For over a century, it had been tradition — the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and council elders dined separately. Either in the High Wing or perched like gods above the main hall on a raised dais. It was a line drawn clearly, dividing leadership from the pack.
That changed one quiet evening when Jax and Cael strolled into the main dining hall and dropped into the seats beside Elle and Nova.
The entire room stilled. Every set of eyes locked on them. Nova blushed, flustered. Elle blinked.
Cael gave a lopsided grin.
Jax leaned back and muttered, "Good."
The first meal was tense. Forks clinked awkwardly. Conversations died mid-sentence. But then — slowly — the mood began to shift. Cael remembered the names of the younger warriors. Jax cracked jokes with the scouts. Over the next few days, the pack saw their leaders not above them… but beside them.
"This is how it should be," Cael said one evening, watching Nova laugh at something Elle said. Jax nodded. "Long overdue."
But while the tension in the dining hall for the warriors and omegas melted, tension elsewhere was quietly boiling over.
A few weeks went by of Cael and Jax meeting their mates in the dining hall. Fin was now in the habit of eating alone while he worked.
The dining hall buzzed with the energy of celebration — a feast to honor the warriors returning from border rotations. Wine flowed freely. Torches flickered high on the stone walls.
Nova and Elle were seated with Cael and Jax, sharing a platter and laughing at one of Cael's ridiculous stories. Nova reached for her goblet of wine.
"Is that the white elderberry spiced one?" Elle asked.
"Try it." Nova passed it to her.
Elle took a sip and made a face. "Too dry."
Nova smiled and drank the rest.
Moments later — everything unraveled.
Nova's hand went to her chest.
Her breathing hitched.
"Nova?" Jax sat forward.
Something was wrong. Deeply, terribly wrong. His wolf howled inside him.
He felt intense pain in his chest through their matebond.
Across the table, Elle suddenly gasped — eyes wide, body tensing.
Then… blood.
Silver blood dripped from Nova's nose. She coughed silver blood in her hand. So much it dripped down between her fingers. She stared at Jax shocked. A tear ran down her face.
She turned and fell out of her chair, onto her hands on the floor. No more silver. Just red coming from her as it spilled out of her mouth, nose, and eyes. It sounded like she was choking and couldn't breathe.
Jax was stunned. It all happened so quickly.
A scream pierced the hall.
Elle doubled over, coughing. Choking. Blood poured from her lips and nose. Her hand trembled as she reached for Cael and then collapsed choking for air.
The pain. It was unbearable. Jax felt it like it was his own. Agony through the mate bond, like fire under his skin.
People ran, screaming, knocking over chairs.
Jax fell to his knees beside Nova, holding her. He mindlinked with a panicked voice. Leaving it open for Fin and Cael to hear.
Jax: Elias. Aeron I think someone just poisoned Nova and Elle. We're in the south dining hall. Get here immediately. Neither can breathe.
Elias responded immediately.
Elias: What are the symptoms?
Cael answered, holding Elle's hand.
Cael: Blood coming out of their mouth, nose, and eyes. Neither can get air. Seizure.
Elias: Lower them to the ground flat. Make sure nothing can fall on them.
Cael groaned exasperated. Jax was with him. He mindlinked back, with a sharp tone.
Jax: They are both already on the ground with a pool of blood around them. Nova can't breathe. Tell us what to do.
Nova's body convulsed violently.
"Nova, stay with me," he whispered. "Don't do this. Please — stay."
Elle's back arched. Her body seized — and then went limp in Cael's arms.
The doors slammed open.
Elias ran to Elle and Aeron to Nova. Without hesitation, they aggressively shoved the needle straight into Nova and Elle's sternums.
Cael and Jax both felt it through the mate bond.
Both girls were still. Hearts barely beating.
Fin burst into the hall, eyes scanning the carnage. He had just felt the most painful sensation through Nova, and then heard the mindlink.
Blood. Screams. His Gamma and Beta kneeling in pools of it, holding lifeless bodies.
His voice thundered — Alpha command.
"Everyone — back in your seats. No one leaves this room."
The pack froze. Even those halfway out the doors turned and slowly, reluctantly, returned.
The air was thick with fear.
Jax lifted Nova, soaked in blood. His hands trembled. Her skin was cold.
Cael did the same with Elle.
"We need transfusions," Elias said. "Now."
The two men didn't wait for permission. They carried their mates out, their hearts shattered in their chests, praying it wasn't already too late.