The party continued long into the night, the moon ever-present, watching over us. Still, we were exhausted from all we’d been through, me and Ted and Joseph and Casey and Mack and Ralph and Gramps, and so we said our goodbyes and our thanks to old friends and new alike.
I gave Mitzy the longest hug of all, our muzzles rubbing together as we stood in the middle of that lawn. “Thank you,” I said. “You were the best teacher a wolf could hope to have.”
“And you were a good student.” She chuckled. “Mostly.” Then she hugged me again. “Don’t be a stranger, Blake.”
I nodded. “I won’t be, Mitzy. Promise.” And boy-howdy, did I mean it. Especially come tax-time when she was sure to get a call. Because a good assistant is worth her weight in gold. Or steak. Which to a werewolf is just as valuable.
