Chapter 31 The wolf's unleashing

Chapter 31 The wolf's unleashing
Dixon stumbled out of the forest, his body aching from the transformation. He spotted a trouser hanging on the rope and quickly slipped into it, his movements stiff. 
His eyes locked onto the front of the hut, where Aethon still sat behind Izzy, his chanting barely audible.
As he walked towards them, his anxiety spiked. Izzy sat calmly, her eyes closed, her expression neutral. Aethon's hands still gripped her shoulders, his eyes closed in concentration.
“What...what’s happening?” Dixon asked, his voice barely audible.
Aethon's eyes opened, his gaze piercing. "The wolf’s integrating," he said, his voice hypnotic. “It’s almost done.”
Dixon's shoulders tensed, his eyes never leaving Izzy’s face. He took a step forward, but Aethon's warning glance stopped him. “Wait,” Aethon said, his voice firm. “Don’t interfere.”
Dixon’s chest heaved, his breath caught in his throat. He stood frozen, watching as Aethon's chanting grew softer, the words slowing to a gentle hum. 
Izzy’s calm expression didn't change, but her breathing grew deeper.
The scent of star jasmine filled the air, its sweetness overwhelming. Dixon's chest felt like it was caved in, his breath knocked out of him. He clutched at his chest, his eyes watering from the pain.
At the same moment, Izzy’s eyes snapped open, a radiant energy bursting forth from within her. Her face transformed, her eyes blazing with a newfound vitality.
“...Luna llena, presta tu poder…” Aethon’s voice trailed off, his eyes widening as he slowly stood, taking a step back.
As Dixon’s pain intensified, Izzy’s strength seemed to grow. Her muscles flexed, her body vibrating with power. 
Aethon’s eyes met Dixon’s, his expression awestruck. “It’s happening,” he whispered. “The transfer of energy…”
Zevrina screamed in his mind, its voice deafening. “She was alive, fully alive.”
“Izzy...?” Dixon's voice was barely audible, his eyes fixed on hers.
Izzy didn’t respond. She sprang onto her feet, her movements powerful. She tore at her dress, ripping it off her body with a fierce cry. 
Dixon moved closer, his hand stretched to touch her, to calm her, but she pushed him away, her eyes flashing with a primal energy.
“No!” She growled, her voice barely recognisable. 
“Mine.”
She turned and sprinted into the forest, her bare feet pounding the earth. 
Dixon watched, transfixed, as she disappeared into the trees, feeling like his pain had fueled her rebirth.
Aethon’s eyes met Dixon’s, his expression awestruck. “It’s done,” he whispered. "The wolf has awakened.”
‘Our mate’s awakened!’ Zervaris growled. “Chase after Izzy, let’s run alongside her. Let’s go feel the wind in our fur and the moonlight on our backs.”
‘Let’s follow her!’
Zervaris’s urge was almost too much to resist. He took a step forward, his muscles tensing, ready to sprint into the forest. But Aethon’s voice stopped him cold. 
“Wait. Let her be.”
Dixon turned, his eyes questioning. 
“It’s her first transformation,” Aethon explained. “She needs space to experience this moment without pressure or competition…” 
“If her wolf sees another’s, it’ll feel the urge to compete, to prove itself. And a new wolf won’t give up easily. It could exhaust her, drain her energy.”
Dixon’s worry grew, Zervaris still urging him to run. Aethon saw his hesitation and continued.
“This is a sacred moment for her wolf, a moment of discovery and freedom. Let her savor the feeling. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Dixon’s concerns lingered, and Aethon added, “her wolf might be shy. If it sees yours, it might feel self-conscious, hesitant to explore its new form. You wouldn’t want her to feel discomfort, would you?”
‘Let’s follow her!’ Zervaris growled, still wanting to run, but Dixon reined it in, understanding Aethon’s words. He nodded, his eyes fixed on the forest, hoping Izzy was okay, hoping her wolf was free to roam and explore.

Izzy stumbled through the forest, her bare feet crying out in protest as she navigated the rough terrain. 
“Ahh!” She cried out, her voice raw as she felt her body begin to shift. The trees swam together, a green-brown haze as she ran, her eyes fixed on the distance.
She felt like she was drowning in her own skin, her body aflame with a fire she couldn’t control. 
Her muscles screamed in agony as she tried to shift into her wolf form. 
“Uggghhh!” She groaned, her bones creaking and groaning, her joints cracking and popping.
“Uhmmm!”
Her voice ripped from her throat, a primal sound, as her spine elongated, her vertebrae shifting and reforming.
“Aooo!” She howled, the pain was a living thing, a monster that threatened to consume her whole.
Her vision blurred, her eyes watering as she stumbled and fell, her hands grasping for purchase on the forest floor. 
“No...no...no!” 
She whimpered, her fingers curling, her nails extending into claws. She screamed again, the sound echoing through the forest like a wounded animal.
As she lay there, her body completed its transformation, and she stood tall, a majestic giant white wolf. 
She threw her head back, her mouth opening wide as she let out a mighty howl. “Aooo...ooo!”
Just as the sound escaped her lips, her gaze blurred, her eyes losing focus.
Her body stumbled, her legs buckling beneath her, and she fell onto the floor, her massive form crashing down. 
Her fur rustled as she lay there, motionless, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath. The forest was silent, the only sound was the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze.
Her wolf moaned weakly, “Woooo...ooo…” 
Her mouth rubbed the ground, making sand enter her mouth. Mucus and saliva dripped from her mouth and nose, her breathing shallow and laboured. 
Suddenly, her fur changed color, her shining white fur darkening to a tangled black, except for her tail, which remained a fluffy white. 
Her once-majestic fur was now dull and matted, her black fur standing on end as she lay there, helpless.