The wolf, though weak, seemed to respond to the care she was receiving, her eyes reflecting a glimmer of trust. Before the rescue team left, Mr. Carlton knelt beside the wolf one last time, whispering something to her that Henry couldn’t hear.
As they lifted her into the van, Mr. Carlton stepped back, his body shaking slightly. The wolf was carefully placed into a padded carrier, and the rescue team closed the doors of the van with a finality that marked the end of a chapter. After the van drove away, Henry and Mr. Carlton stood together on the porch.