(did I finally write a chapter? 😦 I finally had the motivation to do so, I'm sorry it took so long you guys but I finally graduated and shit so there should be more updates on this book and many others 🫶🏼)

It has been a few hours after finding where the moonstone could be hidden. Aurelia was on her bed reading a book that she grabbed from the school's library a few days ago. The girl was very focused on the story that she didn't hear or mind anything that was around her

Aurelia pressed her reading glasses against the bridge of her nose, still having her attention on the book she didn't hear a specific wolf climbing up the tree that was beside her balcony. Wyatt landed his feet on the ground and took a peek inside her room and saw the girl on her bed sitting. Her legs were up to her chest with the book on her thigh. Wyatt let out a sigh as he continued to stare at her

Aurelia felt eyes on her, she looks towards her balcony and saw Wyatt just standing there, staring at her "Oh my god!" She screamed, frightened to see him just standing there not even announcing his appearance. She immediately stood up from her bed dropping her book in the process making her lose where she was left off

She covered her mouth and turned to her door just in case someone heard her scream and came running to check on her. After a few seconds, she figured that she was safe and turned to Wyatt. She bends down to grab her book from the floor and noticed that she lost the page she was in when she stood up from the bed, scared

While making her way to the balcony, she goes through the pages trying to find any sentences that were familiar to her. She paused to open the sliding door for the wolf.

She looks up at the wolf and hits him with the book, her finger in between the pages to not lose her process again. "You've made me lose where I was" She scolds him, and she continues to hit him repeatedly. Wyatt pouted his lips and rubs his head where she was hitting him at. Aurelia shook her head as she walked away and continued her mission to find the page she was on. She went to her bedside and grabbed her bookmark

She held the mark behind the book as she went to her small bookshelf that was on the other side of the room. she bends her knees to be at the same level as the shelf. she marks her book and puts the book away, she spoke to Wyatt as she did "What are you doing here, Wyatt?" She turns her head to look at him and stood back up straight

She puts her hands on her hips, "I wanted to talk" The werewolf finally spoke up after being quiet

She shrugs, Raising her hands, and lets them back down, hitting her thighs "About?"

Wyatt was next to let out a sigh, "How you ignored me all day at school today? Or How you and the others burst into the wolf den?" Wyatt rambles his questions as he paces back and forth, he stopped and looked at her waiting for her answers to his questions

"Well, I told you I wasn't in the mood to talk to no one. Second, the group was worried for Addison because she had disappeared out of nowhere. They just dragged me along"

Aurelia answers him, avoiding eye contact with the werewolf. Wyatt noticed her actions "Can you look at me when you are speaking?" His eyes follows her figure as she went back to her bed, sitting at the edge with her legs crossed. Aurelia hesitates for a second before connecting their eyes

Wyatt grabs a chair and turned it around, his arms resting at the top of the back of the chair as he sat down in from of her. Aurelia watches his every move "Why were you upset?"

At his question, Aurelia looks down at her lap breaking the contact. Wyatt places his index and middle finger under her chin raising her head again, forcing eye contact. Aurelia's heart skipped a beat and felt butterflies in her stomach. She shook her head, Wyatt removed his fingers

"It's stupid," She said quietly

"It's not stupid if it made you upset"

Aurelia just sighed and shrugged "I just saw something I didn't like..."

"That is..?" Wyatt asks, wanting more

Aurelia shook her head once again not wanting to answer his question, she looks down her lap "Tell me. Please" Wyatt begged her

"When you and the werewolves were at the gym dancing with the cheerleaders..." Aurelia quietly admitted, if Wyatt wasn't paying attention he would've missed it but he didn't. His focus was on her and only her "I saw the way you and Addison were looking at each other.."

There was silence in the room as Wyatt processed his thoughts. This time it was him that broke the eye contact. He looks down at his arms that was crossed. Aurelia's eyes stayed on him, seeing as his eyebrows connect. Wyatt looks back up at her "There's nothing going between Addison and I, you know that right?"

