Found by the Lycan King by Natalie Winter

Chapter 111

Zenovia

Panting and wheezing, I tried not to slink down to the ground as the final whistle was blown and the end of the battle announced.

There was an uproar in the arena, and I felt that the crowd erupted in a cheer, but I could only faintly hear it.

It had only turned into white noise as I placed my hands on my knees. My breathing was ragged, and I felt that all the air in the world would not be enough to fill my lungs.

I took in big breaths, my mouth wide open as I let the realization sink in. I, a nobody, someone who had been bullied all my life and looked down as a doormat…I won something.

It didn’t matter that it was not a real life battle, or that I had not killed my enemies…I had won a match..fair and square.

Caroline came rushing towards me, patting my back and rubbing it as I struggled to breathe. Feeling her hands slink around me, I let myself finally loose, and she grabbed me, breaking my fall.

“Oh,” she muttered as I let my weight fall on her. Opening the lid of a bottle of water with one hand, she threw the lid aside and held it in front of my mouth while supporting me with the other hand as I completely leaned on her.

“Sorry,” I weakly muttered as she smiled at me and replied.

“It is okay. Drink a little”

My heart was still beating wildly and my mind was replaying the last few moments of our spar in my head.

How far someone would go to belittle others? My gaze flicked to Bella, who was stomping her feet, clearly agitated by her loss.

She and her gang of friends were staring at me. However, I noticed a difference in their gazes. While earlier there was plain mockery in their expressions, now I saw a faint trace of respect and maybe even fear. They had considered me as a pushover earlier but now looked at me warily.

That instilled a seed of confidence in me. Strength and willpower mattered. Callahan was reckless and would always push me to become

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strong and tough, but now, when I participated in the trials for the first time, I could see the change in gazes and the body language of almost everybody.

Caroline held the bottle of water in front of me, and I took a sip or two. The juice was sweet and had a rich aroma to it.

It was rich and invigorating and made me feel energized.

She smiled, and I took a few more sips before coughing violently.

me with

said, helping me gently get up from the ground and pulling me up back on the bench.

eyes twinkled

back at him. “Thanks. I bet nobody expected me to win.”

his head while taking a towel from one of the helpers who had come running towards me to hand

was an interesting match. I don’t remember the last time when the crowd went so

graze my insides when he said that.

even remember the last time I was praised

Then

at

“Yeah. Why else are trials held? To find a winner,

to participate. We don’t have to have a ceremony.”

to start the preparations. I only wanted to take out my anger and frustration of Cynthia at someone

not want any awards

shoulder reassuringly. “Come on. You won. You deserve a little praise. Plus, don’t you want to be rewarded

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the Lycan King himself?”

I realized I had

under the watchful gazes of a thousand people was bad enough. But adding Callahan

to behave in front of him and every time he was around, I would either

muddled as she helped me walk towards the room we

was limping a little as my legs and muscles had been pulled and bent at odd angles many times, but with her help, I managed to walk.

need some help with washing

who just won a match, I am behaving like a

my expense, but she

and bullied. So, no, you are not a loser.”

off-guard. She looked like a

you back in your pack?” I asked, but she pretended

on the tap

a little. It also helped get rid of the sweat and muck sticking

face looked puffed and swollen, a few red spots here and there. There were also minor cuts and scratches that my

guess, being a newly awakened wolf, even she had her