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TWENTY-ONE

SOL

S ol watched Helena’s body quiver on the moss beneath them. The moonlight caressed her naked form as the transformation took hold. Her pale skin rippled with an inner energy that called to something primal within him. He had witnessed countless transformations over his centuries of existence, but nothing had prepared him for the raw beauty of watching his Luna embrace her true nature for the first time.

“Just let go, Helena,” he murmured, sliding his hand through her fiery hair as she clenched her jaw against the change. “Don’t fight what’s meant to be.”

Her hazel eyes widened with a mixture of wonder and terror. “It feels like I’m being torn apart and put back together.”

“Your body is reshaping itself to accommodate your wolf.” Sol’s thumb traced the curve of her cheek, his touch deliberately firm and grounding. “She’s always been there waiting for this day.”

Helena’s spine arched suddenly, a gasp escaping her lips as her limbs began to elongate and reshape. Sol’s wolf howled inside him, desperate to join her, to guide her through this sacred transformation.

“My bones—“ she choked out.

“Are adapting to your true form.” Sol’s voice remained steady despite the range of emotions battering his heart. Pride. Desire. Fierce protectiveness. “Breathe into it.”

The first patches of fur emerged—not the common gray or brown he might have expected, but a vibrant reddish-brown that shone in the moonlight like living flames. His chest swelled with satisfaction. Of course, his fiery Luna would have a coat that matched her spirit.

“That’s it,” he encouraged, shifting to give her space as her form continued to change. “Your wolf knows what to do even if you don’t.”

Helena’s eyes flashed with momentary panic as her face began to elongate. Sol recognized that moment—the point when human consciousness struggled against the animal emerging.

“I’m here.” He pressed his forehead gently against hers while he still could. “I’ll always be here.”

A soft whimper escaped her transforming throat, not quite human anymore but not yet fully wolf.

“Don’t be afraid of her strength,” Sol whispered. “Your wolf is the part of your soul that survived centuries of dormancy just to find me. The part that knew how to wield fire before your mind understood what was happening.”

Helena’s body convulsed one final time, and Sol moved back further, giving her the space needed to complete the transformation. Where his mate had lain moments before, a stunning wolf now stood on unsteady legs, her coat the color of autumn leaves touched by sunset.

Sol’s breath caught in his throat. Even in his wildest dreams, he couldn’t have imagined her wolf would be so perfect—sleek and powerful with intelligent hazel eyes that remained unmistakably Helena’s.

“Look at you,” he breathed, unable to contain his awe. “The legends didn’t do you justice.”

Helena wobbled slightly, her head swinging to examine her new form with evident shock. She attempted a step forward and nearly toppled, unfamiliar with her four-legged stance.

Sol laughed, the sound echoing through the clearing. “Just like watching a pup find their legs.”

Her eyes narrowed at him, that familiar flash of indignation unmistakable even in her wolf form.

“Time for me to join you,” Sol decided, letting his own shift take him.

The change was as natural as breathing to him after centuries of practice. His bones reshaped, muscles redistributed, and skin gave way to his midnight-black fur in one fluid motion. Where the naked man had stood, the alpha wolf now emerged—larger than any other wolf with powerful shoulders and piercing green eyes that retained their human intelligence.

Sol approached Helena slowly, circling her with deliberate steps, letting her scent him properly as a wolf. Her nose twitched, taking in his familiar yet now different scent.

She attempted to mimic his movements, her steps becoming steadier with each passing moment. Her instincts were awakening, guiding her into this new reality.

When she finally approached him, pressing her muzzle against his neck in a gesture of trust and connection, Sol felt a completion he’d waited lifetimes to experience. His Luna. Finally whole in every way.

Sol’s wolf stood proud, watching his mate soon find her bearings in her magnificent new form. He’d never seen a wolf with a coat quite like hers—russet and flame-like, catching moonbeams as she moved. Pride surged through him, centuries of waiting crystallized into this perfect moment.

Follow me.

He projected the thought through their mate bond, feeling a surge of satisfaction when her ears perked up in response. The telepathic connection between wolves was one of the sacred gifts of their kind, and feeling it snap into place with her confirmed what he already knew—she was his.

Where are we going? Her thoughts came tentatively, unfamiliar with this form of communication.

To run as we were meant to. Together.

Sol took off with powerful strides, glancing back to ensure she followed. Helena’s movements were cautious at first, her coordination improving with each bound as her wolf instincts took over. Within minutes, she was racing alongside him, her paws finding purchase on the forest floor with increasing confidence.

He led her deeper into the woods, through ancient paths his ancestors had traversed for generations. The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy, dappling their fur as they ran. Sol felt freer than he had in centuries, the weight of waiting for his Luna finally lifted from his shoulders. This was what completion felt like—running with his mate under the stars that had witnessed his loneliness for far too long.

You’re a natural, he sent through their bond, watching as she leaped gracefully over a fallen log.

Her wolf responded with a burst of unbridled joy that flooded their connection. It feels like I’ve done this my entire life.

Because part of you has been waiting to do exactly this since before you were born.

They raced through a meadow, tall grasses swishing against their flanks. Sol deliberately slowed, allowing her to overtake him, watching the powerful muscles of his mate work beneath her flaming coat. The sight stirred something deeply primal in him.

The peaceful night run was interrupted by the sound of approaching paws. Sol’s ears flattened slightly as he detected the scents of his pack members—Joshua, Deina, and three others. While part of him understood their curiosity to meet their Luna in wolf form, another more possessive part bristled at the intrusion.

Five wolves emerged from between the trees, approaching cautiously. Joshua’s gray form led the small group, his head lowered slightly in deference to his alpha.

They’ve come to welcome their Luna, Sol explained to Helena, feeling her momentary uncertainty.

