Page 51 of Who Let The Wolves Out?

He looks like something out of legend.

Something powerful.

And he’smine.

My heart stutters at the thought. At the truth of it.

Because I can’t run anymore—not from him, not from this.

Not even from myself.

Jason pauses up ahead, hackles raised.

Then I see it—movement, high up in the limbs of a twisted old birch.

“Mira?” I breathe.

A small shape clings to the crook between two branches—mud-streaked, shivering, one boot missing, her hair plastered to her cheeks with rain.

“Mira! It’s me!” I shout gently. “It’s Alice, sweetie. You’re okay.”

Her voice wobbles. “I saw... something. Somethingbig.”

Jason takes a step forward, slowly, silently.

Mira lets out a terrified squeak and scrambles higher, limbs shaking.

“Shhh, it’s okay!” I rush beneath the tree and drop my flashlight, holding up both hands. “It’s just Jason. He’s here to help. Ipromise.”

She stares down at me, wide-eyed. “He’s awolf.”

I nod, my voice soft but steady. “Yeah. But he’s still Jason. He wouldn’t hurt you. Not ever.”

Behind me, Jason takes one deliberate step back, head lowered, body still.

I glance at him. “Sit.”

He obeys, tail sweeping the forest floor, ears twitching in the rain.

Mira hesitates.

Slowly, she begins to climb down, one trembling limb at a time.

When she’s close enough, I reach up, pull her gently into my arms. She curls against me, soaked and sniffling.

“You came,” she whispers.

“Of course I did.”

Jason rises and steps closer. Mira stiffens—but doesn’t scream.

Instead, she looks down at him.

Then at me.

“Youtrusthim?” she asks.

“With everything,” I say.

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