Chapter 6: The Road Without Her

Sebastian’s POV

The sun climbed to its midday peak, but there was still no sign of Faye at the end of the road.

Sebastian was restless, an irritable energy thrumming under his skin.

The wolf inside him growled, clawing at his insides with a howl only he could hear.

Leo ran over, his small camouflage backpack bouncing against his shoulders.

“Dad, where’s Mom?”

Sebastian looked toward the highway again.

“She said she was going to the store.”

“But she’s been gone a long time.”

Sebastian said nothing.

His senses stretched farther than any human could imagine.

He could hear the distant rush of cars on the highway.

He could smell pine, gasoline, damp earth, and the faint traces of Faye’s familiar scent.

But there was something else beneath it.

Her scent was getting weaker.

Much weaker.

His wolf suddenly became agitated.

A cold uneasiness settled over him.

“Dad?”

Leo tugged at his shirt.

Sebastian looked down.

“What?”

“Is Mom really coming back?”

The question caught him off guard.

Sebastian had assumed Faye would always be there.

She had been there for five years.

She had been there when he woke from nightmares.

She had been there when Leo was born.

She had been there when he first learned that his son carried his ancient bloodline.

She had been there through every ordinary day of his human life.

He had never once considered what the house would feel like without her.

“Of course,” he finally said.

“She'll come back.”

But the words sounded strangely hollow even to his own ears.

Elena stepped out of the house.

She had changed into a simple cream-colored sweater and carried a small travel bag over one shoulder.

“Sebastian, the pack convoy is ready.”

She glanced toward the road.

“Has Faye still not returned?”

Sebastian’s jaw tightened.

“No.”

Elena's eyes flickered.

For the briefest moment, something unreadable appeared in them.

Then she smiled gently.

“Perhaps she needs some time alone.”

Sebastian looked at her.

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing.”

Elena lowered her gaze.

“Faye has always been uncomfortable around werewolves. Maybe leaving is her way of coping.”

Leo immediately frowned.

“But Mom promised she'd stay.”

Elena reached down and patted his head.

“Your mother loves you, Leo.”

“She wouldn't abandon you.”

Sebastian's expression darkened.

He didn't know why, but hearing the word abandon made something inside his chest twist.

Faye would never abandon Leo.

Would she?

His wolf snarled.

For the first time, Sebastian realized he had never actually asked Faye what she wanted.

He had simply assumed she would wait.

Because she always had.

“Elena,” he said suddenly.

She looked up.

“Take Leo to the SUVs.”

Her smile stiffened.

“What about you?”

“I'm going to find Faye.”

Elena's fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.

“Sebastian, we don't have much time.”

“Then leave without me.”

His voice was final.

Elena stared at him.

For several seconds, neither of them moved.

Then she smiled again.

“Of course.”

She took Leo's hand.

But before she could leave, Leo pulled away.

“I want Dad.”

Sebastian crouched in front of him.

“Leo, go with Aunt Elena.”

“But Mom—”

“I'll bring her back.”

Leo studied his father's face.

Then he nodded reluctantly.

“Okay.”

Sebastian watched them walk away.

Only after they disappeared behind the SUVs did he turn toward the highway.

His wolf was already pulling him forward.

He followed Faye's scent.

For the first mile, it was strong.

Then it became faint.

Then almost impossible to detect.

Sebastian stopped at a crossroads.

A Greyhound bus had recently passed through.

His eyes narrowed.

He could smell Faye on the wind.

Not strongly enough to tell where she had gone.

But enough to make his heart pound.

She hadn't gone to the convenience store.

She had left.

The realization struck him with unexpected force.

Faye had actually left him.

His wolf erupted inside his chest.

For the first time since his bloodline awakened, Sebastian felt something far more frightening than losing control of his Alpha aura.

He felt fear.

Not fear for the pack.

Not fear of his enemies.

Fear of a woman who had always been waiting suddenly deciding that she would wait no longer.

“Faye…”

He whispered her name into the empty road.

There was no answer.

Back at the house, the bedroom was strangely quiet.

Sebastian returned one last time, searching for anything that might tell him where she had gone.

The closet was almost empty.

Her favorite sweater was gone.

Her small collection of books was gone.

The drawer where she kept her personal things had been cleared.

Then he noticed the wedding photograph on the dresser.

The frame was still there.

But the ring beside it was missing.

Sebastian's face went pale.

He picked up the frame.

In the photograph, Faye was smiling at him.

The same smile she had worn when she promised to love him forever.

His fingers tightened around the frame.

Behind him, the bedroom door opened.

Elena stood there.

“Sebastian?”

He didn't answer.

His gaze remained fixed on the photograph.

“She really left.”

It wasn't a question.

Elena was silent.

Then she said softly, “Perhaps this is for the best.”

Sebastian slowly turned his head.

His amber eyes were cold.

“For whom?”

Elena froze.

Sebastian had never looked at her like that before.

“The pack needs you,” she said carefully.

“Leo needs his father.”

“And Faye needs a life where she doesn't have to pretend she belongs among werewolves.”

Sebastian stared at her.

Something about her words felt wrong.

But he couldn't put his finger on it.

Outside, the convoy engines started again.

The Silver Moon Pack was waiting for its Alpha.

Sebastian looked once more at the empty room.

Then he closed his eyes.

For five years, Faye had waited for him.

Now, for the first time, he was the one standing in an empty house.

And he had no idea where she had gone.