Torben

Torben

Diaval returns with another round of steak kabobs, making sure everyone is well fed. Feray perches comfortably on his lap, making her little happy wolf sounds as she devours the food, drawing a smile from me. I swear, some days, that woman can out-eat me, and that’s saying something. We take our time, watching people pass by, as Feray not only finishes her kabob but also polishes off Easton’s. The air is filled with the hum of laughter and music, a relaxing backdrop to our quiet moment.

Yet, the music and wind shift. Feray goes unnaturally still. Her eyes pulsing gold for a fleeting moment. I catch the tension in her frame, like a taut wire ready to snap. Diaval, always so attuned to her, gently threads his fingers through her hair in a soothing rhythm. “What do you smell, my eternal?” he murmurs, nuzzling her cheek before nipping at her jaw, trying to bring her back from wherever her senses have pulled her.

“Louie is at the Biergarten,” she replies, her voice eager, her body restless as she wiggles on Diaval’s lap. He tightens his grip on her, holding her steady.

“Finish eating, and we’ll go take a walk over there,” Diaval says with a calm authority that earns an eager nod from Feray.

I shake a bottle of water to get her attention, and with a playful huff, she takes it from me, drinking half before handing it back. The passing crowd gives us a wide berth, especially with Khal mimicking his brother’s perfected ‘don’t fuck with me’ attitude. It hits me how being separated from their overprotective siblings has done Feray and Khal a world of good. Feray still prefers the comfort of a larger predator when she eats, but beyond that, there’s little that scares her now.

She reaches out for the water again, drinking slowly, savoring the last drops. The kabobs are gone, and I can see she’s ready to move. When she finishes the bottle, she slips off Diaval’s lap, blotting her lips with a napkin.

“Ready, little wolf?”

“Almost,” she replies, moving to Khal to clean the kabob juice off his chin with the same napkin. She bounces up and kisses him on the lips, earning a smile from Khal and a playful pat on her bottom before she moves to Easton.

Easton and Diaval are dressed down today, blending in with the crowd in dark gray cargo pants and hiking boots. Easton chose a burgundy henley, while Diaval opted for pitch black. Feray moves between them, adjusting their hair with a soft smile, her love for them shining in her eyes. Easton, ever gentle, frees her hair, letting his feather frame her face. The feather’s faint glow makes her hair shimmer like it’s on fire.

Finally, she comes to me, fussing over my tee-shirt and dusting something out of my beard. “Do I pass?” I ask playfully, leaning down to kiss her.

“Always, my giant teddy bear,” she replies, snuggling in close for a moment before grabbing Diaval’s hand, leading us through the crowd. Suddenly, she changes direction, her instincts guiding us to approach the Biergarten downwind, always aware, always protecting what’s hers.

A low, excited squeal escapes Feray’s lips, and she bounces in place, her energy infectiously bright. Her eyes are wide with barely contained glee, the golden flecks within them dancing as she leans forward, every muscle taut with anticipation. “I smell Fi and the gang,” she whispers, her voice trembling with excitement. The next moment, she releases Diaval’s hand as if it had burned her, the sudden loss of contact leaving a slight frown on his lips.

“That’s impossible,” Easton blurts out, but his words die on his tongue as Feray turns to glare at him, her gaze sharp and unwavering. He shrinks back slightly, his earlier bravado fading under the weight of her stare.

“Do you doubt my nose?” she challenges, arching a brow, her expression daring him to argue further.

Easton falters, his eyes dropping to the ground. “No,” he whispers, softer now, “but what are the chances they’re here? Not very high.”

“Stranger things have happened,” Khal remarks, a smirk playing on his lips as he gestures toward the way Easton and Diaval are dressed—so out of place for them, yet strangely fitting for the two of them. Both have let their beards grow out because Feray likes them that way. The beard burn from a five o’clock shadow isn’t something she enjoys dealing with, as she’s often reminded us.

“The danger noodle has a point,” Diaval adds with a wink, using the nickname Feray gave him, his voice light but affectionate. Then he turns to Feray, his tone softening as he speaks. “Proceed, my eternal.”

Feray flashes him a mischievous smile, then her gaze shifts, honing in on the crowd like a predator on the hunt. We all fall silent as she stalks through the mass of people, her movements deliberate and smooth, inching closer to where she can get a visual of the biergarten. The air hums with tension and excitement, the anticipation of what—or who—she might find sending a thrill through my veins. We follow her, our senses sharpened, ready for whatever comes next.

They stand, defying odds, like a dream come true. Khal’s excitement at seeing his twin is almost palpable, nearly rivaling Feray’s as she catches sight of her sister. “Remember, we need to keep a low—” The words barely leave my mouth before Feray is off, sprinting through the crowd, dodging fair-goers with the grace of a wolf on the hunt. She leaps over the biergarten fence as if it’s nothing, her momentum carrying her forward in a blur of motion.

“Fi!” Her voice rings out, filled with pure, unfiltered joy as she darts past Revelin, her arms already reaching out. She grabs Fi and lifts her off the ground, spinning her around with laughter that carries on the breeze. For a split second, Fi’s fist is raised, instinct taking over, ready to punch first and ask questions later. Recognition lights up her eyes just in time. Feray gently places her on the ground, and they embrace as if years had passed, not just a few months.

We finally catch up to Feray, exchanging handshakes and greetings with the others. There’s a weight lifting from the air, the kind that only comes from reuniting with family. “So, anyone have a clue what happened?” I ask, glancing over as Dezi and Diaval take a table off to the side, already deep in some private old fart conversation.

“Not a single one,” Tiernan answers, his gaze shifting to Feray. There’s a subtle tilt of his head as he studies her. “How’s she doing? She feels different.”

