Fated Opposites

CHAPTER 5: UNWANTED ENEMY

The elders' meeting took place in a dimly lit room, their voices a hushed mixture of urgency and concern. The weight of their decisions hung in the air like the flickering flames of the torches that surrounded them. At the center of their discussion was Jacob—young, strong, and full of potential, but also untested as a leader at the level they were about to entrust him with.

Elder Aoi, the most conservative among them, leaned forward, frowning deeply. “He’s too young. This kind of responsibility is more than we should burden him with.”

General Khan, his deep, gravelly voice cutting through the tension like a blade, responded, “Age does not determine strength. Wisdom and power do. Jacob has shown both, repeatedly.”

Fire Elder Ji, seated at the head of the table, had been silent, his eyes locked on the flames dancing in the fireplace behind him. Finally, he spoke, tapping his fingers on the table in rhythm with the crackling fire. “We don’t have time for endless debates. Jayden’s abilities surpass many seasoned warriors. And with Malakar’s seal weakening, we need every ounce of strength we can muster. Jacob has proven himself, and he must be inducted.”

Aoi hesitated, his brow furrowed in thought. “But what if—"

“What if we fail?” Elder Ji interrupted sharply. “Then it won’t matter who’s young or old. We’ll all fall. The sun and moon vestiges are still out there, and without them, we have no chance.”

General Khan nodded, his arms crossed. “It’s settled. Let us meet with Jacob and present the offer.”

---

Back in the underground hideout, the air was thick with tension. Jane had just returned from her secret mission and stood before Jayden, Bella, and Henry, her face serious. She wasn’t usually this solemn, so whatever news she had was important.

“I’ve found out more about Bella’s power,” she began, pacing slightly. “We need to find the sun vestige before we can go to the temple.”

Henry, who had been leaning casually against the wall, raised an eyebrow at her. “Where’d you get this information?”

Jane reached into her bag, pulling out a torn map with intricate, glowing markings. The map was black, with white inscriptions that resembled stars or constellations, weaving between unrecognizable locations.

“I found this in the underground library,” she explained, her voice low and cautious. “No one’s allowed down there unless they’re a high-ranking member of the pack, so getting in was rough.”

Jayden took a step closer, inspecting the map with a narrowed gaze. It was clear that the map was important, but it was also incomplete. One half of it was entirely missing.

“And this is only half?” Bella asked, her fingers brushing the edge of the torn parchment.

Jane nodded. “Yeah. Without the second half, it’s useless. But with both pieces, it should guide us to the sun and moon temple.”

The only things missing, Jane reported, were the not-found sun vestige. She stated he is a criminal and fugitive, with Jayden revealing his mark. Jane held her breath, stuttering, "You—you... oh.”

“Yeah,” Jayden replied. “Do you still think I’m a fugitive?”

“I apologize,” Jane said softly.

Bella stared at the map for a moment, then let out a soft sigh. “If it’s been hidden for over a millennium, it’s not surprising that it’s not going to be easy to find.”

Jayden and Jane both looked at her, confused. Bella caught their stares and frowned. “What? Did I say something wrong?”

Jane cleared her throat. “If I’m to be blunt, Miss Bella… you’re not exactly what I’d call, well, combat material.”

Bella blinked, clearly taken aback. “What do you mean by that?” she asked, her voice rising slightly in irritation.

Jayden crossed his arms, a slight smirk on his lips. “Seriously? You want to argue that?”

Bella glared at him, her hands clenching into fists, but before she could respond, Henry stepped forward, trying to ease the tension. “Alright, alright. Let’s stop attacking her, yeah? She might not be the strongest in combat, but there are other ways to win a battle without violence.”

Jayden chuckled quietly, and Jane stifled a grin, both of them amused by Henry’s attempt at diplomacy. But before anyone could continue the conversation, a loud bang echoed from the floor above them.

The sound reverberated through the underground hideout, instantly putting everyone on edge. Jayden’s eyes narrowed, and he immediately turned toward the door. “I’ll go check it out,” he said, his tone serious. “Henry, get the girls out of here. Now.”

Henry didn’t hesitate. He grabbed both Bella and Jane, lifting them as if they weighed nothing. “Here we go,” he muttered with a smirk, trying to keep things light, but the urgency in his movements was clear. He dashed toward the exit, carrying the two girls with him.

As Jayden made his way to the secret door that led outside, his muscles tensed. His instincts were telling him that whoever had caused the noise wasn’t friendly. He opened the door cautiously, stepping out into the alleyway.

Standing before him was a female figure, tall and athletic, her posture poised for battle. Her hair was tied back in a sleek ponytail, and her eyes were sharp, gleaming with anticipation. She didn’t say anything at first, simply sizing him up.

Jayden stepped forward, his fists clenched. “What do you want?”

The woman smirked, tilting her head slightly. “Hmm, you’ve got a girl in your custody, don’t you?”

Jayden’s jaw tightened. “What of it?”

The woman took a slow, deliberate step forward. “I need her.”

Without another word, Jayden lunged at her, his fist swinging toward her face. But she was quick, dodging the attack and flipping backward into a defensive stance.

“She’s not going anywhere,” Jayden growled, his voice low and dangerous.

The woman chuckled, the sound dark and mocking. “Sorry, but I have my orders.”

Jayden’s mind raced. Orders? Who was she working for? He swung again, this time landing a solid hit to her torso. The force of the punch sent her stumbling back, but to his surprise, she didn’t fall. Instead, she wiped a bit of blood from her lip with the back of her hand and smiled.

“That was a good punch,” she said, her voice filled with excitement. “I hope you don’t disappoint me, handsome.”

Jayden’s eyes narrowed. That punch should have knocked her down. She was stronger than she looked. He took a defensive stance, ready for her next move, but she lunged forward faster than he anticipated.

She struck out with a flurry of punches, her movements fast and precise. Jayden barely managed to block them, his body already worn from the earlier chase. He countered with a powerful kick, sending her crashing into a nearby wall.

“What’s your real goal here?” Jayden grunted, sweat dripping down his forehead. “Who sent you?”

The woman wiped blood from her mouth again, her grin widening. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

Jayden didn’t have time to process her words before she was on him again, her attacks relentless. He knew he was at a disadvantage. She was faster, stronger, and had far more energy than he did.

But Jayden wasn’t about to give up. He waited for an opening, watching her movements carefully. When she overextended on a punch, he grabbed her arm, twisting it painfully and pulling her off balance. With a surge of heat, he unleashed a barrage of blows to her midsection, each hit making her cry out in pain.

Finally, with a powerful uppercut, he sent her flying through the door and back into the street.

The storekeeper, who had been watching the fight from behind the counter, raised her hands in surrender. “You should leave, kid,” he muttered. “I’ll take care of the mess.”

Jayden, breathing heavily, glanced at the woman. She was still conscious, though barely. He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of respect for her resilience.

“You’ve got skill,” she said, her voice weak but still defiant. “But you better keep surviving. Next time, I won’t be so soft.”

Jayden didn’t respond. He turned and ran, knowing he had to catch up with Henry and the others. He couldn’t afford to stay any longer. They had to move quickly before the Mistletone Enforcement arrived.

As the night wore on, the Mistletone Enforcement officers were already sweeping the streets. The commotion from the fight had drawn too much attention, and they were closing in on the hideout. The woman Jayden had fought was taken into custody, though her smirk never faded.

Back at the council chamber, Khan stood before Jacob, his voice calm but firm. “It’s time, Jacob. Will you accept the role of an elder?”

Jacob, arms crossed, glanced at the other elders before nodding with a smirk. “I accept.”