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Luke met his gaze steadily. "Then we'll know, and we'll adapt. But don't focus on that now. Just focus on meeting your wolf."

Luke placed his hands on either side of Jacob's face, his eyes shifting to that luminous silver that marked his unique abilities. The surrounding air seemed to thicken with power, a palpable energy that raised the hairs on everyone's arms.

"Close your eyes," Luke instructed softly. "Feel for the connection."

Jacob obeyed, his expression tightening with concentration. For several long moments, nothing seemed to happen. Then Jacob gasped, his eyes flying open—now a startling amber instead of their usual blue and brown.

"I can feel him," Jacob whispered in awe. "He's...waiting for me."

Luke nodded encouragingly. "That's right. Now reach for him, invite him forward."

Jacob's breathing quickened, his fingers gripping the arms of his wheelchair. A soft whimper escaped him, not of pain but of wonder.

"That's it," Luke murmured. "Don't fight the change."

The transformation began subtly—a shimmer in the air around Jacob, his features seeming to blur. Then came the shift in earnest, his body folding and reforming in that mysterious way of shifters that never ceased to amaze Mo.

Where Jacob had sat in his wheelchair now stood a sleek wolf with a coat of rich chestnut brown fur, his amber eyes wide with shock and delight. For a heartbeat, he remained perfectly still, as if assessing this new form.

Then, tentatively, he moved one paw. Then another.

A collective breath was held as Jacob took his first hesitant step away from the wheelchair. His movements were unsteady, almost wobbling, but he was standing. Moving. His tail gave an experimental wag as he took another step, then another.

Noah dropped to his knees beside the wolf, tears streaming down his face. "You're doing it," he whispered. "Jacob, you're walking!"

The chestnut wolf took a few more cautious steps, gaining confidence with each movement. His gait wasn't perfect—there was a slight hitch to his movements that suggested the underlying damage wasn't completely erased—but he was mobile in a way he'd never been before.

Alex let out a joyful whoop, unable to contain his excitement. Jacob's head swung toward him, amber eyes bright with emotion, before he suddenly broke into a loping run, circling the clearing with growing speed.

"It worked," Zack breathed, squeezing Mo's hand tight. "Look at him go!"

Victor's arm tightened around Mo's waist. "That's the power of the wolf," he murmured. "Incredible."

Jacob completed his circuit of the clearing and returned to Noah, bumping his head against his brother's chest, tail wagging furiously. Noah wrapped his arms around the wolf's neck, burying his face in the thick fur.

"I'm so happy for you," Noah choked out. "So, so happy."

Luke was watching with a satisfied smile, though Mo could see the slight strain around his eyes that suggested the gift had taken something from him. "Your turn?" he asked Mo.

Mo nodded, suddenly breathless with anticipation. He stepped forward into the clearing as Jacob continued to explore his new form, Noah and Alex following him at a distance, giving him space to test his new mobility.

"Are you ready?" Luke asked, his voice gentle.

"Yes," Mo replied, surprised by the steadiness in his voice despite the butterflies in his stomach. "I want this."

Luke placed his hands on either side of Mo's face, just as he had with Jacob. The touch was warm, almost electric. "Close your eyes," Luke instructed. "And reach inside yourself. There will be a space there that feels...empty. Waiting."

Mo did as instructed, his eyelids falling shut. At first, he felt nothing but his own racing heartbeat and the gentle pressure of Luke's hands. Then, gradually, he became aware of something else—a presence, distant but distinct, like an echo of himself.

"I feel it," Mo whispered, not daring to open his eyes.

"That's your wolf," Luke confirmed. "I'm going to connect you now. Don't fight it, no matter how strange it feels."

A tingling sensation spread from Luke's fingers, flowing into Mo like warm honey. It traveled down his spine, branching out through his limbs until his entire body hummed with energy. Then came a sudden rush—like plunging into deep water—as something Other slipped into his consciousness. Mo gasped, overwhelmed by the sudden connection. The wolf felt ancient and new all at once, familiar yet entirely foreign. It carried with it a sense of wild freedom, of forest scents and moonlit runs.

"Hello," Mo replied silently, amazed at how natural it felt to communicate this way.

I've been waiting for you, the wolf said.For so long.