Full Moon (Children of the Moon #4)

Chapter 1

Diaval

Setting up the training ring for today was no small task. It’s taken many conversations with Feray to get her to see the value in learning to fight and use the alpha gifts.

She’s shifted and fighting with Torben again and still not using any of her gifts. Shaking my head I know its because she doesn’t want to hurt him. He throws her for the dozenth time and that’s when Ro manifests on the boulder next to me.

“Did the teddy bear harm Fluffy? Or steal her snacks?” Ro thankfully has cut back on that annoying rhyming she was doing when she first appeared. Threatening to roast her apparently did some good.

“Neither. She’s going to need to be able to fight when we cross into the ancient wolven territories.” I say looking down at Ro.

“Oh, news I have for Fluffy. Sparkles has a lot going on.” Hearing her sisters nickname Fer stops and stares at Torben freezing him in his tracks.

She shifts back and grabs her robe putting it on and walks back over. “Ro, what’s wrong with Fi.” That same dominant glow rises in her eyes and the pixie takes a step back.

“Show you I will.” She offers Fer her hands and Fer takes them gently.

Feray gets a distant look in her eyes, then they close.

Her eyes move rapidly under her eyelids and I rest a hand on her.

The visions of her sister and her mates being attacked and that the princes team is causing discord makes Feray growl.

I watch Feray’s face as she see’s the moments of her sister being happy and enjoying spa day with Khol of all people.

The fancy dress that makes Fi look like a princess in Feray’s mind.

The events of Goldgarde and what happened with the amulet.

Her eyes open suddenly and lock on the pixie. “I told you to give it to the prince.” Feray growls, and the red surfaces in her wolf's eyes. For a moment, she looks less like my sweet mate and more like the apex predator she was born to be.

"Sparkles' magic is powerful now. Mostly stable." Ro says with a hopeful smile.

Feray nods and sighs, the tension bleeding out of her shoulders. "Thank you for telling me."

She looks back over her shoulder at the training ring, then sighs again. "We found my parents." The words hang in the air, heavy with grief. She looks down and away. Her pain radiates from her in waves—I feel it through the bond like a physical ache in my chest.

"Tell Fi a wendigo killed my parents. We're going back to the house in the next day or so. Let them know..." She looks at me, and I nod. No words needed. I understand what she's asking—to share her burden, to help carry the weight of this terrible knowledge.

Her eyes move to Khal, and he shifts without hesitation. His massive basilisk form coils and strikes, and they start sparring immediately. She needs to hit something. I understand that too.

"What to tell, oh ancient one?" Ro looks up at me, and I exhale slowly.

"Feray is not just Feray." Easton speaks before I can, watching our mate trade blows with Khal's serpentine form.

"She is Thyra Feray Jokull, heir apparent to the Crescent Valley pack.

If we can find the crown, it will make her claim to the throne stronger.

" Easton spills the information I was still deciding how to frame. But perhaps bluntness is best with Ro.

"Princess Fluffy? Oh, my." Before we can say anything else, she vanishes without a trace.

We dropped several major bombshells on the pixie. I think the worst part is that Fiadh is going to find out her sister will have to fight her way to her throne. That's not a conversation any of us want to witness.

"We need to double the training and get her to master all the alpha powers we can teach her—and then some." I say to Easton as we watch her fight Khal.

Her white wolf is faster now, more aggressive.

Grief has loosened something in her, made her willing to strike harder.

But it's not enough. All the training in the world won't save her if she doesn't want to win.

And right now, I'm not sure she does. I'm not sure she believes she deserves to.

That's the real battle we're fighting. Not teaching her how to use her claws—teaching her that she's worth fighting for.

Later that day...

"Again!" I yell, watching Feray half-ass her use of the intimidation ability on Khal. Why she holds back, I'll never understand.

"I don't want to hurt him!" She yells back, and I'm smacked with some of the ability she's tentatively using. Ah, there it is.

Seeing she's mad at me, I push some of the ability back on her.

Slowly, I ramp it up. "Use the power. It could save you in a life-or-death situation.

" I press my intimidation ability down upon her harder, watching her eyes slowly starting to glow.

My dragon is angry that I'm turning his gift upon our mate.

Deep down, we know she needs to learn to use it, but this may not be the way.

