TOLU AND THE SEEKERS

The fire raged behind them, casting flickering shadows against the trees as Tolu and his pack disappeared into the night. The flames weren't just consuming supplies—they were devouring the illusion of his uncle's control.

Smoke curled into the air, thick and black, a warning to anyone who dared to ignore it.

Tolu's chest heaved as he ran, his senses stretched to their limits. Every rustle of leaves, every distant howl sent a fresh surge of adrenaline through his veins. They had struck first. Now, they had to survive the retaliation.

"We need to split up," Kemi whispered as they neared a clearing deep in the forest.

Tolu glanced at her, his mind racing. Splitting up meant a smaller target. It also meant vulnerability.

"Meet back at the river," he finally said. "If anyone doesn't show up by dawn, we go looking."

They nodded. Without another word, the pack scattered, vanishing into the trees like ghosts.

Tolu didn't stop running until the sounds of pursuit faded into the distance.

---

The Gathering Storm

The village was tense the next morning. The scent of smoke lingered in the air, carried by the breeze from the burning supply outpost. Whispers filled the market, cautious glances exchanged between vendors and hunters alike.

Tolu kept his hood low as he walked through the narrow paths between stalls. He wasn't just another villager anymore. His name would be on his uncle's lips soon—if it wasn't already.

A familiar figure leaned against a wooden post near the butcher's stall, arms crossed. Ope. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd before landing on Tolu.

"You're late," Ope muttered as Tolu stopped beside him.

"I had to make sure we weren't being followed."

Ope smirked. "You worry too much."

"Maybe you don't worry enough."

Ope laughed, a dry sound. "Maybe." He nodded toward the riverbank in the distance. "They're waiting."

Tolu followed him, his senses still on high alert.

When they reached the river, the others were already there.

Jide sat on a fallen log, sharpening a blade with slow, deliberate movements. Fola crouched near the water, washing blood off her knuckles. Kemi stood a few steps away from the group, arms folded, watching the treeline.

"You all made it," Tolu said, relief washing over him.

"We're not amateurs," Fola said, flicking water off her hands.

Jide glanced at him. "Now what?"

Tolu exhaled. "Now we wait."

"For what?" Kemi asked.

"For my uncle to make his move."

---

The Alpha's Wrath

They didn't have to wait long.

That night, the village was summoned to the gathering hall—a large open space in the center of the settlement, where the elders held meetings. Torches burned along the edges, casting long shadows across the wooden walls.

Tolu stood near the back, hidden among the crowd. His pack spread out, watching from different angles.

At the center of it all stood his uncle.

Alpha Olumide.

His presence was undeniable. Tall and broad, his dark skin gleamed under the firelight, his golden eyes scanning the crowd with quiet menace. He was flanked by his warriors—men who had served him for years, their loyalty unshaken.

Tolu clenched his fists. He could almost hear his father's voice whispering through his memories. This should have been yours.

Olumide raised a hand, and silence fell over the crowd.

"There has been an attack," he said, his voice steady, commanding. "An act of defiance against this pack. Against me."

Murmurs rippled through the villagers. Tolu saw the fear in their eyes. The uncertainty.

"The ones responsible think they can hide," Olumide continued, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. "They think they can strike from the shadows and go unpunished."

He took a step forward, his presence overwhelming. "But I will remind them what happens to those who betray their Alpha."

He raised a hand—and in an instant, a figure was dragged into the open.

A young man, his face bloodied, his arms bound behind his back.

Tolu's heart dropped.

Jimi.

He wasn't one of them. He hadn't been part of the attack. He was just another village boy—one who had once looked up to Tolu's father, one who had never fully submitted to Olumide's rule.

"Speak," Olumide ordered.

Jimi lifted his head, his eyes defiant despite the bruises. "I don't know anything."

A warrior stepped forward and struck him across the face. Jimi fell to his knees, blood dripping from his lips.

Olumide turned back to the crowd. "This is what happens to those who think they can stand against me. If the ones responsible do not reveal themselves…" His golden eyes burned. "This will be the first of many."

Tolu's nails dug into his palms. The rage inside him was boiling over.

Beside him, Kemi whispered, "We have to do something."

But Tolu knew the truth.

If they moved now, they'd be walking into a death trap.

---

A Dangerous Decision

The pack gathered in the forest that night, their faces tense under the moonlight.

Jimi's blood was still fresh in Tolu's mind.

"He's going to kill him," Kemi said, pacing. "We can't let that happen."

Fola crossed her arms. "If we make a move now, we risk exposing ourselves."

"So we just let him die?" Ope snapped.

Jide, silent until now, finally spoke. "It's not about one life." His deep voice was calm, but firm. "It's about all of us. If we act out of anger, we die. And if we die, we lose everything we've fought for."

Silence.

Tolu took a breath.

Jide was right.

But that didn't mean they did nothing.

"No direct attack," Tolu said. "We don't challenge my uncle head-on." He looked around at them. "But we can make his people doubt him."

Fola raised an eyebrow. "How?"

Tolu's eyes gleamed. "We make them afraid."

---

The Shadows Stir

The next few nights, the village was haunted.

Food stores were raided. Weapons went missing. Supplies vanished without a trace.

Shadows moved through the settlement, whispers spreading through the ranks of Olumide's pack. Warriors woke up to claw marks on their doors, as if something had been watching them in the night.

Fear crept in.

And with fear came doubt.

The cracks in Olumide's control were beginning to show.

Tolu stood at the edge of the village one night, watching from the shadows. His uncle was strong. But he was not invincible.

This was only the beginning.

The war had truly begun.

---