After school had ended, Devon brought Taia back to the house and sat at the desk in her room. 

She was given a rubik's cube to keep her busy while Devon was out in the yard helping his father with the garden and Eve and Janie were running errands at the store.

She was getting frustrated since she didn't figure it out. Every time she twisted a side, another side would move, it destroyed all her progress. Devon and Marion were busy, she didn't want to disturb them. It wasn't very nice according to Janie. 

She continued to do what Devon had shown her. She was amazed that Janie could figure it out in under a minute, Devon was much like her, unable to figure it out. It was still a little frustrating and sometimes she missed when she was still just a wolf because it was a much simpler time.

Sometimes as a wolf she wouldn't have those nightmares like she was having now. The only time she'd get them is if something triggered the bloody memories to come flooding back. Now it was an every night occurrence that involved her waking up in a cold sweat and panicking.

She shook her head and set down the cube beside her on the bed. She needed to clear her thoughts and collect herself. There was only one place she could do that and that would involve leaving the house. 

She stood up from the chair and walked down the hall. She could see Devon and Marion in the garden. She tilted her head and watched them for a brief moment before walking over to the door. 

She grabbed her shoes from the closest, an old pair of sneakers Erin had left behind. They were practically brand new, only worn once before she left for college. 

She walked towards the front door pulling on a green army hoodie coat she had been given. She opened the door and walked out, closing it behind her. It never crossed her mind that she needed to tell someone she was leaving. No one had told her that so she just left.

Marion sat back and brushed his gloved hands together, getting off the dirt. "I must say, this garden is beautiful and we are almost done winterizing it." He explained, getting to his feet and walking over to the shed. 

Devon got to his feet and stretched his legs, picking up the bucket of weeds. "What do you want me to do with the weeds?" He asked, walking over to the shed and leaning through the doorway. "You want me to put them into the compost bin?"

Marion moved some things around, looking for his mulch bag. "Uh, no, well yes, you can do that." He stepped back and scratched the top of his head. "Devon, do you know where the mulch is? It's not where I put it." He motioned to the empty cabinet.

Devon set it down and walked over to his dad, looking where he motioned. "I don't know. Haven't touched it since last fall -" He cut himself off and sighed, shaking his head and realizing what happened. "Janie! Janie used some of the mulch for a school project in art class back in spring. She said she only used a little, pfft, little my foot." 

Marion pursed his lips and turned around, walking out of the shed. "Guess I'll have to go get some tomorrow after work at the home improvement store in Buckhannon. Is there anything else I should grab while there before I come home?"

Devon thought about it walking out of the shed as his father closed the door and recalled something his sister mentioned. "Oh, a chain? Janie said that during a full moon Taia could lose control and should be chained to keep her from doing any damage to property or human harm until she's able to control herself."

Marion thought about it for a moment, remaining silent. "All right. I'll grab one while there and I should probably pick up a few other things to make it less suspicious." He agreed, although he was on the fence about how inhumane that was considering she was still a human, or at least part one.

"You could say it's to lock up the trailer to keep people from stealing. I doubt it'd be suspicious and people do love to steal trailers, especially your old handmaid one." Devon pointed to the old handmade trailer that was sitting behind the shed

Marion's eyes searched his son, a sense of pride welled in his chest at his son's suggestions. "Thanks, Dev, I will lock up the trailer as well, I'd hate for my hard work to be stolen." He smiled as Eve pulled up to the driveway in front of the house. "Your mother and Janie are finally back."

Devon turned around, seeing Janie be the first to open the door and jump out. He quickly poured the weeds into the compost bin, setting the bucket on the ground, and then he walked over to the car with his hands in his pocket. "Mom, is there anything I can help with?" 

Eve turned off the ignition and opened her door, stepping out. "Oh Dev," She turned around and popped the hatch open with her keys. "Um, let's see," She smiled, turning around to greet her son. "I think Janie and I can handle the groceries. You can go tell Taia dinner will be ready as soon as the groceries are put away." She said with a smile.

