I apologize for not updating the story in a while, but you can all expect more regular chapter uploads from now on.

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Enjoy!

Chapter 12: Moonstone

"So…" Addison's mother, Missy, spoke up during breakfast after a few agonizingly quiet minutes. "New look?"

Addison looked over her outfit, which was still the one that the werewolves had provided for her the day before. She had already realized that her parents would probably freak out, or at least be mildly surprised at her new attire, but she didn't care.

"I like it." Addison answered somewhat rebelliously. "My new friends like it."

"Did you join a, ehm, rock band?" Her father, Dale, asked, causing Addison to look at him incredulously.

"I'm obviously talking about the werewolves." Addison said.

"Oh, so now you're 'befriending' those as well…" Missy mumbled, taking a careful sip of her coffee.

"Why shouldn't I? I helped them get into Seabrook, why shouldn't I help them feel welcome as well?" Addison protested.

"We are not having this conversation again." Missy sighed.

Addison simply glared at her mother before finishing up her breakfast. Dale glanced at both his wife and his daughter before fully focusing on his paper again.

"Well…" Missy began. "Dale, what were you saying?"

"Hmm?" Dale responded, a little wide-eyed.

"Before she joined us." Missy replied, nudging her head towards Addison. "You were discussing something work-related…"

"Oh, yeah." Dale nodded, lowering his newspaper. "So, everything is set for the plant's demolition, but some old blueprints have resurfaced that contain underground passages we didn't know about."

"Underground passages?" Addison spoke up. "Under the powerplant, you mean?"

"Yes." Dale nodded. "After we saw the blueprints, we naturally checked out the building again, and there are several hidden doors and latches, all rusted shut naturally."

"What could be in those tunnels?" Addison wondered, mostly to herself.

"Probably nothing. They're completely sealed, which should indicate that they're no longer of any use." Dale explained. "Still, I can't help but wonder. There are all sorts of cables and pipes leading down as well, so they were using electricity down there."

"So, could anything about those tunnels push back the deadline?" Missy asked, sounding somewhat worried.

"We don't expect there to be any difficulties." Dale answered, obviously doing his best to reassure his wife. "No one even knew these tunnels existed, so we doubt if there's anything of note in there. An expert is going to take a look, approve the demolition nonetheless, and we'll finally be able to blow that eyesore into tiny bits."

Addison wasn't listening anymore, otherwise she would have tried to make her parents not act so disinterested about an important piece of zombie heritage. No, she was deep in thought.

Tunnels under the powerplant, she was sure not even Zed or Eliza knew anything about that. Really, what could be under there? Addison was a naturally curious person, and a mystery like this really piqued her interest.

"How old are those tunnels?" Addison asked.

"Excuse me?" Dale spoke up, obviously surprised by his daughter's apparent interest.

"How old are the tunnels? Like, when were they built?" Addison followed up.

"Well, they appear to be as old as the plant itself." Dale said.

"But wasn't the plant built by some of the first Seabrook settlers?" Addison went on.

"Correct." Dale acknowledged. "Still, we have no idea what they used it for. The plant didn't become a plant until less than two-hundred years ago, and it didn't stop being a plant until the, ehm, you know…"

"Zombie incident." Missy finished his sentence.

Addison scowled at her mother, but did start thinking even more about the mysteries of the Seabrook powerplant.

The history of the powerplant had always been vague, at least if both the history books and professors were to be believed. The fact was that the powerplant had already been built, long before it was used as an actual powerplant. There were theories as to what the building had been used for, but no proper conclusion was ever reached.

And now these old tunnels were discovered, surely that meant something. The building had been prepped for demolition for some time now, so how had something as huge as secret tunnels always eluded them?

Still, none of this really mattered, right? Addison had enough to worry about without secret underground tunnels suddenly occupying the last part of her conscious mind. There was Zed… The werewolves… Cheerleading… The moonstone…

Addison subconsciously felt the small box in her pocket, the one that contained the werewolves' only fully charged moonstone necklace. The one meant for the great alpha…

The temptation to put it on was almost unbearable, but she managed to refrain herself from doing so. Really, that last night she'd spent with the werewolves had to be one of the best nights of her life. That feeling of belonging and comradery was something she'd never felt before. The wolves didn't only want her in their group, they wanted her to lead their group. The ecstasy of that moment would have been enough to make her put on the necklace then and there, but it was Zed who had pulled her back down to earth…

Of course Addison needed some time to think things over. This was a pretty big decision after all. Putting on the necklace would make her a werewolf, which all but meant that she'd have to turn her whole life around. No more living with humans, who would undoubtedly cast her out. No more cheerleading, or school probably for that matter. No more Zed…

That had to sting the most. Zed and her had been so close, but Addison couldn't help but feel like their relationship had been in a downward slope ever since she'd returned from cheer camp.

