Page 59 of Who Let The Wolves Out?

“Jason,” Torack barks.

I jolt. “Sir?”

“You’re on firewood prep for the final bonfire.”

I salute with my pen. “Permission to use axes responsibly.”

“Denied.”

Laughter ripples around the room.

He moves on, thank the gods.

Alice mouths,“Axes, really?”at me.

I shrug, smug. She rolls her eyes, but she’s still smiling.

Minutes tick by. Julie’s discussing the camper awards ceremony now, and I vaguely register someone bringing up the talent show finale—Hazel volunteers to emcee, obviously.

Meanwhile, I’m watching Alice tuck a loose curl behind her ear, totally unaware of the chaos she’s causing in my chest.

The room is warm, buzzing with low chatter and crinkling papers, but all I can focus on is howsettledI feel.

Not bored.

Not restless.

Just… good.

Because she’s here.

And she’s looking at me like maybe I’m home.

Torack pauses, flipping to the last page on his clipboard. His eyes scan the room, one heavy brow raised.

“I’ve got one more announcement.”

The mess hall quiets instantly.

He clears his throat. “I want to take a moment to recognize one of our own—someone who went above and beyond this week when things got dangerous.”

I sit up straighter, suddenly alert.

“Mira’s safe return,” he says, voice booming but warm, “wasn’t luck or timing. It was instinct, sacrifice, and someone who knew exactly what this camp needed in the moment.”

My heart thumps once—hard.

Torack looks straight at me. “Jason Reed.”

Every eye turns to me.

I blink. “Wait, what?”

Julie claps first. Then Zak. Then the whole room’s applauding, the noise rolling through the mess hall like thunder.

I sit there, stunned, like my brain short-circuited.

Torack continues. “This place isn’t just about marshmallows and monster dodgeball. It’s about trust. And when a camper was missing, scared, and vulnerable, Jason followed his instincts—allof them.”

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