Chapter 2: Missing—And Nothing Feels Safe

I rushed home.

My feet barely touched the ground. I tore through backyards, cut across empty lots. Heart pounding, lungs burning. The world blurred past—mailboxes, porch swings, the old oak tree on the corner. I just needed to see my boy, to hold him, to know he was okay.

The house was empty. Eli was nowhere.

The silence was deafening. Toys scattered on the rug, his little sneakers by the door, but no sign of him. I called his name, my voice echoing through the empty rooms. Dread clawed at my throat.

My heart thudded, fear rising, as I searched the whole neighborhood, but there was no sign of him.

I checked every yard, every porch, even the creek behind the Johnsons’ place. I asked the neighbors, but nobody had seen him. My mind raced, every nightmare rushing in at once. I felt like I was drowning.

By the time I stumbled home, Autumn was already there, waiting on the porch.

She leaned on the railing, arms crossed, wearing that practiced look of concern. The porch light threw long shadows across her face. For a second, she looked like a stranger.

"Miles, where’d you run off to?"

Her voice was light, almost teasing, as if I’d just run out for milk. I stared at her, searching for any sign of guilt, any flicker of remorse. My stomach twisted.

I turned away, feeling hollow.

My voice shook when I spoke. I could barely meet her eyes, afraid of what I’d see there. The words felt heavy on my tongue. My mind screamed with questions.

"Autumn, where’s Eli?"

At that, her face stiffened for a second before she relaxed again. She forced a casual smile. Her eyes darted away, lips twitching for just a heartbeat.

But then she smiled—sunshine and reassurance.

"Oh, I thought it was something serious. I sent Eli to the elementary school."

She waved a hand, like it was nothing. The way she said it, you’d think I was being ridiculous for worrying. But my gut told me something was off.

"Don’t worry. He’ll be home after school."

She spoke with that practiced, sing-song tone—like she was reading from a script. The words just bounced off me. I felt no comfort, only a growing sense of dread.

But it didn’t help. Not one bit.

My hands shook. I tried to convince myself she was telling the truth. Every instinct screamed at me that something was wrong. My heart hammered, each beat a warning.

"Autumn, let me go pick Eli up, okay?"

I tried to sound casual. But desperation crept in. I just needed to see my boy, to make sure he was safe.

She shot me an impatient look.

Her eyes narrowed, just for a second, before she forced another smile. Her fingers tapped the porch rail. She was getting annoyed with me, and I hated that I noticed.

"I told you, he’s at school. What’s with you today?"

Her tone sharpened. She was used to me backing down. I could feel the wall going up between us.

I pressed my lips together and looked down, unable to speak. My boots were muddy, my throat tight. If I called her out, she’d just sweet-talk me again. Or worse—do something to Eli. I swallowed hard.

She was always so good at that—turning on the charm, making me doubt myself. I’d fallen for it so many times before. I hated myself for still wanting to believe her. I felt so damn small.

I looked up at her, pleading.

My eyes searched hers, looking for any trace of the woman I thought I loved. I wanted to beg, to scream, but all I managed was a quiet, desperate plea.

"Autumn, no matter what happens, please don’t hurt Eli, okay?"

My voice broke on his name. I’d never felt so helpless. If she hurt him... I’d never forgive myself. Or her.

She looked at me, eyes hard. "Miles, are you misunderstanding me?"

She tilted her head, giving me that practiced look of concern, as if I was the one being unreasonable. But her eyes were cold, calculating.

Her gaze sharpened. I shook my head.

I forced myself to look away, not wanting to see the truth reflected there. My heart pounded in my chest. I felt like a trapped animal.

"No, I just miss him."

The lie tasted bitter. I tried to sound casual, but my voice trembled. I just wanted my boy back.

She let out a breath, shoulders stiff. "Eli will be home tonight. Don’t worry."

She said it like a promise, but it felt like a threat. Her eyes lingered on me, searching for weakness. I tried to keep my face blank, not giving her anything.

She hugged me, eyes shining.

Her arms wrapped around me, warm and familiar. For a moment, I almost let myself believe it was real. But there was a gleam in her eyes—a hunger I hadn’t noticed before. I stiffened in her embrace.

A single tear slipped from the corner of my eye. It hardened into a small, glowing moonstone.

I felt it slide down my cheek, cool and heavy. The familiar ache in my chest flared up, and I tried to blink it away. But it was too late. The tear crystallized as it fell, shimmering in the porch light.

She pocketed the stone. Quick, practiced.

Her fingers moved fast, tucking the moonstone into her pocket like it was nothing. Her smile never faltered. I watched her, numb.

"I’ll keep this safe for you."

