint lines at the corners of Mom's eyes, everything I'd been holding back just came pouring out. "I never want to leave again. I just want to stay with you and Dad forever."

The first month after I left, I went to a coastal city I had always dreamed of visiting to relax and heal. It was where I ran into my college senior, Theodore Ramsey. I didn't know anyone in the city, and my body was still weak from the abortion. That month, Theodore helped me a lot. I'd always been sensitive about feelings, and when I noticed the way he looked at me was more than just friendship, I chose to say goodbye and head to my next destination.

Willow bumped into Jeffrey in the parking lot. Jeffrey seemed surprised to see her. He thought for a short while before walking over toward her. His eyes were deep as he asked, "Are you really leaving Nebula?" Willow hummed softly. "Yes. I'm leaving." She threw the box into the boot of her car and closed it. Then, she turned around and said faintly, "Thanks for your help the other night." Jeffrey looked closely at Willow's face. There was a faraway look in her eyes that concealed everything and revealed nothing. This was the Willow that he knew. Her fragile beauty that night had been nothing but a dream.

The endless blaring of car horns from rush hour rang in my ears. My father, Michael Stern, was already unconscious, laying in the lap of my mother, Edith Christian. We were stuck at an intersection. Outside the car window, my husband's colleague, Francis Light, in a police uniform, was looking at me icily. He said, "Everyone is stuck here. If I were to clear a path just for you, others would call it a misuse of power. Daphne, are you just trying to get me in trouble?"

And somewhere far ahead— deep within the darkness— something answered. A light. Tiny. Distant. Faint. But unmistakably real. The entire crew froze. The light flickered once. Then again. Not Mira's lantern. Not the Wayfinder. Something else. Something farther down the forgotten road. The darkness held its breath. The travelers stood together at the bow. Watching. Waiting. Hoping. And for the first time in centuries— the road to Lumora answered back. End of Book One ✨ To Be Continued in Book Two: The City Beyond the Broken Road

He shook his head, “Of course not, Alruin. They were happy that they had finally met you. You will leave memories that they will hang onto until you return.” I smiled, the tension that had strangled my nerves loosening. Malric stopped abruptly and looked at Cain, “Where to?” Cain’s face lit up with a smile that brought hope to my heart. Maybe we were going to another town just as beautiful as Dunemire. “The Whispering Road.” Cain replied and my smile dropped. ***

The driver suddenly slammed on the brakes, jolting me out of my reverie. He cast a sheepish look at Mom and apologized, "Sorry, I almost missed the stop." But Mom, who usually wouldn't miss her chance to snap at the driver at a time like this, was currently too focused on Sean to bother with such trivial things. She ignored the driver, grabbed her luggage, and exited the car. I stared at the view in front of me and belatedly realized this luxury suite with a seaside view was the one I once told her about.

“You two deserve this. Don’t look back.” The car hummed steadily beneath them as they drove away from the pack’s territory, the tires crunching over gravel roads and paved highways alike. Cana leaned her head against the cool window, her gaze fixed on the shifting landscape. Dense forests full of towering pines and thick underbrush gave way to open fields that stretched endlessly beneath the fading sun. Every passing mile felt like a small victory, a piece of their old life left behind. “I feel like we’re leaving behind so much,” Cana said softly, breaking a silence that had settled over them like a comforting blanket.

"Deal. But remember, don't try and pull one over me. I can't promise she'll stay intact if you do. She might lose a finger or two." The call ended. However, Dad was much calmer than he had been before. He stared into the distance, his eyes unreadable. Soon, the day of the exchange arrived. Yannis accompanied him to an abandoned warehouse. As instructed, Dad only had to slip the agreement under the door of the warehouse and leave. Just as they turned to leave, Dad struck Yannis, knocking him unconscious. I was stunned for a moment. I watched as Dad kicked open the old, decrepit door of the warehouse and dragged Yannis in.

He gently grabbed my sleeve and asked if he would ever see me in the future. I shook my head. I turned and walked away quickly, not once looking back at him. So that day, one went up the mountain and the other took the route by the river. That’s how we said goodbye, and hoped that our paths never crossed again.