Addison could still not really believe how jealous Zed had been acting over the past weeks, but she could also barely imagine having to stay away from him for the remainder of her life.

Ugh, it was all too complicated. Naturally, becoming the great alpha would probably not be a cakewalk either. Wyatt had not pulled any punches when he explained the genuine threat he and the other werewolves were under. Really, if the moonstone wasn't found soon, their entire species could be eradicated.

But where could it be? Addison didn't have a clue.

Thinking deeply, her head resting on her hand, Addison laid out the facts. The moonstone had been taken hundreds of years ago, by some of the first Seabrook settlers. What they did with it, no one knew. None of the Seabrook history books spoke of the moonstone, but they didn't speak of the werewolves either, so Addison doubted if they'd be of any help anyway. She also doubted if any of the current Seabrook inhabitants would be of any use, since there was no way any of them could know what transpired all those years ago.

It was all a dead end, really. The moonstone was probably lost forever, buried under hundreds of years of history.

What would the Seabrook settlers have done with the moonstone anyway? Could it have been of any use to them , or was it simply some sort of trophy of their cowardly victory against the so-called 'savages'? Could the moonstone still be in Seabrook? If so, where? Where could the moonstone be hidden where no one would have found it for all those years?

Addison then started thinking back on all the old werewolf legends she had been told as a child. There had always been the warning to stay out of the woods, along with cautionary tales of horrid beasts that would drag children out of their bed at night. These scary stories were always accompanied by the one tale of brave Seabrook settlers who defended themselves and pushed the monsters back into the forest. At one such raid, it is said that the settlers returned with something… Something powerful… An energy source…

Addison straightened up in her seat, eyes wide and not paying her disgruntled parents any mind. Her thoughts were running a thousand miles a second. The realization hit her like a runaway train! How could she have been so ignorant!?

The answer had been in the stories this entire time! The humans took something from the forest, though it had never been specified that they had taken it from the werewolves! According to the werewolves, the humans had stolen their moonstone, which was obviously something the humans would never admit! It was an energy source! It was all so obvious!

Alright… Alright… Addison tried to calm herself. Really, all she now knew was that the werewolves told the truth. The humans had taken the moonstone, yes, but she still had no idea where it was.

That was a whole other question indeed, and a much harder one. Really, how could she ever discover what those early Seabrook settlers would do with something as powerful as the moonstone. Really, what could they have done with it? Knowing the humans, they would have probably displayed it as a reminder of their supposed superiority, or they would have used it for their own selfish purposes.

The moonstone was an energy source to the werewolves, but could the humans have figured out how to use it? The stories did describe an energy source, so they did know. Still, how could no one know of it now, if it did happen?

It was all so long ago… Too long ago… If no one kept any record of it, how could she or anyone else still find the location of the moonstone. It was lost… It's as simple as that… Just like the tunnels under the powerplant, simply no one knew anything about it…

Suddenly, it was as if the light went on inside Addison's head.

The tunnels… The powerplant… The moonstone… An energy source…

It was all so obvious!

The Seabrook powerplant was built by early Seabrook settlers, but it didn't start of as a powerplant! No one knows what it was used for! The moonstone was an energy source! There are secret tunnels under the powerplant!

The moonstone had to be hidden in those tunnels!

It all made sense! The powerplant was built by the Seabrook settlers around the same time they had taken the moonstone! No one knew where the moonstone was, and no one knew that those tunnels even existed, it all fit perfectly!

Addison was beside herself! She could very well have found the moonstone! Now there was no way the werewolves would ever turn their back on her again! This had to be a sign! Of course she should become a werewolf if she'd get the chance!

Addison immediately sprung upright, knocking over her half-empty glass of orange juice.

"Addie!" Missy exclaimed, looking at her daughter with disdain.

"I have to go!" Addison replied, not looking back towards her parents as she sprinted for the door.

