Chapter 31 Feray
Feray
The next day...
The rhythmic crunching of leaves underfoot mingles with the thudding of my heart, creating a disconcerting symphony that accompanies our approach to the mysterious house. The wind shifts, and the musky scent of rotting leaves wafts through the air, sending a shiver up my spine.
Khal strides confidently at the forefront, having deciphered the clues that lead us to the house in question. His assuredness, however, cannot quell the unease coiling within me.
I steal a glance at Torben, his bear form walking beside me. He remains staunchly in his animal state—an obvious manifestation of his discomfort in this haunted place. The tension radiating from him is a palpable force, and I can't help but share in his unease.
As we draw nearer, the silhouette of a half-rotted windmill looms on the horizon, a stark symbol of decay that has befallen this forsaken town. Each step closer amplifies the anxiety that has settled in my stomach.
We stand frozen at the fork in the road, uncertainty casting a shadow over our group. My gaze is drawn to the left, an unseen force tugging at me.
"Something doesn't feel right," I murmur, dread pooling in my stomach.
Torben's bear lets out a thunderous roar, an instinctive response to an impending threat. He pushes me backward, a silent warning etched in the intensity of his actions.
My senses heighten. I scan the woods, and in the shadows, red eyes ignite one by one.
The realization hits us like a chilling gust—we've found what happened to the pack.
The scent of death and old blood. The scent of a dank crypt.
"Vampires..." Diaval's voice cuts through the tension, and he extends an arm to shove me protectively behind him.
A soft, almost unhinged laugh escapes my lips. "Perfect..."
Easton's incredulous gaze fixes on me. "Perfect? What do you mean, perfect?"
I meet his gaze, a wicked smile playing on my lips, my wolf's canines extending. "They're allergic to me."
In an instant, the transformation begins. My snow-white wolf erupts from my human form, and I pad forward, taking a position closer to Torben's roaring bear.
The forest seems to hold its breath.
As the first vampire emerges, my presence disrupts the unnatural calm, and all hell breaks loose.
The charge of the vampires echoes through the air—the swift rustle of leaves and the soft patter of their footsteps creating a disconcerting cadence. But as suddenly as they move, they come to an abrupt halt, their predatory instincts frozen.
The vampires, a sinister congregation with eyes that burn like crimson embers, fixate on me. Every gaze is a needle-like prick against my skin.
"Get the white wolf!" One vampire screeches, a gnarled finger pointing accusingly in my direction.
The vampires, fueled by frenzied determination, surge forward once more.
Before we can charge into battle, Easton moves forward and ignites every vampire he can see. The world seems to move in slow motion. I turn to watch him control the fire like a conductor before an orchestra.
Movement behind him catches my attention.
My body seems sluggish as my muscles bunch, preparing to launch over Torben's back. Everything is moving so slowly. Fear builds in me as the vampire gets closer to Easton.
I scream, but as my wolf, it comes out as a howl.
The vampire reaches out, long gnarled fingers extending toward Easton. Diaval turns just as my wolf uses Torben's back to launch off.
Time seems to return to normal just as the vampire's claws reach Easton's throat.
My paws impact the vampire's chest. Instinct drives me, and my muzzle lowers, sinking into his throat. The taste of ash and bitter, rotted blood coats my tongue, but it doesn't stop me from thrashing.
The snapping of tendons and cartilage is music to my ears. A deep growl escapes my muzzle—one I've never heard from myself.
The minute the vampire's head is severed from his shoulder, I stand triumphant over what's left of the corpse as it turns to ash.
"No no no..."
Turning, I look back at Khal holding Easton in his lap. His hand pressed to Easton's throat, covered in crimson.
My wolf gives me back my body as I rush over to Easton's side.
"I wasn't fast enough. I'm so sorry..." My hand shakes as I extend it to touch him.
Easton forces a smile, looking at me.
Tears well and fall freely from my eyes. I feel his immense love flood the bond. A peace I've never known washes over me, and I know it's coming from him.
Gently, I take his hand and hold it tightly. He gives my hand a squeeze and closes his eyes.
"No, Easton, please don't die..." I scream, watching his body go lax.
The world shatters. My phoenix. My flame. Gone.
Torben pulls me back against him and crushes me to his chest. Diaval helps Khal stand, and they move to frame me, supporting me emotionally.