Janie peered around the side of the car and a cheeky smile grew on her lips. "I can tell Taia!" She exclaimed, immediately jumping out from behind the car and rushing up to her mother. "Please?" She asked, fluttering her eyelashes with puppy eyes.

Eve laughed and walked past her, grabbing two grocery bags in her hands. "I need you to help me bring the groceries in. You didn't do a single thing while we were out but complained when we were going to go home." She sternly told her daughter, walking towards the front door.

Janie groaned, hanging her head down, and shuffled to the hatch. "Fine! I'll help with the groceries." She was disgruntled, pulling out a bag and following her mother. She glared at Devon as she passed by him since he had opened the door for them.

Devon raised his eyebrows and shook his head, following them into the house and closing the door behind him. "Don't glare at me. I didn't do anything wrong." He whispered to his sister as she set the bag down on the table and brushed past him, letting out a huff.

He rolled his eyes and walked towards the Taia's room pushing open the door. "Taia, Mom wants to know -" He cut himself off when he noticed the empty room. "Taia?" He asked again, walking over to the small bathroom and looking in.

Panic began to rise in his chest as he looked into the other rooms before rushing into the kitchen where his mother was putting away groceries. "Mom, Taia is gone." He exclaimed, breathing heavily with wide eyes. "She isn't anywhere in the house and-and her jacket Janie let her borrow is gone -"

Eve looked up and stopped what she was doing. She walked over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders and looked into his eyes. "Calm down." She told him in a stern voice, withdrawing her hands and resting one hand on the counter.

Devon stood there flabbergasted at how his mother was acting. "How can you be so calm? Taia is missing and she could accidentally shift into a werewolf in front of people or-or get into places she shouldn't be or do things she hasn't been taught not to do." He rambled, feeling a tightness in his chest.

Eve sighed and placed her hand on his shoulder once again. "Devon, stop." She shortly said, watching him fall silent. "In all situations, you need to be calm and keep a level head. Didn't boy scouts teach you that?" 

Devon bit his lip and took a deep breath, letting it out and relaxing his shoulders. "You're right. I guess I kinda forgot." He replied, crossing his arms.

Eve simply nodded her head as a thoughtful expression grew on her face. "Anyways, she couldn't have gotten far. Chances are she'd go somewhere familiar." It was the only logical reason why Taia would have left. " Janie and I put away the groceries. We'll get your dad and look for her."

Devon nodded, beginning to pace back and forth. "I'll call Armani and have her meet me at the abandoned house so we can look together." 

Eve nodded, pursing her lips. "What about Smith?" She asked, wondering why he wasn't calling over his other friend. "The more help you have the better things will go and we're more likely to find her."

"Smith had to help his dad fix their TV antenna. Armani is a skilled tracker, she goes camping with her dad "off the grid" for two weeks every summer." Devon quickly replied, knowing it wasn't a lie.

Eve  didn't think about it too much and nodded her head. "If you find her, give us a text or call and let us know." She told him, walking back over to the groceries and putting them away.

Janie came back into the house, her arms full of three bags of groceries. "I got the remaining bags Mom." She declared, walking over and setting them down on the table. 

Devon turned on his phone and sent Armani a quick text. "I will." He quickly replied, rubbing out the back door, figuring that was the way she had gone since he and Marion were in the front yard.

As soon as he got past the property line, his phone dinged, signaling he had a text. 

He pulled his phone from his pocket and smiled, seeing Armani reply with a thumbs-up emoji and said she was on her way. 

He picked up the pace from a brisk walk to a jog, not wanting to accidentally step on an illegal trap or trip over some tree limbs.

〰️🐾〰️

Devon soon arrived at the house and saw Armani sitting on the steps. "Thank you so much Armani for coming. I could use your tracking skills to find Taia." He stopped a few feet in front of her and took a few deep breaths.

Armani stood up and walked over to him with a smile. "It is nothing. I am always happy to help my best friend." She looped her arm around his shoulder as they walked away from the house. "So, she just left the house and didn't tell anyone? Why would she do that?" 

Devon didn't know for sure, so he could only speculate. "She isn't used to having a family. She is used to doing whatever since she was all alone for all those years. Not to mention that she is a -" He forced his mouth closed, knowing he had almost let it slip.