"Addie!" Dale called after her. "Addie, make sure you come back home right after school! You are still grounded and we don't want you out and about while the plant gets demolished!"

"Wait, what!?" Addison shouted as she ground to a halt and looked up at her parents with a shocked expression. "The demolition is still happening!? Tonight!?"

"Yes. Of course." Dale answered. "We have a schedule."

"No! Wait! They can't do that!" Addison pleaded.

"That's not your concern, Addie." Missy dismissed her outrage. "We have planned to get rid of that despicable building for months now."

"But… But…" Addison stammered, still a little too distraught by her miraculous revelation to sufficiently argue with her parents.

"The demolition is happening." Missy stated. "And tell your zombie friends that anyone who sets foot on that site will be arrested for entering restricted property."

"But mom, this is important!" Addison pleaded.

"Enough! You just get to school! The last thing we need is for your attendance record to falter as well." Missy warned Addison.

"Ugh!" Addison groaned as she rolled her eyes before slamming the door on her way out. The steam was metaphorically coming out of her ears as she stomped her way to school.

Many people gave her the side eye on her way to Seabrook High, obviously eyeing her outfit suspiciously. Addison couldn't care less though. She just wanted to get to school, mostly to talk to both Zed and the werewolves, and discuss her incredible discoveries regarding the moonstone.

As Addison neared the school, all sorts of students, both human and zombie alike, exclaimed their surprise at her new choice of clothing.

"Look at Addison!"

"Check her out!"

"What is she wearing?"

"She looks amazing!"

"What's with her hair?"

Again, Addison ignored these comments, as well as the people calling out to her.

"Attention! Attention! It's election day, Seabrook! We have an assembly to hear from our presidential candidates! We hope to see you there!" The speakers announced as Addison entered the school.

Ugh, Zed's debate… She had completely forgotten about it. Today he was supposed to go up against Bucky and try to win the majority of the votes for himself. Addison had tried her best to help, but her mind had naturally been otherwise occupied for the last couple of days. She felt bad, but also realized that there was probably not much she could have done.

Still, no matter how important Zed thought his presidency was, the werewolves and the moonstone were Addison's top priority at the moment.

"Whoa! Bad hair day?" One of Addison's least favorite voices said from behind her.

Addison sighed as she turned around to see Lacey and Stacey walk in her direction, their arms interlaced and identical obnoxious grins on their faces.

"Or bad hair life?" Stacey added to the previous insult.

"I think it looks great." Addison shrugged, crossing her arms and scowling.

"Yeah, not so much…" Lacey smirked, still with that sickening smile.

"Yeah, well maybe I don't care what you think." Addison snapped, really not in the mood.

"Ooh, an attitude?" Stacey questioned, squinting at Addison.

"Addison, if you ever expect to be cheer captain…" Lacey began.

"Well, maybe I don't want to be cheer captain!" Addison interrupted her, almost shocked by her own words. Lacey and Stacey were similarly astounded, as both of their mouths dropped in surprise. "If I have to be around people like the two of you all the time, then maybe cheer isn't for me after all!"

This was apparently the single most shocking thing she could have said, as both Lacey and Stacey's mouths hit the floor. Both of them stammered a few unintelligible words, before Lacey grabbed Stacey by her arm and dragged her along.

Addison felt somewhat satisfied as she watched the two scurry off, but was then immediately brought back to earth as she saw Zed hurry in her direction.

"Addison! Addison!" He shouted, almost slipping as he stopped in front of her.

"Zed…" Addison said once he was close enough, but he talked right through her.

"Addison, I was up all night thinking." He began. "You're not a werewolf! You can't be!"

"Zed." Addison sighed. This was not a discussion she wanted to have.

"I mean, how would that even be possible!?" Zed went on. "I mean, both of your parents are human!"

"I believe it's more about how I feel than about what I am." Addison explained. "I have never found a group like theirs who accept me for who I am. And I could very well be a werewolf… I mean, I love moonlight strolls…"

"So? You also hate garlic, doesn't mean you're a vampire." Zed countered.

"Zed…" Addison repeated, feeling like their argument was on a loop.

"Just, look…" Zed began, placing his hands on Addison's shoulders. "It's really hard being considered a monster. Trust me, I know… I don't want that for you…"

"Sorry Zed, but I'm past caring." Addison replied, looking up at him. "I'm an outcast anyway, and with the wolves I'll at least be accepted somewhere."