"My eternal, remember..." Diaval presses a kiss to my temple. "He's a phoenix. He will resurrect."
Sniffling, I glance from the guys over to where Easton lies far too still. "When will he?"
Return to me... is the question I dare not voice.
"Soon..." Diaval reaches out, running his fingers through my hair. He pulls the feather forward, and it's pulsing rhythmically. "When this ignites, so will he, and the process will begin. I've watched it now three times. It's stressful, but comforting to know it's only temporary."
"You've watched it before?" I spin in Torben's arms to fully face Diaval.
"Yes. Usually, if a phoenix knows it's going to be reborn, it chooses someone to watch over them for the first week of their new life."
His statement makes my brows furrow. "What happens in the first week?"
I move from Torben into Diaval's waiting arms.
"He comes back as a hatchling. The better he eats, the faster he'll grow."
Diaval turns me just as Easton's body ignites.
I want to run to him, instinct driving me to extinguish the flame. The flames flicker in a myriad of colors, hypnotizing me.
A whine escapes my lips as my wolf claws at me, wanting to set herself free to save her mate.
He's coming back... I say to myself—or more accurately, to my wolf.
He's burning... My wolf howls in my head, urging me to save him.
My anxiety crushes my chest as I watch the flames lick over Easton's prone corpse. I feel like I'm burning with him. He is a flicker in the bond as I watch him burn.
Anxiously, I bounce from foot to foot, resisting the urge to move to Easton's side.
"He'll be back soon, Precious. We just have to wait and watch." Khal moves to my side and cups my cheek.
I stare into his eyes and see his basilisk's slits. Sniffling, I nod and look over at Easton again. I can't draw my eyes away from the ball of fire that is my mate for too long.
Deep down, I blame myself for his death. I couldn't move fast enough.
"Why did I move so slow? I don't understand. My wolf is fast, but I felt like I was held down with chains."
"One of the vampires had an ability. Some can manipulate time to a point. This one—" Diaval motions to the ash pile. "Apparently could slow down time. Trust me, he would never blame you. You tried to get to him, putting yourself in danger to save him."
I glance away from Easton for a moment, then back to the flames as they die out.
The pile of ash draws me like a moth to a flame. I break loose from my mates and kneel next to what remains of Easton.
Something moves to my side, and a guttural growl escapes my lips reflexively. Then I notice it's Torben sitting next to me.
"It takes time," he says gently.
In the center of the ash, I watch it start to ignite and pulse like a heartbeat. Slowly, the ash draws toward the center as if gravity is pulling it. The ball of fire grows slowly, still pulsing in time with my heartbeat.
"This is different." Diaval kneels next to me.
When I glance up, I notice Khal has shifted. His basilisk seems to have grown in size. He coils his impressive form around us, shielding us from the outside world.
"What's different?" I tilt my head.
Diaval touches his fingertips to my throat. "His flames are pulsing in time with your heart. Your bond is strengthening his return."
Nodding, I watch the flames grow. As much as the fire scares my wolf on a primal level, we know it's my mate returning.
After what feels like forever, the fire finally dies, and a small pile of ash remains.
Movement under the ash draws my attention, and I reach out tentatively. My fingers search the ash until I find a small, warm body within it.
Carefully, I lift the body from the ash. The baby phoenix looks like a macaw and a peacock had a hatchling. The tiny butterball of a chick looks up at me with unexplained affection. It has the soft fluff of a hatchling covering its body.
Tiny talons grip my finger as I draw him to my chest.
Relief crashes through me so hard I nearly sob. He's here. He's alive. My flame.
I stuff Easton's chick in my hoodie and then down into the top of my shirt before zipping it up.
Khal's basilisk turns to face me, and I smile. "Hunt for us. Diaval and Torben can keep us safe. I need to feed him so he grows."
Khal lowers his giant head and boops me with his nose before taking off, slithering into the woods to hunt.
"Let's go back to the alpha house. It's not safe to be out in the open until Easton is back in his adult form."
I don't bother to wait for the guys to follow. I just turn on my heels and head back down the road.
We have about a week before Easton is back in his adult form. My hands frame the moving chick inside my hoodie, feeling my mate's tiny heartbeat against my chest.
The steps leading to the alpha house make my feet feel like lead. The weight of the world rests on my chest with every move of my mate's chick.
Hopefully, this week will end quickly.
But at least he's alive. At least he came back to me.
That's all that matters.