Aurelia scoffs "Of course I do, Addison loves Zed way too much to ruin what they have together. You were only that close to her because you think she's the great alpha" Aurelia gave him one of her fake smiles "Right" Wyatt nodded in agreement not seeing anything wrong

"But did you have to be that close to her?"

"I was only making her trust me more" Wyatt explains his reasoning, Aurela tilts her head at him and pursed her lips  "Wyatt. She trusted you guys the minute you stepped foot into the school. She welcomed you in open arms while everyone else was scared and ran away at the sight of you wolves"

Wyatt curt his head, agreeing at what she was saying knowing it was true, "You're right there. You got me on that one" He gave her a small smile, but Aurelia's face stayed neutral "I know I did"

"I'm sorry" Wyatt apologizes

"I'll forgive but won't forget"

"That's fine with me" Wyatt shrugs. Aurelia finally gave him one of her famous smiles, Wyatt smiled back at her. Aurelia's eyes went from his left eye down to his lips then back to his right eye "I want to get to know you more, Wyatt Lykensen"

"The same goes for you, Aurelia Buchanan"

      ———

"Where is he?" Eliza asked out loud, tapping her foot impatiently on the ground. Aurelia stood beside her with her arms crossed, both waiting for Zed as they were gonna be late for the debate "Let's look for him" Aurelia suggested with a sigh, tired of just standing. The girl began to walk ahead of Eliza, and the zombie followed behind her. The two looked around the school not having any luck in finding the tall zombie

Once they did find him in one of the school entrances. Zed was just standing there, looking at Addison as she walks away. Eliza speed walked to her best friend with Aurelia behind her "Are you ready for the debate? Come on, we're going to be late" Zed snapped out of his trance once Eliza spoke about the debate, Eliza and Aurelia grabbed each of his arms and dragged him to where the debate was being held

Once the group of three walked through the doors, eyes were immediately on Zed. Zed and Aurelia noticed the eyes on him but Eliza as she kept rambling, "You're going to prove to everyone that we're more than just-"

Zed's eyes went to the banners, shock was all over his face "Monsters" Zed cut Eliza as his eyes were still on the banners. Eliza's face scrunched confused but that immediately changed once her eyes landed on the banners. Zed's banners were changed to horrifying ones. Aurelia knew right away that it was her brother and the Aceys "Bucky.." She said under her breath, both disappointed and annoyance

Everyone was whispering to the person that was next to them, pointing and looking at Zed and the Banners

"Bucky made me look..."
"..Scary"

They continued to walk down to the stage still looking up at the Banners, people scattered away from the zombie

Zed looks at everyone that was sitting down behind the stage, Eliza walked up to him with Aurelia behind her, "You got your speech?" The zombie asked her friend, Zed opened up his jacket and reached inside it, searching for his speech. He pulled out the piece of paper but a certain moonstone necklace was tangled with it

Aurelia looks at the necklace confused as to why Zed has it "Addison's necklace? Why do you have that, zed?" She asks the soon-to-be zombie president, Zed's mouth opens and closes, not knowing what to say as he grabbed the necklace with his free hand "I took it" He admitted to the girls "I can't let her become a werewolf. I have to protect her"

"Her decision isn't your decision to make, Zed. You know how long Addison has been trying to find herself?" Aurelia argued, she crossed her arms and glared at the pale boy "All of this, running for president, it's all for you"

"That's cu-"

"No, zed" Eliza stated, cutting Aurelia off from her sentence, "This is bigger than that, okay? This is for you, for me, for all zombies everywhere" Eliza pointed at him then to herself the to the crowd that was mixed with Humans and zombies "This is more important than anything else"

Aurelia eyes the necklace before speaking up "Listen, we will focus on this situation later, you have a debate to worry about, and winning it" She took the moonstone from his hand and hid it back inside his jacket

"That's what zombies need," Eliza said before walking away from him, Aurelia gave him a supporting smile before following behind Eliza. Zed lets out a sigh, stressed out. Soon enough the crowd began to cheer as Principal Lee begins to talk into the microphone, "Your first nominee for..." Lee gets cut off by the Aceys going up the steps to the stage, Lacey took the microphone from the adult

