When she woke again, it wasn't to warmth, or sunlight, or Jax's arms.
It was to someone shaking her shoulder with all the delicacy of a hurricane.
Nova groaned, rolling onto her back. "Elle…?"
"Good morning, sleeping beauty," Elle said, far too cheerful for someone who'd definitely been awake long enough to cause ten separate disasters. She stood beside the bed holding a neatly folded stack of clothes. "Your overprotective wolf sent me."
"How long…?" Nova murmured, forcing her eyes open.
"Almost fourteen hours." Elle smirked. "You could've been declared medically dead."
Nova pushed herself up on her elbows — carefully — her ribs twinging but no longer stabbing.
"He mindlinked me to come here. He and Cael have some meeting." Elle said.
Elle tossed the clothes onto the bed. "Come on. Up. I brought your black set — the one that isn't shredded like a wolf chew toy."
Nova sat up slowly, stretching her neck. "Thank you."
"Are you alright?" Elle asked.
Nova sighed, rubbing her rib. "I'm fine."
Once dressed — slowly, painfully, with Elle narrating every wince like an overexcited announcer — Nova secured her navy cloak around her shoulders.
Elle grabbed her own green one. "Ready?"
Nova nodded.
They stepped out into the corridor, walked the first few steps together… and then stopped dead when they reached the outer doors.
Snow drifted in heavy, lazy flakes across the courtyard, swirling like silver dust in the morning light. It was quiet, the kind of quiet only winter could manage.
Nova pulled her hood up, breath fogging the air. "It's freezing."
"It's beautiful," Elle corrected, already crunching into the fresh snow. "Come on. We're playing hookey today."
Nova grinned at her. "I was thinking the same thing."
"Lets go into the city. You need to get Milo a new training suit."
Nova's chest tightened but she nodded.
It wasn't until they were out of earshot, did she say what was eating at her. "Elle… I don't have a lot of money."
Elle hooked her arm through Nova's. "Neither do I. But we'll figure it out. Milo tore that sleeve for you. And I'm not wearing that shredded one again either. So you're getting him a new suit, and you're getting me one too."
Nova winced. "Elle…"
"No arguments." Elle lifted her chin.
"Do you ever feel uncomfortable about it with Cael?"
"Yes. A few times… but I never say it. Did Jax say something?"
"Yes… well no, he didn't realize. He grabbed the scissors to cut your training suit off me yesterday… and I stopped him, and he said it was worn out anyways… but I don't think he understands that we have three of them."
"Neither of them understand. It's not on purpose… they both grew up fortunate." Elle said.
Nova's laugh warmed the cold air. "True."
"I am never going to say anything to Cael." Elle sighed.
"I feel the same. We could pick up more duties but that'd be our one day off each week." Nova said.
"We might have to at the rate we're going through these." Elle said grimly.
They made their way down the snowy path, cloaks billowing, boots crunching. The cold stung Nova's cheeks, but it also made her feel awake — alive — steady.
Elle squeezed her arm. "We'll make this quick. Then I'm buying us hot drinks."
"With what money?" Nova teased.
Elle shrugged. "If I flirt with the vendor real hard he usually gives me discounts."
Nova snorted. "Of course he does."
They rounded the corner toward the market streets, snow picking up around them.
Elle grinned. "Alright. Let's go buy a suit we can't afford for a boy who can't fight."
Nova laughed again — soft, warm, real — and followed her into the winter morning.
________________________
Snow dusted the storefront windows like crushed diamonds. Inside, the tailor's shop smelled faintly of cedar and lavender, bolts of fabric stacked in vibrant towers behind the counter. The bell chimed softly as Nova and Elle stepped in, brushing snowflakes from their cloaks.
A tiny, elderly woman shuffled out from behind a rack of winter jackets. Her hair was pure white, braided into a long rope down her back, and her eyes — bright, sharp, startlingly blue — locked immediately onto Nova.
"Ohhh," she breathed, pressing a hand to her chest. "You're lovelier than the rumors."
Nova froze. "Rumors?"
Elle elbowed her sharply. "Take the compliment before your awkwardness scares her."
