CHAPTER FIVE

The smoke surfaced into the night sky, mingling with the calm clouds.  I could feel some sort of a dark omen as my heart pounded within my chest. Though I didn't need a reminder, it reminded me of what's to come at any point in time.

The Maledictus were here, and it was not just because of the fire warning. I guess you can call it my wolf's instinct because I knew that this meant war.

---

I went back to our camp to wake the pack. They could strike at any moment. Heck they might already be within our territory. I needed to tell Alex, Diana, everyone.

To my surprise, they were all awake and conscious of the sudden shift in the natural scent of peace. They had sensed a coming tension, and their eyes sharpened in determination.

“Uhhh, Jaydon,” Ethan, a member of the pack, broke the silence. “What’s going on?” His voice was taut, but you could feel the barely suppressed anxiety.

“I didn’t think an attack would come this soon, but they’re close.” I revealed, and the pack gasped. My nervousness shot up the roof, though I tried as much as possible to hide it. “The Maledictus pack… I saw smoke just beyond our territory. It could be a false alarm, but I guess you could all agree with me that what we’re feeling isn’t just a fluke.”

A murmur of unease rippled through the group. I could see the fear in their eyes, the doubt starting to take hold. These weren’t ordinary foes we were up against. The Maledictus were a force of nature—twisted, dark, and driven by an insatiable hunger for power.

Diana stepped forward, her presence steadying the rising panic. “Let’s not all act like we haven’t been expecting it. Word must have gotten out that we’ve found the Alpha who has the power to end this meaningless fight. Ideally, they’d want to destroy him before he gets the chance to fully manifest his potential. We’ve been preparing for this, and there isn’t a doubt in my mind that Jaydon would lead us to the path of victory.”

I nodded, agreeing to her words of encouragement. I knew the pack felt the same way, and I guess it was my turn to play my part. “Listen up. We need to set up defenses,” I declared, turning to Alex. “We’ll need patrols along the borders, and we should gather everyone here, in the heart of the camp, where we can protect them.”

Alex didn’t hesitate, his expression grim but determined. “I’ll organize the patrols. Maya, Sky, you’re in charge of defenses. We need traps, barriers—anything that can slow them down if they attempt an attack.”

As they moved to execute the orders, a hint of doubt dawned upon my heart. Could I really do this? Lead the pack against the Maledictus? Against a pack I’ve never even seen eye to eye? Would Sebastian join his minions? Any miscalculation would lead to our downfall. And that fear killed me.

---

The day was a blur of activity. My people worked with determination, fear turned into action. They laid snares, they put up walls and sent patrols out along the borders. The atmosphere was tense, each noise suddenly deafening in the silence that encompassed them.

I realised that I had been standing on the very edge of camp, staring into the darkness. The dark silhouette of the trees hid whatever thing surrounded them. I was jumpy, almost expecting something to jump out of the bushes at me every time a leaf rustled or twig snapped.

“You look like you’re ready to tear something apart,” Alex’s voice broke through my thoughts. He was standing beside me, his gaze fixed on the same dark horizon.

“Maybe I am,” I replied, still focused on the treeline. “Or maybe I’m just trying to hold it together.”

He chuckled, a low, humorless sound. “As evil as this may sound, let’s rip them apart together, since peace was invariably never an option.”

I smiled, but in my mind I was sad. The thought of losing any of them—Alex, Maya, Sky, even Ethan—was like a knife twisting in my gut. These weren’t just members of my pack; they were my family now, and he thought of…

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” I said quietly. “But if it does… I’ll be right there with you.”

He nodded, a silent understanding passing between us. The time for talk was over. Whatever happened next, we would face it together.

---

It was time. The first sign of the Maledictus’ advent came just before dawn. Sky spotted them, and alerted us immediately.

“They’re coming,” he announced. “From the east. At least a dozen of them.”

A dozen? That was more than we had expected. My heart skipped a beat, fear clawing at my insides. But there was no time for fear. I had to act.

“Everyone, get into position,” I commanded, my voice echoing through the camp. “Stay low, stay quiet. We need to see what they’re planning before we strike.”

The pack broke into a quick movement, spreading themselves out along the borders of the clearing. My senses strained as I kept low behind a fallen log, looking into the dark. It was almost too much, seconds passing like long needles as we stretched for the horror that would be coming.

And suddenly they were there—shadows drifting between the trees, eyes that shone with an otherworldly brilliance. The Maledictus. They looked cold and menacing, even from far away you could tell they gave off a chilled, suffocating energy that writhed my skin until I was covered in goosebumps.

Bigger than any wolves in our pack, black as sin and moving so smoothly you knew they were carnivores. But they were not only bigger; it was their movement that made them stand out—deadly and fast, but incredibly graceful. With the unmistakable presence of their sorcerer at their head—Sebastian Elrío.

He had taken human form, but he was no man. In his eyes, there was a cold, mathematical cruelty as he stared at you through your very soul. He knew we watched, and he moved with a silent arrogance that frightened me.

Fear clutched my soul, and I was nearly spotted gritting my teeth. So this was the monster Diana had warned me about— the one who had led the Maledictus pack to fall from grace, leading them to the path of darkness and disrupting the natural order of the supernatural.

“We have to wait,” Alex whispered, his voice barely audible. “See what they do.”

It was torture, holding back when every instinct screamed at me to attack. But he was right. We couldn’t afford to be reckless. Not against an enemy like this. Now that I thought about it, I wondered what kind of destructive power he possessed. If you were to ask me, I certainly do not want to find out upfront.

