My name’s Morgan Stormborne, and this is the story of how I a mortal man killed a demigod.

  No, demigods. Not one but two. And I’m no hero.

  I’m a man fueled by hatred and greed, soon to wield pain and the hollow strength of revenge.

  ---

  “Tomorrow’s the day, boy,” the boss said with a smirk. “You’ll be in charge of managing the carriage of goods.”

  I turned to him, face blank. “Oh, boss. I haven’t seen you all day.”

  “Got buried in paperwork.” He waved a stack in his hand and pulled a single sheet from the bunch, handing it to me.

  I scanned the document. My brows knitted together. “Sir… this isn’t enough to last the month.”

  He didn’t meet my eyes. “Look, boy. It’s all we could harvest after the recent attacks by the demigods and their army… We just have to hunker down and take it.”

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  ---

  I walked toward the northern edge of the village, where the residential area began. My home was farther up, tucked near the forest’s edge beside the waterfall.

  They’re backing us into a corner, I thought bitterly. Reducing our supplies, tightening their grip. Why won’t the elders fight back? Have they gone soft? Don’t they see this submission will lead to our deaths?

  Back then, I knew little of war—of the true cost it carried. I didn’t realize… I was already being hunted.

  ---

  Rustle. Rustle.

  I froze.

  My muscles tensed. I shifted my stance, alert. Something was near.

  “Who’s there?” I muttered, reaching for my dagger—

  Gone.

  I checked the other side of my belt. Still nothing. My chest tightened. The sun above suddenly felt hotter. That’s when I noticed the dark clouds gathering.

  A growl echoed through the underbrush.

  “A wolf…” I whispered.

  It lunged.

  I dodged with a swift step and struck the back of its neck with my elbow. The creature yelped and hit the dirt.

  Three more emerged from the bushes.

  They saw what I’d done. Their eyes glinted with rage.

  I sprinted toward a tall tree, leapt, and climbed. I snapped off a thick branch.

  “Small, but sturdy,” I muttered. “This’ll do.”

  I jumped down and swung hard—cracking the branch against one wolf’s skull. It crumpled.

  The other two spread out.

  I broke the branch in half, dual-wielding the pieces as they charged. I struck one on the left, then looped behind it and smashed both sticks against its skull. It collapsed, unconscious.

  Now it was just me and the last one.

  It stared me down, the largest and fiercest of them.

  We charged.

  It leapt

  I hurled one half of the stick, hitting it straight in the eye.

  The beast shrieked and crashed to the ground.

  Blood oozed from the wound… but it stood again. Slowly. Growling. One eye gone, but rage burning hotter than ever.

  That day, I didn’t know my fate would be tied to that wolf forever.