Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2014 11:04:45 +0400
From: Nell Bas <helledon12@gmail.com>
Subject: the last feres/ the feri circle 1

Happy reading!

			      The Feri Circle
				 Chapter 1

`Look how cute he is!' Wren whispered. He stood in front of me looking down
at the baby in my arms.

We were in the Redhurst nursery in Belen. We came to visit Niall and his
family.  We haven't seen Niall since the pledge ceremony almost four weeks
ago, and I really wanted to meet the babies. Did I say I love babies?

 Little Niel was a bit agitated so I rubbed his belly to keep him
calm. Wren was now playing with his tiny hand. The baby grabbed his pinky
tightly and wouldn't let go.

`And he's so strong too.' I loved the look on Wren's face and the way he
doted on the child.

`What do you think he'll turn into a wolf or a tiger?' I asked Xander. He
was in one of the two rocking chairs by the cradles with a baby of his
own. Eva, who was breast feeding the other baby, was sitting in the other.

`Definitely wolf,' he said.

`What makes you say that?' I curiously asked.

`The father's genes are stronger when it comes to mixed breeding. So
evidently they'll all be wolf shifters like their dad.'

I looked at Eva and she nodded as if to say that it was true.

That was unfortunate for her because, as I understood she and Dale were
most likely the last two tiger shifters in existence. I wasn't sure how the
Tiger shifter disappeared but I felt sorry for them all the same. Poor
Dale, now he was probably the only one with the ability to propagate the
genes of his species.

Thinking of Dale, he was now living in Yull, the Capital of the Eagle
shifter's homeland with Seth Ravager, his bond-mate. He sent me whisperers
every now and then, and by the looks of things he seemed happy. Wren and I
had already made plans to go visit him in the near future.

`Do you think Niall would mind if we take Niel with us to Notwitt?' I
asked.  Eva and Xander laughed.

`Not unless you want your guts cut out of your abdomen and fed it to you,'
Wren said.

I laughed joining the others. Yeah. Redhurst probably would. He was really
protective of his sons. There were three maidens with combat experience in
the room with us and four armed guards outside the nursery door. Whoever
had a death wish has only to present their foot at the entrance.

`You're good at this,' Eva said, watching me, `ever thought of having one
of your own?'

`Sure but not right now; maybe when everything is calm and settled.'

`Rye wants a whole room of them,' Wren joked to which all the adults in the
room laughed.

`Why not, there's lots of room in Notwitt,' Xander said more or less
joking.  They were right though. I don't want a roomful but I would like at
least three or four kids.

Except I have one problem with that plan.

Remembering the last time I was here in Belen, I caught Wren cheating in
the common bath. I was angry and jealous, more so because he was doing it
with a female. Now, what would happen when he starts bedding the breeder
who would carry our brood?

Call me selfish but I dreaded this day. If I could have had it my way, any
children we're going to have would have both our genes. Who am I kidding
though, one way or another I'd have to wake up and face reality.


That afternoon, after sharing a small meal with the happy parents, Wren and
I returned to Notwitt.

Just as we entered the common hall Reedley, one of Wren's brothers came to
meet us.

`Rye, you have a visitor waiting in the lounge,' he said as if he had
something stuck in his nose.

`Who is it?' I asked.

`You better go and find out for yourself,' he said with an attitude. He
then mumbled something like "one was enough now two" before disappearing in
the hallways leading to the main kitchen.

`What was that all about?' I asked Wren, who raised his shoulders at me.

Mystified, we went straight to the lounge.

As soon as I entered I saw the reason why Reed was acting odd. Looking
outside through the window was a young leopard shifter who went by the name
Bron.

`Hey!' I yelled to which he turned to face me with a grin. `When did you
get here?'

He crossed the distance between us and hugged me tightly. `Jan brought me a
moment ago,' he replied.

The last time I saw Bron was at my human best friend's mother's funeral. I
recalled he stayed behind because he had a slave bond with Xell; one that
would put him in danger even now that he was standing here.

`What're doing here?'

Bron released me. A great sadness crossed his face before he looked at
Wren.  `Hey mutt,' he said. Oh no! Here we go again.

Wren's whole demeanor changed. He breathed in deeply to composed himself.
`Excuse me, I need some air,' he then said leaving us.

He wasn't mad but he and Bron didn't see eye to eye. Not that they disliked
each other but I guessed it was a shifter thing.

I pulled Bron to the nearest couch.

`Bron, you're in danger here. Why did you come back?'

`I know. I was alone and bored in the human realm by myself.'

I frowned.

`What happened to Alex? I thought you two were together.'

Bron filled his lungs before answering. `It's a long story...' He
paused. `After you guys left there wasn't a need for them to stay with the
Faradays anymore. Allen was cleared of all the charges against him. He no
longer was a suspect in his wife's murder. They went to live in your old
house for a few months until he could get on his feet. I went with
them. But nothing was the same anymore. A few weeks after I moved in, I
noticed that Allen was a bit uneasy around me. It was subtle at first but
then he really went all wacko. I guessed I reminded him of the creature
that killed his wife. So it grew awkward for me after sometime. But things
turned to the worst when I arrived home early one day. I overheard a
conversation between Allen and his son. It was hard to tune it out because
of all the yelling. It was about me of course. The father wanted me out and
the son didn't. To settle that dispute I chose to move back with the
Faradays.

