When the light finally settles,
when the screaming pressure stops crushing my ribs,
when the void stops spinning and cracking and collapsing—
I see him.
Or…
something that used to be him.
Silver-gold fire gathers in the shape of a wolf,
each strand of light weaving muscle, bone, breath, and presence.
The air trembles around him,
as if reality itself is afraid to touch what's being born.
Aiden's soul stretches,
not fading,
not dissolving—
transforming.
My wings fold tightly behind me.
My breath catches.
"Aiden…?"
The starlight wolf flickers—
head bowed,
shoulders tense,
as if forcing itself into existence.
I reach out a trembling hand.
"Aiden, are you—"
His voice cuts through the void.
Not through ears.
Through the bond.
"…Don't touch me yet…"
My heart drops.
"Aiden?"
"…I'm not—stable."
The merged entity watches silently,
its twin-colored eyes glowing with awe and recognition.
The Primordial's tone vibrates with dread.
"He is becoming a dual-form soul."
I whisper back:
"What does that mean?"
"He is not merely reforming a body—
He is rebuilding an existence."
The merged entity adds softly:
"He is choosing shape.
Identity."
Aiden groans—
a sound of raw struggle,
not pain but sheer force of will.
The starlight around him twists violently,
shaking the floor beneath us.
"Stop—
STOP—
you're hurting yourself—!!" I scream.
"…No…"
His voice is strained.
"…I'm deciding who I want to be…"
The Primordial steps forward.
"Wolf—choose quickly.
Your essence destabilizes the realms."
Aiden growls.
"…Oh shut up…"
Despite everything, a strangled laugh escapes me.
He's still him.
Still impossible.
Still mine.
THE SHAPING
Aiden's light bends inward—
Silver tendrils weave into muscle.
Gold threads coil into bone.
Shadow thickens into fur.
Light sharpens into claws.
His silhouette grows larger.
Stronger.
More defined.
Every breath he takes shakes the void.
I choke on a sob.
"You're really coming back…"
Aiden's voice shifts—
stronger now,
more grounded.
"…I told you.
I'm not leaving you."
But I can feel one thing he's not saying—
He's terrified.
His essence burns too hot.
Pulls too wide.
Forms too fast.
Pieces of him spark off like shooting stars
as he fights to shape a body big enough
to hold a wolf and a man
and a soul that refused to die.
"Aiden—
you're forcing yourself—
slow down—"
"…If I slow down…
I'll fall apart…"
My wings flare instinctively.
I step toward him—
but the merged entity blocks me with a single wing.
"Do not touch him.
He stands between life and dissolution."
"But he needs me!"
"Not your body.
Your voice."
I swallow hard.
"Aiden—
look at me—
just listen—
I'm here—
I'm with you—
don't fight this alone—"
The starlight wolf trembles.
Pieces of him flake off like ash.
His voice breaks—
"…I'm trying…
I'm… still trying…"
I reach inward with the bond.
"Aiden.
What do you NEED?"
The answer comes instantly.
"…Anchor me."
"How?"
"…Say my name.
The way you say it when you're afraid."
My breath shatters.
I whisper—
"Aiden…"
The light stabilizes slightly.
I whisper again.
"Aiden… please…"
The core of him burns brighter.
One more time—
barely a breath—
"Aiden…"
And everything changes.
THE FORM LOCKS
His wolf form surges upward,
twisting with golden fire,
snapping into place like a puzzle piece
finally falling where it belongs.
The void ROARS.
Starlight explodes outward.
When the blast clears—
standing before me
is not Aiden the man.
Not Aiden the Alpha.
Not Aiden the broken, fading soul.
But something more.
Something new.
A massive wolf of molten silver and shadow,
horns curling like crescent moons,
eyes burning bright gold,
fur streaked with darkness and starfire.
He stands taller than any werewolf—
a creature carved from ancient power and rebirth.
My heart stops.
"Aiden…"
His golden eyes lock on mine.
And in them—
I see everything.
His stubbornness.
His love.
His fury.
His devotion.
Every memory.
Every moment.
Every promise.
Alive.
Aiden speaks aloud—
for the first time with a real, physical voice.
Deep.
Low.
Rough.
And entirely him.
"Liyana."
The sound nearly drops me to my knees.
Aiden takes one step forward.
The void cracks under his weight.
The Primordial whispers in fear:
"This is impossible…
A Wolf Ascendant's companion…
reformed as a stellar wolf…"
The merged entity nods.
"He is no longer mortal.
No longer merely wolf."
"Then what is he?" I breathe.
Aiden answers himself.
"I'm yours."
My vision blurs.
"You're—
you're really here—
not a voice—
not a soul—
you're HERE—"
He lowers his massive head,
nuzzling my hand with a warmth that tells me everything I need.
"…I will always be here."
BUT IT'S NOT OVER
The void trembles again.
The Primordial stumbles back.
"NO—
THE MERGE IS NOT COMPLETE—
THE REALMS ARE STILL BREAKING!"
A violent tremor shakes the floor.
Cracks split the sky.
The air twists into a spiral of collapsing stars.
Aiden growls.
"Get behind me."
I step forward instead.
"We do this together."
He huffs—
a sound of annoyance and love mixed into one.
"You never listen."
"I do.
Just not to you."
Aiden snorts.
"That's what I said."
But then—
The merged entity lifts a hand.
"This is not the final form."
Both Aiden and I stiffen.
"What?!"
"Two souls.
Two bodies."
It shakes its head.
"But the Wolf Ascendant is more."
The Primordial lifts its arms as the void collapses further.
"You must finish the transformation—
or the universe will collapse trying to accommodate you!"
Aiden's golden eyes turn toward me.
"Liyana…"
My heart stutters.
"Aiden… what are they saying?"
He steps closer.
So close I feel the heat of his starfire fur brush my legs.
"We're not done," he whispers.
My pulse spikes.
"What does that mean?"
He lowers his head,
touches his forehead to mine.
And through the bond—
through our shared soul—
I hear his answer.
"…It means you haven't transformed yet."
The floor collapses beneath us.
Light explodes around us.
And the chapter ends with:
Liyana's body igniting in silver-gold flame—
as her own final transformation begins.