Chapter 173

Chapter 173
JAX

As I watched Isabella shift into her wolf form for the first time, I felt something stir deep inside me. It wasn’t just pride, although I was damn proud of her. It was something more. Something that made me feel a pull, a magnetic connection that I’d never felt this intensely before. She stood before me, a vision of raw power and beauty, her sleek black fur glistening under the sunlight, her sharp green eyes glowing with a wildness that took my breath away.

I had always been captivated by her, but seeing her like this—truly embracing her wolf for the first time—made my chest tighten with a strange, possessive awe. Her wolf was stunning, fierce, and absolutely her. I took a step forward, barely able to tear my gaze away from her eyes. Those vibrant green eyes, still so familiar, were the only part of her that remained human. Everything else was pure wolf—dangerous, powerful, and untamed.

I felt the shift stir in me, the instinctive need to join her in this form, to run alongside her. Knox and Asher were already beside me, their wolves eager to be let loose, but I stood still for a moment longer, captivated by the sight of her. I watched as she took a few tentative steps, testing out her new body, her movements cautious at first, but then more confident. She looked over at me, her wolf’s eyes locking onto mine, and I could feel her surprise, her excitement through our bond. I couldn’t hold back any longer.

With a deep breath, I let the shift take over, the familiar rush of sensation coursing through me as my bones stretched and muscles shifted. Within moments, I was standing on four legs, my senses heightened, the world sharper and more vivid. I felt my wolf surge with energy, ready to run, to explore, but all I could focus on was her.

Isabella.

Through our mental link, her name echoed in my mind, and I knew she could hear it too. I caught the glimmer of amusement in her thoughts, her wolf feeling playful and free for the first time. Knox and Asher had shifted too, and the four of us stood there for a beat, just taking in the moment. The air was thick with energy, our bond stronger than ever. It felt like we had crossed into a new chapter, something deeper, something that tied us all together in ways I hadn’t fully understood before.

How do you feel? I asked her through the link, my voice playful but full of warmth.

Powerful, she replied, her voice tinged with excitement and wonder. And a little wild.

I could feel her wolf, sensing the environment around her with heightened senses, her instincts sharper than ever. There was something primal in her now, something that had always been there but had finally been given the chance to break free. And I loved it.

Asher nudged her playfully with his muzzle, and I could feel his pride in her through the bond. Knox circled around her, his excitement palpable, and I could hear him teasing her, telling her she had better be ready to race them through the woods.

Come on, let's run, Knox challenged, his wolf eager to take off into the trees.

Without another word, she took off, a blur of black fur darting between the trees, and the rest of us were right behind her. The thrill of the chase coursed through me, the cool air rushing past, the earth beneath my paws solid and grounding. We didn’t need words anymore; the link between us allowed us to communicate without speaking, our wolves understanding each other on a primal level. I could feel her joy, her exhilaration as she ran alongside us. This was freedom. This was what it meant to be part of a pack.

We wove through the woods, dodging trees, our wolves moving in sync with each other, and for the first time in a long while, it felt like everything was right. There was no tension, no lingering darkness. Just the four of us, running together, as it was always meant to be. Isabella was at the heart of it, her presence grounding us, and yet, lifting us up at the same time. I couldn’t help but feel like this was what we had all been waiting for—her embracing this part of herself, her wolf, and in turn, embracing us fully.

After a while, we slowed down, coming to a stop by a small clearing. Isabella turned to face us, her green eyes gleaming with something fierce and wild, but also full of a warmth that made my heart clench. She padded over to me, brushing her head against mine, a soft growl of affection echoing through our link. I returned the gesture, nuzzling her in response, feeling our bond strengthen even more in that moment.

You did it, I whispered through the link, feeling an overwhelming sense of pride in her. You're incredible.

Her response was a soft hum of contentment, and I could feel her happiness radiating through me.

Asher and Knox joined us, and we stood there for a moment, all of us connected in a way that words couldn’t fully describe. The bond between us had always been strong, but now, with her wolf fully awakened, it felt unbreakable. This was more than just a shared life or a relationship. This was family. This was home.

For the first time in what felt like forever, everything felt... right. The tension that had been hovering over us seemed to melt away in the presence of our wolves, in the presence of her. It felt like we were coming back to a place we’d lost somewhere along the way—a place where we were whole, where nothing could tear us apart.

And as we stood there, panting from the run, the sun filtering through the trees, I couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, everything was going to be okay. We had each other. We had our pack.

And now, with Isabella’s wolf finally free, we were stronger than ever.

Nothing could stop us now.