Ethan’s steps faltered, his chest tightening as every flicker of bioluminescent light and every whisper of the night pressed in on him.

  He couldn’t do it anymore. The ache in his chest, the pull in his mind, the warmth brushing against his thoughts — it was too much.

  He muttered something under his breath and started moving, faster than he knew he could. Past Alex, past the ughing cssmates, past the glowing ponds and flowering trees. His feet carried him through winding paths, away from the group, away from the noise.

  No one noticed. Or maybe no one cared.

  He finally reached a secluded spot, a quiet clearing between two towering hedges. His breath came in ragged gasps, his hands trembling as they fumbled at the neckce around his neck.

  “God… I can’t…” he whispered, voice breaking.

  And then, with a trembling motion, he uncsped it.

  The moment the chain slid free, warmth flooded through him. It was like every nerve in his body had been lit from the inside. His chest expanded differently, softer, curves forming where there had been none.

  White, fluffy tails erupted behind him, ten in total, curling and swishing instinctively. His ears elongated, covered in soft fur, twitching as they caught the faintest sounds of the night. And when he raised his hands to his face, his eyes — silver and shining — reflected the soft glow of the gardens’ magical light.

  Eri breathed in sharply, feeling herself fully for the first time in what felt like forever. The cool air against her skin, the weight and freedom of her tails, the way the moonlight brushed against her hair — it was intoxicating.

  She swayed slightly, tails flicking instinctively, each one brushing against the others, and she let herself revel in the moment.

  Finally, she could be herself. Fully, without restraint.

  Her heart raced, but it wasn’t panic. It was relief. It was joy. It was her.

  For the first time in weeks, Eri smiled — softly, fully, completely — letting the night, the moonlight, and the glowing gardens wrap around her like a cocoon.

  She was alone. She was free. She was finally Eri.

  The moment she started walking with bare feet, she shivered.

  The cool grass under her feet, the faint breeze brushing her hair, the scent of glowing flowers mingling with night air — it all felt alive. Every sense was sharper, every movement lighter. Her tails swished instinctively, brushing against each other in a satisfying rhythm that made her purr softly.

  She raised her ears, twitching them toward distant rustles. The garden was quiet, but not empty. The subtle sounds of night — insects, wind through the leaves, the faint trickle of a nearby fountain — were amplified, filling her with an exhirating awareness she had never felt as Ethan.

  Tentatively, she stretched her arms, feeling the weight of her soft curves, the freedom of her form. Ten tails fanned out behind her, brushing the ground and each other with a gentle swish. The movement sent shivers up her spine, a constant reminder that this body — her body — was real.

  Eri twirled slightly, tails flowing like ribbons in the moonlight. Her silver eyes reflected the faint bioluminescent glow of the pnts, wide with awe and wonder. She could see the energy of the garden, the way the light kissed the petals, the soft shadows dancing along the paths.

  But even as delight washed over her, a prickling caution kept her aware: she was alone… and anyone could stumble upon her at any moment.

  The thrill of it sent her heart racing. She moved carefully, experimenting with her tails, letting them brush her sides, twitch at her ears, and sweep the grass beneath them. Each movement was both pyful and intimate — a reminder of the body she had longed for, the form she was finally allowed to inhabit.

  Her breaths came faster, purrs escaping softly as she rolled her shoulders, stretching out fully, tails curling and flicking as if they had minds of their own.

  A soft wind brushed her face, carrying with it the fragrance of night-blooming flowers, and she let herself close her eyes, savoring the moment. She felt… whole.

  But even in the calm, the faintest pang of tension lingered: the risk of being seen, the knowledge that Ethan was waiting beneath the neckce. It made her heartbeat faster — not with fear alone, but with that exhirating mixture of freedom and danger.

  She let her tails swirl around her, a personal cocoon of fluff and warmth, brushing her sides and back, testing the edges of her form. Every twitch, every brush, every soft touch of fur against her skin reminded her that this was hers.

  Eri took a deep breath, silver eyes sparkling with quiet delight. Alone in the gardens, under the soft moonlight, she finally felt like herself.

  And for the first time in so long, the world felt exactly the way it should.