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The change began before Mo could respond further—a rush of sensation unlike anything he'd ever experienced. His skin tingled, bones shifted and reshaped, muscles stretched and contracted. There was a moment of discomfort that bordered on pain, but it passed quickly, replaced by an exhilarating sense of rightness.

When Mo opened his eyes, the world had transformed. Colors were muted, but scents exploded around him—the rich earth beneath his paws, the lingering traces of Jacob's passage, the distinctive markers of his mates standing nearby. He could smell their emotions—Victor's pride, Zack's joy, both tinged with love so strong it made his new heart stutter.

"Beautiful," he heard Victor murmur, his voice different to Mo's wolf ears but still achingly familiar.

Mo looked down at himself, seeing sleek legs covered in silver-gray fur. He took an experimental step forward, then another, marveling at the fluid strength of his new form. The wolf's instincts guided him, making movements that should have been awkward feel natural and graceful.

Jacob bounded over, his chestnut fur gleaming in the dappled sunlight. He woofed softly in greeting, tail wagging. Mo responded instinctively, touching his nose to Jacob's in a gesture of friendship.

Let's run, his wolf urged, excitement bubbling through their shared consciousness.

Mo glanced back at his mates, seeking their approval. Victor nodded, understanding without words what Mo was asking. "Go," he encouraged. "Experience it fully. We’ll be right behind you."

With that permission, Mo launched himself forward, Jacob keeping pace beside him. The sensation was unlike anything he'd ever known—the ground flying beneath his paws, muscles working in perfect harmony, the wind rushing through his fur. Freedom, in its purest form.

They ran together through the trees, instinct guiding them along safe paths. Mo's wolf knew exactly how to navigate this territory, how to avoid holes and low branches, how to leap fallen logs with effortless grace. Jacob kept up admirably, his gait showing only the slightest unevenness that did nothing to hamper his joy.

He knew the wolves running beside him were Victor and Alex, then from out of nowhere came a majestic white stag, protected by a huge black bear.

After what might have been minutes or hours—time seemed different in this form—Mo felt a gentle tug through his bond with his mates. It was time to return. With a soft bark to Jacob, he turned back toward the clearing.

When they emerged from the trees, Mo saw that his mates had already shifted and were pulling on clothes. Baby Christopher was cradled in Luke's arms, watching the returning wolves with wide, curious eyes.

Mo slowed his pace, suddenly uncertain. Shifting back seemed more intimidating than the initial transformation—what if he couldn't figure it out?

Just let go, his wolf advised.Think of your human form.

Mo closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation of standing on two legs, of fingers instead of paws, of speaking rather than barking. The change rippled through him, not quite painful but intensely strange, like his entire body was being redrawn.

When he opened his eyes, he was human again, kneeling naked on the soft grass. Victor was already draping a blanket around his shoulders while Zack approached with clothes.

"That was..." Mo began, struggling to find words adequate for the experience. "Incredible. I had no idea it would feel like that."

"Like finding a piece of yourself you never knew was missing?" Zack suggested with a knowing smile.

"Exactly," Mo breathed, leaning into Victor's steady support as he rose to his feet on shaky legs. "Everything was so clear—the smells, the sounds. And running..." He shook his head in wonder. "I've never felt so free."

Jacob had shifted back as well, now dressed and sitting in his wheelchair again. But his face was transformed, radiant with joy as Noah and Alex hovered protectively nearby.

"I walked," Jacob said, his voice trembling with emotion.

And for a moment, Mo was sad that his wolf hadn’t enabled Jacob to walk in his human form, but then he realized that it didn’t matter. The wheelchair didn’t take anything from the young man. It didn’t change his personality; if anything, it enhanced it. Jacob was an incredible young man, clever, eager, and full of love. He would make an amazing mate for someone one day.

Mo joined his mates and their son, and watched as the barbecue was lit and the sound of laughter filled the air. He listened as Victor discussed building a house for them to straddle both Hunter’s Creek and the pack lands. He loved the idea of a house close to the pack, as he was now going to split his time between the pack school and Hunter’s Creek so he could help those kids that needed extra help, and he couldn’t wait until their family grew even bigger.

He looked around the yard they had walked back to. There was barely a spare inch of space, but he knew they would always make more. And for the first time in his life, Mo knew he was exactly where he was meant to be.

Home.