Page 85 of Who Let The Wolves Out?

As the last bus pulls away and the dust settles, I look around at the empty field.

It’s quiet now.

Really quiet.

Jason walks up behind me, slips his arms around my waist.

“They’re gonna be okay,” he says.

“I know,” I say softly. “But I’m gonna miss them.”

He presses a kiss to the top of my head.

“Me too.”

And as we stand there, the sun sinking into the trees and the wind whispering through the pines, I know we’ve built something worth missing.

CHAPTER 30

ALICE

The cabin smells like pine and fresh paint, the last of the spring air clinging to the open windows. I’m sprawled on the floor, a sea of schedules and colored post-its around me, my laptop balanced precariously on my knees. Jason’s leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching me like I’m the only thing in the room worth looking at.

“You know,” he says, his voice warm and teasing, “if you keep obsessing over those schedules, they’re gonna start thinking you’re in love with them.”

I don’t look up. “Someone has to make sure the archery lesson doesn’t overlap with the werebat flight demo. Unless you want a bunch of kids with arrows stuck in their wings?”

He steps closer, his boots scuffing against the wood floor. “Pretty sure they’ve got better reflexes than that. Besides, you’ve been at this for hours. You’re gonna turn into a post-it note if you’re not careful.”

“Funny.” I finally glance up, squinting at him. “What do you want, Jason?”

“You.”

The word lands like a spark, quick and bright. He drops to his knees beside me, knocking a stack of papers out of the waylike they’re nothing. His hands find my face, callused but gentle, tilting my chin up until I’m looking straight into those dark, endless eyes.

“You’ve been avoiding me all day,” he murmurs, his thumb brushing my cheek.

“I’ve beenworkingall day,” I correct, though my voice falters when he leans in, his breath ragged against my lips.

“Same thing.”

I laugh, but it’s cut short when he kisses me, slow and deliberate, like he’s got all the time in the world. My hands find his shoulders, gripping the fabric of his flannel, pulling him closer.

“Jason,” I mumble against his mouth, “I really need to finish this.”

“Later.” His lips trail down my jaw, his stubble rough against my skin.

“But—”

“Later,” he repeats, his teeth grazing my neck. I shiver in response.

I sigh, letting my laptop slide to the floor as he pushes me back, his frame pinning me gently against the wood. My fingers tangle in his hair, tugging just enough to make him growl, low and deep in his chest.

“You’re impossible,” I whisper.

“You love it.”

I do.

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