Sebastian halted at the edge of the clearing, his gaze sweeping over the camp. For a moment, I thought he had spotted us, that he was about to signal his wolves to attack. But then he smiled—a slow, mocking smile that sent a wave of anger crashing through me.

“Sanctis!” He called out to our pack. “My apologies for invading, but I am in need of the very rising famous wolf cub called Jaydon Woods. I know you’re here. They can smell you from miles away, so why don’t you all come out so you can cater for your guests. My pack loves a nice side of freshly devoured wolves.”

My blood ran cold. He knew my name. He knew I was here. He spoke of our destruction like all this was just a day in the life for him, enjoying every second of the psychological games he was playing.

Before my brain could control the movement of my body, I stood, stepping out from behind the log and detransforming back into a human. The pack tried to stop me, knowing fully well that this must be some sort of a trap, but it was too late for that. This was my fight. If Sebastian wanted me, then I would face him head on, no matter what the results would be.

“Sebastian Elrío,” I mustered the courage to talk back at my adversary. “You are trespassing on our land big guy. We don’t have to do this. Leave now, and avoid the consequences of your intrusive thoughts. I don’t wish for any bloodshed.”

He laughed, a sickening burgeoning cackle that startled my pack. “The consequences of my intrusive thoughts? I very much want to see it. I did not come here to watch a friendly transaction. I’m not leaving here until I take a portion of your pack’s blood with me in my hands. Think you can stop me? You’re more than welcome to try.”

His words stung, but I held my ground. “We won’t let you destroy everything we’ve worked for. We won’t let you win this battle, you mindless bastard.”

Sebastian’s smile widened, his eyes glittering with malice. “Oh, Jaydon… who said this is about winning? Lose now, our kind will still rise to win again. Win now, and it just makes my work a lot more easier. This is just for my entertainment,  and not about victory. I want to test the limits of the one who rumours has it can rival my power. This is about your survival. In the end, you know what they say: Only the strong survive.”

Without warning, he shifted— his body contorting, bones snapping as he transformed into a massive, black-furred wolf. The other Maledictus that hadn’t transformed followed suit, their growls echoing through the forest like a death knell.

I knew there was nothing left to do, but wage war. I transformed in epic fashion, and we charged.

---

Chaos erupted. The opposing wolves lunged forward at terrifying speed and ferocity, barelling into our defenses. I could barely react to their onslaught, but my body moved viciously to catch itself in a caught up frenzy.

Teeth and claws flashed in the dimmed light, and the  sounds of battle— the snarls, the growls and the unending crunch of bones— filled the air.

I fought with everything I had, my body moving on instinct. Blood splattered across my vision as I tore into one of the Maledictus, the taste of iron sharp on my tongue. I put into practice all I had learned, but it felt like they multiplied in number every time I managed to bring them down.

I barely saw Alex locked in, tearing through the flesh of larger wolves, combatting with expert level skill. Bodies crashed on the battleground by his paws, and he seemed like he was just getting started. Maya was holding her own, utilising her immense quickness to throw off her opponents before she delivered final blows.

This wasn’t just a battle. This was a massacre.

“Jaydon!” I heard Sky’s voice, panicked and strained. I turned just in time to see Sebastian lunging at me, his massive form hurtling through the air. I barely managed to dodge, his claws grazing my side as I stumbled backward.

He landed in front of me, his eyes crazed like that of a mass murderer. Before I could turn around to unleash a counterattack, he was out of sight and a pack of wolves lunged forward to devour me.

I roared in anger, my body striking by intuition. I destroyed them in rapid succession, shocking myself at how powerful I had become. A set of wolves slashed me and sunk their teeth into my flesh. I growled in pain, but I pushed through it, knowing fully well that I’d be healed from the pain. I had to survive by all means. To protect them all.

In that instant, I surveyed the battleground for any trace of my predator, but he was nowhere to be seen. Then it dawned on me, he was on the hunt for Diana.

I moved at a speed faster than I had ever moved deep into the woods where she was hidden and protected. I was on full throttle, and I kept my foot on the gas pedal.

Just when I caught a faint scent of my adversary, I felt the weight of a killer pounce on me. He tore through my neck with his teeth, and left me in a condition where I was left at his mercy.

He licked his lips, savouring every blood that spilled from my body. “So, this is all you're made of, huh? Pitiful. At least I got to be the one to serve you your demise. Maledictus… we’ve done enough. Let’s leave what’s left of the clan as they hope for another prophecy.”

He howled in symphonic manner, signalling his pack to fall back. The wolves heard his call and obeyed immediately.

Alex was devastated, and chased after them. “Come back and face me, you bastards!” He yelled, but they were too fast to keep up with.

This was it. This was the end.

‘Get up, Jaydon!’ My soul rallied my body, but it got no response. ‘We’re not done yet. You can’t let him get away with it.’

As much as my soul tried, my body reached its peak, my blood splattered around the area.

Maya was the first to notice my absence in the aftermath of it all, and she called Alex’s attention to it. “Umm, Alex… where the hell is Jaydon?”

Alex’s eyes widened in realisation of why they had retreated. “Could it be…?”

The two wasted zero time to track me down, but I was nowhere to be found. I knew it wasn’t possible for them to find me, but that sense of false hope drowned me. I had done my best as their leader for the most part. Though it lasted for a short while, I was happy to have a set of comrades I could call a family of my own.

Against all odds, they had survived, but I guess they had to be a martyr in the end. My body shed blood beyond my control, and I closed my eyes in acceptance of my inevitable fate.