The woman cackled. "Oh, I like you both already."
Nova flushed, tugging her hood lower. "Thank you for your kind words. We're here for a training suit. For Milo Briant. He—uh—tore his sleeve helping me."
The woman's expression melted into something warm and fond. "That boy is a menace," she said affectionately. "Always running into walls or tripping into my store. But a sweet menace."
Elle grinned. "Accurate."
The woman examined the ripped suit Nova held, clucked her tongue, then reached beneath the counter and pulled out a pristine black training set — newer, reinforced stitching, clearly higher quality than what most students wore.
Nova blinked. "That's… too nice. We can't afford—"
"No coin," the woman said firmly, sliding it toward her. "This is for the boy. And these are for you both."
Nova's brows furrowed. "Why… for us?"
The woman only smiled, soft and knowing. "Because kindness like yours should never come at a cost."
Nova opened her mouth, then closed it again, then managed, "Thank you. Really. Thank you so much."
She almost was in tears with relief. The woman seemed to notice and smiled warmly.
"You saved me three hours of haggling," Elle added. "You are a hero."
The woman laughed so hard her shoulders shook.
"Go on then," she said, waving them off. "I'll deliver it to the boy myself."
Elle nudged Nova. "We should get gloves too. Before your fingers turn black and fall off."
They both selected thick wool gloves — Nova's navy, Elle's dark moss-green — and paid the woman with the few coins they had pooled together.
When they stepped back into the street, snow was coming down harder now, swirling thick and fast around them.
"Okay," Elle said, pulling up her hood. "Where to next?"
Across the road, unseen by Nova and invisible to Elle, Fin Shadowclaw stood half tucked into the narrow alley between two shopfronts. Nova's scent drifted to him through the snow, and he looked up to see her there.
He hadn't meant to follow them. Something had pulled him anyway, his legs carrying him here before he'd realised what he was doing. He shook his head at it, unsettled by how strong the matebond had become. A bond he could feel clearly, while she had no idea it even existed.
He watched them from the shadows, one shoulder braced against the stone wall, his expression unreadable.
Elle chatted animatedly beside Nova, waving her gloves like a victory banner, her laughter ringing lightly against the snow-muffled street.
Nova's voice was soft. Fin couldn't hear every word, but the tone made something in him still. He stepped closer.
"…she was so kind… I didn't think she would just… give it to us…"
Elle snorted. "She adored you. All the old women do. One wink and they fold."
"I didn't wink," Nova protested, cheeks pinking.
"You exist," Elle said, "that's enough."
Fin's jaw tightened. An emotion rose in him, sharp and unwanted. He refused to give it a name.
He had meant to step in and say something.
He wanted to make himself known.
But watching her — flushed from the cold and smiling despite her bruises — made him pause.
Curiosity wasn't the right word.
Curiosity was far too soft.
He followed because he couldn't help himself. She drew him like gravity.
The snow thickened as they made their way deeper into the market streets. Every few steps, someone waved, smiled, or stopped them outright. It was subtle at first — a nod from a baker, a warm greeting from an older man sweeping his doorway — but then it grew.
A middle-aged tailor stepped out of her shop and pressed a knitted scarf into Nova's hands.
A deep emerald green scarf — soft, warm, expensive.
Nova blinked, stunned. "Are you sure? I can't—"
"Of course you can," the man insisted, looping it gently around Nova's neck before she could protest. "This color belongs on you."
At the next stall, a beekeeper handed Nova a tin of salve "for bruises." At another, an elderly man slipped them each a honey shortbread "for strength." A young woman at a candle cart gifted Nova a small jar of winter-breeze scent, cheeks pink like she was handing an offering to royalty.
Nova looked overwhelmed, gratitude radiating off her in quiet waves.
Fin watched from the shadows, unseen.
His wolf huffed in his mind — a low sound of approval.
Xeon: Instinct. They know.
Fin: They're kind people, that's all.
His wolf disagreed immediately.
Xeon: The real queen and the fake one. Difference like night and ash.
Fin bit back a laugh.
"Gods," he muttered softly.