"Addie…" Zed said in a pleading tone. "I accept you… I'll always accept you…"

"Even when I do become a werewolf?" Addison inquired.

Zed seemed lost for words, which all but answered Addison's question.

"I'm not a zombie, Zed." Addison explained. "And I don't fit in with humans."

"But… Still…" Zed groaned, looking around a little panicky.

"I've made up my mind. All I've ever wanted was to find my pack, and now I finally have." Addison stated.

"But what about all that moonstone business?" Zed asked. "I mean, you could die, right?"

"But that's the thing!" Addison squealed, obviously excited. "I think I know where it is!"

"What?" Zed questioned.

"There are secret tunnels under the powerplant. Old tunnels, built by early Seabrook settlers." Addison explained.

"Tunnels? Under the powerplant? What?" Zed stammered, seemingly distraught.

"Yes! And I'm certain that that's where the moonstone is hidden. The old settlers must have used it as an energy source, but then locked it away when the place was converted into the powerplant." Addison went on.

"Uhm… I… Ehm, wow…" Zed stuttered, taking in this massive amount of new information.

"It's still there. It has to be. But my stupid parents are also still planning on tearing down the powerplant this very night, so I have to stop them." Addison added.

"I-I'll come with you…" Zed offered, though he sounded a little hesitant. "I mean, are you absolutely sure?"

"Positive." Addison nodded. "But you can't come, Zed. You have the debate coming up…"

"I can-" Zed began, but Addison interrupted him.

"No, Zed. You have to do this. I'm sorry I can't make the debate, but I have to find the wolves and tell them what I know." Addison said.

"Addie…" Zed pleaded.

"And when I do…" Addison went on, grabbing the small box out of her pocket and opening it, showing Zed the shimmering moon necklace. "I'm going to put this on."

Zed softly took the box from her and looked at the moonstone, biting his lip. "Is there anything I can do?" He asked, his gaze shifting back towards her.

"You're doing enough." Addison replied, looking to her left to see one of the many 'Zed for president' posters on the wall. "Good luck with the debate." She then added before pulling Zed into a tight hug.

With a slightly heavy heart, she tore herself loose and started walking off, trying to get Zed out of her head and instead focus on telling her amazing news to the wolves.

"Oh, almost forgot!" Addison then exclaimed as she hastily turned around retrieved the box that contained the moon necklace from Zed. She could hit herself in the head for almost forgetting it, but felt relieved when she stuffed it in her pocket again. "You'll do great!" She told Zed one more time before resolutely turning around and heading down the busy hallway, leaving a sad looking Zed.

Addison was again basically buzzing with excitement as she looked around for the werewolves, eager to tell them of the moonstone. It took longer to find them than she expected, but eventually she ran into a small group of them near the gymnasium.

"Guys! Guys!" Addison shouted as she ran towards the group that included both Wyatt and Willa.

"Addison!" Wyatt immediately called out, smiling as she approached.

"Have you made a decision?" Willa asked as soon as Addison was close enough.

"I, ehm… Yes, but there's something more important!" Addison urged, fumbling her words a little.

"What could be more important?" Wyatt inquired.

"I think I've found the moonstone." Addison said, almost beaming with pride.

"What!?" All the werewolves exclaimed, gathering around Addison.

"I think I know where it is!" Addison smiled."

Wyatt started grinning broadly. "She found the moonstone…" He told the other werewolves. "She's amazing!"

"Let's first hear her out." Willa barked. "Well? Where is it?"

"I think…" Addison began, somewhat perplexed by the way the werewolves hung on her every word. "I think the moonstone is underneath the Seabrook powerplant."

"Underneath the powerplant? How?" Willa asked.

"There are secret tunnels, my dad only found out about them yesterday." Addison explained. "These are really old tunnels, built around the same time as the plant itself. I believe that, when the early Seabrook settlers took the moonstone, they used it as a power source in the plant. No one knows about it because the plant was changed into a regular powerplant. The tunnels were apparently sealed and they must not have been opened for hundreds of years."

"So, the moonstone is still down there?" Wyatt questioned.

"It must be. It's the only place in Seabrook I can think of where it could be hidden. And it makes sense, if the settlers actually used the moonstone as an energy source, then what better place could there be?" Addison went on.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Willa inquired.

"We should trust her." Wyatt interjected. "Face it, this is the biggest lead we've ever had."

