Chapter 20 Feray
Feray
In the ethereal landscape of my dream, I am liberated from the constraints of humanity, my spirit running wild as my wolf across a pristine field of snow.
Each paw print leaves an ephemeral mark on the frozen canvas, a testament to the freedom inherent in my lupine form.
My breath forms clouds in the frigid air, signaling a temperature that should sear through my skin, yet I remain impervious to the biting cold.
Apparently, I am built for this weather.
The world is a monochrome symphony of whites and blues, the tundra stretching endlessly under the vast expanse of an azure sky.
We're home, my wolf's voice resonates in my mind, a gentle whisper carried on the crisp breeze.
We must come from a region blanketed in snow most of the year.
The words hold a profound resonance, awakening a sense of belonging that transcends the physical world.
As we traverse the snow-covered expanse, my wolf imparts knowledge—a sacred understanding of the Luna gifts that course through my veins.
I'm stronger than I ever thought I could be.
In the dream, my wolf becomes my guide, unveiling the mysteries of these innate abilities.
Luna gifts, bestowed upon me by the mystical connection with the moon and my bloodline, unfold like a celestial tapestry.
Most are gentle, designed to heal and soothe wounds of both body and spirit.
But there are others. Gifts that shift the balance toward defense and attack.
The dream becomes a canvas upon which my wolf paints vivid images—a shimmering barrier of protective energy, a cascade of ethereal light that can mend the deepest wounds, and a controlled surge of force that can repel any threat.
I am not just a creature of the night. I am a guardian, a force to be reckoned with.
For the first time in my waking or dreaming life, I realize I am not defenseless.
I possess the means to shield those I hold dear, to stand as a bastion against the shadows that seek to encroach upon our existence.
"Feray!"
The distant call breaks through the dream, a faint echo reaching me from a different reality.
It's Easton's voice, his tone filled with urgency and concern.
The dreamworld wavers, the snowy field and the comforting presence of my wolf dissipating like mist in the morning sun.
Reluctantly, I relinquish the lupine freedom and emerge from the dreamscape.
My eyes flutter open to a room suffused with soft light.
The transition from dream to reality is seamless.
I find myself lying on a plush bed, the comforting weight of blankets cocooning me.
Surrounding the bed are the four men who have become the pillars of my life, their eyes reflecting a mix of relief and affection.
Easton's voice, no longer a distant echo but a tangible presence, calls my name once more.
The dream lingers in the recesses of my mind, a warmth and sense of empowerment seared into my consciousness.
I meet the gaze of the men who love me, each of them a testament to the bonds forged through shared struggles.
Their concern, etched in the lines of their faces, is met with a reassuring smile.
In that moment, I carry with me not just the memories of the dream but a newfound conviction—a belief in myself and the strength that lies within the harmony of Luna gifts and the love that surrounds me.
"I had a dream..." Furrowing my brows, I make eye contact with each of them. It's Diaval who sits on the bed closest to me and takes my hand openly, showing affection.
"What was your dream about? We felt a profound peace move through us. And happiness." He strokes the back of my hand as Khal comes and sits on the opposite side. Easton and Torben move to stand where they can see me easily.
"My wolf..." Shaking my head, I try to parse the information together.
"Take your time, Precious." Khal gives my hand a squeeze.
Torben moves closer, sits on the end of the bed, and rests his hand on my leg. "Where did your wolf take you?" He tilts his head, watching me. I feel as if he's studying every little movement I make.
"I think the tundra. It seemed like it was below freezing, but it didn't bother us." I close my eyes, reliving the dream in vivid detail.
"Go on, my eternal. What else did you see?" Diaval's voice hits that hypnotic tone where I feel like I need to tell him everything.
My wolf wants to please him, to do anything to make him happy.
She acknowledges him as the bigger predator, and she feels safe with him.
"She told me what it is to be a Luna. What I can do in time.
" Slowly, I open my eyes, and I know my wolf is at the forefront.
My vision is all hers—the room's colors muted like my wolf's.
"What did she tell you, my flame?" Easton sits on the other side of the bed at the foot. His strong hands take my foot from under the covers and start massaging the arch.
Swallowing hard, I take a deep breath and pull both hands into my lap.
"I am a healer, but I am also a weapon and a shield.
" Slowly, I look up at each of my mates.
"I'm not a fighter. I don't like violence.
" Shaking my head, I sigh. Mixed feelings churn through me about what my wolf told me.
Can I fight? Better yet, will I fight or run like I usually do?
Fi is the fighter, not me.
"You're fretting again. What's on your mind, little wolf?" Torben gives my leg another squeeze.
"Fi is the fighter, not me. I don't fight—I run.
I run like I've always been told to do. Run and don't look back.
" A single tear rolls down my cheek, and I swipe it away quickly.
The admission tastes like failure on my tongue.
"Ever since my wolf has been free, I don't want to run, and it scares me.
" The fear coils tight in my chest. Who am I becoming?
Khal pulls me closer. "Trust your wolf. She has spent her entire existence with the knowledge of what to do." His fingertip traces the ridge above my eye, just above my eyebrow. It's soothing, and my eyes close of their own volition.
"Listen to my voice, Feray." My body goes lax in his arms, and he lays me back down. "Deep breath and let it out slowly. Your wolf knows what to do. Trust her." His fingers keep tracing my eyebrows, lulling me into a deep sense of relaxation.