He stepped further into the shadow of a stone awning as Nova and Elle passed by, snow swirling under their boots.
"Elle…" Nova said softly, touching the scarf like she couldn't quite believe it existed, "I really love all these people."
Elle grinned. "Oh, you mean you didn't read about omegas sending threatening notes and warriors trying to tank you in your fairy-tale version of Shadowclaw?"
Nova laughed. "No, those parts weren't in the history books."
Elle threw her hands up dramatically. "Honestly, I feel scammed."
"I like the people in the castle too… all of my favorite people are there." Her cheeks warmed as she said it.
Elle raised a brow knowingly. "Oh? All your favorites?"
Nova swatted her arm lightly, but the smile that crept onto her face was unmistakable.
Fin's chest tightened, with something sharp. He stayed hidden, watching quietly as the snow continued to fall thick and soft.
They crossed a busy corner when suddenly, a small boy, no more than six, sprinted from the bakery steps and grabbed Nova's cloak with trembling hands, tears streaming down his cheeks.
Elle startled. "Whoa—hey—sweetheart, what's wrong?"
Nova dropped to her knees instantly — wincing slightly at the rib pain, which she hid well — and wrapped her arms around the boy, pulling him close. "Hey," she murmured softly, "You're alright, breathe."
He sobbed harder, shivering from the cold.
"It's okay," she whispered. "What happened?"
Fin watched — every line of his face softening despite himself.
Her gentleness hit like a blow.
She wasn't trying to impress anyone.
She wasn't doing it for show.
She didn't even know she was being watched.
She was simply… kind.
His wolf hummed again.
Fin stepped closer without meaning to.
The little boy's sobs quieted under Nova's steady hands, his breath softening as he pressed closer to her cloak. Between hiccups, he managed, "I—I got lost from my group."
"Your group?" Elle asked gently.
He sniffed hard and nodded. "The orphanage. We're visiting the market today. I was playing tag and… and then they weren't there anymore."
Nova smoothed his hair back. "We'll help you find them," she said softly.
He looked up at her — wide-eyed, cheeks flushed from cold — and then he reached out and grabbed her hand in both of his tiny ones.
He blinked up at her with complete sincerity.
"Are you a princess?" he asked.
Nova startled. "Me?" She laughed — quiet and warm. "Oh… no. I'm not a princess."
The boy frowned. "You look like one."
Elle snorted. "Kid, you've got taste."
Nova's cheeks warmed. "That's very sweet," she said, brushing snow from his hair again.
The boy straightened a little, wiping his nose on his sleeve. "If you were the princess," he said solemnly, "I would be a warrior and protect you."
Elle clutched her chest dramatically. "I'm adopting this one. We're keeping him."
Nova laughed, shaking her head. "You are very brave," she said to the boy. "Any princess would be lucky to have you."
The boy seemed to glow at that.
They crossed the snowy path and followed the sound of yelling and laughter. Not far ahead, a large group of children — at least thirty — were scattered around the snowy courtyard. Some older kids chased each other in a wild game of tag, shrieking and slipping in the deep snow. Others were huddled around a crooked snowman, adding pinecones for eyes.
The moment the boy spotted them, his whole face lit up.
"There!" he shouted, and he ran toward them with his arms flailing like an excited little bird.
The caretakers called to him in relief. Elle waved off their apologies, assuring them he was safe. Nova lingered for a second, watching the reunion.
She was about to step away when—
A snowball hit Elle square in the back of the head.
Elle froze.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
She turned around.
A group of kids — maybe five to eight years old — stared at her in sheer terror, still holding half-made snowballs.
Nova pressed a hand to her mouth to hide her laugh. "Elle—"
Elle grinned. Dangerously.
"Oh," she said sweetly. "You're all dead."
Squeals erupted. Children scattered everywhere as Elle lunged into the snow, scooping up a handful and launching an attack like a seasoned general leading a siege.
Nova laughed, warmth rising in her chest.
She didn't even realize she'd joined in until a snowball exploded against her shoulder. She blinked, stunned, then picked up snow and tossed it gently at a boy who shrieked in delight and ran away.
