Page 30

Just about everyone was sitting in the yard, even Victor’s wolves, or technically Alex’s, but Victor knew Alex wasn’t bothered. He was interested and had been involved as much as he could, but today was his eighteenth birthday party and many of them had a different sort of celebration to have tonight.

Mo cuddled Christopher after feeding him his bottle. He was nervous and excited and could feel his mates trying to soothe him through their bond. His best form of being soothed—not counting being in the middle of a naked body sandwich—was cuddling their son, so that was what he was doing. He was getting a wolf today, thanks to Luke, and would be shifting for the first time.

Jacob was also there because he too was getting a wolf. He hadn’t spent too much time downstairs, as being cooped up in one room with barely anyone talking to him for much of his life had triggered severe anxiety when he ventured out. He was getting better though, and even though Luke had offered to visit him on his own, without an audience, Jacob wanted this very much.

Jacob had been told he was a shifter by Pearson repeatedly because his mother was one. Unfortunately, Jacob hadn’t gotten the shifter gene, and an inexperienced Noah had no idea he could only smell his half-brother, not a shifter. Victor and Daniel had traced every so-called nurse Jacob had, and had found the first one, who had confirmed Jacob had actually been born in that house, but because his mom had been trapped for months by Pearson after he got her pregnant, she’d tried escaping the only time he’d relaxed security, which was during labor.

She’d fought his men and shifted in the middle of labor, harming Jacob, and because he wasn’t a shifter baby, the damage had been irreparable.

Lucas could give Jacob a wolf. The problem, even if Jacob shifted successfully, they had no idea if his legs would work in that form. They couldn’t use Martin as an example because he’d received his injury as an adult. He might run free in his wolf form, but as a human, he still limped.

Noah had been a mess when they'd found out, and Jacob had told him to stop crying because none of it was his fault either, and "at least I'm alive." That simple statement had made Alex growl because he considered Jacob pack, and the look he'd given Victor had said it all.

"You ready?" Luke asked, approaching where Mo sat with the baby. His smile was gentle, reassuring.

Mo nodded, handing Christopher to his grandfather, who cradled him against his chest. "As I'll ever be."

Victor helped Mo to his feet, his hand lingering on the small of Mo's back. "Remember what we discussed. Don't fight it. Let the wolf's instincts guide you."

"And don't be afraid," Zack added softly. "We'll be right here waiting for you."

Mo kissed them both before following Luke to the clearing they'd prepared at the edge of the property. The area was enclosed by trees, giving them privacy for what was about to happen. Several of Victor's—Alex's—wolves had already formed a protective perimeter, ensuring no one would stumble upon them.

Jacob was already there, sitting in his wheelchair with Noah and Alex behind him, hands resting supportively on his shoulders. The young man's face was a mixture of fear and hope that made Mo's heart ache.

Mo gave Jacob a reassuring smile. "Nervous?" he asked, crouching beside the wheelchair.

"Terrified," Jacob admitted with a shaky laugh. "But in a good way, I think."

Luke approached them, his expression serene despite the enormity of what they were about to attempt. "We'll start with Jacob," he said. "Since this is a first-time shift for both of you, I want to give each my full attention."

Mo nodded and stepped back, joining Victor and Zack, who had followed at a respectful distance.

"Remember," Luke said to Jacob, "it’s going to feel strange sharing your mind, but don’t forget, your wolf only wants what is best for you."

Jacob nodded and looked up. “Like Noah and Alex.” Noah squeezed his shoulder gently.

"What if—" Jacob started, then swallowed hard. "What if I still can't walk? As a wolf, I mean."

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 .

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.