When the sanctuary team arrived, the pups were gently loaded into secure crates lined with blankets. The mother wolf hesitated, clearly torn between the instinct to protect her territory and the understanding that her pups were in safe hands. Finally, she stepped into a crate beside them, her faith in these humans unshaken.
As the sanctuary van drove away, the townspeople stood in quiet awe. Marianne watched until the vehicle disappeared down the lane, a lump forming in her throat. Brother Paul placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You did something incredible tonight,” he said softly. “You saved lives.”