Joshua circled Helena first, sniffing respectfully at a distance. When Deina approached too closely, nose extended toward Helena’s neck, Sol’s massive black form inserted itself between them, a low warning growl rumbling in his chest.

Mine, his wolf projected powerfully enough that all present could feel it. You may greet her but remember your place.

The other wolves backed away slightly, showing proper submission by lowering their heads. One by one, they approached more cautiously, offering quick reverent sniffs before retreating to a respectful distance.

They’re just curious, Helena’s thoughts carried amusement. You don’t have to be so territorial.

I’ve waited two centuries for you, Sol replied, pressing his muzzle possessively against her neck. Forgive me if I’m not ready to share.

The pack wolves withdrew after paying their respects, understanding their alpha’s desire for privacy with his new mate. When they disappeared back into the trees, Sol nudged Helena playfully, breaking the tension.

Race you to the clearing, he challenged, taking off through the trees.

Helena gave chase, her speed impressive for a first shift. When she caught up to him, she nipped at his flank, darting away before he could react. Sol’s wolf delighted in this game, this old dance of pursuit and retreat that was as old as their kind. They chased each other through moonlit glades, playful growls and yips breaking the silence of the forest night.

As the moon reached its zenith, Sol noticed Helena’s pace slowing, her movements becoming less fluid as fatigue set in. First shifts were exhausting, and he knew she needed rest.

Time to head home, he decided, guiding her with gentle nudges back toward the castle. You’ve done remarkably well for your first run.

He led her along the path that would bring them to the private entrance of their chambers. As the castle came into view, standing majestically against the starlit sky, Sol felt a deep satisfaction settle in his bones. His Luna had completed her transformation, their bond was cemented, and the future stretched before him filled with promise rather than endless waiting.

Sol watched with awe as her wolf form melted back into her human shape with unexpected ease. Most first-time shifters struggled with the return journey, yet his Luna slipped back into her skin as naturally as breathing.

“You’re a wonder,” he told her, not bothering to hide the pride in his voice after he shifted back. “Most wolves struggle for hours their first time shifting back.”

Helena stood naked before him, her pale skin luminous in the moonlight, a slight flush coloring her cheeks as she glanced around the castle grounds. “Is anyone going to see us like this?” She attempted to cover herself with her hands, her eyes darting toward the shadowed windows of the castle.

Sol’s chest swelled with possessive pleasure at the sight of her nude form—all lush curves and fiery hair cascading down her back. “This entrance is for us alone. No pack member would dare approach without permission.” He stepped closer, his voice lowering. “Besides, you’re mine to see.”

He watched her throat bob as she swallowed, her hands slowly dropping away from her body. The trust in that simple gesture made his wolf rumble with satisfaction.

“Still,” Sol added, closing the distance between them, “I’ll ensure no eyes fall on what belongs to me.”

Before she could respond, he swept her into his arms, cradling her body against his chest. The feel of her soft skin against his sent heat coursing through him, but he tempered his desire. There would be time for that later.

“I can walk, you know,” she protested, though her arms instinctively wound around his neck.

“I’m aware of your capabilities,” Sol replied, pushing open the heavy wooden door with his shoulder. “I simply prefer to carry what’s mine.”

The private entrance led directly to their royal chambers, bypassing the main hallways where pack members might be wandering even at this late hour. As Sol carried her through the dimly lit passage, he reveled in how right she felt in his arms—this woman who had transformed his centuries-long existence in mere days.

“Do you always get your way?” Helena asked, her fingers absently tracing the pack tattoo on his upper arm.

“Always.” He didn’t bother to mask the arrogance in his tone. “I’m the alpha.”

Her laugh vibrated against his chest. “I suppose I’ll have to get used to that.”

“You’re the Luna,” he reminded her, kicking open the door to their chambers. “You’ll find you get your way quite often as well.”

The royal bathroom awaited them—a massive space of marble and gold fixtures, dominated by a shower large enough for ten people. Sol finally set Helena down, reluctant to release her even for a moment.

“I think this bathroom is bigger than my entire house,” she marveled, running her hand along the smooth countertop.

“As it should be.” Sol turned on the shower, steam quickly filling the space. “Nothing but the best for my mate.”

He guided her into the shower, watching with hungry eyes as water cascaded down her curves, dampening her flame-red hair until it darkened to deep crimson. Sol followed, crowding her against the tiled wall, needing to feel her skin against his.

“Tonight was...” Helena seemed to search for words, her hands coming to rest on his chest.

“The beginning,” Sol finished for her, capturing a droplet of water from her collarbone with his thumb. “The beginning of everything.”

They washed each other slowly, hands gliding over soap-slicked skin, learning each curve and plane. Sol found himself memorizing the constellation of freckles across her shoulders, the exact weight of her breasts in his palms, and the way her breath caught when he touched certain places.

When they finally emerged, wrapped in plush towels, exhaustion was evident in Helena’s drooping eyes. Sol led her to his—their—massive bed, pulling back the covers.

“Rest now,” he murmured, dropping his towel and sliding between the sheets. “Your body needs recovery after your first shift.”

Helena hesitated only a moment before abandoning her own towel and joining him. Sol immediately pulled her against him, arranging her so her head rested on his chest, and his arm secured around her waist.

“Is it always going to be like this?” she asked, her voice already heavy with approaching sleep.

“Like what?” Sol brushed his lips against her damp hair.

“So... intense. So right.”

Her simple response threatened to undo him. After centuries of emptiness, the completeness he felt with his Luna in his arms in their bed was almost painful in its perfection.

“Yes,” he promised, tightening his hold. “Always.”

Her breathing deepened as sleep finally claimed her, but Sol remained awake a while longer, savoring the weight of her against him and the scent of her skin mingling with his. His Luna finally understood what she was, and what they could be together. She was finally home.