Armani raised her eyebrows, searching his face, knowing fully well he wasn't telling her something. "She's what Dev?" She asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

Devon swallowed harshly and tried to keep composed. "Nothing, it's nothing -" When her eyes burned a hole into his head, he gave in. "You can't tell anyone and I truly trust you."

Armani was intrigued as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Okay, and? I know you trust me, just tell me. You're making it weird." She rolled her sleeves. rubbing her hands against her feather-down coat sleeved. 

Devon took a deep breath, mustering every ounce of courage he could find. "Taia is a werewolf. No one must know that, it could be dangerous to her." He explained, shifting his eyes around as he spoke, keeping his voice low.

"I would never tell anyone that she is a werewolf. Supernatural creatures are the most likely to have experiments done on them." Armani replied without a second thought, tapping her cheek with her finger.

Devon's eyes grew wide. "You're taking the news quite calmly. You're not freaking out? Most people would be freaking out and not being able to contain themselves or try to find an excuse to deny it." He questioned, dumbfounded by her reaction. 

Armani furrowed her brow and gave him a funny look. "No? Why would I be? This is a normal thing for my family. I am experienced in such supernatural stuff." She passively said, waving him off with her hand. 

Devon couldn't believe how passive Armani was acting. "Your family?" He asked in disbelief, staring at her with wide eyes. "You're more than average Cleaver family is experienced in the supernatural?"

Armani smirked and stopped dead in her tracks. "First tell me this: The main reason you are so worried about her is that she could perhaps shift back and forth without being in control of it and someone could watch it happen? Especially on a full moon which is three days away?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Devon rubbed the nape of his neck and thought about it. "Yeah, that is one of my main fears. Not to mention there are animal traps out here and she could get seriously hurt not knowing where they are." 

Armani grabbed a stick and handed him one too. "Stab this in the ground before you walk anywhere and follow where you stab. If there is a trap the stick will catch it and we can pick it up and then hand it to the sheriff since these are illegal." She explained, changing subjects.

Devon didn't mind moving on to a different subject. "I knew you were good at tracking but good grief, I didn't even think about that. You are beginning to become a real mystery." 

Armani laughed softly as she walked, sticking the stink into the ground before she stepped there. "My dad is a former Boy Scouts leader and he is a veteran, so yeah, I think I would know a lot about tracking."

"You said it was a family thing, what did you mean by that?" Devon inquired, following what she did, and wanted to know more about this new found information. 

Armani sighed heavily and stuffed one hand in her pocket. "My aunt is a werewolf - I will call her and get her to come down to help out Taia - anyways, my family had been in a long line of hunters. When my uncle fell in love with a werewolf my grandfather disowned him. My mom never agreed with what hunters stood for so she was also an outcast." She explained, feeling better to finally tell someone.

Devon blinked a few times, not knowing how to feel. "How come you never told me this before? I mean, I understand that I am a very cynical person sometimes and will take facts over fiction." He asked, feeling a little betrayed that she never told him before now.

Armani shrugged her shoulders and huffed. "It never came up. Even if it did, you wouldn't have believed me, Janie would be more inclined to believe me than you. Besides, Taia isn't the only supernatural being around here, but, she is the only one in the most danger."

Devon tried his best to take in what she said but it simply bounced around his head. "Do you mean there are others around here that we don't know about? I understand why she is in danger, she is unpredictable." He inquired, stepping over a fallen tree.

Armani looked down at her feet before looking back up at him. "I have a few hunches. I don't know for sure and it's not like I couldn't straight up ask them. Do you know that one girl, Kina? She always seems to zone out, sleepwalk and gives an ear-splitting scream afterward with a full on panic attack. I think she is a banshee and I think those nightmares are visions of deaths happening or that have happened."

Devon stopped in his tracks and shook his hands out in front of her. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, you can't be serious. We don't know if she is and last time I checked there isn't a test for banshees. She also is shy and is homeschooled, we never cross paths." He explained, not believing it for a moment.