"Running for president, wearing the sequined Mighty Shrimp Uniform-"
"Three-time MVP, lean, mean, cheering machine-"
"And captain of our hearts-"

"Bucky!" All three of Bucky's minions yelled into the mic, Bonzo remixed the CD as Bucky jumps out from behind the zombie. People cheered loudly for the boy. Bucky jumps to the podium that was on his side of the stage, he slowly took off the hood off as The Aceys ran to him. He took off the Mighty Shrimp robe, and Stacey helped him take it off

"Your other candidate—yup, why not?" Lee cut herself off seeing Eliza going up the steps, she let the zombie take the microphone from her and walked away as Eliza began to speak

"Introducing our soon-to-be and repping a proud people, zed!" Bonzo held out his hand as people cheered for Zed, who came out behind Bonzo and high-fived Bonzo

"Hear him roar!" Eliza growled

"Um, no, actually, we're not going to roar. No roaring" Zed stopped Eliza from continuing but she ignored him, "Zed'll fight for you!"

All zombies in the crowd cheered at Eliza's statement, Zed jogged his way to Eliza "You know what, um, I'm not going to fight" Zed took the mic from the girl "Cause, no, this isn't a fight, this is just a nice little cordial debate we're having here today"

"Good to hear, Zed" Principal Lee now taking the miz away from the zombie, held out her hand high, Zed high-fived her, shocking her "Oh, did you see that? That was a high five. No.." She said to no one in particular as Zed walked to his podium

"Are you ready to battle?" She howled into the microphone raising her hand, hyping the crowd full of Zombies and Humans

Bonzo began to play some music, Aurelia beside him watching the zombie play with the DJ mix laid out in front of them with a headphone in his ear "Ha, Ha" Laughed Bucky, "Groosic" Bonzo spoke. Bucky began first

"It is my mission,"

"We got a goal in mind" The Aceys echoed after him "Save our tradition,"
"That is the bottom line" The group of cheerleaders looked at the two zombies on the other side, Eliiza waved them off as Zed said an 'Okay' "We're always winning," Bucky raised an arm mocking victory "Look how the trophies shine" The Aceys united their hands before waving them apart

"You're going down," Bucky pointed at the floor and then crossed his hands on top of his chest and fell back, The Aceys catching him "Bury you back underground" They immediately jumped him back to his feet

"I'm the one who stands up for the people, I embrace diversity, and treat everyone as equal" It was Zed's turn, and the cheerleaders rolled their eyes at him, now Eliza spoke up "Zed is thoughtful" "Thanks"

"He's a natural born leader" "True"

"And if you think about it, Bucky is neither" Aurelia laughs at her words, her hand flying up to her mouth hiding her laugh

The Cheerleaders began to swing their arms behind them and then in front, repeating the movements, "Yo, I will win this race. I'm a cheer rock star, mirrors love my face" They face the back, placing their fist on their waist then turn around their heads with a smile

"Your ego made your head so big, you can't see. You got no shot to beat me" Zed pointed at himself, The crowd let out an 'ooh" at his verse

"I know ya hear me, if ya with me stand up!" The cheerleaders pointed at the crowd, then to their ears, then raise an arm with the other hand resting on their hip, the humans in the crowd stood up after they said so

"No way you'll win if you go against us" Zed sang towards the crowd. Bucky did a twirl going towards Zed, The Aceys took pictures of each other "In pictures we're more glamorous" Bucky did his famous jazz hands

Zed faced Bucky, "You want a battle with the best? Good luck" " Let's go!

Everyone in the crowd sat back down in their seats and began to dance as the two competitive boys continued, "You need a leader who looks out for the crowd" Zed spread his arms out as he walked forward, closer to the crowd. Bucky went under his arm, walking ahead of Zed, "Then I'm winning!) Someone that'll make you proud" Zed maneuvers under Bucky's arm

"Then I'm winning!"

