“THE SHADOWS OF MALEDICTUS”

CHAPTER FOUR 

Jaydon’s POV

Night had a way of revealing the world’s true nature. All is so simple under the sun: light and shadow, right and wrong, hope and despair. In the dark, though, these lines blurred, and what lay hidden in the shadows might be more terrifying than anything walking in the daylight.

It all started making sense now, in ways I never imagined possible before my transformation. The moonlight had become my guide, but the night still held secrets I wasn't quite sure I was ready to face.

---

The chill in the night seemed much colder, the sort of cold that eats into your bones, as though the very air had a warning. I was edgy because Diana had spoken some words into my ear earlier in the day.

She feared she had perceived something— a distortion in the natural order. It was subtle— subtle enough for anybody to miss, like a ripple effect in a calm lake, but it was there for sure.

"Jaydon," Alex's voice came to me, steady as always but with an undercurrent of urgency. "We need to talk."

I followed him into the heart of the forest, the trees looming like silent sentinels. The further we walked, the more the unease grew. Alex was quiet, his usual calm replaced by a tension that made me clench my fists in anticipation.

“Diana believes the Maledictus pack is moving,” he said finally, his tone low, as if speaking the words aloud might summon them. “There have been signs—subtle, but they’re there. Although it’s certainly a lot sooner than we had anticipated, it was inevitable.”

Their name alone was all that was needed to spark up a quiver in my soul. The Maledictus. The wolves who had turned their backs on the natural order, choosing instead to embrace the darkness Sebastian embodies. They didn’t just thrive on power—they consumed it, devouring everything in their path. And now, they were stirring.

“What do we do?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though the fear threatened to creep in.

Alex paused for a moment, letting the weight of the tension sink in. “There’s really not much to do but be prepared, man." Alex advised. “They were gonna come anyway… It was just a matter of time. We just have to be ready for them, you feel me?”

I know he meant well, and that his goal was to provide me emotional support, but his words weren’t as reassuring as I needed it to be.

The idea of facing the Maledictus, of confronting the sorcerer who led them, was extremely terrifying, more daunting than anything I’d ever faced, not that I had ever faced anyone head on to begin with.

Yeah, I know there was no turning back now. This was the path I had been set on, and I would walk it as their Alpha, no matter how dark it became in the Odyssey.

---

The entire pack gathered that night and there was an air of tension, a quiet understanding that the time for training and preparation was slowly coming to an end. Soon, we would all be tested in ways no one could fully anticipate.

Diana stood in the center; she filled the space with her presence. "We are standing at a crossroads," she began, and the crackling of the fire seemed to underscore her words. "The Maledictus pack is on the move. We don't know where they'll strike, but we must be ready to defend ourselves—and the balance."

The pack listened in silence, the weight of her words sinking in. I could see the resolve in their eyes but also the fear—the Maledictus were more than just enemies, they were stuff from nightmares, wolves who had walked out on everything that made us what we are.

“We have an advantage,” Diana continued. “They do not yet know we are aware of their movements. This gives us time to plan, to strike first if necessary.”

She looked at me then, her gaze piercing. “Jaydon, as our Alpha, it will be your responsibility to lead us when the time comes. But remember, you do not carry this burden alone. We stand with you.”

The fire crackled loudly in the silence that followed her words. I felt every pair of eyes on me, the weight of their expectations heavy on my shoulders. But I also felt their support, their trust. It was not just for me; it was all about the rest of us and protecting our home and way of life.

"I understand," I nodded, my voice firm despite the turmoil inside. "We'll face them together."

---

As the others made themselves ready in their various ways and dispersed, I found myself at the edge of the clearing alone.

Maya came close, her footfall light on the cool earth. I appreciated the fact that she somehow found herself next to me when I needed her the most. "You okay?" she asked.

I let out a sigh. "Honestly? I don't know. It's just… everything feels so overwhelming. The prophecy, the responsibility, and now this threat from the Maledictus. I'm trying to be strong, but…"

Maya placed a hand on my arm, grounding me in the moment. “It’s okay to be afraid, Jaydon. Fear is natural. What matters is how you use it. Let it sharpen your instincts, not control them. You have the strength to lead us. I believe in you.”

"I won't let you down," I murmured, though deep down, it was more of a promise to myself than to her.

She offered a small smile, but it was enough—it held the reassurance I craved. "You won't. We're all in this together."

---

It was a long night; no matter how hard I tried, sleep would not come to me. There was so much I could do; and a million things that could go wrong. Every rustling leaf and shaking twig made my heart beat faster, each nerve at full capacity. Was it them? Did the Maledictus come for us already?

I could not sit still anymore. The only sound in the camp was that of eyes closing and hours taking turns on sentry duty. I needed to breathe so I escaped into the silence of trees guard scraps on my thoughts. A breeze rustled the trees which only deepened a chilling apprehension that remained with me.

Until I smelled something new—something different and acrid. My heart skipped a beat as I saw what it was. Smoke, but it was not our fire.

I followed the scent, my pulse quickening with every step. When I reached the edge of the forest, I saw it—a thin column of smoke rising in the distance, just beyond our territory. My stomach clenched.

This wasn’t a random fire. This was a message.

---

I stood there, staring at the smoke, my mind racing. The Maledictus were closer than we’d thought. They were sending a warning, or worse, a challenge.

The first move had been made.

And the shadows of the Maledictus were closing in.

---

In that instant, everything became as clear as day to me. There was no room left for doubt or fear. The battle was inevitable, and we had to be ready.

The pack would rise to meet this threat. And I would lead them, no matter the cost. I will.