The sun filtered through the windows of her quarters, casting long golden beams across the floor. It was early afternoon, and she had a few hours before training with Draven. Enough time for a quick check-in.
Nova was slipping into her training suit when Finric's voice suddenly entered her mind.
Fin:Nova, when are you heading out?
She straightened, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Nova: Now, actually. I was just leaving.
His answer came fast.
Fin: Meet me at the same spot as yesterday.
Before she could respond, she felt the mindlink snap closed. She blinked.
Did… did he want to go with her again?
When she reached the courtyard door, he was already waiting. Calm, confident, arms crossed over his chest. He looked like he belonged in every war story she'd ever read.
"Alpha—" she began, but he cut her off with a single look.
"Fin." He corrected her gently, but firmly.
Nova hesitated. Then gave a small nod, unsure why her cheeks flushed at something as simple as a name correction.
He noticed.
He also didn't comment.
Finric tilted his head slightly. "Jax said it took you over a month before you finally stopped being formal with him."
That startled her. "He did?"
Fin gave a faint smile. "He was proud of that, you know. I just want you to know — you don't have to be formal with me either."
Nova looked down, scuffing the ground with her boot. "It's hard for me to not..."
"Respect isn't formality," he said. "I'll earn yours the right way."
Then added, more quietly, "And I mind you going alone."
She opened her mouth, then closed it again.
They shifted in the courtyard in unison.
And the onlookers paused.
The obsidian black wolf and the shimmering white one — power and grace running side by side — made the hairs on the back of every neck stand on end. Goosebumps rippled across watching warriors' arms. They looked like something out of an ancient legend.
They looked like they were made for each other.
Fin noticed the stares. He felt it.
Without a word, they ran.
Jax's scent wasn't close today. They followed it west through the dense trees and into the highlands. It was a longer route — a solid 30-minute run even at Alpha speed.
When they found him, he was curled up asleep in wolf form, fur matted slightly but his breathing calm and steady. He'd eaten some of the food Cael and Elle had brought earlier, the basket now half-empty, clothes untouched.
Nova wanted to get closer. To check on him. But her scent… that would only make things worse.
Fin: Let's head back.
Fin's mind brushed hers — calm and steady. Nova didn't reply with words. She didn't have to. But in the quiet space between them, Fin's wolf stirred.
Xeon: Mate is timid around you. She's guarded.
Fin: I know. I deserve that.
As they turned back toward the castle, he kept pace beside her — not leading, not overtaking. Just there. Through the mindlink, his voice returned again.
Fin: That waterfall there? That marks the edge of our western patrol route. Anything past that triggers an alert.
A beat passed.
Fin: And these hot springs — they're ancient. The founding Luna used to bathe here to calm her wolf. The water still holds power.
He should've taught her this when she arrived. He messed that up royally.
Nova said nothing aloud, but her eyes flicked toward him each time he told her something about the land. And without knowing why… her wolf nudged a little closer to him.
Not fully.
Not yet.
But closer.