SEEKERS

---

Tolu barely had time to react before the shadow wolf lunged. It moved like a wraith, its form shifting unnaturally as it closed the distance. Red eyes burned like embers, and its snarl carried a guttural resonance that sent a chill down his spine.

But Tolu didn't flinch. He had come too far to falter now. His trials had tested his strength, his trust, and his will. Now, it was time to prove himself worthy of his legacy.

As the beast leaped toward him, he twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding its fangs. He landed in a crouch, his claws extending instinctively as he faced the creature once more.

The wolf was unlike anything he had fought before. It wasn't just a physical enemy—it was made of something else, something deeper. Darkness swirled around it, shifting like smoke, refusing to be fully solid.

Tolu growled, trying to steady his breath. He had fought beasts. He had fought hunters. But how did you fight something that wasn't fully there?

The shadow wolf lunged again, but this time, Tolu was ready. He dodged, but instead of backing away, he struck—his claws raking through the beast's form. A deep snarl echoed through the clearing as the attack connected, but instead of cutting flesh, his claws passed through mist.

The wolf reformed instantly, as if the attack had never happened.

Tolu gritted his teeth. This isn't a normal fight. He had to think differently.

The words of Elder Durojaiye echoed in his mind. Strength is not the only thing you will need. You will need wisdom, and above all, you will need to trust in the wolf inside you.

His wolf.

The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. This wasn't a fight of claws and fangs. This was a battle of spirit.

Tolu closed his eyes, ignoring the beast as it circled him, waiting for an opening. He reached deep within himself, searching for the connection to his wolf, to the primal force that had been growing stronger since his awakening.

He felt it stir.

A deep, ancient power that had been waiting, watching, guiding him through every step of his journey.

The wolf inside him howled.

The sound wasn't external—it resonated within his soul. And when he opened his eyes again, he wasn't just Tolu.

He was the Alpha.

Power surged through his veins, more intense than anything he had felt before. His vision sharpened, his senses expanding to encompass the entire forest. He could hear the wind whispering through the leaves, feel the heartbeat of the earth beneath him.

And he could see the shadow wolf for what it truly was.

It wasn't an enemy.

It was a manifestation of his own doubt, his own fear.

With this realization, the fear faded.

Tolu took a deep breath and stepped forward—not to fight, but to face it.

The shadow wolf hesitated, its form flickering. Its red eyes narrowed, sensing the shift in Tolu's presence.

Tolu raised a hand—not in attack, but in understanding.

"I am not afraid of you," he said firmly.

The wolf growled, but it didn't lunge. It circled him once more, slower this time, its form shifting like mist caught in a storm.

"You are part of me," Tolu continued, his voice steady. "But you do not control me."

The wolf stopped.

For a moment, the forest was completely silent. Then, the shadow wolf let out a low, mournful howl. Its red eyes dimmed, the darkness around it dissolving into the air like smoke carried by the wind.

And then—it was gone.

Tolu exhaled slowly, the energy within him settling like the calm after a storm. He had passed.

He had conquered not just an enemy, but himself.

---

The Elders' Verdict

Tolu emerged from the forest as the first light of dawn painted the sky in hues of orange and purple. His body felt different—lighter, stronger. He was not the same boy who had entered the trials. He had faced his fears, embraced his power, and proven himself worthy.

As he stepped into the clearing where the elders waited, their gazes fell upon him. Elder Durojaiye nodded in approval, his old eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"You have done well," he said. "You have faced the trials of strength, trust, and spirit. And you have conquered them all."

The other elders murmured among themselves. Some looked surprised, others impressed. But there was no doubt—Tolu had passed.

Elder Durojaiye turned to the gathered pack members, his voice strong and clear.

"Tolu, son of Adekunle, has proven himself worthy. He carries the blood of an Alpha, but more than that, he carries the heart of one."

A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd. Many had doubted him before, but now they saw him differently. He wasn't just a boy who had lost his father. He was a leader in the making.

One of the younger warriors stepped forward. "He passed the trials, but what now? He still doesn't have a pack."

Tolu's jaw tightened. That was true. His uncle still ruled over the pack that was rightfully his. The elders had acknowledged his potential, but he wasn't an Alpha without followers.

Elder Durojaiye met Tolu's gaze, his expression unreadable. "That is the next step, isn't it?"

Tolu understood. Passing the trials was just the beginning. Now, he had to reclaim what was his.

---

A Call to War

That night, Tolu stood atop a hill overlooking the village. His mind was filled with everything that had happened—the trials, the awakening of his wolf, the realization that he was finally ready to fight for his future.

A soft breeze rustled through the trees, and he felt a presence behind him. He turned to see Kemi, the girl from the neighboring pack who had been watching him closely since his arrival.

"You really did it," she said, her eyes filled with admiration. "I knew you would."

Tolu smirked. "You had that much faith in me?"

She folded her arms. "Not faith. Just… a feeling."

They stood in silence for a moment before she spoke again.

"What now?"

Tolu gazed into the distance, where his uncle's territory lay. The man who had stolen everything from him. The pack that was rightfully his.

He clenched his fists.

"Now," he said, "I take back what's mine."

And as the moon rose high in the sky, Tolu let out a deep, powerful howl.

It was not just a sound.

It was a declaration.

The battle for his pack had begun.