Her words were gentle, but her eyes were sharp. She patted her pocket, as if to reassure me. But I knew better now. I knew exactly what that stone meant to her.

Then, gentle and earnest, she said:

"Miles, you’re a werewolf. You can’t just cry whenever you want."

She smoothed my hair, her voice soft and coaxing, like she was talking to a child. It was the same tone she used when she wanted something from me. I tried not to flinch.

"After all, werewolf tears are moonstones. If the wrong people saw, you’d be in danger."

She leaned in, lowering her voice to a whisper, as if sharing a secret. But there was a smile tugging at her lips. A glint of triumph in her eyes.

The corners of her mouth twitched upward, just enough to let me know she was enjoying this.

Her words wrapped around me like a velvet rope. I felt trapped. She made it sound like love, like devotion, but I heard the greed underneath. I wanted to pull away, but my feet wouldn’t move.

I felt my resolve waver. For so long, I’d wanted to believe she cared for me. I’d clung to every scrap of affection she gave, desperate for her approval. Now, I saw it for what it was—a trap.

If this had been before, I’d have thought she was just worried because she loved me.

I would’ve smiled, maybe even blushed, thinking she was just being protective. But now, the words sounded hollow. I saw the truth behind her smile.

But now I understood—she just wanted all the moonstones for herself.

The realization settled over me, heavy as wet wool. I felt sick, betrayed. I’d been nothing more than a resource, a means to an end. Love had nothing to do with it.

I looked up, suddenly seeing her clearly.

I straightened my shoulders, meeting her eyes without flinching. For the first time, I saw her for what she was—not my savior, but my captor. My voice was steady, even as my hands shook.

"Autumn, if anything happens to our child, I’ll take him and disappear into the woods."

I spoke the words slowly, letting them hang in the air. I wanted her to know I meant it. I wouldn’t let her hurt Eli, no matter what it cost me.

I once abandoned the forest for Autumn Walker. Now, for Eli, I won’t leave him.

I remembered the way the woods smelled after rain, the comfort of moonlight on my fur. I’d given all that up for her, for the promise of a family. But for Eli, I’d walk away from it all.

Eli’s only half-werewolf. He’d never survive a full moon run alone.

The thought terrified me. I pictured him lost in the woods, scared and alone. I wouldn’t let that happen. Not to my boy.

Autumn just waved me off.

She rolled her eyes, as if I was being dramatic. Her confidence was infuriating. She really thought she could control everything.

"What nonsense is that? Eli’s my own kid. Nothing’s gonna happen to him."

Her words were sharp, almost mocking. She didn’t care about my fears. She didn’t care about Eli. She just wanted me to fall back in line.

Shortly after dusk, Autumn went out. The house was quiet, shadows stretching across the kitchen floor. I watched her put on her old denim jacket, grab a flashlight, and slip out the back door.

I watched from the window, heart pounding. The darkness outside pressed in, and my skin prickled with dread.

Before she left, she called over her shoulder: "I’m heading out to the lake tonight—gonna collect mussels, so don’t wait up."

She called it over her shoulder, not bothering to look at me. The screen door slapped shut behind her. I listened to her footsteps fade into the night.

I was the one who could handle the water, the woods—being a werewolf and all.

I remembered long nights wading through the reeds, the cool mud between my toes, the thrill of the hunt. I’d always brought home buckets of mussels, proud to provide for my family.

A couple weeks back, I was almost snatched by another hunter.

The memory still haunted me—rough hands grabbing my arm, the glint of a knife in the moonlight. I’d barely escaped, shifting mid-run and losing them in the trees. After that, everything changed.

Since then, Autumn wouldn’t let me go near the water anymore. She kept me busy chopping wood, working the fields. I was always under her thumb, kept just close enough to be useful.

She said it was for my own good, but I knew better. She wanted to keep me close, keep an eye on me. The woods felt farther away than ever.

She’d say, "If you get caught, you’ll probably be sold to some collector. Those rich folks don’t care if you’re a man or a woman—as long as you’re rare, they’ll keep you locked up."

She’d shake her head, voice full of fake sympathy. She’d make it sound like she was protecting me, but really, she was just keeping me on a short leash. I was starting to see the pattern.

Terrified, I did as she said. I stayed home, did the chores, tried to keep out of trouble.

I let her control me. I let her decide where I could go, what I could do.

But now I realized—with my moonstones, she didn’t need to make a living collecting mussels at all.

The truth hit me like a bucket of ice water. She had no reason to risk the lake, not when she could sell my pain for profit. So why was she sneaking out at night?

So what was she really doing out there?

The question burned in my mind. I watched her disappear down the driveway, her silhouette swallowed by the darkness. I knew I had to find out the truth.