"Okay, fine. Let's get to the powerplant and find our moonstone then." Willa shrugged.

"There is a problem…" Addison spoke up, though she did so a little softly.

"What's wrong?" Wyatt asked.

"The plant is set for demolition." Addison explained. "Tonight they're going to level it, and I'm not sure if the tunnels will be intact after that happens."

"W-well, then we have to go right now!" Willa snapped. "Sabotage the demolition and stop them!"

"No, you can't!" Addison exclaimed, causing all the wolves to stare at her a little incredulously. "I mean, it's a restricted site. You can get arrested for going there."

"We don't care!" Willa immediately protested. "The moonstone is sacred to us, and we need it to survive!"

"She's right." Wyatt jumped in. "Addison, we need to do this."

"Couldn't we try talking first? People could listen…" Addison offered.

"We're past talking, and it's not like your humans have been good listeners up to this point. They don't care about us, so we'll just need to do it ourselves." Willa sneered.

"Then I'll come with you!" Addison stated, sure of herself.

"What?" Willa questioned, pulling up an eyebrow.

"I'm ready to become a wolf. Let me come with you." Addison went on.

"She is the great alpha." Wyatt tried to encourage Willa.

"Not yet, she isn't." Willa scoffed. "Proof that you're one of us." She then told Addison.

Addison got the hint and immediately grabbed the small box out of her pocket. Taking a few breaths, she carefully considered her options and decided that this was indeed what she wanted. She opened the box and wanted to take out the moonstone necklace, but to her shock she found out that the box was empty.

"Where is the necklace?" Wyatt asked, looking at the empty box in Addison's hands.

"I-I don't know…" Addison stammered, immediately searching her pockets, thinking the necklace maybe slipped out.

"You lost it?" Willa asked in a cold tone.

"No! No! It must be here!" Addison panicked, unable to find the necklace.

"Do you have any idea how precious a moonstone necklace is!?" Willa went on, growing more and more angry with each passing second.

"Addison?" Wyatt practically whispered as he took a step back, staring at Addison with immense disappointment.

"No, I… I don't know how…" Addison stuttered, feeling tears well up in her eyes.

"She's not coming with us." Willa immediately stated, sounding downright disgusted with Addison.

"No, please." Addison pleaded. "Wyatt?"

Wyatt kept looking between Willa and Addison, seemingly a little torn.

"If she was serious about being a wolf…" Willa began, grabbing Wyatt by his shoulder. "If she was the great alpha, then she wouldn't have been so careless…"

Wyatt looked into Addison's tear-stained eyes for one more second, before tearing himself away. "You're right." He told Willa. "Of course you're right. She failed us."

"No…" Addison cried. "I'm sorry!"

"You just stay away from us." Willa warned, squaring up to Addison before simply walking past her, making sure to bump into her with her shoulder.

"You can't do this…" Addison begged, as the other wolves also walked past her like she didn't exist. "The demolition is dangerous! You could get hurt!"

"Taking care of the pack is my responsibility! Mine!" Willa snapped, turning around to give Addison another furious look. "You are nothing to us! We don't need you! Now stay away from us!" She finished before abruptly turning around again, her hair sweeping behind her.

Addison was completely sobbing at this point, falling to her knees as the tears freely flowed down her cheeks.

The wolves all simply kept walking away from her, not even sparing her another glance. Only Wyatt, who appeared to be just about as miserable as Addison was, looked back for a second. His eyes, which usually sparked with joy whenever he looked at her, were now cold and filled with disappointment.

In a last ditch effort, Addison frantically turned all of her pockets inside out, hoping that the missing moonstone necklace would magically appear, but of course it didn't.

Where did it go? Did it fall out? How could this be happening!?

Addison was completely distraught. Never in her life had she felt such sadness, disappointment, and a sense of betrayal. She thought that she had finally found her pack… A group where she thought she belonged… But now these very same people made no secret about the fact that they absolutely despised her.

Addison felt lost. This was her chance, and she blew it! How could she have been so stupid to lose the moon necklace!? God, Addison could very easily imagine why they were so angry with her. Wyatt and Willa had all hammered on about the importance of the fact that their moon necklaces had to be charged in order for them to survive. They had gifted her their last remaining fully-charged moon necklace, the one meant for their savior, the great alpha. They had arguably entrusted her with their fate, and Addison had let them down beyond belief. This pain… She would do anything to get rid of this pain…