Page 84 of Who Let The Wolves Out?

“But something happened here. I started laughing again. And trusting. And I learned that being small doesn’t protect you. It just keeps you from seeing how big your heart can get.”

My throat catches. I keep going anyway.

“You all showed me what it means to grow. To mess up and try again. To be scared and still keep reaching out. And somewhere along the way… I realized I wasn’t just running from something.”

I pause, blinking fast.

“I was runningtowardsomething better.”

A soft hush fills the space.

I speak it just for me:

“Camp Lightring gave me a second chance.”

I don’t need to say more.

The silence wraps around us like a hug.

And I know, in that moment, that this isn’t just a job.

It’s home.

I hand the mic back and step down.

Jason’s there waiting.

He doesn’t say anything.

He just takes my hand.

After the ceremony, we help load the buses. There are tears. Hugs. Screams. Half a dozen last-minute confessions and two accidental love spells that Julie has to undo on the sidewalk.

Rubi clings to me, arms wrapped tight around my waist. “You’ll still be here next year, right?”

“Absolutely,” I say, brushing her curls back. “You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried.”

She grins, then runs to board the bus, waving through the window like she’s trying to cast a summoning spell with her whole arm.

I turn to see Nolan hanging back. He’s got his sketchbook under one arm and something behind his back.

“Hey,” I say, crouching to his level.

He fidgets. Then thrusts a folded paper at me. “It’s you. And Jason. As wolves.”

I open it.

He’s drawn us side by side under a full moon, fangs out, tails curled around each other.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.

He shrugs. “You looked happiest when you were with him.”

I fold the paper carefully, tucking it into my pocket like a treasure.

“Thanks, Nolan.”

He nods, then sprints to catch his cabinmates.

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