The village burned.
Smoke filled the air, thick and suffocating, as flames licked at the wooden huts. Screams echoed through the night, mixing with the clashing of steel and the snarls of wolves locked in combat.
Tolu's claws were already coated in blood, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His body moved on instinct, dodging a blade before sinking his fangs into the attacker's throat.
But it wasn't enough.
The enemy had struck with precision, knowing exactly where to hit. The defenses of the Palam Pack were strong, but they hadn't been prepared for an ambush of this scale.
And that meant only one thing.
The traitor was real.
Someone had given Olumide their location and weaknesses.
And now, they were paying the price.
---
Holding the Line
"Tolu!" Jide's voice rang out as he fought off two warriors at once. "We have to regroup!"
Tolu scanned the battlefield. His pack was scattered, fighting desperately to hold the line. The Palam warriors were strong, but even they were struggling against the sheer number of enemies.
"We hold them back as long as we can!" Tolu shouted, slicing through another enemy. "Ope, find Kemi and Jimi! We need to form a defensive position!"
Ope nodded and vanished into the chaos, his movements swift and precise.
Tolu turned just in time to see a massive warrior charging at him, an iron mace raised high.
He barely managed to dodge as the weapon smashed into the ground, splintering the earth beneath them.
With a snarl, Tolu countered, driving his claws into the warrior's side. But the man barely flinched.
A second later, Tolu was sent flying as a powerful fist slammed into his chest.
Pain exploded through his ribs as he crashed into the dirt.
The warrior loomed over him, a sadistic grin on his face. "You're nothing like your father."
Tolu's vision blurred. The words cut deeper than any wound.
But he wasn't done yet.
Not by a long shot.
---
The Power Within
Tolu forced himself to his feet, ignoring the pain coursing through his body. He could feel something inside him—something primal, something ancient—rising to the surface.
The warrior sneered. "Stay down, boy."
Tolu wiped the blood from his lips. "Not a chance."
Then, it happened.
A surge of energy pulsed through him. His body felt lighter, stronger. His golden eyes burned brighter, his claws lengthened, and his very presence seemed to shift.
The warrior hesitated. Just for a second.
It was enough.
Tolu moved faster than he ever had before.
One moment he was standing still, the next he was behind the warrior, his claws sinking deep into his back.
A roar of pain filled the air.
Tolu twisted, dragging his claws upward.
The warrior collapsed.
Dead.
Tolu exhaled, his hands shaking.
What had just happened?
---
The Betrayer Revealed
The battle raged on, but something was changing. The Palam warriors, inspired by Tolu's resurgence, fought harder, pushing the enemy back.
Then—a sharp whistle cut through the air.
The enemy began to retreat.
Tolu narrowed his eyes. "No."
He wasn't going to let them escape.
He charged forward, only to stop when he saw a familiar figure standing near the burning remains of a hut.
Kemi.
She stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock.
And beside her—
A man wearing the colors of Olumide's warriors.
Holding a dagger to her throat.
Tolu's blood ran cold.
Jimi.
---
A Pack Divided
Betrayal.
The word rang through Tolu's mind, dull and unreal. His limbs locked in place, disbelief rooting him to the ground.
"Jimi…" Ope's voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of their shared history.
Jimi didn't flinch. His grip on the dagger was firm, steady. He wasn't hesitating.
"Step back," Jimi warned, his tone void of emotion. "Or she dies."
Kemi struggled, but the cold steel against her throat kept her movements minimal.
Tolu's breathing was ragged. His muscles screamed for action, but his mind raced with questions.
Why?
Why had Jimi betrayed them?
Jimi had fought alongside them, suffered with them, risked his life more times than Tolu could count.
And yet, here he stood, with the enemy.
"What the hell are you doing?" Tolu growled, forcing his voice to remain steady.
Jimi's jaw clenched. "Surviving."
Ope took a step forward, rage boiling beneath his usually calm demeanor. "You call this surviving? Selling us out to the bastard who killed our Alpha?"
Jimi's eyes flickered with something—pain, regret, maybe—but it was gone in an instant.
"You don't understand," Jimi said. "Olumide… he's going to win. He has too many allies, too many warriors. You think a handful of rogues and a pack that doesn't even want to fight will change that?"
Tolu's fists tightened. "So you decided to betray your family?"
Jimi's expression darkened. "I decided to live."
Silence stretched between them.
The fire crackled, the battle behind them fading into white noise.
Tolu exhaled slowly. His heart ached, but his mind was clear.
Jimi had made his choice.
Now, Tolu had to make his.
---
The Breaking Point
Tolu's golden eyes locked onto Jimi's.
"Let her go," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
Jimi didn't move.
"You know I can't do that."
Tolu clenched his jaw. "Then you leave me no choice."
Lightning-fast, Tolu lunged.
Jimi barely had time to react before Tolu's claws raked across his arm. He staggered, but he still kept the dagger against Kemi's throat.
"Tolu—" Kemi gasped, her breathing uneven.
Jimi was fast, but he wasn't fast enough.
With a savage twist, Kemi threw her head back, slamming it into Jimi's nose.
He stumbled.
That was all Tolu needed.
He struck.
Jimi cried out as Tolu's claws sank into his shoulder, forcing him to the ground.
For a moment, Tolu hesitated.
This was Jimi.
His brother in arms. His friend.
But betrayal had a price.
And Jimi had chosen his fate.
Tolu exhaled, then slammed his fist into Jimi's temple.
Jimi's body went limp.
It was over.
For now.
Although it sucked Tolu knows an alpha has to make difficult decisions for the sake of the pack