WOLF BOY

Sweet mother

"The boy instructed me to scram." Grendel's eyebrows furrowed in disbelief.

"Scram? And you did that?" The shame in Hopkins' eyes was evident as he nodded. "Yes." Grendel shook his head in disgust. "Wait a minute! You are not only a wimp, but a great disgrace to the Emerald pack."

"It's not my fault," Hopkins protested, his voice rising in defense.

"Then whose fault was it?" Grendel demanded.

"It was my Alpha's command," Hopkins explained, desperation creeping into his tone. "Grandalf?" Grendel asked, confusion etched on his face.

"No! It wasn't Grandalf's command. It was the boy who killed him," Hopkins clarified. Understanding dawned on Grendel's face. "Oh, I see now. Oh! My! Oh! My! The boy is now the new Alpha of the Emerald pack?" Hopkins nodded silently, unable to form words.

"That's why I couldn't disobey his command. He had Grandalf's red glow in his eyes, and I could never disobey him because he was now my new alpha.“

Smucker!?”

Grendel's booming voice echoed through the room, causing Tobey Smucker's heart to race. He knew that his Alpha's summons meant business, and he responded immediately with a crisp "Alpha!".

Grendel wasted no time in getting to the point. "Story time is over," he growled. "I'd like you to accompany this klutz to the glade. Take four of your men with you and conduct a thorough investigation. And if you find proof that Grandalf is no longer alive, find that boy who killed him and bring him to me, dead or alive."

Tobey tried to hide his shock, but the fear in his eyes betrayed him. His mind raced with images of the Alpha slayer, a monster with a thirst for blood. The color drained from his face as he struggled to keep his composure.

Grendel noticed the fear in his beta's eyes and chuckled smugly.

“Seriously, you bought into that nonsense? “Don't be afraid, there's no need to engage in a battle with the new red eyed. Just approach him calmly and let him know that your Alpha has extended an invitation for tea. And hey, if he does decide to come, tell him I'd be thrilled to bring his mother back to life.” As Grendel finished speaking, his grin seemed to stretch wider, taking on a Cheshire cat-like quality.

~~~~

Callaghan lay still on the ground, taking in the natural beauty surrounding him. He observed the trees swaying in the gentle breeze and listened to the sweet melodies of the birds. Slowly, he pushed himself up, relishing the sensation of the earth beneath his feet. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and allowed himself a moment of peace.

The wind howled through the trees, whipping his wet clothes against his skin like a thousand tiny blades. He shuddered, feeling the icy fingers of the wind penetrate his clothes as if he were wearing nothing at all. He opened his eyes, blinking away the raindrops that stung his face, and glanced down at himself. His clothes were torn and bloodstained, his hair matted and disheveled.

Confusion and fear gripped him as he ran his hands over his clothes, trying to figure out what had happened. How had he ended up like this? Why was there blood on his body, but no injury? Panic began to rise in his chest, but then a flash of memory hit him like a bolt of lightning. His mother! She was in danger.

Callaghan's heart pounded in his chest as he fought to push aside the fear and focus on what he needed to do. He knew he had to get to the glade, no matter what. But a voice in his head screamed at him to stop, to think things through. He tried to ignore it, but it only grew louder.

Still, he couldn't wait any longer. He had to find his mother. Adrenaline surged through his veins as he took off at a sprint, his mind racing with images of his mother's body lying cold and lifeless in the glade. He ran faster and faster, his heart pounding in his ears, until he finally burst through the trees and into the clearing.

As he burst into the clearing, he slowed his pace to a cautious stroll, scanning the scene before him. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the acrid scent of smoke. The ground squelched beneath his bare feet, the damp earth clinging to his toes as he made his way through the trampled grass.

The bodies of the fallen littered the glade, their broken forms twisted in grotesque poses. Callaghan's eyes roved over the c*****e, searching for any sign of his mother. And then he saw her.

She lay motionless among the wreckage, her eyes staring blankly up at the sky. Callaghan's heart seized in his chest as he rushed to her side, dropping to his knees beside her.

"MOM!" he cried out, his voice hoarse with grief. He scooped her up into his arms, cradling her close as he rocked back and forth.

Callaghan's trembling fingers traced the outline of her face, lingering over the jagged wound that marred her once flawless skin. He could feel the coldness of death creeping into her body, stealing away the warmth that he had once found so comforting. Tears streamed down his face, as he desperately wished that he could turn back the clock and undo what had been done to her. As he held her lifeless form in his arms, he couldn't help but remember the way she used to smile and laugh, the way she used to hold him tight and make him feel invincible. Now, all that was left was an empty shell - a cruel reminder of what he had lost. He gazed into her dull, lifeless eyes, willing them to come back to life, but it was no use. Death had claimed her soul, leaving behind a hollow vessel that would never again be able to express the love and joy that once radiated from her.