"There through the ups and downs, I'm winning" The two competitors faced each other as they sang, Zed brings Bucky down by placing a hand on his head, Bucky brushes Zed's hand off  then brush his fingers through his hair, The zombie gave him a small push "Let me hear you scream it loud, I'm winning!" The crowd stood up on their feet once again. Eliza stared at the Aceys as they whispered to each other ears. Aurelia stared at them as well, rolling her eyes

"I'm challengin' a way of thinkin'''

"Yo, I know I'll be a much better president" Bucky stated  "Tell 'em your reasons!" The Aceys pointed at the boys "I'm a real human, there's no danger in that" Bucky slid forward with his arms spread out and then a fist to the hip fist to the hip as the other hand was in front of him, wiggling  his finger as a no, "They're real monsters," The cheerleader said together, Bucky mocked his movements as a zombie as the Aceys were facing Eliza
"Man!"

"What if they turn back?"

"We aren't monsters, man" Zed defended his fellow zombies "We win the football games, We join the cheer squad, monsters wouldn't do those things. We got a good attitude" Zed and Bucky made it down the stage and in front of the crowd. The Aceys, Eliza, and Aurelia were still up on the stage

"dude, you eat brains" Bucky stated with a chuckle "If I did, you don't have one, so you'd be safe" Zed retorted, The zombies beside him 'ooh'ed' at his retort. The Aceys started to run off to Bucky once Bonzo rapped onto his mic, Eliza and Aurelia looked at each other with a look when the aceys antics and soon followed them down the stage

"Ooh, zig do dinga badda-doo, Bidda-ba, didda-bow, deda zaga, dada doo ahh"

"You're all weird and strange" Bucky comments as The Aceys made it to his side "We are here for change!
We need a president who will do whatever it takes" Zed told him

"Look, we can go back and forth, but in the end it's facts
You're a monster and you can't debate that" Bucky poked Zed's chest, Aurelia saw Zed's face falter a bit but he soon regains himself, fixing his jacket

"I know ya  hear me, if ya with me stand up" All the zombies stood up after Zed's words "No way you'll win if you go against us" The humans now stood up too after Bucky's words, their arms in the air "I know we'll be victorious"

"You want a battle with the best? Good luck"
"let's go!"

The cheerleaders and their voters danced, "You need a leader who looks out for the crowd" It was the Zombie's turn "Then I'm winning, Someone that'll make you proud"

"Then I'm winning"

The two opposites danced together " There through the ups and downs, then I'm winning, let me hear you scream it loud. I'm winning"

The two went up the steps to the bleachers in between the humans and zombies. Aurelia and Eliza went off to the side of the bleachers going up the steps, The Aceys did the same on the opposite side

"You wanna change Seabrook," Bucky said looking back at Zed "Yeah, for the better" Replied Zed as the crowd went and took out posters of Bucky and Zed, both faces on each side of the posters. Everyone flipped their posters to who they were rooting for. Zed made his way in between the zombies

"Aha! I knew it! How's it better to have zombies at Prawn?" Bucky asks

"Our dance game's strong"
"What?"

Every zombie that was sitting down stood up and danced along with Zed, chanting "Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!"

Bucky rolled his eyes at them, turning around and continued to walk through the crowd of humans, he turned back around to Zed "Zombie-tongue in Seabrook, zabba-dabba-zinga" He mocked the language

"I think I'd make a fine president, too, Thanks for the compliment!" Zed patted Bucky's shoulder "I think you'd like a zombie as a second language, it's an easy A!"

"What's next, more zombie dates on calendars?"

