CHAPTER 8

It was raining still when I woke for the second time, but slower rain tapped in a pondering beat against the window frame and calmed me following a tumultuous rest.

I blinked sleepily, confused as I slapped the lamp beside my bed — Olivia's room. The wooden beams above me, the flickering candlelight casting shadows on walls matching the soft scent of herbs mingling with an earthy aroma as well and—well sweet heavens—it was a far cry from the icy fear and blood-soaked reality to which I should not have lived.

That I lay there a moment, my mind slowly cycling through and stringing together the pieces of memory that had led me to this place. The fight with Sebastian, the hurt, the fear and then……Olivia.

Except this woman – a stranger after all— she had found me, and rescued me somehow, was caring for me like I was something so small and delicate that it needed to be protected.

But why? And more importantly, how? I could never shake the question, it gnawed at me persistently. I had lied to her. I had no choice.

But as I contemplated, the more it collided with a fugitive from death that might well have obligated her to immeasurable peril had she not been able-bodied.

And Sebastian, once he had his unbreakable resolve, would never take no for an answer. And worse, Olivia was now on the receiving end.

I turned, neck aching with the pain that jagged through my skin and saw her at the window, silhouette formed in light from behind as she read by rainlight.

She had faced the crippled landscape, gazing off in a distance as her mind went to other places. The glimpse of her this way — all tranquility but so weighted with something I couldn't quite grasp at the time — struck a pang in me of guilt.

She didn’t deserve this. She didn’t deserve to be dragged into my world of blood and shadows.

“Olivia,” I whispered, my voice hoarse from lack of use. Her green eyes widened as she turned to me, already fully awake. The corners of her eyes crinkled into a small smile that did not reach the same lines on her face.

Her voice was warm, but concern still laced every word. “Up again I see.” “How are you feeling?”

“Shit.” I grunted, lying to her as I pushed myself up on sore elbows. “Thanks to you.” I then suddenly felt a delicate touch on my arm moving me back to the bench.

“Be kind to yourself,” she scolded, but kindly. “You’re still healing.”

“I know,” I muttered, lying back down as the wave of pain subsided. “I just… I needed to talk to you.”

Olivia frowned, pulling the chair closer to the bed before sitting down. “What is it? Is something wrong?”

Nothing is right, I almost choked out. Breathe, I chanted to myself, trying desperately to reign in the tsunami of emotions that lurked just beyond my half-hearted resolve.

“I’m sorry,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper. “For dragging you into this. For putting you in danger.”

She looked at me, her eyes softening with an emotion I couldn’t quite place. “You didn’t drag me into anything, Jaydon. I chose to help you. I chose to bring you here.”

“Know that you didn't,” I argued, the words harsh and edgy. "You couldn't tell what I was—what I am. You have no idea how dangerous it is when you are close to me."

There was no change in Olivia's expression. Her hand found mine and squeezed it lightly. “Sure you are,” she replied faintly. “I don’t know everything. But one thing I did know was that to walk away just like this with your baggage… I couldn’t walk away.”

Her words were blunt, but they stung like a punch. I spent a large part of my life thinking I was aloof, unreachable because nobody could get close to someone like me and not come away blistered with the fire that licked on their heels like some terrible curse.

And yet here was Olivia— mortal, fragile human girl who had still saved me in the end and stayed by my side even if she could never fully understand what that would mean for her.

I wanted to save her, keep away all of the monstrosities I knew guarded my reality. But I wouldn't be able to do that if I wanted for her, If pushing away was a lie.

I at least owed her the truth, as much of it as I could manage. ”Olivia,” I said, my lips shivering from the weight of what I was about to speak. “You have no idea. So much I haven’t told you. This is something I should not be telling you, but I cannot keep hiding the truth either.”

She said nothing, never taking her eyes off me and always waiting for what was next.

“That night you found me—I wasn't just *attacked* by some wild animal. It was… it was something infinitely more deadly, infinitely more superhuman. Sebastian's his name, he has been after me— my pack, a time long coming. He’s not human, Olivia. None of us are.”

I stopped, and stared down at her closely for any hint of fear or doubt, but she simply listened more intently as her hand wrapped my own strength to let me know that she was there with me in the moment.

Finally, I forced the words out: “We… we are werewolves. I know that sounds crazy, but it is the truth. And Sebastian … well he's not *just* a wolf. He’s something more. A sorcerer. His type of abilities aren't ones that we could ever fathom, and he is literally using them to kill us.”

Olivia's eyes widened a little, but she didn't move away. Not that she was going to scream or run away. Again, with no emotion in her cold blue eyes, just careless nonchalance as she drew closer and spoke softly but fearfully. “Why? Why is he hunting you?”

I sighed, burdened with the weight of prophecy. “It said an Alpha will come, as every thousand years he has done since the loss to us from this dimension of humanity and with him bring balance again in Shamanism lead an end or destruction upon everything that is wrong which came claimed so many forms among your wicked-kind —Maledictus are these fallen creatures— and another time we lose our ways because them over there make chaos too. That Alpha being me according to Sebastian and famous beliefs. And he wants me dead before I can complete that prophecy.”

Silence hung heavy in the air, pregnant with words unsaid and weighted by rases of what I had just relayed. I could practically hear the way Olivia was mentally sifting through what little truth I had given her and trying to connect shattered pieces, repair a reality that flew in the face of everything she ever believed. Then she looked into my eyes and asked, “Why didn't you tell me this before?” She asked through now soft, but slightly hurt voice.

