~ Ten years ago ~

Lykos ran through the forest, hell-bent on catching the prey he caught wind of earlier before his pack mates did. His paws hit the ground lightly as he streamlined his body to get an edge over them. It worked, their yips becoming more distant. The prey was fast, but he was faster and as he pounced, his jaws closed over the fawn's neck and a loud crunch echoed through the forest.

His pack mates finally caught up to him, panting and eyed his prey enviously. He barked smugly at them and one lunged forward, tackling him to the ground playfully. Soon they all joined in, biting and scratching but not hard enough to cause serious harm.

"Lykos, please, please give me a bite", whined Kalos - Lykos's close friend - through their mind link. "I nearly killed it first".

Lykos grinned wolfishly at him and maintained eye contact as he finished off the small fawn smugly.

"But you didn't Kalos, you were too slow. Catch your own prey".

"I went easy on you, that's why you won this time", Kalos retorted childishly.

"You went easy on me?" Lykos growled. "Hah, more like you're just weak".

Kalos bared his teeth and lunged, trying to get the upper hand. They both fought, a flash of claws and teeth. Lykos danced back and forth, teasing his friend and then leapt forward aiming for his exposed throat. Kalos fell back with a grunt and squirmed around, trying to break free.

"Plead for mercy now, and I'll let you go", he warned, closing his jaws around Kalos's throat.

"No, I can't ask for mercy from a little runt like you", Kalos snapped.

Lykos increased the pressure and Kalos whimpered from the pain. Finally, he relented and showed his neck as a sign of submission.

Lykos let go and grinned at his friend. They were of similar strength but he had the blood of an Alpha flowing through his veins, giving him a physical advantage.

"One day", Kalos groaned. "One day I'll beat you".

"You wish", he scoffed. "But don't feel too saddened, you're the second strongest here from amongst us".

Kalos puffed his chest up at the compliment, giving him a friendly head-butt. The other pack mates started to disperse as it was nearing dusk, so he and Kalos did too, trotting side by side to go home.

"Race you", Kalos suddenly said and took off. He took, on Kalos's heels, weaving between the low-hanging branches and trees. He was close to catching up when suddenly, he heard someone calling his name. He turned slightly to have a look, but to his confusion, no one was there so he ignored it and carried on, hellbent on winning.

"Lykos..." The soft voice whispered again. "Come".

Suddenly the urge to go erupted in his chest and he spilt away from the trail, running towards the noise. The voice seemed to be getting further away, the closer he got, so he started to sprint, chasing after the enticing voice.

"Lykos, where did you go?" Kalos's panicked voice came out foggy and barely penetrated the haze in his mind. He ignored him. Somehow this was more important. This voice, it needed him.

The scent drew him wild. He couldn't place it but he couldn't tear his mind away from it. He was getting closer, so much closer.

"Lykos, I am waiting", the soft feminine voice called out, urging him to go faster, his muscles burning from the exertion. The trees were nothing more than a blur of brown and green. He was getting further away from his territory but that didn't bother him. Not when the voice needed him.

He broke through into a large clearing and stopped abruptly. No one was there. He spun around, looking everywhere, panicked. Where was the voice? It said it needed him, so where did it go?

He walked to the centre of the clearing and sat confused, wrinkling his nose at the slight stench of rot that hung in the air.

"You came", the voice whispered next to his ear. He turned quickly, but no one was there.

"Who are you?" he asked into the air. "Where are you?"

"Shhh", the voice whispered, a brush of air across his lips. He quietened down instantly, eager for more.

"Would you like to help me?"

As soon as the voice asked the question, he felt the need to help her, no matter the demand.

"Yes", he replied gruffly.

"I need your help", the sweet voice said. "I need you to protect me".

"Yes", he responded, his voice taking a dreamy tone. "I will protect you".

"Protect me then", the voice teased, giving him a light push. An incredible desire to protect her started in his chest and spread over his whole body. He would die for her, whoever she was. He ignored the little nagging voice at the back of his mind, screaming that something did not seem right.