Thankfully, she doesn't need to be shifted to practice.

"I said NO."

I get hit with the full force of her alpha bark, and I stagger back, almost going to my knees.

"YES..." I bite back, using my intimidation to its full magnitude. I love her with everything that I am. But Feray's stubbornness could possibly be the death of her. This may go against every fiber of my being, but I need to know my mate can protect herself.

She sways on her feet.

And that's when it happens.

A deep, almost demonic growl builds in her chest. I watch fur race up and down her arms. The bone plates in her face start moving under her skin. Her eyes turn from gold to amber with flecks of red—the eyes of an alpha in a rage.

"I... said... NO..."

I'm crushed under the weight of her alpha bark and intimidation combined. I fall to my hands and knees and lower my head to her, struggling to breathe. It feels as if I'm stuck in a vacuum with half a building pressing down on me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Torben move behind her. His hand goes to her throat, his teeth to her shoulder. A deep, guttural growl escapes his lips, and she goes limp in his arms. The oppressive weight lifts off me, and I can breathe again.

Looking up, I see Feray slowly turn her gaze back upon me. "See, that's why I didn't want to let go..." she whines and closes the distance between us, peppering my face with kisses.

I sip at her lips and feel the love she's pouring through the bond.

Sighing, I pull back and smile at her. "I knew you could do it.

You just needed to know that you could do it.

" I laugh and shake my head. "My dragon is impressed with you and respects you more.

" A deep purr from my aforementioned beast fills my chest, and she smiles.

"Tell him thank you." She pecks my lips again, then looks over at Khal. "I think we're good with the intimidation portion of the program." The guys laugh as we look at each other.

I was honestly afraid that my gift was going to be the hardest for her to learn. Pissing her off is apparently the key to getting her to let go of her fears. Comparatively, this micro powerhouse might be able to stand toe-to-toe with a dragon if need be.

She could... it's the fire I'm worried about... The cantankerous bastard interjects. It's interesting how he speaks when it's convenient for him to add to my concerns.

Gee, thanks... I fire back at the cranky bastard as I stand.

"Let's have something to eat. All the sparring must have burned some serious calories." Easton offers, motioning back to the campfire.

It's now that I notice several snowshoe hares laying by the fire-pit and three of them on sticks roasting over the open flame.

Easton takes Feray's hand and leads her over to a chair he's set up for her, offering her a hare on a stick.

Tilting her head several times, she stares at his offering.

Gold slowly rises in her eyes, and when she opens her mouth, I see wolven canines.

Feray bites into the hare and starts eating, making happy little wolf sounds.

Staying out of her line of sight, I move to Torben's side and tap him on the shoulder. "When did that start?" He tilts his head, then turns to watch Feray.

"Hmmm." His hand strokes his beard as he thinks about it. "Recently. I thought I noticed it the other night."

"Is it because she's more in touch with her wolf?" I say out loud.

Torben tilts his head. "I don't use my bear's teeth to eat. Do you use your dragon's?"

Shaking my head, I watch Feray eat before Easton approaches and offers Torben and me each a hare on a stick. "I don't."

Easton looks at me, then back at Feray. "More wolven features become apparent when she's talking to her wolf, I've noticed." He turns back to the fire to skin the last hares to cook for dinner.

"That makes sense. My bear does the same thing sometimes." Torben heads to sit near Feray. I watch Torben, Khal, and Easton by the fire, all watching Feray. It's been an interesting experience cohabitating with so many other species.

Our mate makes it worth it, meatbag... My dragon snarls at me, and I swear I hear him rubbing his scales together.

Clearing my throat, I approach the fire. "I would like to propose a check-in. To make sure the family is well. That everyone's needs are being met." My gaze moves between each family member one at a time, then back to Feray.

She draws in a deep breath, then stands. "I don't think it's fair Khal has to stay awake all night." Feray pouts for several moments, then looks back at him. "I don't get to snuggle with him like I used to before the shit hit the fan."

Khal reaches forward and takes her hand, kissing her knuckles. "I miss you too, Precious. Honestly, I feel better when we have to camp if you're sleeping in my coils. But when we actually have proper beds, I would like to have a night off with you."

I watch as Feray threads her fingers through his black tresses, smiling down at him. Her eyes immediately turn to Torben, and he takes a step back and nods.