`Alex and I didn't break up though. We saw each other at school and after
school but eventually his father's uneasiness rubbed off him too. And one
day out of the blue he called and told me we can't see each other
anymore. That day I dropped everything and rushed to his house. By the time
I got there the house was empty.  They had moved out.'

`I'm sorry,' I said as if it was my fault. `I know how you must have felt.'

`Frankly, I wasn't angry at Alex or at his father,' he continued trying to
be brave. I felt the sorrow in his voice and I sympathized with him.

`Having lived in the human realm for that long I came to understand the
human psyche. Who could blame them really? I mean Alex and his dad were
kidnapped, forced to watch someone being tortured in front of their very
eyes and then to find out that monsters are real and that their mother and
wife had been killed by one. That's more than enough to drive anyone
crazy. To make matters even worse, they had another monster living under
their roof. No I didn't blame them for running away.'

Bron was right. As much as it killed me to admit, Alex and his dad had gone
through a horrible experience. It was truly a miracle they didn't break
sooner. But I was glad they decided to put all of this behind them and
started anew. They deserved to be happy and live their lives in peace. Now
though, I was sad because I'd lost my childhood friend forever.

`Are you going to be okay?' I asked Bron.

`Yeah,' he said wiping his misty eyes.

`Good. I'm glad you came to us. Now come, I'll show you to your room and
later you'll meet the others.'

Bron spent the whole afternoon bringing me up to speed about what had been
going on in the human realm. I was happy to hear Sally Hart was engaged to
be married to her longtime boyfriend Mark. Mr. Garth was still alive and
grumpy as usual. The bookstore was still operational. And I thought Chase
would like this one. His stepfather was arrested for molesting the
neighbor's child. I felt sorry for the kid, but I was so glad they caught
that perp.

Early that evening, hunger brought Bron and me to the kitchen where the
others were. The whole room fell silent when we entered. And all eyes were
on the new guy. Bron twitched uneasy by my side. I put my arm around his
shoulders for support.

`Guys, I would like you to meet Bron. Bron meet the guys.'

There was a collective "hey" but that was it. Ned's face blanched and he
shrank in his seat. All the wolf shifters, including Wren, lowered their
heads and pretended to be busy eating and talking, except for Reed. He
fixed Bron with a heated stare that even made me uncomfortable. He honestly
looked like a mean dog waiting for an opportunity to run the cat up a
tree. Their behavior disconcerted me.

The only two persons around the table with genuine reactions were Nick and
Farren. Well, Farren looked like ... Farren, the indifferent one.

`Hey Bron,' Nick said getting up from his seat, grinning. He hugged
Bron. `It's good to see you again buddy.'

`Thanks Nickolas,' Bron replied.

`Come. Sit by me and will chat a bit.'

Just as Bron were about to follow Nick, his eyes fell on Ned. He froze; so
did I, fearing the worst case scenario. I forgot that he also suffered at
the hands of the Moran twins when they worked for Xell. Bron's breathing
became heavy. `What's he doing here?' He said with a tightening throat.

Nick followed his gaze and pulled him into a half hug. `Don't worry. We
fixed him.  He's harmless now,' he said and simpered.

Finally able to breathe, I felt relieved knowing Nick has everything under
control.  I stood there and watched the lost leopard shifter for a while,
happy that at least someone had made him feel welcome.

`Aren't you hungry, Rye?' Eric said entering the kitchen.

`Yeah. I also just arrived.'

`Uh, okay,' he said, `and before I forget. Charlie will be home
tonight. He'll want to see you early tomorrow before he has to leave
again.'


					* `We need to have a talk, Wren,' I
said as I entered the bedchamber and found him there. Getting naked, he was
preparing for bed.

`What did I do now?' he asked, catching the reprimand in my voice.

`I didn't appreciate the way you and your little pack brothers were
treating Bron at diner. He is my friend and he is in pain.'

`Come on, Rye. I didn't do anything to the "napidn".' Ever since the pledge
ceremony when the leopard shifters turned up, I've been hearing this term
at every turn. I didn't know what it meant, and when Ned finally told me I
was very offended. And now hearing it on Wren's lips, I was infuriated.

`"Sister-fucker". Really Wren. Is this how you'll treat my guest? Insulting
them.  Calling them names behind their backs.' I yelled. `Now your little
pack of bullies will be doing their very best to make Bron feels unwelcome
in my home. I'm warning you, Wren Graylard, if you or yours can't deal with
your racist crap I suggest you pack up and leave.'

I was so pissed that I almost missed Wren's reaction. He was edging
backward towards the bed, eyes fixed on something around me with an alarmed
expression on his face. Snapping out of it, I turned to see what he was
staring at. That was when I saw it.

Golden smoke-like streaks of energy resembling the Memorium's protective
barrier was twirling rapidly like a vortex behind me. That was when I also
felt the heat coming from my shaking hands. And a sudden realization dawned
on me.

It had come from me! I had done this!

I was petrified.

...

End of chapter 1