Found by the Lycan King by Natalie Winter

I was sitting on the edge of my seat as he kept narrating with a faraway look in his eyes.

“Back in those days, Selene was far more approachable. She was a lesser Goddess whom we could meet easily. The fact that she created us was also a bonus. Lastly, I being the Lycan King and commander in chief of her forces could request for a special meeting with her. I would mostly meet her to report about the progress and the death toll though she was not really interested in the latter.”

My jaw dropped at that. “You have met Goddess Selene?”

“In the flesh though I am not sure if Gods and Goddesses have a heart.” He replied though there was no admiration in his voice. In fact, there was scorn in his tone as he spoke about her.

“Initially, the power and strength flowing through me gave me a certain adrenaline rush as I would kill the mages and witches easily. The proud smile on her face, when I would report that we had thwarted the enemy and infiltrated their ranks, would motivate me to keep pushing myself. At first, I was just an ordinary soldier but the need to please her made me become bolder and crueler. Soon, I began leading small groups to deviously trick the wizards and kill them, using not just strength but tactic as well.”

I nervously bit on my lower lip as he continued, “But soon I found myself feeling it increasingly difficult to fall asleep. The screams and cries of the enemy I killed would ring in my ears 24/7. After the first few weeks, killing people began to haunt me instead of giving me joy. I began to loathe myself and the person I was becoming. Selene however was pleased by my contribution, saw the earlier spark in my eyes, and promoted me to become her direct subordinate. I should have rejoiced and celebrated that I quickly climbed up the ranks but I began to hate it. I could not live like that anymore”

He took a pause and looked at me as he asked, “Funny right? You would think that the lycan King is too strong and too cruel to be affected by killing. You must be thinking I am such a coward right now.”

My silence had probably made him doubt himself.

“What? No! Why would I even think that? It only shows that you have a heart…and a conscience.”

Callahan scoffed, “Though I must admit, the pain of my comrades

affected me more than that of the enemy. I began to loathe the mindless killing so one day I decided to do something about it.”

“You…stopped fighting?” I asked.

Callahan shook his head. “I could not disobey my superior’s direct orders. I was manufactured for killing so I had to inform her of my stance and hoped that she would take note of my plight.” ·

His shoulders ‘sagged and I could get a sense of what must have . happened.

was supposed to give her the weekly report, I pleaded with Selene to enter a truce with Mirabel. Mirabel was a powerful sorceress but she was still a human. Selene was a lesser Goddess so she could not digest the fact that a mere human was giving her a tough time. It was hurting her self-esteem.

mean Goddess Selene chose

his glass and poured himself

was adamant that we could win against the witch and prove her worth to her father. And Mirabel was

at that line that I almost snapped my

met Selene’s

superior. She wanted to rule the earth and get her status elevated to a true Goddess. Her father could do that, crown her as the moon Goddess. She already had created us so she had followers

the glass of whisky in one go. He began to reach for the next

stay sober and sane.

lips. “The only reason I could tell you all this is because I am drinking. That way, I can tell myself that I did it under the influence of alcohol. Or the guilt would

all of this to himself. I had had trouble falling asleep after my mother’s death and even Luna Celeste’s torture used to give me nightmares. And

had Callahan not gone insane with all that weight on his shoulders? He was the one sharing his story with me but I

again. My palm rested on his as he looked at

see it on your face. But, I cannot see you breaking down like this.”

story, you have to let me drink. Because I do not want to handle the pain while being

how it would affect

and his thumb stroked my skin

happens to you because I shared all this with you, I would not be able to forgive myself,

bond tugged at me. My gaze flew to my wrist as I felt a

happened?” He asked,

ours….whenever you experience a spike in emotions, I feel it. Not just there…” I pointed at my wrist and then turned the same finger toward my

“….but also here.”

a lot, Zee. I

I want to know all of it. My faith in the moon Goddess might have shaken but my faith in you still stands strong. I know you would not even have uttered a word to me if there was a risk of anything happening to me. So clearly, there is either a loophole or you are hiding something