Mine. Mate. Shit.

The voices were muffled at first. She couldn't open her eyes yet, but she slowly started to hear what they were saying.

The tone was tense.

"I know what I saw, Aeron. That girl cracked an active cursed object without a trigger word or sigil. That's not magic I've seen. She's something else," Professor Malloran whispered.

His voice shook, "You said she had a wolf. If that's true, something like her should be dealt with. Before she becomes dangerous."

Did he mean...? Nova's heart sank. Why did she have to touch that stupid chain?

"Say another word like that about her and I will personally drag you out of this pack by your tongue."

The voice was familiar in a way she couldn't place. "Leave. Now."

The door closed, and Nova heard footsteps growing fainter. A third voice spoke. "I want full blood work," he said. "And notify Finric."

"Blood work is done," Elias replied. "It wasn't what I expected."

He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I'll send you the results."

"Is her blood dangerous?" someone asked.

"No," Elias said flatly. "Just nothing I've seen before. And she's not dangerous either. Malloran can go fuck himself."

Nova was vaguely aware of a hand resting on her forehead.

"She's burning up again," Elias murmured. "Her wolf isn't responding the way it should."

Footsteps moved away from her. She thought she was alone.

Then she felt a different hand brush her cheek.

Her eyes fluttered open, head swimming.

A face blurred into focus. Young. Strong. Handsome. Striking enough to steal the breath straight out of her chest. He had a sharp jaw, dark hair, and hazel eyes flecked with gold.

He stared at her like she'd done something impossible just by breathing.

"You're awake," he said quietly.

She forgot he was touching her until he noticed it. The awareness hit both of them in the exact same moment.

His hand snapped back and straightened so fast it looked rehearsed.

"Sorry." He cleared his throat. "That was— yeah. You don't... know me."

He flashed her a grin — charming and absolutely trying to cover the fact that he'd frozen like a statue.

"I'm Jax Thorne," he said. "Gamma of Shadowclaw. Resident voice of reason. Occasional bad influence. Depends who you ask."

Nova blinked at him, disoriented but steady.

"I'm... glad to finally meet you," he said, softer now.

Her brow furrowed slightly.

"Don't look at me like that," Jax said, grinning. "You were unconscious the last two times we met. Not my fault, before you blame me."

He counted them off on his fingers.

"First time? Chained to a tower wall. Terrible hospitality. Zero stars."

"Second time? You passed out in a room full of kids and cursed iron. Also zero stars."

She studied his face for a moment. This man was the Gamma. Part of the Shadowclaw royal family. High general of their armies. Respected.

And yet... he looked like he was nervous she might reject him.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Just two words. But she said them like they meant everything.

Jax stilled, unable to look away from her. Everything about her was magnetic.

"You're welcome," he said after a moment. Before he realized what he was doing, he touched her cheek again.

The moment stretched between them — silent, charged, soft in a way that made Nova's chest ache.

A creak of a door broke the silence.

"I've got strict orders from Aeron and, unfortunately, I follow those about as well as anyone else in this damn keep," Elias announced as he pushed the door open with his hip. "Oh good, you're awake. Saves me the trouble of poking you with something sharp."

Jax stood up immediately, shoulders squaring in that Gamma-trying-to-look-casual-but-failing way. He stepped back when Elias brushed past him, though the reluctance was obvious.

Nova pushed herself upright, slow and careful. The room tilted. Jax's hand twitched as if ready to catch her — but she steadied before he needed to.

Elias held out a cup.

"What is it?" she asked softly, eyeing it like it might bite.

"A delightful concoction I like to call 'stop flirting with death.'" Elias dropped into a chair beside her bed, scribbling something onto a board. "Herbal infusion. Fever's still chewing on you. If the gods show mercy, you won't erupt into silver light again and send poor Malloran into pissing himself."

Nova blinked, surprised.

"Yes, you did that, Moonveil." Elias said without looking up. "Very dramatic. Very luminous. Very inconvenient for my schedule."

