Kael’s POV
She stood at the edge of the water, staring at her reflection as if she were memorising each strand of fur, each curve of her new form. The silver of her coat caught the moonlight, the sacred red mark glowing faintly like a flame against the shimmer of her brow. She was breathtaking. And she must have known it too—the way she lingered, silent and still, taking it all in.
We didn’t disturb her. One by one, we moved back a little, giving her space. This was her moment, not ours.
She lifted her head then, golden eyes rising to the sky. Her gaze locked on the full moon above, and she closed her eyes. In that stillness, with the cold breeze combing through her fur, she looked like she was praying—soft, serene, a wolf offering her heart to the Moon Goddess for reasons only she knew.
When she opened her eyes again, she turned from the water, walking slowly and gracefully around the pool. Her paws barely made a sound on the grass as she moved, lost in her own world, her senses awakening to everything she had been denied. She lowered her muzzle to sniff the grass, the wind, the earth—every detail of her freedom tasted and savoured.
She stepped onto a wide patch of soft grass and sank down, stretching her body with a fluid, feline-like grace. Then, to our surprise, she rolled. Rolled onto her back, onto her side, kicking her paws at the air, twisting and curling like a playful cub. A low rumble of something like laughter left my wolf’s chest without my permission.
We stared at her in disbelief. She—our Eira—rolling in the grass like a happy child set free from chains. None of us spoke aloud.
After a while she stopped, lying flat on her stomach, her head resting on her front paws. Her tail curled around her body, fluffy and warm, like a silver scarf. Her eyes drifted closed, her breaths long and even.
"Is she sleeping?" Roman asked through the mind-link that pulsed between us. We rarely used it unless it was necessary—combat, secrecy, or moments like this when we were in our wolf form.
"Looks like it," Lucian’s voice came, softer than usual. "She’s free after so long. She’s doing everything she needs to do."
"Sleeping on grass, the starry sky above, cold and soothing breeze..." Rafe added, his tone half wistful, half teasing. "What more could a wolf want? How I want to just lie next to her now."
"You dare?" Lucian asked sarcastically.
"With you between her and me, it should be fine," Rafe countered, sarcasm coating every word. "With one stinky wolf as a barrier between us, I won’t go close."
They went on, voices like background noise, but I had already started moving. My paws carried me toward her before my mind even caught up. The instinct was too strong, too simple to deny. She was mine. She was right there.
I lay down beside her, stretching my front paws forward until my muzzle nearly brushed hers. Her calm breath touched me like a cool breeze, carrying the scent of musk from her fur—the same scent her hair had in human form, only stronger, purer.
I dared to edge closer, moving one paw around her in a protective curve. In response, even in sleep, she shifted and pressed against me, snuggling closer, her tail brushing my flank. My heart skipped a beat.

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