"He's here", said the voice. "Save me, my little hero".

As soon as the voice said that, a beautiful white wolf gracefully walked into the clearing. It was majestic, with a beautiful shimmering coat and eyes that seemed to show the secrets of the universe in an explosion of dark colours. He felt respect for this animal but he didn't know why. It seemed to command his attention and respect. Why would the voice need protection from such a magnificent creature? Sensing his hesitation, the voice caressed his face.

"Help me", it said with urgency. "Save me".

Yes, he would help her. Without thinking, he lunged towards the wolf, his teeth snapping. The wolf looked at him sadly, its ears tilted back with sorrow. As Lykos pressed on with his mindless attack, the wolf fought back but almost in a gentle manner. Many a chance arose for the wolf to attack but each time, it didn't take it, choosing to be on the defence instead. The wolf could have killed him several times but it wasn't. He felt anger rise in him. Was it underestimating him? Did it see him as young, naive and weak?

He fought more vigorously and mercilessly. He sliced, bit and scratched, weakening the wolf with every blow.

Kill, kill, kill, KILL.

He saw an opening and surged towards it. Just before his jaws closed over the wolf, he realised that the wolf purposefully angled its neck towards his incoming jaw as if it didn't mind if Lykos were to kill it. Lykos suddenly realised what he was about to do and tried to change his trajectory in panic.

Snap.

It was too late. He had already done the damage. The wolf looked at him with deep sorrow, the deep red rivulets of blood pouring out of the neck wound, a stark contrast to its thick white fur. "I forgive you," its expressive eyes said sincerely. And then those eyes slowly darkened as if all the lights and the Stars within the universe in its eyes had suddenly dimmed until they finally went dark like a barren wasteland in space, leaving Lykos feeling shocked. He had just killed another wolf. He broke the law. He felt sorrow rising in his chest at the sight of the dead body in front of him and tears escaped his eyes. What had become of him?

"Well done", the voice whispered in his ear. "Now, I want you to eat him".

Lykos's eyes widened in surprise. Cannibalism was not allowed and he wouldn't ever stoop to something low. That was dishonourable. He should just bury the wolf instead. The wolf needed a respectful burial, he could do that at least.

The voice sensed his reluctance.

"Lykos", she crooned in his ear. "Can't you feel how hungry you are? How famished you are? If you do not eat, you will starve. Surely you do not want to starve?"

She was right, he realised. He was hungry. A deep-seated hunger shook his body. He was so hungry, he needed to eat, right now. That fawn in his stomach was not enough to sate his need. He took a step towards the corpse, the drool escaping from his mouth.

"Yes", the voice cooed. "Feast".

A sudden red haze crossed his eyes, and he could no longer control his body. His teeth ripped into the corpse, shredding, biting. Blood was everywhere, matting his fur, but he couldn't care less. No matter how much he ate, he was still hungering for more. Bones crunched under his powerful jaw as he messily tore through the muscles and sinew. He ate, ate until the red haze turned black and he lost consciousness, falling forward into the stiff, stone-cold body.

~

He woke, opening his eyes in a daze. He shook his head in confusion, everything was so dark. It wasn't night, he could feel the Sun, but he couldn't see its light. His eyes were open, he was sure of that. He stumbled forward and fell onto something wet and cold. He sniffed it and smelt blood. Something was freshly killed here. That same blood was also on him, oddly, the scent clinging on to his fur. A sudden wave of horror washed through his body as he recalled what happened.

What had he done?

A voice cackled in the distance and he realised how he was tricked. How could he eat the corpse of the wolf he killed? How could he kill, simply because he was told to do so? How could the voice manipulate him in such a manner?

Hot shame washed over him as he lay there in the dark, under the Sun. He could no longer see but he deserved it. He killed without reason and ate the body, how could he even deserve to live? He was even grateful that he could not see the mutilated carcass. A hurricane of emotions gripped his body. Pain, shame, guilt, sorrow and pure, raw anguish. He lifted his head up and howled a grief-stricken howl as nature around witnessed with horror at what happened.

The murder of a soul companion.

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