Minutes passed.
The courtyard turned into absolute chaos. Kids were shrieking, laughing, pelting balls of snow at anything that moved.
Elle was sliding across the ice like she had trained for this her entire life. Nova was kneeling in the snow, helping a girl pack the perfect snowball. Someone dragged her into building a lopsided snowman, and she found herself rolling snow with her hands, breath clouding the air, scarf slipping down her shoulder.
Fin watched from across the street — motionless, half-shadowed beneath the awning — completely and utterly still.
His wolf rumbled with approval.
Back in the snow, the smallest boys had wandered away from the chaos. He was maybe five, and stood shivering, rubbing at his sleeves with small fists.
Nova was just straightening from helping a girl pack the perfect snowball when she spotted him.
His gloves were soaked through, his sleeves dark with melted snow, and his lower lip trembled as he rubbed at his freezing hands.
He wasn't crying yet.
But he was close.
Nova walked over slowly, lowering herself to her knees so she didn't loom over him. "Hey," she whispered softly, the same tone she used on frightened animals and skittish pups. "What happened?"
The boy sniffed hard. "I'm cold." His voice cracked. "My gloves got wet, and then… and then it hurt." He rubbed harder at his arms in helpless frustration. "And everyone's playing and I can't."
His breath hitched, a tiny, defeated sound.
Nova's chest squeezed.
"Can you keep a secret?" She asked.
He nodded his head.
Silver light flashed from her hands into his, drying his gloves and warming him.
Nova stood up grinning. The little boy stared up at her, eyes wide and full of wonder.
"Are you an angel?" he whispered.
Nova blinked, startled. He hugged her fiercely, before she could answer.. Nova's arms wrapped around him instinctively, gentle and careful.
Elle, twenty feet away freezing mid-snowball, put a hand to her heart.
Nova laughed softly under her breath.
Fin sucked in a quiet breath and he swallowed hard. His wolf went quiet for a long moment. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her.
They'd barely finished the snowman when a sudden thump shook a branch overhead.
Elle looked up. "What the—"
A blur of black cloak and snow crashed down from the low roof of a nearby shed.
"BOGOGOGOGOGO!"
Cael barreled into the snowbank, arms thrown wide, snow exploding around him like a miniature avalanche.
Every single child screamed.
Some in terror.
Some in delight.
"I AM…" he rose slowly from the pile, snow dripping from his hair, voice deep and monstrous,
"…THE SNOW MONSTER!"
Kids shrieked and sprinted in every direction. One tripped and immediately used that as an excuse to start making a snow angel. Another tried to climb Nova like a tree. A third launched himself at Cael with an unformed snowball that disintegrated mid-air.
Cael staggered dramatically. "AAAAH! I am wounded! Mortally wounded! My only weakness—children with terrible aim!"
The kids roared with laughter and swarmed him, pelting him with lumpy snowballs. Two of the older boys tackled his legs. A tiny girl jumped onto his back with zero hesitation.
"THE SNOW MONSTER DEMANDS A SACRIFICE!" Cael bellowed, grabbing the nearest child and hoisting him upside-down for two seconds before setting him back in the snow.
Elle was doubled over laughing.
Nova couldn't stop smiling either, her cheeks flushed pink from the cold and the warmth of the moment. The little boy who'd asked if she was an angel clung to her leg, giggling every time Cael took a dramatic fall.
It was ridiculous. It was chaotic. It was perfect.
Eventually, the kids cornered Cael into a drift so deep only the top of his head stuck out.
A small girl climbed onto Nova's boot and whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear:
"Miss… I think we killed him."
Cael lifted one hand weakly from beneath the snow. "Tell my luna… I died bravely…"
Elle snorted. "Oh gods, he's fine. He's being dramatic."
Cael popped up a second later, shaking snow from his hair like a wet dog and sending children scattering with delighted squeals.
"Who's next?" he boomed.
All thirty children screamed and charged him.
Nova laughed, warm and soft. And from the shadows, Fin watched too—quiet, unseen, a faint smile tugging at his mouth despite himself.