“Because I didn't want to risk your safety, Olivia.” I confessed. “Unfortunately, it was becoming harder and harder to speak as my throat choked on guilt. I was also thinking of the event that you would eventually find out, and I didn't want you to be a target. But now… now it’s too late. Olivia… Sebastian knows. Don’t ask me how I know it but He knows you saved me. And he will not stop until his wish is granted.

Her face paled slightly at my words, and I could see the fear flicker in her eyes. But she didn’t back down. She didn’t pull away. Instead, she straightened her shoulders, her expression hardening with a resolve that took my breath away.

“Then we’ll face him together,” she said, her voice steady and unwavering. “Whatever it takes, Jaydon. We’ll face him together.”

The strength of her voice struck me like a tidal wave and I was left under my desk in shock after she roared it again. For so long, I wanted to shield her from the darkness and have nothing to do with my world; but now… now it dawned on me: it was not something I could handle alone. I needed her. We needed each other.

Still, as I contacted her, a fresh wave of fear hit me— more than just the snake: The prophecy, the webs that connected us, her flashes… it all interconnected; a part of something they could not explain just yet.

And that terrified me. Really low, way down in my throat. “I don't want to lose another life again,” and I guess the thought formed into speech almost without me even realizing it.

“Jaydon, we will get this figured out. Together.” I wished to put my faith in her, wanted that she was true and we were about somehow escape this nightmare alive, be able to fight using our wits against Sebastian and live.

Yet the fear continued to haunt me, that voice of doubt tapping softly in my head for how this was just a false calm before I fall back into hell.

I never had the chance to say those fears out loud one second that I was struck by a shard of pain through my chest and another spinning world as I gasped clutching at ribs.

“Jaydon!” Olivia's voice dripped with panic as she kneeled over me, hands fluttering like hummingbird wings—trying to touch but not sure how it would help.

“It’s… it’s just… Sebastian. He’s close.” Olivia's eyes opened wide in terror as she searched the room for him, expecting to find his silhouette looming out of reach.

“What do we do?” Her voice quivering. I willed myself to concentrate, not let the aching in my ribs and this fright hold me back.

“Go to my pack,” I said, voice coming out in utter agony. “They need to know he’s here. They need to prepare.”

“However, you aren't nice enough to maneuver around,” she argued in concern.

“I don’t have a choice,” I replied, gritting my teeth against the pain. “If we stay here, he’ll find us. We need to leave. Now.”

She hesitated for a moment, clearly torn between wanting to protect me and knowing that I was right. Finally, she nodded, her expression resolute. “Okay. Let’s go.”

She gave me a hand, and I limped back up on shaky legs that shook with fresh waves of pain. But I powered through it — that sense of urgency making me move.

We couldn’t stay here. Really, we would not have wished for Sebastian to find us. We hurried to the door, and with a sudden sharp crash that resounded through the room like thunder above; one of those terrible groanings in wood which presage ruin —the beams overhead cracked.

The ground beneath our feet trembled, and I stumbled; a fierce pain mostly vanished from my chest now spiked again. Her big terrified eyes betrayed her as Olivia caught me.

“What’s happening?” Her voice made me jerk and the house groaned loudly to fill in around us.

My heart in my chest whispered, "He's here."

He is here, and he's not alone. Before I could say another word, the door flung open and a figure entered, his eyes a chilling predatorial light.

Sebastian.

He smiled, a cruel, twisted smile that sent a chill down my spine. “Going somewhere, Jaydon?” he drawled, his voice dripping with malice.

My blood ran cold as I realized the full extent of the danger we were in. This wasn’t just about me anymore. This was about Olivia. And I knew, in that moment, that I would do whatever it took to protect her.

Even if it meant sacrificing myself.

“Run!” I shouted, shoving Olivia towards the back of the room. “Get out of here! Now!”

However, before she could even make her move, the hand of the devil-made-man shot out of nowhere. I witnessed his hand grab her throat, lifting her off the ground with strength considered inhuman.

“Not so fast, little girl.” Sebastian grinned. “You didn’t think I’d let you go that easily, did you?”

Olivia’s eyes bulged out in utter fright, and I could see and feel panic ensuing her being as she struggled to breathe. She attempted to drill her nails into his arm, but her efforts reaped no fruit as Sebastian appeared unfazed by her petty attack.

“Let her go!” I growled, with a voice full of desperation. I tried to dash towards him, but the pain in my chest pulled me back and I fell to my knees.

Sebastian cackled menacingly, the sound reverberating in the room. “Oh, Jaydon,” he sneered. “Did you really think I didn’t know you were still alive? Did you really think it wasn’t intentional? Poor shame that this human would get caught up in the maelstrom.”

He leaned closer to me, his eyes boring into mine as he squeezed Olivia’s throat even tighter to taunt me. “By the end of it all, you’re going to realise that this is your fault for bringing her into this. In addition, you will be the reason for her demise.”

“No!” Tears streamed down my face as I saw Olivia dying before me.

I tried to get up, but the agony prevented any attempt at motion; too heavy was my burden of disgrace. And then, when I thought she was gone forever, something ignited inside me so bright and hot that it scorched my heart with a fierce need to save her from whatever was threatening her.

A current fired between us, an all-consuming union that ignited my blood like flames. I growled, forced my legs beneath me, and without a second thought to the burning agony in every inch of my body, I lurched forward with everything that remained—all at once sprinting like hell towards Sebastian.

Yet, as I closed my hand around his throat and suspense built to fever pitch, the world burst into white-hot light… Blackness, the end.

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