Armani placed her hands on her hips as she stopped. "Devon, maybe this is our chance to add to our group and expand, like our own little pack of supernatural protectors like in the tv shows." She exclaimed, feeling a little excited.

Devon placed his hand on her shoulder and shook his head. "You are getting ahead of yourself. For right now let's just deal with finding Taia before she gets hurt." He said and began to walk again. "Taia?" He called out, cupping his hands over his mouth. "Taia? Where are you?"

Armani groaned and shuffled after him. "But Dev, this is the first time I can talk about this with someone other than my parents. I legit have a whole bunch I want to rant about while we look for her. Besides, I am curious to know Taia's story. Like how she survived? What happened? How did she become a werewolf?" She insisted, pausing for a moment, and then called out. "Taia!?"

Devon glared at her. "All in due time." She shortly said and then sighed as a thought popped into his head. "Now, we just need to tell Smith about this. He is already paranoid as it is, telling him about Taia being a werewolf, I am not surprised if he pulls out the sage." He chuckled a little at the thought.

Armani rolled her eyes and punched him in the shoulder. "That isn't what he does. He and his family own that homeopathic and natural health market downtown. If there is anyone who knows about potential harmful herbs and what to stay away from, it's him."

Devon put his hands up in front of him and then stabbed the stick into the ground. "Smart thinking, Mani," He nodded, jumping up on a stump and crunching leaves under his sneakers. "Taia?" 

Armani stepped over a few tree limbs and looked around. "Don't knock it until you try it." She stretched out her hand in front of Devon and stopped in her tracks. "Now stop and look." She pointed to footprints in the mud. "These are Taia's since she has small feet and one size too big shoes."

Devon looked up to where the tracks lead and furrowed his brows. "That leads to the mountains," He said as he frowned, starting to walk again. "Why would she go to the mountains? There's so many people there at this time of day." He asked, worried laced in his voice.

Armani sighed heavily and hurried after him. "Wait, Dev," She called out, trying to keep up with Devon. "Yeah, it's a national park. There's bound to be people but I'm sure Taia knows her way around the mountains."

"You're right," Devon turned back to look at her, pulling out his phone and texting his mom that they found her footprints and they led her to the mountains. "She lived as a wolf since the attack so she probably lived up there where she felt safe."

Armani reached over and flicked the side of his head with her fingers. "You just now realized that?" She stuck her hands in her pockets after dropping the stick somewhere along the way. "Chances are she's in her den. She probably felt overwhelmed and wanted to go to the place she felt she could collect herself."

"Maybe you're right," Devon mumbled, looking up at the sun peeking through the trees. "But how will we find her den? There are a lot of places for animals to hide and how will we be able to get in?" He asked, hoping she had the answers.

"I don't know. I can try and track her, but there will be a point where her footprints will vanish or get mixed up with others." Armani sighed. "Dad's better at differentiating footprints and who they belong to when there are more than one than I am."

Devon then had an idea pop into his head and a faint smile grew on his lips. "Get your dad up on video chat and explain everything to him!"

Armani did think that was a good idea and looked up at him with a hesitant expression. "But, there's one problem. Dad's not at home right now. He's in Charleston, has been there since this morning, and won't be back until late tonight. I can't call him when he's working, not even for this." 

Devon was a bit bummed, but Armani had a point. "Let's just hope we find her before she gets into trouble because that's the last thing we want."

🐾〰🐾〰🐾〰🐾〰🐾〰🐾〰🐾

A/N: 
Okay, I'm really on a roll. And if you have forgotten by now, this story takes place in West Virginia, and yes I've I've doing a lot of research and using Google maps to help me out. I always love using little towns no one ever uses. I used to live in a small town, Morrilton, AR. (I mean technically it's a city but it's got like only Walmart XD) But now I live in Conway and it's a city so I do miss the old small town feel.

Chapter Talk: 
I didn't realize until halfway through that what I had planned for this chapter would make it extremely long. So, I ended it where I did and will continue the search for Taia in the next chapter which also will be Devon telling his family Armani knows about Taia being a werewolf. 

Thanks for reading!