NOVA Here goes. Big moment. No pressure. Just... you know... deciding the rest of my entire life.The instructor's voice drones as names get called one after the other. Students stand tall, announce their choice with the confidence of people who actually have their crap together, and march back to their seats. Strategy Division. Combat Division. Healing Division. Over and over.Meanwhile, me? My brain's running in circles like a caffeinated squirrel.Strategy?Well, I am good at scheming. I can possibly out-talk half this class and bluff my way through almost anything. But strategy also means endless hours of maps, pieces, theories, blah blah blah. Which sounds like brain-melting boredom when I could be—Combat?My fists actually itch at the thought. Adrenaline and sweat, oh yes, please. Except, combat division might actually expect me to know which end of the blade is which.Healing?Okay, don't laugh. Healing is noble and important. A part of me likes the idea of patching peop
NOVA I rush to Rhydar's side before I can think better of it, grabbing his arm to stop him. He slowly releases Uriel, who slumps back into the couch like a ragged doll."What the heck, Rhydar? Are you trying to kill him?" I demand, my chest heaving."He deserves it," Rhydar deadpans, and I stiffen."Why would you say that? What exactly happened between the both of you?" I ask, and he points at Uriel."That bastard isn't Uriel."My brain short-circuits, struggling to process what he's just said."What are you talking about?"He pulls away from me and starts to pace, rubbing the back of his neck. A vein throbs in the middle of his forehead as he continues to pace with one hand on his hip."I can't prove it. But that thing on my couch isn't Uriel. Get him out of my sight," Rhydar snarls, and my eyes go wide.Has he finally lost it?Uriel just sits there, half-conscious. Theo curses under his breath, crouching beside him, confusion etched across his face."What the hell is wrong wit
NOVA Summer break ended in a blur. I went on a lot of dates. Fun ones. Crazy sex too. In the bathroom, the kitchen, hell, even the elevator. Wild, I know.But sometimes, I still cry in the bathroom with the water running. I can't forget about my brother. The grief eats me alive, though I never let Rhydar see it.We have been doing so well together. I've learned so much about him. We're practically dating now even though he never officially asked me out. That makes us a situationship, I guess. We smile and joke and laugh. But to be honest, Rhydar walks on eggshells around me, and so do I."Ready?" Rhydar tells me as we head out of the lobby, his hand reaching for mine.I try to ignore the dark circles under his eyes as I entwine our fingers together. Ever since that phone call from his dad, he keeps having nightmares. Sometimes, I hear him puking at night or pacing.And it worries me.Rhydar loads our bags into the car trunk and opens the door to his sleek BMW.Once I'm seated, he
RHYDAR I'm dreaming. I'm ninety-nine percent sure of that. But this feels like a memory. I'm heading back there. To the abandoned library. I'm looking for Leo. Judging by his familiar mint scent, I'm on the right track. Pushing the door open, I sneeze loudly as the dust tickles my nose. "Stud? Is that you?" I hear Leo say as I shut the door behind me.Stud. He's the only one who calls me that. I haven't heard that in a long time. My chest tightens as I head towards him, finding him by the shelf. He's carving those cursed words into the wood: "One of us has to die.""What's going on? You didn't show up at the dorm last night," I tell him. He winces. "Sorry, I slept off in here. You know how this place warps the time. By the way...why do you smell like that?" He suddenly sniffles, turning towards me with a frown on his face. Now that I think about it, he smells a little different too. Blaze stirs inside of me. Our eyes go wide as realization hits us at once. "You're my mate
NOVA The tip of him presses against my entrance, hot and hard, and my body tenses instinctively."Breathe, sweetheart," he whispers, brushing his lips over mine. "I've got you. Just breathe for me."I try, but my heart is racing, my body tight with anticipation and nerves. His thumb strokes along my hip slowly, his forehead resting against mine.Blaze stirs in the bond, his presence pressing faintly against my mind, but Rhydar cages it, holding his wolf back. His eyes have reverted to their usual color."Tell me if it's too much," he murmurs. "I'll stop. I swear to you, Nova, I'll stop."I nod, clutching his shoulders, and he eases forward, just the barest inch. My breathing quickens. The stretch burns. My eyes squeeze shut, but his lips are already there, kissing them open again."Look at me," he whispers, his voice breaking. "Stay with me."I force my eyes open, tears pricking as the pain flares. He doesn't push further. He stays right there, buried only at the tip, letting me
NOVA My chest aches watching him cry. It hurts me to see how much he loathes himself for things beyond his control. He looks so lonely, and I can't stand it. "You don't understand. Nova, it's—" I press a finger to his lips, and he swallows hard, his beautiful grey eyes glassy with tears. They are so swollen and red, they look terribly sore. "My choice, Rhy. Mine." I tell him, and his eyes widen slightly. Slowly, he curls his fingers around my wrist and pulls my hand down from his face. His hand is shaking so badly. "What if you end up regretting it? Sweetheart, there are too many uncertainties—" "If we keep thinking about those uncertainties, we won't grow. If we keep holding back because of our fears, it simply means we're surviving, not living," I tell him, and he swallows hard. "Can you stand?" I ask, and he nods. I help him to his feet, and he rises with a low groan. Just then, Dora steps out of the elevator. She hesitates for a few seconds. Then she speaks, lowering