Pride swells in my chest, and I can’t help but puff up a little, a broad smile stretching across my face. “She’s finally comfortable with who she is, and she can shift on the fly. You should see her hunt. It’s incredible.” The words come out like a brag, but I can’t hold back. Louie hands me a large stein of my favorite honey beer, dipping his head slightly in acknowledgment.

Eventually, Feray releases Fi and makes her way over to Tiernan and me, her eyes shining with happy tears. “Tier…” Her voice is soft, filled with emotion as she looks up at him. He glances my way, and I give him a nod of encouragement. Only then does he lean down to press his face against hers, a soft purr escaping his lips.

“I missed you,” she whispers, breaking away but keeping close.

“I missed you too,” Tiernan replies, a warm smile on his face. The other two did as well, although it may be challenging to get them to confess. “That’s new. All the bonds settled, I assume?”

Feray’s smile is radiant as she pulls the feather and her hair forward. “Yeah, it’s Easton’s mating present to me.”

“It looks very regal,” Tiernan says, his voice full of affection, like an older brother proud of his little sister. Just then, Fiadh approaches with drinks for Tiernan and Feray, adding to the warmth of the moment.

Fiadh is filling Feray in on their impromptu shopping trip at their favorite thrift store, her words animated and hands gesturing as she recounts the little treasures they found. My attention is only half on their conversation, more intrigued by the way Revelin casually slips into the scene, giving Feray a side hug before settling at Fiadh’s side. It’s a small thing, but watching Fiadh let someone hang on her like that—let alone in public—is new. It’s hard to miss the way her posture has softened, how she’s no longer bristling at every touch, and it makes me wonder just how much she’s changed while we were all busy on our journeys.

Feray notices too, her gaze flicking between the two of them, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. She tilts her head, curiosity and amusement playing across her face, before making her way over to me. She slides easily into the space between my spread legs, a place that seems to have become her spot whenever she’s thinking or just wanting to be close.

“This is new,” Feray remarks, wiggling her finger in a little circular motion that encompasses Fiadh and Revelin. Her smile broadens, lighting up her features as she glances back at her sister. “I like it.”

There’s a flicker of something in Fiadh’s expression—resignation, maybe—before she separates just a little from Revelin, shaking her head as if to clear the moment. “I’m getting better at it,” she offers, though there’s a begrudging note in her voice, as if she’s not entirely convinced by her own words.

I smile at that, watching the way Fiadh’s walls come down, brick by brick. It’s subtle, almost imperceptible, but it’s there. She’s learning to open up to others, even in small amounts.

My attention shifts briefly as I catch Easton moving toward Diaval and Dezi, exchanging a few quiet words before he heads off on his own, probably to make a phone call or two. No doubt it’s checking in at the hospital. His worry for the patients and their wellbeing was always at the forefront of his mind. I wonder if he’ll ever learn to relax, even just for a moment. Maybe that’s a part of his identity.

The wind shifts, carrying a familiar, unwelcome scent. Mo, that arrogant fox who never knows when to quit, is nearby. I catch it just before Feray does, and when her body stiffens, I know she’s locked onto him too. Her eyes narrow, scanning the area for his inevitable appearance. I can only hope Artaois grants him some sense this time.

“Oh shit,” Tiernan mutters, yanking Fi and Revelin out of Feray’s path as if that might stop what’s coming.

Fi glances at Feray, her eyes widening as she catches the shift in Feray’s gaze. Golden irises swirl with creeping red flakes—a clear warning. “That’s new… What’s happening?”

“She smells Mo. Let’s hope he’s smart enough to keep his mouth shut,” I say, pulling Feray closer by the waist, trying to contain the storm brewing within her. But of course, as if on cue, Mo looks up after restocking the bar, and his mouth opens before his brain can catch up.

“Oh look. It’s Bossman’s favorite bar bitch,” he sneers, oblivious to the danger.

Feray’s laugh is low and dangerous, her gaze sliding over to Khal. “Time to test the theory?”

“Absolutely.” Khal’s smile is a flash of teeth, feral and sharp, making his twin do a double-take. They look like they’re ready to burn the world down together.

“Mo, Mo, Mo… I think it’s time for you to earn your keep.” Feray’s voice is edged with something wild as she stares unblinking at the fox. The fight drains from his eyes, his will bending under her gaze as he shuffles to a table and climbs onto it, his movements mechanical. Her head tilts slightly, and he starts into a clumsy rendition of the funky chicken dance. Khal is right there, front and center, recording the whole thing for posterity. Feray’s fingers tap a steady rhythm on my thigh as the others gather around.

“When did that start?” Revelin asks, eyes wide.

I lean in close to Revelin, Tiernan, and Fiadh, keeping my voice low. “Recent development. We discovered she can harness some of our gifts and use them.”

“That could be quite useful… and dangerous,” Tiernan muses, straightening up. “Have you taught her to fight yet?”

“Yeah, Khal and I have been sparring with her shifted,” I reply, as if it’s the most normal thing in the world.

“Excuse me, what? She’s been fighting a Kodiak and a basilisk?” Fiadh looks like I just insulted her entire bloodline.

Feray blinks, releasing her hold on Mo to look at Fi. “It needed to happen. I’m safer for it.” With that, she turns away, heading over to snuggle under Khal’s arm. Her confidence is staggering, and the way she just walks away instead of engaging further is something else. Her sudden departure catches her sister and her mates off guard. They stare after her as if she was switched out with a pod person.

Mo stands on the table, disoriented, blinking at the world that’s just snapped back into focus. He looks around, takes in Feray standing with the twins, and wisely decides against opening his mouth again. Probably the smartest move he’s made all day.