Arike

Chapter 2

It’s been a few days since we arrived in Owu. I was given a very comfortable room in the palace based on the Prince’s order. I was also given servants who helped with everything. I find it uncomfortable, but I wasn't given a choice in the matter.

Iyunloye was not too far from me either. She has managed to establish herself already. She convinced the prince to get her a workspace as well as more than a few servants to work with. She seems very confident. I have observed her give out instructions as she works. I respect her.

The past few days have been mentally stressful as I have found it hard to adjust to this life. I am used to the lone life, but now I find myself in the midst of a lot of people, and it's really hard to interact.

Although I struggle, I am beginning to fall in love with the idea of having to live with people. Each night after dinner, Erelu, the queen mother sits beside the burning fire with kids sitting by her feet as she shares stories and tales.

Young girls like myself sit not too far away and share the hottest gossip of the palace and some whisper their love affairs to their friends and giggle.

Fascinated by the fun going on around Erelu, I moved close to them and watched closely as the kids danced around the fire. I was so lost in this that I didn’t notice when a small tiny figure walked up to me and stretched her hand out and expected me to take it. I looked between her eyes and her stretched-out arms and smiled. Without hesitating, I followed as she dragged me to the fire. She goes back to joining her pairs, jumping and laughing to the sound of Erelu's voice. I kept clapping my hands as the kids moved gracefully to the words that came out of Erelu’s mouth. I couldn’t help the smile and laugh that came out of my mouth occasionally.

I smelt him before I felt eyes on me. I turned around, not able to control the need to see him. Locking eyes, I felt a slight relief. His eyes were soft, and filled with something else. I couldn't quite place it. I gave a small smile and looked away.

After a long time of fun, I decided to go back to my peers. As I moved closer, I could hear Iyunloye's voice. There she goes, talking about Prince Dejumo while other girls gush around her. Iyunloye always manages to share stories of how her interactions with the prince have been, and I always find myself on the verge of decapitating her. A low growl like that of an animal was heard, “mine” the voice said, and it took me a moment to realize that voice was from me.

I don’t consider myself a violent person. In fact, the only blood I have seen is that of the hen I killed and the proof of my womanhood. But suddenly, I have become extremely possessive of a man I barely even know.

Glad no one had heard me because of the giggles from others. I hurried to stand but failed to realize another presence around us. As I hurried to stand, I heard my name from a sweet velvety voice.

‘Arike, a moment’

It took me a few seconds to realize it was me the prince was talking to. Coming back to my senses, I stumbled a bit only to be caught by two strong hands. I knew who those hands belonged to as soon as I felt the shiver down my spine, and it seems he felt it too, because he withdrew so suddenly from me.

‘My prince, I am sorry’ Bowing a little

‘It's no problem, come.’

Not being able to trust my voice, I nodded and followed him but not before noticing the glare sent my way by Iyunloye.

‘Where do you come from?’

‘I lived just outside the great walls of Owu. Within the forest between Apomu and Owu’

‘Your parents?’

‘My mother is dead and I never knew my father’

There was a heavy silence as we walked slowly. It was during this silence I noticed two of his guards following us and one of the maids who had been attending to me since my arrival. That is very noble of him trying to preserve my image, as it is considered inappropriate to be seen with a man at this time of the night.

He stops and turns to me suddenly. He holds me by my shoulder, turning my body to face him. He drops his arms and stares at me. I started to feel uncomfortable, shifting my weight from one leg to the other. Finally, he spoke.

‘I can’t stop thinking about you, Arike mii. When I close my eyes, I see your beautiful brown eyes staring back at me. When I take a few steps in the palace, I see you walking about and looking at every single thing with so much enthusiasm and curiosity, my heart skips. Tonight, when I saw you dance and laugh around the fire with my mother and the children’.

Lately, I have been feeling as though I am sharing my body with a stranger. Right now, I can feel this stranger filling words in my head, some I do not understand and others making me have an overwhelming feeling, but if there is one thing this stranger and myself have in common, it’s how we feel about the prince.

I stared at the prince for a while. He looked even more handsome now that I am taking a closer look. The moonlight shone so beautifully that it added to his beauty, and I was struck. I couldn’t help but smile a toothy smile at him and felt heat come up to my face as he returned my smile.

That night……..

I was alone in my room thinking about my stroll with the prince. I couldn’t sleep not help the smile that was plastered on my face until I heard a voice clearly in my head.

‘Isn’t he so handsome, and he is all ours?’ the voice said.

It was humanly impossible for me to fly out of my bed at the rate and speed at which I did and to stand on my two feet just to look for this intruder.

‘oh relax sister we are one’

I covered my mouth to stop the scream from coming out of my mouth. In fear, I asked

‘Who are you? Show yourself!’

Realizing the defensive position I had taken and how I was talking to myself, I looked like a lunatic. I calmed myself and walked back to bed. I lay down and stayed quiet.

After waiting for a while, and not hearing anything, I forced myself to sleep and forget about this strange encounter.

The past few days have been amazing. I have gotten to know the prince on a different level. Whenever he is with me, I notice he is usually more relaxed and doesn’t have to put on the strong man facade. He smiles more and even tells jokes.

It’s been really hard for me to control my inner thoughts and my actions. Every decent girl would never have the thoughts I have towards the prince, but trust me, it has something to do with my “invincible sister who is one with me”

Meanwhile, an evil shadow has been lurking in the dark watching my every move, waiting for just the right time to pounce on me and get rid of me forever.

*

From my deep slumber, I felt an intense pain. I couldn’t help but scream out loud. My eyes flew open and in that moment I noticed my body temperature was abnormally high, my breath ragged and my body shaking due to the uncontrollable pain.

‘You need to let yourself free, embrace the pain and stop fighting back. You are changing’

That strange voice again

‘Please, whoever you are, this is not the right time. I need help. Help me!’

‘I am helping you. You need to listen to me and let me guide you. First, get a clothe that you can bite on to prevent you from waking the whole palace up.’

Hurrying, I took off my wrapper and bit down on it. I lay motionless on the floor.

‘Now allow yourself to change. Don’t hold back. Allow your body to flow with nature. Let the goddess guide you. You are strong and powerful. Allow that power to flow through your veins’

As crazy as it seemed, following that voice calmed me and lessened the pain a lot. Suddenly, the pain increased a thousand times, but this time along with my bones breaking. I felt like I was dying. My whole body was transforming, and I had no control over it.

This went on for what felt like hours until I felt peace and silence. My vision was blurred and that was all I could remember.

‘You are awake finally. My name is Lawumi. I am your wolf’

Slowly, I opened my eyes and tried getting on my feet. I stretched my hands to help support my legs as I tried to get up but instead of hands I was met with paws. I tried turning, and I noticed I had a tail. A tail! I was freaking out.

‘I am not surprised. I mean, who would have guessed you were a wolf? You can smell from a good distance. Your sight is excellent. You are stronger than an average girl and faster. Remember what Maami told you. “You are special just like your father?” What did you expect?

‘How can I hear you, and how can you even know what I am thinking? I have a lot of questions.

"All you need right now is rest. We can discuss this in the morning’

‘Am I going to be like this forever?’

‘I am a part of you and one cannot exist without the other. I need you to think of yourself in your human form. Just imagine yourself transforming back into your human form’

And I did just that. It hurt a little, but nothing like before.

‘sleep……..’

The soft voice said, as I drift off