---
The morning sun bathed the quiet streets of Ibadan in a warm glow, casting long shadows as Tolu stood by the window of the small cottage. His mind, still reeling from the revelation his mother had shared the night before, couldn't help but wander. The weight of his father's legacy, his uncle's betrayal, and the looming threat over him pressed heavily on his chest.
"Is this really my life now?" he thought, his hands gripping the windowsill.
The small town of Ibadan had always felt like a safe haven, far from the conflicts of the larger wolf packs. But now, with the secret of his true heritage unleashed, Tolu knew that peace was no longer a luxury he could afford.
His mother had urged him to pack his things. She had found an elder of the Palam pack to take him in, someone who would guide him as he tried to understand his powers, his role, and his place in the world. The Palam pack had a history of being enemies to his father's pack, but what she had explained last night made it clear that they had their reasons for helping him—secrets of a past alliance among the pack leaders to prevent all-out war. But still, trust was a fragile thing. How could he trust them when they were part of the very system that had led to his father's death?
With a sigh, Tolu turned away from the window and grabbed the bag his mother had packed for him. He wasn't sure what the future held, but one thing was certain: his journey was just beginning.
---
Back inside, his mother sat by the fire, carefully going over a set of old scrolls. These were the things his father had left behind, and now they were Tolu's inheritance—his legacy.
"You'll need to understand these," his mother said without looking up. "Your father kept these for a reason."
Tolu walked over to her, setting his bag down beside the door. He watched her for a moment, feeling a lump rise in his throat. Despite the resolve in her voice, he could see the tear stains on her face from the night before. She had been strong for so long, but even she was breaking under the weight of what they were facing.
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Tolu asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
She looked up, offering him a weary but loving smile. "You're not alone, Tolu. This is the way forward, and we'll make it through. But you need to learn, you need to grow stronger. The pack can't protect you forever."
Tolu nodded, though the thought of leaving her behind left an ache in his chest. "I'll be fine," he said, though he didn't feel fine at all. "Who's the elder you found? What's he like?"
His mother hesitated for a moment, her eyes searching the scrolls before she finally spoke. "His name is Elder Durojaiye. He's a member of the Palam pack, but he has his own ideals. He's one of the few who still believes in the old alliances, the ones your father was part of. You'll have to trust him, even when it's hard."
The mention of trust brought the weight of the situation crashing down again. Trust was a fragile thing, and Tolu wasn't sure he was ready to hand it out so easily. His father had trusted his brother—Tolu's uncle—and look where that had gotten him. Betrayal ran deep in the veins of this world.
"I'm leaving tomorrow morning," his mother continued, her voice softer now. "You need to be prepared. You'll be leaving here and going to a new life, Tolu. A life that's far more dangerous than you can imagine."
Tolu swallowed hard, his eyes scanning the room. It had always been just the two of them, but now it felt like he was losing the last tether to the only world he knew.
"I'll be ready," Tolu said finally, the words coming out with more determination than he felt. "I'll do whatever it takes."
---
The next morning came all too quickly. Tolu stood at the edge of the small cottage, his bag packed and his heart heavy. His mother stood behind him, her hand resting on his shoulder.
"Stay safe," she said quietly. "Don't let your guard down. The world is different now."
Tolu turned to face her, his expression softening. "I'll make you proud, I promise."
With a final hug, he left the cottage, the door closing quietly behind him. The weight of everything that had happened, everything that was to come, pressed on his shoulders.
He walked through the streets of Ibadan, his heart pounding in his chest as he thought of the journey ahead. He was headed to the Palam pack's territory, to meet Elder Durojaiye, a man who would shape his destiny.
---
As he neared the outskirts of town, Tolu's thoughts wandered back to his pack, the seven members he had bonded with since awakening to his powers. Each one of them had a unique strength, a unique role within the pack. But none of them knew what he was truly capable of—not yet.
The first member he thought of was Adebayo, the strong-willed leader of the pack's boys. Adebayo had always been by his side, even when Tolu didn't fully understand the gravity of his lineage. Adebayo's loyalty was unquestionable, and that was something Tolu needed right now—someone who believed in him, even when he didn't believe in himself.
Then there was Ayotunde, the girl who was fiercely protective of him. Ayotunde had grown up with Tolu, and their bond ran deep. But lately, there was a tension between them, a subtle change in her attitude as she started to notice how close Tolu had become to his new friends, especially the girls in the pack. Ayotunde had always been protective, but her feelings for Tolu had begun to blur the lines of friendship. Tolu knew she cared for him, but he wasn't sure how to navigate the feelings that lingered between them.
The other members of his pack were just as important, but they were still learning their own roles. Temilade, the quiet but intelligent girl, always seemed to know when something was wrong. Her intuition was a gift, and Tolu could count on her to help him see things from a different perspective. Then there was Olamide, the brooding but powerful boy, who had a tendency to keep to himself. Olamide's strength was unmatched, but his lack of trust in others often put him at odds with the rest of the pack.
And lastly, there was Ireti, the youngest of them all. She was full of energy and always seemed to find the bright side of things, even when the world around them seemed dark. Ireti had a way of keeping spirits high, even when things felt impossible.
Tolu knew that leaving them behind was the hardest part of this journey. But he had to do this for their future. For his future.
---
As the day wore on, Tolu made his way to the edge of the Palam pack's territory, where he would meet Elder Durojaiye. The air felt different here, charged with an energy Tolu couldn't quite place.
His eyes narrowed as he spotted a figure in the distance, a tall man with a presence that seemed to command the very earth beneath his feet.
"You must be Tolu," the man said, his voice deep and steady. "Your mother spoke highly of you."
Tolu nodded, feeling a mix of nervousness and curiosity. "I'm ready," he said, though he wasn't sure what he was truly ready for.
Elder Durojaiye smiled. "We'll see about that."