"Or holidays" Zed pointed at Bucky at the idea, The crowd cheered a 'Yay!' at the idea, and the humans flip their posters to Zed's side, now rooting for him

"Woah, woah!" Bucky exclaims

" And as an added perk, If I'm president, no more homework!" His words made the opposite side now stick to him "You need a leader that looks out for the crowd"

"Then I'm winning," Bucky tried desperately but it was no use as everyone was now on the zombie side "Someone that'll make you proud"

"I'm winning, there through the ups and downs" Zed jumps to the ground, facing Bucky "I'm winning! Let me hear you scream it loud, I'm winning. You need a leader that looks out for the crowd"

"Then I'm winning. Someone that'll make you proud" Bucky still tries to win his voters back, he had a flyer in his hand, up in the air

"I'm winning, There through the ups and downs, I'm winning" Zed went back to the stage as Bucky still had a flyer up in the air "Let me hear you scream it loud, I'm winning!"

Everyone cheered loudly for the zombie who was on the stage. Bucky threw the poster to the ground upset as Lacey yelled a 'no!' at their failure

"Zed for prez!" Zed yelled through the crowd cheering with his arms out

"Vote for me, because I swear I'm no monster" Zed smiles at the crowd, he begins to search in his jacket for his speech but all of a sudden Addison's moonstone necklace magnetized itself to Zed's z-band. The jewelry was damaging the Z-band. Zed's veins started to turn a dark color. Zed tilt his neck before letting a loud growl, scaring the crowd

"Oh no" gasps Eliza as she watched the scenes unfold in front of her, She and Aurelia ran to the zombie, who was trying to compel himself  "It's Addison's necklace" Informed Aurelia to the zombie beside her. Aurelia remember visually when Wyatt had told her that the moonstone had a way with electronics

"Addison's necklace is shutting down your Z-band," Eliza said to the zombie that was breaking out. Zed let out some roars still trying to compose himself, Bucky made himself known to the three "See! See! He's a monster!"

"That's enough, Bucky" Aurelia tried to warn her older brother through the screaming crowd behind her. All the humans tried to flee from the place, the zombies tried to stay on their ground as the others were pushing each other

"Can't let them see me as monster!" Zed spoke in a distorted voice as he tried to walk away. He kept on twitching as he grabs hold of the pink podium

"Breathe. Focus, okay? You can control this" Eliza tried to assure the twitching zombie "You don't have to hide, Zed" Zed turns to Bucky with a growl, Bucky was unfazed by him "I know you won't hurt me, big guy. But they don't!" Bucky taunts the zombie, pointing at the screaming and running people

Zombies in the crowd try to calm the running humans. Zed easily picks up the podium "Go on, throw it!" Zed lets out a road as he threw it on the ground, very near to Aurelia making her jump closer to Eliza. She snaps her head to Zed, "Zed! Remove the Necklace!" She yells at him, Zed looks at the girl then to the Z-band on his wrist, he grabs hold of the necklace and removes it. The dark veins slowly fade away as Zed went back to his normal calm self. Everyone that was still in the room watched him and stopped screaming and running. Zed looks around the room to see all their frighted faces

Bucky shakes his head at Zed as he ran out of the room. Eliza went after him, Aurelia let out a breath having Bucky a glare as he smiled like he did something right and was proud of it. She rolled her eyes at him,  "I'm this close to disowning you as a brother" She pinched her index and thumb, leaving a small gap before following the two zombies "Zed, wait" Eliza calls out to her friend right as Aurelia also made an appearance beside Eliza "I lost the election" Zed stated to the two girls "We don't know that" Aurelia told him softly, Zed gave her a look knowing very well that he did "Probably. Yeah, you did" Eliza gave up on keeping hope for Zed

"Look, but the problem is you lost yourself first" Eliza responded as she looks at the poster of Zed in between the two, she laid her eyes back to him. Eliza sighed before walking away from the zombie leaving Zed and Aurelia by themselves

The black-haired girl stepped forward to the upset zombie. She placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it "We'll figure something, Zed. We always do" The girl assured her friend as she dropped her hand to her side. She watched as he glances at the poster and then to his balled-up fist. He opens his fist revealing the necklace that he had stolen from his girlfriend "...you should give that back to her. Addison must be upset that she thought she must have lost it"

Zed stayed silent, not responding to the girl. Not even sparing a glance. He lets out a sigh and walks off leaving Aurelia alone in the hallway