The rain fell harder, soaking Adrian's torn robe until it clung to his skin. Each step away from the Adeyemi estate felt heavier than the last, yet his pride refused to let him fall. His knees trembled, his body ached, but his spirit—though battered—remained unbroken.
He staggered into the dense forest that bordered the family's land. The trees rose like ancient guardians, their branches whispering secrets in the storm. Lightning flashed, illuminating Adrian's pale face, and for a moment, the forest seemed alive—watching him, testing him.
His breath came in ragged gasps. Blood trickled down his knuckles where his nails had pierced his palm. The cold bit into his bones, but Adrian clenched his teeth.
I will not die here. Not like this. Not as a discarded dog.
Behind him, faint laughter still echoed in his mind—Damian's cruel smirk, his father's cold decree. The words replayed over and over until they burned into his soul: "You are no longer my son."
His chest tightened. Rage flared within him, hotter than the storm.
"Damian…" Adrian whispered, his voice hoarse. "I'll return one day. And when I do, the throne you covet will burn beneath my feet."
A rustle from the shadows snapped his attention. His sharp eyes darted to the side. From between the dripping trees, glowing yellow orbs emerged. Wolves.
Three of them crept from the undergrowth, their wet fur bristling, fangs gleaming in the lightning. They circled him slowly, as though savoring the fear of their prey.
Adrian's heart pounded, but he forced himself to stand straighter. His body was weak, yet his will refused to bend.
Even the beasts of the wild see me as prey… Then let them come.
One wolf lunged. Adrian twisted aside, the creature's jaws snapping inches from his arm. He stumbled, nearly falling, but caught himself against a tree. His hand closed around a broken branch—long, jagged, barely sturdy enough for a weapon.
The second wolf charged. Adrian roared and swung with all his strength. The branch cracked across its muzzle, sending it yelping back, but splinters tore into Adrian's palm. Blood flowed freely, mixing with the rain.
The third wolf leapt at his chest. Adrian thrust the branch upward. A sickening crunch echoed as the wood pierced the beast's throat. Hot blood splattered his arm, and the wolf fell twitching to the mud.
The remaining two wolves growled, circling warily. Adrian's chest heaved, his vision blurred from exhaustion, but a wild fire blazed in his eyes.
If I must fight the world with my bare hands, then so be it.
He raised the broken branch once more, but before the wolves could strike, a sudden force surged through him. His blood, dripping onto the mud, glowed faintly—like embers hidden beneath ash.
The storm quieted for a heartbeat. The ground pulsed. A strange warmth coursed through Adrian's veins, banishing the cold.
The wolves froze, ears flattening, as though sensing something greater than themselves. With a whimper, they retreated into the shadows, leaving their fallen kin behind.
Adrian dropped the branch, his body shaking. His palm still bled, but the glow from his blood slowly faded. He stared at it in disbelief.
"What… was that?" he muttered.
A memory flickered in his mind—an old tale his mother once whispered when he was a child. "Our bloodline carries an ancient power, hidden until awakened by despair and rage."
Adrian clenched his fist, rain washing the blood down his wrist.
"So, it wasn't just a story…" he whispered, his lips curving into a bitter smile.
The storm raged on, but in Adrian's heart, a new storm was brewing. He had been cast aside, beaten, left for dead—yet fate itself had answered his vow.
Lightning split the sky once more, and Adrian lifted his gaze.
"This is my rebirth," he swore. "And the Adeyemi family… will kneel before me."
Far away, deep within the estate, Damian sneezed suddenly, a chill running down his spine. He frowned, dismissing it with a scoff.
Little did he know… the discarded son ha
d just taken his first step on the bloodied path of power.