Chapter 58: Matthew's Past Resurfaces

The full moon hung low in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over the pack compound. Matthew lounged on the roof of the pack house, his usual charming smile replaced by a pensive frown. The events of the past few weeks weighed heavily on his mind, stirring up memories he'd long tried to forget.

A soft sound behind him made Matthew turn. Jessica stood there, silhouetted against the night sky, her presence a balm to his troubled thoughts.

"Penny for your thoughts?" she asked, settling down beside him.

Matthew's lips quirked in a half-smile. "Darling, my thoughts are worth far more than a penny."

Jessica rolled her eyes, but her expression remained concerned. "Seriously, Matthew. You've been distant lately. What's going on?"

He sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Just... ghosts from the past, I suppose. All this talk of shadows and threats... it's bringing back memories I'd rather keep buried."

Jessica's hand found his, her touch warm and reassuring. "You know you can talk to me, right? To any of us. We're in this together."

Matthew squeezed her hand, grateful for her presence. But before he could respond, a commotion from below caught their attention. Raised voices, the sound of running feet. Something was wrong.

They made their way quickly to the main hall, where they found James and Michael in heated discussion with a group of agitated wolves.

"What's going on?" Jessica asked, her voice cutting through the noise.

James turned to them, his expression grim. "We've had reports of attacks on neighboring packs. Brutal, coordinated strikes. No survivors."

Matthew felt his blood run cold. "What kind of attacks?"

Michael shook his head. "Unlike anything we've seen before. The bodies were... drained. Of life, of essence. It's as if something sucked the very soul out of them."

The description sent a shiver down Matthew's spine, memories flooding back with terrifying clarity. He stumbled backwards, his face pale.

"Matthew?" Jessica's voice seemed to come from far away. "What is it?"

He looked at her, then at the other alphas, his eyes wild with a mixture of fear and recognition. "I've seen this before," he whispered.

Suddenly, all eyes were on him. James stepped forward, his voice low and urgent. "What do you mean, you've seen this before? When? Where?"

Matthew took a shaky breath. "It was years ago, before I joined this pack. I was... I was running with a different crowd then. We thought we were invincible, dabbling in things we didn't understand."

The room fell silent as Matthew's words hung in the air. Even Jessica, who had always seen the best in him, looked shocked.

"We were approached by a group that promised us power beyond our wildest dreams," Matthew continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "They called themselves the Shadow Walkers. Said they had found a way to harness the energy of the moon itself."

Michael's eyes narrowed. "And you believed them?"

Matthew laughed bitterly. "We were young, stupid. Of course we believed them. But what they were doing... it wasn't natural. They weren't just using the moon's energy. They were consuming it, along with the life force of anything that got in their way."

Jessica gasped. "The drained bodies..."

Matthew nodded grimly. "When we realized what was happening, we tried to stop them. But we were no match for their power. I barely escaped with my life. The others..."

His voice trailed off, lost in painful memories. The room was silent, the weight of his revelation settling heavily on everyone present.

James was the first to speak. "Why didn't you tell us about this before?"

Matthew met his alpha's gaze, shame and defiance warring in his eyes. "Because I've spent years trying to forget it ever happened. Because I was afraid of how you'd look at me if you knew the truth. Because I thought... I hoped... they were gone for good."

Jessica's hand found his again, her touch grounding him. "You're not that person anymore, Matthew. You're one of us now."

Her words, filled with unwavering faith, nearly broke him. Matthew felt tears prickling at the corners of his eyes. "You don't understand, Jess. If the Shadow Walkers are back... if they're behind these attacks... then it's my fault. I helped create this threat."

Andrew, who had been silent until now, stepped forward. "No," he said firmly. "You were a victim, same as the others. But now, you might be our best chance at stopping them."

Matthew looked at him in surprise. Andrew, always the hardliner, was the last person he'd expected support from.

James nodded slowly. "Andrew's right. Your knowledge of these Shadow Walkers could be crucial. But Matthew, I need to know... is there anything else you're not telling us? Anything at all that could help us prepare?"

Matthew hesitated, years of buried secrets pressing against his chest. But as he looked around at the faces of his pack, his family, he knew it was time to come clean.

"There's... there's a ritual," he said slowly. "A way to enhance their power. But it requires a sacrifice. A powerful one."

Michael's eyes widened in understanding. "A Luna," he breathed.

All eyes turned to Jessica, who stood straighter under their gaze. "They're after me," she said, her voice steady despite the fear Matthew could sense beneath the surface.

James growled, his protective instincts flaring. "That's not going to happen. We'll stop them before they get anywhere near Jessica."

But Matthew shook his head. "You don't understand. They're not just after Jessica. They're after all of us. The seven alphas, the prophesied Luna... we're the key to unlocking power beyond anything they've achieved before."

The implications of his words settled over the room like a heavy shroud. The threat they faced was greater than any of them had imagined.

David, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "This connects to what I felt during the healing. The balance of nature... it's all tied together."

Jessica nodded slowly. "So what do we do now?"

James looked at each of them in turn, his gaze finally settling on Matthew. "We prepare. We train. And we use every advantage we have. Matthew, I need you to tell us everything you know about these Shadow Walkers. Every detail, no matter how small."

Matthew nodded, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders even as a new one settled in its place. His past had caught up with him, but he was no longer facing it alone.

As the pack dispersed to begin preparations, Jessica pulled Matthew aside. "Thank you," she said softly. "For trusting us with the truth."

Matthew managed a weak smile. "I should have told you all sooner. I was just... afraid."

Jessica cupped his face in her hands. "You're not alone anymore, Matthew. Whatever's coming, we'll face it together."

As she walked away, Matthew felt a surge of determination. He had made mistakes in his past, but now he had a chance to make things right. To protect his pack, his Luna, and the future they all fought for.

The moon continued its journey across the sky, oblivious to the turmoil below. But as Matthew looked out at the night, he felt a glimmer of hope. The shadows were coming, but they were ready to meet them head-on.

With a deep breath, Matthew turned back to the pack house. It was time to face his past and fight for their future. The true battle was just beginning.