The warehouse was still heavy with the sharp tang of herbs and the fading echo of chains rattling. Everyone remained quiet, their thoughts circling the old woman's words.
Then Oba's phone buzzed. He stepped aside, answering in a low tone. The conversation was short, firm, and left a weight in his expression when he returned.
"I've spoken to Timi," Oba announced at last. His gaze flicked to Ore, steady and deliberate. "He passed it on to Agba. Agba said you should keep a close watch on him. From now on… Tolu is your responsibility."
Ore blinked, but said nothing. She only nodded once, her jaw tightening.
Oba clapped his hands softly, breaking the tension. "Let's go."
One by one, Kelechi, Segun, Amaka, and the others filed out, their footsteps echoing against the concrete floor. Oba lingered just long enough to give Ore a pointed look before he, too, left.
The heavy doors swung shut with a dull clang, leaving Ore alone with Tolu in the dim warehouse.
He growled low, tugging against his chains, his indigo eyes flashing in the half-light.
Ore sat on the floor a few feet away, folding her knees to her chest. She let her voice slip into a quiet murmur, barely above a whisper.
"Looks like it's just you and me now."
The wolf's ears flicked at her voice, but his body stayed taut, trapped between resistance and reluctant calm.
Ore exhaled slowly, settling in for the long day.
The chains finally went slack as Tolu's body shuddered. The last tufts of fur sank into his skin, claws retreating as bones snapped and reset. By the time he was fully human again, he was drenched in sweat and panting hard, the dim light in the warehouse casting long shadows across his trembling frame.
Ore was ready. She crouched beside him, offering the folded bundle of clothes she'd kept safe. "Here. Put these on."
He dressed slowly, every movement stiff, his hands fumbling like they weren't quite his. Ore watched him carefully, her eyes searching his face.
"Do you remember anything?" she asked once he was done.
Tolu rubbed at his forehead, his expression heavy. "It's all… blurry. I can feel things, but I don't know if they were real or not."
Silence lingered—until his stomach let out a deep, unmistakable growl. He froze, embarrassed.
Ore chuckled lightly. "Well, at least that's clear enough. You're starving." She stood, stretching her arms. "It's four already. Let's go get something to eat before you collapse."
Tolu managed a tired smile, pulling the shirt tighter around himself as he nodded. Together, they left the warehouse, stepping into the late-afternoon light.
The walk back to Tolu's house was quiet at first, the late-afternoon sun painting everything gold. Ore kept stealing glances at him, as if checking to make sure he wouldn't suddenly collapse again.
By the time they slipped inside, the silence broke.
"So," Ore said, dropping onto a chair, "you almost mauled an instructor, broke chains designed to hold veterans, and sprinted through half the forest. What's your grand plan now?"
Tolu smirked, heading into the kitchen. "Eat. That's the plan."
Ore laughed. "Fair. What's on the menu, chef?"
"Rice and stew," he replied, pulling out a pot. "With chicken. Don't complain—I'm not a restaurant."
She leaned on the table, chin in her palm. "As long as you don't burn the rice, I won't complain. But if you do, I'll tell everyone the great Tolu almost killed himself with smoke inhalation."
He shot her a look over his shoulder, already rinsing the rice. "You're wicked."
"And you're slow," she teased. "Hurry up before I transform and hunt a goat myself."
Tolu shook his head, chuckling under his breath. Soon, the rich smell of tomatoes, pepper, and chicken stew filled the small house. Ore hummed in satisfaction, drumming her fingers against the table.
When he finally set the food down, Ore leaned forward dramatically. "Ah, chef Tolu. You might just keep me around if the food tastes as good as it smells."
He sat across from her, spoon in hand, grinning. "Good. Because you're not leaving anyway."
Ore raised a brow, amused, before taking her first bite.
Ore scooped a spoonful of rice and stew into her mouth, chewed thoughtfully, then paused.
Tolu leaned forward nervously. "What? Too salty?"
She shook her head slowly, eyes narrowing like a food critic on TV. "Hmm… honestly? This might be the best thing I've eaten this week."
Tolu exhaled dramatically. "Thank God. Because if you said otherwise, I'd have thrown the whole pot away."
Ore smirked, pointing her spoon at him. "Relax, Gordon Ramsay. You're not that good."
He pretended to clutch his chest. "Ouch. From 'best meal this week' to 'not that good' in two seconds. You're cold."
Ore grinned, taking another bite. "Don't worry, I'll keep you around. At least until I learn how to cook rice without burning it."
Tolu chuckled. "So basically, forever."
She shot him a playful glare. "Keep running your mouth, and I'll eat the last piece of chicken."
His eyes widened instantly. "No way. That chicken's mine."
Ore leaned back in her chair, mischievous. "Oh? Did you label it?"
Without missing a beat, Tolu grabbed the piece of chicken from the pot, dropped it onto his plate, and smirked. "Labeled now."
Ore burst into laughter, shaking her head. "You're unbelievable."
They kept eating, laughter and banter bouncing around the small kitchen until the plates were nearly empty. For a moment, it felt normal—like they were just two ordinary teenagers, not bound by bloodlines, curses, and the weight of a dangerous world.
Tolu dried the last plate and dropped the towel on the counter. "Done," he said with a grin, before flopping onto the couch beside Ore.
He leaned back, exhaling. "It's been a long day."
Ore nodded, sliding closer until her head rested on his shoulder. "Yeah… I agree with that."
Tolu chuckled softly. "Why do I feel like this is going to happen a lot?"
"What?" she asked, tilting her head toward him.
"Stressful days."
Ore laughed under her breath. "You're just getting started. But… you'll get used to it."
"Comforting," he muttered, though a smile tugged at his lips. He sighed, closing his eyes for a moment.
Then Ore shifted, turning to face him. Her gaze was steady, her expression unreadable at first. "Well," she said quietly, "the day isn't over yet."
Tolu opened his eyes, groaning playfully. "I'm too tired to do anything."
"Really?" she teased, leaning in and stealing a kiss before he could protest.
The kiss lingered—soft at first, then deeper. Tolu's hand brushed her waist, his heart racing as Ore moved from his side to straddle him, their lips refusing to part.
With the last of his restraint slipping, he pulled her close, lifting her effortlessly in his arms. Ore let out a surprised laugh against his mouth as he carried her toward his room.
The door shut behind them with a soft click, the rest left to shadows and unspoken promises.