Ronke sat quietly in the backseat of the car, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. The night air outside was still, broken only by the hum of the engine.
She pressed a hand against her chest, remembering the moment her own shield shattered. The force behind it still lingered in her bones — raw, ancient, and unfamiliar.
"I'll come back," she whispered to herself. "And I'll finish what I started."
But before that, she needed to understand.
Something about the two remaining bloodlines didn't make sense.
It's like they just vanished without remnants.
Her fingers drummed lightly against the window as she stared out into the darkness.
"If there's an answer," she murmured, "I'll find it where I'm going."
The car sped on, carrying her toward the unknown — and the truth she was determined to uncover.
Tolu stood at the door, his heart pounding softly against his ribs. He knocked twice. Moments later, the door opened — Ore stood there, her expression calm but her eyes heavy with something deeper.
"Tolu," she said quietly, stepping aside. "Come in."
He entered, the familiar scent of her home oddly comforting after everything that had happened. They sat across from each other, the silence stretching for a moment before she spoke.
"My dad told me… you've changed," she said slowly, as if still unsure of the words.
Tolu sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah," he murmured. "Guess that's one way to put it."
Ore tilted her head. "What does that even mean—changed how?"
He met her eyes — for a brief second, his irises flashed crimson. Ore's breath caught. She leaned forward, whispering, "Your eyes… when did this happen? How? Why?"
Tolu looked away. "I don't know everything. It's all… flashes. I remember being taken, injected with something… losing control. Then nothing but noise, blood, and pain."
Ore's lips parted, as if to speak — but before she could, a familiar voice cut through the air.
Tolu, you're here," Bode said, his tone calm but weighted with meaning. "There are some things we need to talk about."
Tolu nodded, stepping inside. Ore quietly closed the door behind him and moved to sit beside her father.
Bode gestured for Tolu to take a seat. "You've done something that defies what we know and believe," he began, leaning forward. "Normally, it's possible for an alpha to have his powers stolen by another wolf—but that's only if the wolf kills and takes it."
He paused, studying Tolu closely. "But you… you didn't. And yet, the power passed to you. That's not supposed to be possible."
Tolu frowned. "So, what does that mean?"
Bode exhaled slowly. "We—the five families—descend from alpha ancestors who were born as alphas. That power has been passed down for generations. For you to steal it… and for Alamu to still inherit it… it doesn't make sense. Not with what we know."
He sat back, rubbing his temple. "There's so little I understand about the ancients. But there's someone who might."
Tolu's eyes narrowed slightly. "Who?"
"The Yeye Agba," Bode said. "The witch coven leader. She carries the memories of her predecessors—records that stretch back hundreds of thousands of years. If anyone can explain what's happening to you, it's her."
He sighed, the fatigue in his voice clear. "I'm going back to the city. I'm taking my family with me. This little agenda has drawn too much attention, and it's best I protect them properly."
Tolu glanced at Ore, who looked down, her expression heavy. He sighed softly. "That's the best thing to do."
Bode nodded. "To find the Yeye, go to the far end of the forest—the side opposite where your pack trains. There's a path that fades into the trees. Wait there, and she'll find you."
He hesitated, then added, "The girl you turned—Amara—she's your first beta. That bond is unlike anything else. She'll be your most loyal, closer than family. Her instincts will always drive her to act in your best interest, even if it costs her."
Bode's eyes met Tolu's. "So be careful what you ask of her. She'll obey—even when it breaks her."
Silence filled the room. Ore still didn't look up, and for a moment, the weight of everything that had changed hung between them like a shadow.
Bode waited until Ore left, then closed the door quietly. He sat back down across from Tolu and fixed him with a steady look.
"I know you love my daughter," he said bluntly. "She loves you too. But for her sake you have to let her go."
Tolu nodded.
Bode didn't soften. "A lot of wolves are going to see you as an easy target — an alpha without a pack. That'll draw trouble. My advice: make them fear you. Kill the ones who test you so everyone knows you're not to be messed with. Turn a few wolves too. If any of them carry a trace of your bloodline, all the better."
He leaned forward. "This is a cruel world. You'll need a base — somewhere your wolves can work and hide. Make it a business. Give me your account number."
Tolu told him, and Bode tapped it into his phone. An alert chimed: ₦200,000,000 transferred.
Tolu stared, stunned. "Isn't that too much?"
Bode gave a small, dry smile. "Not enough. If you need more, I'll show you how supernaturals stay rich." He folded his hands. "Find a cartel with cash, rob what you must. Don't pretend you'll save the world — if you go that route, you'll have to be ready to kill. Better advice: buy or build businesses. Expand your influence."
Tolu rose to leave. "Thank you, sir."
Bode handed him a thin envelope. "Build your kingdom before the war comes," he said.
Tolu nodded and left.
Tolu stepped out of the mansion into the fading evening light. The wind was cool against his face, carrying the scent of the forest — distant, calm, yet heavy with something he couldn't name.
He paused beside his car, staring at his reflection in the dark window. The eyes looking back at him weren't the same — red gleams flickered faintly beneath the surface, reminders of what he'd become.
Bode's words echoed in his mind.
Build your kingdom before the war comes.
He let out a slow breath.
His world had changed — forever.
No more hiding, no more pretending to be ordinary.
Now, he had to prepare — not just to survive, but to rule.
Because deep down, Tolu could feel it.
A storm was coming.
And he would have to face it as what he truly was — an Alpha.