John's eyes were red with a rage so profound it seemed to burn from within. A betrayal that he had dismissed as impossible now felt like a crushing weight on his soul. He wanted a full story, a detailed account of everything, but Victor remained silent, his expression unyielding. The silence was more damning than any confession. John realized with sickening clarity that if Mike was involved in his aunt's death, that meant he and his father were traitors. They had been supporting a murderer, giving the family's enemy everything he needed to survive and live comfortably.
He had always prided himself on his stoicism, his ability to never show vulnerability, but today, tears started to flow, a torrent of grief and guilt that he couldn't contain. "Victor," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion, "do you mean we have supported our enemy this much? We gave Mike everything he wanted. He failed several times, and we pleaded for him not to be removed by the King. He abused people in the pack, misused pack money, we thought he was just still mourning." John shifted from the chair, the anger and sorrow a palpable force in the room, and looked at Victor, a desperate plea in his eyes. "Please, show me where Dignity is."
Victor could see how deeply hurt John was. His rage had given way to a profound, heart-wrenching pain. Without a word, Victor reached into his pocket and produced a small, folded piece of paper. "She wrote this," he said, his voice soft but firm. "She said I should give you this note. She wants you to know you will see her tomorrow. I have to go now. My daughter is shifting for the first time, and I need to be there to support her."
The accusations in John's mind vanished instantly. The word "daughter" echoed in his ears, and the pieces of the puzzle clicked into place. Digna. He felt a powerful wave of determination wash over him. "I'm coming with you."
Victor looked at him, surprised. He wanted to disagree, to tell him no, but John's resolve was etched in every line of his face. "Actually," Victor said, his tone softening, "Digna may not want you to see her in such a vulnerable moment."
John's determination only grew stronger at this confirmation. "I miss her, Victor. I miss my cousin," he said, his voice raw. "If you've adopted her as your daughter, then I should call you my uncle. You've become my family." The accusations he had harbored just moments ago vanished completely, replaced by a sudden rush of affection and gratitude. He saw the genuine, fatherly love in Victor's eyes, and he knew, with a certainty that settled deep in his bones, that he had been wrong about him.
Without another word, the two men started walking faster, a shared purpose driving them towards Digna's room.
Meanwhile, in her bedroom, Digna's shift was reaching its climax. A final, powerful crack resonated through her bones, and the agonizing process was complete. She was no longer just Digna; she was a fully-realized wolf, a creature of immense and terrifying beauty. Her eyes, once a deep green, now burned with a fierce, crimson light. Her coat was a shocking, brilliant gold, a color that seemed to glow in the dim light of the room.
Her tail was a unique striped pattern of red and white, and her ears, tipped with the same vibrant red as her eyes, twitched with a newfound hyper-awareness. It was a first for the Goddess, a wolf of such unique coloring and markings, a creature of legend.
A wave of pure, unadulterated power coursed through her, and she moved around the room, her muscles still getting used to the incredible strength and agility they now possessed. She caught her reflection in a wall mirror, a massive, gold-furred wolf with a proud, regal stance. She was stern when she looked at herself, a deep sense of respect and awe settling over her. "You are more beautiful than I expected," she thought, a smile spreading across her face. "I knew you would be beautiful, Pride, but I didn't expect this."
Pride, her wolf, answered with a voice that was both her own and so much more. "I'm the wolf of a beautiful princess, why not?" The pure joy in the wolf's voice was a testament to the seamless bond that now existed between them.
Victor and John, now in the passage outside her room, could clearly feel her presence. A lavender scent, so unique and potent it filled the entire house, wafted from her room. The two men rushed forward, their hearts pounding with a mix of fear and excitement. They burst into the room, their eyes wide with shock. Standing in the center of the room was a wolf unlike any they had ever seen, its golden fur and crimson eyes a testament to a power that had no equal.
John, a Lycan Beta, could feel her power radiating from her, a presence so strong it took his breath away. The pain of the shift was gone, replaced by a powerful calm. The beautiful, unique wolf was so stern when she looked at herself in the mirror, but so beautiful. It was a first for the Goddess, a beautiful and unique wolf. John and Victor looked at each other and nodded. They knew their world had just changed.
John, despite his shock, was filled with a joy so intense it brought fresh tears to his eyes. He thought, "Why did she take this long to shift? Is it because she was abused, or is it because she is a mixture of species?" He saw the powerful, unique creature his cousin had become, and all his questions fell away, replaced by an overwhelming love.
He smiled as he moved closer, his voice soft and trembling. "Little warrior, you have grown," he said, his words full of a profound happiness. "You look beautiful in your wolf. Take your time. We will talk when you are back in your human form." Tears flowed freely down his face as he continued, "I failed you and aunt, but I'm so glad to see you again. My parents will be so excited. I didn't tell them I was coming for you. I wanted to give them the full story after we met. Even in your wolf form, I love you. You are my only sister."