"Are you doing what I think you're doing?" Diaval's voice almost breaks through the haze.
"Yes, I am. She fights herself daily because of all the fear and need to hide all her life.
She will never live up to her potential if she remains afraid of who she is.
Subspace lets her work through everything where she feels safe.
No barriers." He keeps running his fingers along my brow, keeping me under.
"Diaval, you are the strongest shifter in this room. Besides Torben, she was immediately drawn to you. Her wolf knows your dragon will protect them. Talk to her."
"My eternal." His voice resonates in my very soul.
"Little wolf..." Torben follows shortly after.
"You have no reason to be afraid anymore. We will protect you." Diaval strokes my cheek, and his words feel like a warm hug.
"In all reality, little wolf, you are strong enough to protect yourself. You just need to believe in yourself." I feel the bed shift, then the press of his lips on my forehead before his heat vanishes.
I told you... My wolf says after Torben leaves.
Khal leans down and whispers near my ear. "Time to rise, my queen." His words infuse me with an energy I haven't felt before, and when my eyes open, I feel as if they've taken a great weight off my shoulders.
Shaking my head, I look back at the guys and then down at my hands. "I'm tired of running and being afraid.”b The words feel like a vow. A promise to myself. I squeeze Diaval's and Khal's hands as I look at Easton and Torben, trying to push how much I love them through the bond.
"Then don't be. As it sits right now, you are probably one of the strongest Lunas in existence. Perhaps even history." Diaval says before the others have a chance to speak.
"How do you figure? I don't have a pack." Shaking my head, I look at him, puzzled.
"You don't?" Torben smirks and shoves Khal out of the way to sit next to me.
"A pack is a wolf's family." He arches a brow.
"We are your family, your sleuth, your nest, your pack.
We are whatever you need us to be." He motions to the others.
"How many Lunas can say they have a dragon and a phoenix in their pack?
A basilisk and a Kodiak?" At the mention of our family, I look at each man, and then it clicks.
"Oh, shit... A Luna gets her power from her pack." I stare at my hands, trying to will something to happen.
"What are you trying to do, my flame? It looks like you're straining." Easton tilts his head left, then right, as he studies me.
"Trying to get something to happen besides my claws?" I state it more as a question than a statement. To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure what the hell I'm trying to do. But I'm trying.
"That will take time and patience. Once we find your pack or a pack with a good Luna, she can teach you." Khal offers before he smiles and walks off.
"Finding a pack would be nice." I look down, hearing the whine of my wolf in my head. The loneliness she's carried for so long echoes through me.
Torben runs his fingers through my hair and pulls me to him.
"It's important for a wolf to have a pack.
We can do our best to be a pack for you.
I'm the only one that can really hunt with you, but I can't keep up.
" He sighs and hugs me tighter. "We will do everything we can to get you to your people. "
Just as Torben hugs me, Diaval's phone pings. A deep rumbling growl escapes his lips as he glares daggers at his phone. "Fucking Myra..." When he looks up at me, his dragon is on the surface, looking like he's ready to go on a rampage.
I do the only thing I can think of. I launch myself at him and wrap my arms and legs around him tightly, as if trying to hold the dragon in his body.
Softly, I hum and push as much calming energy as I can toward him through the bond.
Eventually, his rigid frame relaxes under me, and his arms band gently around me as he carries me over to the couch.
Diaval sits down, and I move to straddle him, still refusing to release him.
"What was that all about?" Easton asks as he comes to sit beside us.
"My ex, Myra, the queen of Vasserdell, wants us to come to her nest for dinner tonight." Diaval mutters against my throat as he presses his lips there.
A chill runs down my spine. This is the woman who almost enslaved him. "Oh, that can't be good." I sigh and make eye contact with Easton. "What am I supposed to wear? All I have are my sundresses and several sets of leggings and baggy shirts."
"You're in luck. Diaval and I already planned for this possibility.
We have an elvish gown for you that complements your skin tone and hair.
" Easton moves to the odd small suitcase they have with them and opens it.
Khal moves over to assist as he pulls the flowing gown from the suitcase.
It's white as snow and sparkles like fresh powder on a winter morning when the sun first comes up.
The bodice is cinched with silk ribbons intricately woven from the top to the waistline.
My breath catches. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
Khal moves forward with an elvish tiara.
Instead of a jewel adorning the teardrop, a single black scale dangles in its place.
"Before you ask, it's one of mine." Diaval says softly as he lifts his head and releases me.
"It's a mating present, an adornment that a drake gives his mate. A visual statement of belonging."
Khal offers me the tiara, and I look it over carefully. "When did you have it made?" I continue to stare at the intricate craftsmanship. Whoever made this is an extremely skilled artisan.
"The next morning, after you gave me the mug.
When you chose me until death." My heart swells so full I'm afraid it might burst. He'd been planning this since then.
Since the moment I gave him that stupid mug I bought on a whim.
He reaches out, takes the tiara from me, and rests it on my head.
Carefully, he moves some of my hair around, then ties the ribbons underneath.
A soft smile graces his lips as he adjusts the pendant with his scale to rest against my forehead.
"Perfect. Just like its owner." Diaval leaves me speechless as he heads to the door. "I need to make several arrangements before we leave. Please continue to get ready. We leave as soon as I return." With that, he leaves the room swiftly, setting everyone into motion.
I sit there stupefied, staring at the dress and then the door.
What am I about to walk into?