Nova flushed, lifting the cup with both hands.

The smell hit her. It wasn't pleasant. She winced as she sipped.

Elias noticed. "Swallow. It's not poison. If I wanted you dead, you'd never taste it."

That should have been comforting.

He turned a page on his chart. "Once that's finished, you're going back to your quarters. Rest. Ignore it at your peril — I collect patient stupidity like a hobby."

She nodded silently.

"Can she walk?" Jax asked, voice low, gaze never leaving her.

Elias snorted. "Yes, Gamma, she can walk. Her legs still function. Her brain is the one doing interpretive dance." He closed the chart with a snap. "Fresh air will help. No need to keep her unless she starts glowing again and levitating."

Nova placed the empty cup aside, cheeks warm. She shifted, testing her legs, and Jax stepped forward without thought and almost touched her. But stopped himself.

"I'll walk you back," he said softly.

Elias waved them off with exaggerated exhaustion. "Yes, yes, escort the glowing girl. Try not to faint, either of you. It reflects poorly on my reputation."

Nova tried not to smile.

Elias absolutely noticed — and smirked to himself the moment their backs were turned.

✦✦✦

They walked in silence at first, back to the omega wing. Then Jax shot her a wicked grin.

"So... is this your thing? Collapsing dramatically whenever I'm nearby? Because if you're trying to get my attention, it's working."

Nova shook her head, lips twitching despite herself.

They turned a corner, nearing the omega wing. Lamps flickered along the walls, throwing long shadows that trailed behind them like ghosts of the day.

"You didn't have to do any of this," Nova said quietly. The words slipped out before she could stop them, and she immediately wished she could stuff them back in.

Jax smirked. "Please don't ruin my reputation, Moonveil."

He opened the omega-wing door and stepped aside.

"Goodnight, Nova," he said softly.

"Bye, Jax."

Her arm brush his as she slipped inside.

Something sharp and electric tore through him, snapping his wolf to attention.

She paused mid-step and glanced back at him, green eyes catching his.

Confusion flickered on her face.

Jax's breath hitched in a way he'd deny until death.

Before he could read her expression further, the omega-wing door swung inward.

Before it shut, he saw a redhead hurl herself at Nova and knock her flat in a hug.

✦✦✦

The war room was silent, outside of the fire flickering.

Alpha Finric Shadowclaw stood at the long oak table, one hand resting on the continent of Varos.

He'd been staring at Nova's name in the daily report for ten minutes.

She'd done something again. Another incident he wasn't there for.

Broken a cursed object. Glowed. Fainted. And Jax had carried her again.

The door creaked open. Aeron stepped inside with a bundle of sealed scrolls under one arm.

"She's stable," he said without preamble. "Fever. She has a magical signature."

Fin turned, slowly. "What kind of signature?"

Aeron approached the table. "That's what I want to find out. Closest to Lunar-sourced. Yet different."

He paused, then looked Fin in the eye. "She needs training. Now. Before someone whispers 'weapon' or 'threat.'"

Fin's stomach tightened. He would not let it come to that. "Do you believe she's a threat?"

Aeron's gaze didn't waver. "No, she's appears to be much different than the Ashbanes. Regardless, that kind of power left unchecked, is what starts wars."

He hesitated, then added more gently, "You already know that. Or she'd still be locked in the tower."

Fin's grip on the edge of the table tightened until his knuckles whitened. "You want permission."

"Yes. To train her. Quietly. Safely. Somewhere off the books."

Fin nodded once. "Permission granted."

Aeron set another scroll on the table, sealed with black wax.

"When Cael returns, he'll know something's off the moment he sees Jax watching her the way he does."

Fin's jaw clenched. "It seems my Gamma has too much time on his hands. I don't want him or anyone to get attached to this omega. Until we figure out if she has a place here."

Aeron raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment.

He turned and left, and Fin still stayed where he was, unmoving.

His wolf's voice slid into his mind. Saying the words again.

Mine. Mate.