of an eye, and his shock only heightened my arousal in the brief moment while I made sure my teeth lightly tugged on his bottom lip as I pulled back.
Another blink and I was back to Willow - my wide grin showing just how badass I felt as I replied, "Ya. I'm done."
There was a howl in the background, catching our attention as we peered forward.
"Are they okay?" I asked, feeling a bit protective.
"That was Neo being impatient. He's anxious to see your wolf form," Dimitris replied. "Seriously, though. Are you ready?"
I should have answered right away, but there were those jitters of nervousness.
"Fuck," I cursed. "I'm still so nervous."
Dimitris peered at me. I couldn't help but give him a conflicted look.
"I...just..." I struggled to find the words, and he reached out to gently hold my cheek.
"You've earned this moment, Willow," he said firmly as his eyes locked on mine. "Years of torture, years of solitude, multiple moments where the world mocked you for being different, and finally, after twenty-five years of wondering where you belong, you've found your purpose. Where you belong and deserve to be. Stop letting your thoughts hinder you from freedom. Let go, Sweet Willow, and I swear I'll be right here to guide you."
He meant every word, and I couldn't deny how his support lifted me up as all my past insecurities and trauma faded away.
He was right. I'd earned this. I’d survived all the turmoil from the world, and at my very hands, to make it to this point in time. Here I was, with a pack that actually accepted me. A pack of Forbidden individuals who many were frightened of.
These powerful men from various backgrounds of trauma and darkness were together and here in this grand forest to welcome me into this world I'd craved so desperately to be a part of.
This is my moment to obtain freedom. My chance to show Mother Moon that she made no mistake in giving me this second chance at life.
"Okay," I quietly stated.
He let go of me and gave an encouraging nod, stepping back to give me space. I took a few deep inhales, and closed my eyes.
I allowed the darkness to surround me while my breathing continued to be slow and steady until I stood in the middle of the darkness and could open my eyes within my subconscious.
Those large eyes of wisdom opened slowly, acknowledging my standing figure before my wolf walked out of the shadows so I could see her wonderful beauty. Mother Moon had surely blessed me with a wolf as phenomenal as her.
She was wolf of power, grace, and wisdom that continued to reflect in her eyes that danced with pink and gold. Those tinsel strands began to glow brilliantly while her pure white fur looked like snow in the rays of light that shone upon us.
She stepped forward until she was hovering way above me, and it amazed me how she looked so big here while I was but a small fragment of her world. For how long had she remained in this desolate darkness?
Days, months, years?
It made my heart ache just thinking about it as tears of joy sprouted in the ducts of my eyes.
"Thank you," I whispered to her. "For choosing me. For...sticking around. For enduring everything just to give me this sacred moment. For helping me find a pack that acknowledges our strength and worthiness. I'm sure it's been a lonely road of solitude, but no more. You are me, just like I am you. My body is yours."
Her large head lowered until she was lightly pressing her forehead against my body. I smiled and wrapped my arms around her and took the moment to appreciate her entirety.
The coursing energy around her, the softness of her fur, and the love she already carried for me, all wrapped around me in a comforting embrace, and that was when I felt the shift.
Let's be free.
The loud cracking of bones echoed around me, and though the pain made me want to scream, I fought against it as I only centered on the end result of this transformation.
One moment I was standing there in the darkness, and the next, I was on all fours with my eyes opening wide to take in the spectacular world that consumed me. Nothing had changed in my surroundings, and yet everything felt like it had morphed into another dimension of absolute perfection.
My vision was heightened to see the pure hues of every shade of color,