The shockwave from Tolu's howl tore through the air — walls rattled, furniture shook, and the protective barrier around the mansion shattered in a blinding flash. The fragments of energy dissolved like smoke, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Ronke stumbled backward, blood spilling from her lips. She gripped the edge of a table, her knuckles white. "Impossible…" she muttered, her voice trembling. "No one should've been able to break that."
Tade steadied himself, eyes darting toward the balcony. "What the hell was that? He didn't even pierce the heart—how did he drain Ajamu's energy?"
Bode didn't answer. His gaze was still fixed toward the shattered balcony, his expression unreadable. Only his eyes—faintly glowing red—betrayed the thought running through his mind.
Tade turned toward him, frowning. "It's strange… he shouldn't have been able to do that."
Bode gave a small, tense nod. "Strange doesn't even begin to cover it."
Bode's eyes finally shifted from the balcony to Tade. The faint echo of the howl still lingered in the air like a ghost. Without another word, he turned and started toward the exit, his boots crunching against broken glass.
Tade followed closely behind, his expression grim. "You felt it too, right?" he asked under his breath.
Bode gave a short nod. "He's not just some wolf anymore."
They moved quickly down the corridor, passing wolves who stood tense and alert. The scent of blood and burnt air filled the hall. As they approached the shattered doorway, one of the lieutenants—broad-shouldered, with blood smeared across his cheek—stepped forward.
"Sir," he said to Bode, bowing slightly, "we've secured the perimeter. The girl—she's unconscious but stable."
Bode glanced back toward the mansion. "Take her to Tade's estate. Make sure she's watched closely. No mistakes."
"Yes, Alpha." The lieutenant motioned to two wolves who gently lifted Ore. She stirred faintly, her head lolling before falling still again. They moved quickly, vanishing into the forest trail.
Tade looked to Bode as they exited through the ruined doors. "If he's headed deeper into the woods, he'll be hard to track. His scent's already mixed with Ajamu's blood."
Bode's jaw tightened. "Then we follow the trail of bodies. He won't hide for long."
They emerged into the open night—the moon high, the ground littered with the corpses of wolves. A faint wind carried the metallic tang of blood and the distant echo of heavy, uneven breathing.
Tade crouched, brushing two claw marks gouged into the earth. "He's moving fast."
Bode's eyes glowed crimson again. "Good. That means he's not in control. And if he's not in control…" His hand flexed, claws emerging slightly. "We can still reach him before he loses himself completely."
Without another word, both men shifted—bones cracking, muscles bulging—as they took off into the forest, chasing the monstrous energy that pulsed faintly in the distance.
---
Tolu tore through the forest like a storm unleashed. His breaths came in ragged bursts, his bare feet pounding against the damp soil, leaving deep, uneven prints. The morning fog swirled around him, catching glints of faint blue light from his still-glowing veins. Every pulse of his heart sent tremors of wild energy through his body — the ancient blood now fully awake and raging.
Leaves shuddered as he passed, birds took flight in startled flurries, and the forest seemed to bend away from his presence. He wasn't running toward anything — he was running from the chaos inside him, from the surge of instincts that threatened to consume what was left of his mind.
His claws flexed, his eyes still faintly red beneath the dim light breaking through the trees.
As he vanished deeper into the woods, the scene shifted.
The forest opened to a dirt road cutting through a small settlement at dawn. A faint orange hue painted the sky, and mist still clung to the earth. Down that road walked a young girl, a schoolbag slung lazily over her shoulder.
Her name was Amara, seventeen and half-asleep. She had been up all night studying with friends for their upcoming exams, and her eyelids felt like weights. Her dark curls were tied in a loose bun, a few stubborn strands escaping to frame her soft face. Gold hoop earrings glinted faintly as she yawned, rubbing her eyes.
Her denim jacket hung open over a simple white tee, and she hugged it close against the morning chill. She kicked at a pebble as she walked, mumbling, "Never again… night study my foot."
All she wanted now was the comfort of her bed and maybe a plate of hot akara from her mum before she crashed.
The forest loomed to her right, quiet — too quiet — but she was too sleepy to notice.
Amara adjusted the strap of her bag and stifled another yawn, her shoes crunching against the gravel. The road was silent, the world still half-asleep. She didn't notice the faint rustle in the trees or the shadow pacing her from within the fog.
Tolu crouched low behind the tall grass, his massive frame hidden in the shadows. His red eyes tracked her every movement — the slow, tired sway of her steps, the calm rhythm of her heart that pulsed in his ears like a drumbeat. Steam rose faintly from his body in the morning chill, his instincts whispering to him, hunt… feed… bind.
But somewhere deep within the beast, another thought flickered — a human one. She smells… different.
He crept closer, muscles tightening. Then, in one sudden motion, he leapt forward, landing with a heavy thud in front of her.
Amara froze, her heart slamming against her ribs. The thing before her wasn't just a wolf — it was enormous, towering, its fur dark and bristling, its eyes burning red like embers. Every instinct screamed at her to run, but her legs wouldn't move. She had never seen a real wolf before, but she knew — they weren't supposed to look like this.
Tolu began to circle her slowly, his massive paws silent against the dirt. She turned, trembling, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. When he stopped behind her, she could feel his hot breath ghosting over her neck.
Then, before she could even scream, his jaws opened — and his teeth sank deep into her flesh.
The pain shot through her like lightning, raw and searing. Her knees buckled, a strangled cry leaving her lips. She felt her pulse slow, the world tilting as her vision blurred.
But before darkness took her, she felt something else — warmth. The beast's tongue brushed over the wound, and the pain dulled to a strange, dizzy calm. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she collapsed gently onto the cold ground.
Tolu stood over her silently. He didn't move away. He only circled her once more, lowering his head as if ensuring she still breathed. Then, with a low rumble deep in his chest, he sat beside her — his eyes dimming from red to faint amber — guarding her like a sentinel in the mist.