Tolu sat on the hood of his car, a half-empty bottle of soda in his hand. Leke leaned against the side, staring at him like he was trying to make sense of everything he'd just heard.
"So let me get this straight," Leke said slowly, counting on his fingers. "You and Ore were kidnapped…"
Tolu nodded.
"…then you were drugged, went berserk, killed an alpha—became one yourself."
Another nod.
Leke blinked. "And you turned a girl—just a random girl—into a wolf. She's now your first beta?"
"Yeah," Tolu muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Didn't plan it. It just… happened."
Leke exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "And now Ore and her family are leaving town because her dad thinks it's not safe for her anymore."
Tolu looked away, his voice low. "Yeah. He's not wrong."
Leke shook his head in disbelief. "And this same guy—the one who used to glare at you every time he saw you—gave you money to build a base and a new pack?"
"Two hundred million," Tolu said quietly.
Leke nearly choked. "Two hundred—bro, are you hearing yourself? You go from being kidnapped to becoming a freaking alpha millionaire in a week!"
Tolu gave a small, humorless laugh. "Yeah, sounds crazy when you say it like that."
Leke leaned forward, folding his arms. "So what now?"
Tolu stared ahead, his tone steady. "Now… I start building. My pack, my base—and my kingdom."
---
Leke leaned back, folding his arms. "So, let me get this straight—you're really building a kingdom now?"
Tolu nodded. "Yeah. I'll buy a building in town first, make it our base—somewhere wolves can blend in, run things quietly. Then, I'll get land deep in the forest. That'll be the fallback, a last line of defense if everything ever goes south."
Leke chuckled. "Man, you talk like some kind of general."
Tolu smirked. "I have to. I'll start turning wolves soon, but only a few. I don't want numbers—I want loyalty."
"Still sounds crazy to me," Leke said, shaking his head. "You were a normal guy a few weeks ago."
Tolu shrugged. "Normal's overrated."
Just then, his phone buzzed. He looked down and saw Amara's name on the screen—a message lighting up:
> "Don't forget you promised to train me today. If you don't show up, I'm hunting you down myself 😤."
Leke grinned. "Who's that? The new beta?"
Tolu stood, sliding the phone into his pocket. "Yeah. And if I don't show, she might actually do it."
Leke laughed. "Wolf stuff, huh?"
Tolu smirked. "Wolf stuff."
He walked off, the fading sun glinting off his bracelet—the weight of leadership, loyalty, and the chaos ahead following quietly behind him.
---
Tolu reached the clearing where he first met Amara. The sun had begun its slow descent, casting a golden hue over the forest. He looked around, scanning the area for any sign of her. A rustling sound caught his attention, and there she was, standing near the edge of the trees, hands on her hips as she stared at the ground.
Amara wore a simple yet practical outfit: a fitted black hoodie, the sleeves pushed up slightly to reveal her toned arms. Her jeans were dark and well-worn, perfect for moving through the forest, with scuffed sneakers that had clearly seen a few miles. Her thick curly hair, tied loosely to the side swayed gently in the wind. She looked like someone who was both ready for a fight and prepared for a long day ahead—everything about her was no-nonsense.
She glanced up and caught sight of Tolu approaching. Without a word, she straightened and gave him a small nod, waiting for him to approach. There was no dramatic greeting, no long pause for a shared look—just an unspoken understanding that today, training would begin.
Tolu walked closer, a slight smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "You're early," he said, his voice low, but not unkind.
Amara raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. She was already in position, her stance confident as she squared up against him. She had been ready for this—there was no hesitation in her, and that was something Tolu respected.
"Ready to start?" he asked.
Amara shot him a look that said she was more than ready. "Let's go."
Tolu took a step back, watching her carefully. The time for talking was over. Today, she'd learn what it really meant to be a wolf, and he would teach her.
---
Tolu stood at the familiar clearing, the air thick with the scent of pine and wet earth. Amara was already there, waiting.
He glanced at her. "Did you bring extra clothes?"
She lifted a small plastic bag.
"Good," he said, nodding slightly. "First lesson — always have extra clothes. You might not get the chance to take off the ones you're wearing before you turn."
She nodded quietly, trying to steady her breathing.
Tolu's tone hardened. "Now, I'm going to beat you until you turn. So… you taking them off or leaving them on?"
Amara hesitated only a moment before stripping down to her underwear. "So do I—"
Before she could finish, Tolu's fist slammed into her gut, sending her flying backward.
She gasped, coughing, pain flashing across her face.
"Lesson two," Tolu said, stepping forward, voice cold but firm, "be ready for anything."
Her head snapped up, and her eyes glowed — bright violet, alive with fury.
Tolu gritted his teeth. Good… she's close.
He attacked again, landing a clean strike across her shoulder, then another to her ribs. Six hits in total — enough to break her restraint.
With a guttural growl, Amara's body convulsed and began to change. Bones cracked, her form twisting as claws extended, eyes burning bright violet.
She snarled and charged him, moving on pure instinct.
Tolu dodged her first swing, then another. Her claw grazed a tree — the bark hissed and smoked where it touched. His eyes widened slightly. Her claws… they're hot.
She attacked again, slashing wildly. He weaved between her blows, steady, precise, letting her tire herself out. Then he caught her arm, twisted, and swept her legs from under her.
She hit the ground hard. He pinned her with a knee to her back, pressing her head down gently.
"Easy," he said, voice steady but commanding.
Her breathing slowed. The violet in her eyes dimmed, her claws retracting as the heat faded.
When she turned back, trembling and exhausted, Tolu exhaled.
"Lesson three," he said quietly, looking her in the eyes, "learn to control yourself. Fight off the wolf instincts when you turn — so you're the one in control, not the beast."