The forest embraced us as we ran, four black wolves moving in perfect harmony through the night. I'd never felt more alive than in these moments, racing between trees with my bonds, our minds linked in a wordless dance of joy and freedom.
Ronan outpaced us all, his massive form leaping over fallen logs with surprising grace. Silas kept perfect pace beside me, his intelligence apparent even in wolf form. And Kaelen – regal and commanding – brought up the rear, his watchful gaze never leaving us.
When we finally stopped in a moonlit clearing, I shifted first, the now-familiar sensation of bones realigning and skin replacing fur washing over me. The others followed suit, and soon we were all human again, breathing hard and grinning.
"That was incredible," I said, pulling on the clothes I'd tied around my ankle before shifting. "I feel like I could run forever."
Silas smiled as he adjusted his glasses. "Your control is improving. You barely hesitated during the shift this time."