WOLF BOY

Loyal loner

Grendel's voice was cold and emotionless as he probed for answers.

"How did you survive when all your comrades are dead?" he demanded.

Hopkins voice was barely above a whisper as he replied. "He gave me the opportunity to live," he said, his eyes flickering up briefly before darting away once again.

Grendel leaned forward, his eyes narrowing.

"Who?" he demanded.

"The boy," Hopkins replied, his voice trembling.

Grendel snorted.

"That sounds absurd. You survived because the boy decided to spare you? As a sidekick?"

The messenger shook his head vehemently. "No," he said.

"Then what was the reason?" Grendel demanded.

Hopkins took a deep breath, his eyes closing briefly as he relived the events of some moments ago.

POINT OF VIEW OF HOPKINS

I stood at attention, my eyes fixed on Grandalf as he addressed the group.

"Hopkins," Grandalf began, "you have been chosen to accompany me on my travels as my comrade. But you are not a warrior, and therefore, you will not participate in any battles."

I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I had never been one for fighting, and the thought of being thrown into the midst of a deadly battle terrified me. But Grandalf's words did little to ease my nerves.

"If I am not a warrior, then what am I?" I wondered.

As if reading my thoughts, Grandalf continued, "You are a messenger, Hopkins. Your job is to deliver messages, and if necessary, to do so at great risk to yourself. But I promise you, you will be protected. You are not meant to die on the battlefield."

I nodded, my mind racing with questions and doubts. But I trusted Grandalf, and I knew that my Alpha would not put me in harm's way without good reason.

Days turned into years, and I accompanied Grandalf on his travels. I delivered messages to other packs and met with allies and enemies alike. It was a dangerous job, but I found a sense of purpose in it.

Then came today when everything changed. We went for the boy, but it didn't go well like it always did. My pack fought fiercely, but the boy was too strong. I watched in horror as my comrades were torn apart, their flesh and bones ripped from their bodies.

I wanted to run, to escape the c*****e, but I couldn't. I was a messenger, and my duty was to deliver Grandalf's message, no matter what the cost. So I stood my ground, my heart pounding in my chest as I faced the stripling who had killed my friends.

In that moment, I realized that I was more than just a messenger. I was a protector, a defender of my pack and my Alpha. And I would do whatever it took to keep them safe, even if it meant putting myself in harm's way.

My emotions were in turmoil, a tangled mess of conflicting feelings. I wanted to obey my Alpha's rule, because I didn't want to be a disgrace. But at the same time, my fierce loyalty to my pack and my unwavering commitment to its ideals compelled me to take action.

Without hesitation, I shifted into my wolf form, feeling the familiar rush of power and strength coursing through my body. I was ready to fight, to defend my pack and all that it stood for, even if it meant going against my Alpha's wishes.

But just as I was about to charge forward, Grandalf turned to face me. His eyes, once a fiery red, now glowed with a faint, fading light. In that moment, I saw the words "DON'T DO IT" etched clearly in his gaze, and I knew that I had to listen.

Despite my burning desire to protect my pack, I could sense that Grandalf was not as strong as he appeared. The pain he was hiding beneath his stoic exterior was almost palpable, and I knew that I couldn't risk causing him any more harm.

Disobeying your alpha is an insult to him and the entire pack. So I took a step back, my heart heavy with the weight of my conflicted emotions. I was doing the right thing, but it still stung to feel like I was betraying my pack in some way.

And then, just as I was grappling with these feelings, the boy appeared. He had taken out our entire squad with ease, and now he was closing in on my Alpha, holding Grandalf hostage.

My heart pounded in my chest as I watched in horror, hoping against hope that my Alpha would find a way to break free. But as the boy wrapped his arm around Grandalf's throat, cutting off his air supply, I knew that time was running out.

I saw it happen with my own eyes, and yet it still felt impossible to believe. The boy, no more than a teenager, had ripped the head off my Alpha's body and flung it to the ground with a sickening thud. My grief and anger were almost too much to bear - hot tears streamed down my cheeks and I felt as though I would never stop crying unless I took revenge on that boy.

As I approached him, I felt the futility of clinging to the law. Justice wouldn't bring my Alpha back, nor would it dull the ache in my heart. But before I could even attempt to attack, I abruptly paused.

~~~~

Hopkins hung his head and shook it several times, his words trailing off into silence.

The room was silent, tense with anticipation. Grendel's foot tapped impatiently on the wooden floor, each tap echoing like a drumbeat. But Hopkins didn't speak up, standing there dumbfounded. Grendel's anger mounted - if this coward didn't speak up soon, he would lose it.

But Hopkins remained frozen, unable to find the words to explain what had happened next. It was as though the shock of it all had stolen his voice. And so they waited, the weight of the moment heavy on their shoulders, as Hopkins struggled to find the courage to speak.

Grendel's eyes glared at Hopkins as he demanded, "What happened when you tried to attack him?" Hopkins swallowed hard before responding, his voice quivering with emotion.