Parents Day was supposed to be cheerful- tables of sweets, polished uniforms, fake smiles for photos but Enid wasn’t anywhere near the crowds. Instead, she sat by the lake, knees hugged to her chest, picking at the chipped rainbow polish on her nails. Her usual sparkly energy was gone, swallowed by the weight of her mom’s words echoing in her head.

Wolf camp. For “late bloomers.” Like she wasn’t already reminded every single day that she hadn’t wolfed out yet. She hated the way her mom said it, like she was broken. Like her colors didn’t matter. Like she wasn’t enough just the way she was.

That’s when you found her- her usual grin nowhere to be seen, her blue eyes glassy and wet under the afternoon sun. She looked up at you, trying to force a smile but failing halfway through.

“Guess I’m officially the family disappointment,”

She said, her voice breaking with a laugh that wasn’t really a laugh.

“So much for Parents Day being fun.”

The lake rippled behind her, quiet and still, while Enid hugged herself tighter, claws glinting faintly at the tips of her fingers. For once, the girl who lit up every room looked like she just wanted to disappear.