SEEKERS

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The road to the elders' village was longer than Tolu had anticipated, winding through dense forests and steep hills that seemed to stretch endlessly. As they moved deeper into the wilderness, the air grew thicker with a sense of foreboding. Even the wolves in the area seemed to quiet their howls, as if acknowledging the gravity of the journey.

Tolu walked at the front of the group, his eyes scanning the trees for any sign of danger. His mind kept returning to the mark on his skin, the strange symbols that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. It was as if they were trying to tell him something—something important—but he couldn't quite grasp it. The feeling was maddening.

Abeni, ever at his side, noticed his growing tension. "You're thinking too much," she said, her voice soft but knowing. "You need to focus. The elders are close now."

Tolu glanced at her, grateful for the calmness she always seemed to bring. "I know," he muttered. "I just... something doesn't feel right. Like we're being watched."

Abeni's eyes narrowed, but she didn't respond immediately. She simply stayed close, as if her presence alone could help ease his growing unease.

After hours of walking, they finally reached the village. It wasn't much, just a cluster of stone huts nestled in a clearing at the base of a mountain. The elders had always lived in seclusion, away from the prying eyes of others. It was said that only those with the purest bloodlines could find their way here.

Tolu and his pack approached the central hut, where the elders were waiting for them. The building was larger than the others, made of rough-hewn stone and covered in ivy. The air around it was thick with the scent of ancient herbs and burning incense, and Tolu could feel the weight of history pressing down on him as they stepped inside.

The elders were seated in a semicircle around a low stone table, their faces hidden beneath hoods. There was an aura of mystery about them, their presence commanding respect without a single word being spoken. Tolu had heard stories about these figures growing up—how they possessed knowledge that had been passed down through generations, how they held the key to unlocking the deepest secrets of the pack.

As they entered, the eldest of them, a woman with silver hair and piercing blue eyes, raised her head. Her gaze fixed on Tolu, and for a moment, it felt as though she could see straight through him.

"You've come for answers," the elder said, her voice low but clear. "But the path you seek is not an easy one. Are you prepared to face the truth, no matter how painful it may be?"

Tolu's heart raced in his chest, but he nodded. "I have to know. I can't keep running from the past. My father... he was the alpha, and I need to understand what happened to him. What happened to the pack."

The elder's eyes softened, though there was a tinge of sorrow in them. "Your father was a great leader, Tolu. A powerful alpha. But power, as you will soon learn, comes with a cost."

Tolu clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling up. "What do you mean? I've heard nothing but stories of his greatness. But no one ever talks about how he died. Why did he leave us? Why did he abandon me?"

The elder motioned for him to sit, and he did so, his pack following suit. The rest of the elders remained silent, watching him with expressions that were difficult to read.

"It is not a matter of abandonment," the elder began, her voice carrying a weight of centuries. "Your father did not leave you willingly. He was forced to make a choice—one that would alter the course of the entire pack."

She paused, as if gathering her thoughts, before continuing. "There were forces at work beyond our control. Dark forces. Your father, as powerful as he was, could not stand against them. The betrayal came from within the pack itself. A close ally turned against him. A rival in the shadows who sought to claim the title of alpha for himself. The man you call your uncle."

Tolu's blood ran cold at the mention of his uncle's name. He had always suspected that his uncle had a hand in his father's death, but hearing it confirmed felt like a knife to the heart.

"Your uncle was not always your enemy," the elder continued, her voice heavy with regret. "He was once a trusted member of your father's inner circle. But his ambition and greed took root. He believed that the pack should be ruled by someone who would take more aggressive action, who would stop at nothing to gain power. He saw your father as weak, as too tied to the old ways. The old ways of unity, of balance, of peace."

Tolu's mind raced, the pieces of the puzzle starting to come together. The more he heard, the more the weight of his father's death pressed down on him. But there was still so much he didn't understand.

"Why didn't the elders stop him?" Tolu asked, his voice hoarse. "Why didn't you stop him?"

The elder's gaze softened, and she looked down at the stone table. "We tried, Tolu. But your father's decision to protect the pack at all costs came with a sacrifice. He knew that your uncle's ambition would destroy everything he had built. So, he made a plan. A plan to hide the truth, to ensure that you would one day rise up and take your rightful place."

Tolu's breath hitched in his chest. "What do you mean? How did he plan to protect me?"

The elder's eyes met his, and for the first time, he saw something other than sorrow in them—there was a glimmer of pride. "Your father knew that you were destined for greatness. He saw the power in you, even when you were just a boy. The bloodline runs deep in your veins, and with it comes a connection to the ancient spirits of the wolves. But that power needs to be unlocked, and your father knew that you would need to be ready. He left you the mark—the mark of the alpha—to guide you when the time came."

Tolu's fingers instinctively traced the symbols on his skin. The mark that had always been there, but had only recently begun to pulse with energy. The mark that was now becoming a constant reminder of what he had to do.

"Your father was a visionary," the elder said softly. "He knew that the pack's future lay in your hands, and he believed that you would be the one to restore balance. But that will not come without struggle. There will be trials ahead, tests of your strength, your wisdom, and your heart. You must be ready, Tolu. The darkness is not gone. It lingers, waiting for its moment to strike."

Tolu felt the weight of her words settle on him like a heavy cloak. He had always known that his journey would be difficult, but now it seemed that the true extent of his father's sacrifice was clearer than ever. His father had protected him, not just from his uncle, but from something far darker, something that still lurked in the shadows.

"I understand," Tolu said quietly, his voice steady. "I'm ready. I'll do whatever it takes to reclaim what's mine and restore the pack."

The elder nodded, her gaze unwavering. "Then you must begin your journey now. The mark you bear is not just a symbol of power—it is a key. A key to unlocking the strength you need to face what's coming. But remember, Tolu, the journey will not be easy. There will be moments of doubt, moments when you question yourself. But you must trust in the wolf within you, in the bloodline that courses through your veins. Only then will you be able to face the darkness and emerge victorious."

Tolu stood, feeling the weight of his responsibility settle into his bones. It was a heavy burden, but one he was ready to carry. He wasn't just fighting for his father's legacy. He was fighting for the future of his pack, for the future of those who trusted him.

He turned to his pack, his gaze steady. "We have a long road ahead of us," he said, his voice firm. "But I won't back down. Together, we'll face whatever comes. And we'll win."

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