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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.