The forest shimmered in silver light, fog curling around the bases of the trees like breath from something ancient and asleep.
Nova stood in a clearing.
The world felt quiet—too quiet. But she wasn't afraid.
Ahead, a golden-eyed wolf stood between shafts of moonlight, its black fur gleaming like wet stone. Familiar. Achingly familiar.
"Jax?" she whispered, taking a step forward. Her voice cracked with hope. "Is that you?"
The wolf didn't move at first. Then, slowly, it tilted its head.
"Come back to me," she begged, voice rising. "I miss you so much. Please…."
The wolf hesitated. Its ears flicked toward her. One step. Then another.
Nova's breath caught.
But then—black smoke spilled in like ink poured into water. It slithered between them, hissing and alive, growing thicker by the second. The golden eyes disappeared behind it.
"No…Jax!" She screamed, panicked, like she couldn't breathe.
She ran forward, but the smoke slammed into her like a wave. Blinding. Freezing. Drowning.
"JAX!"
"Nova!" His voice echoed back through the dark—distant, strained, panicked. Like he finally remembered who she was. "Nova, I'm here—where are you?!"
She spun in place, unable to see anything. Only the sound of his voice—desperate, echoing.
Then even that was gone. Everything went still. Empty.
Then—a second howl tore through the blackness. Not frantic like before.
Calm. Deep. Ancient.
A light broke through the smoke—white and gold, burning away the darkness like the dawn. A second wolf emerged.
Its fur was obsidian black, and its eyes… those eyes.
Nova stumbled back, breath caught in her throat. Not fear—recognition.
"I… I know you."
The wolf walked toward her slowly, power rippling in every step. When it reached her, it lowered its head and touched its nose to her palm.
"Who are you?" she whispered, barely breathing.
The wolf's voice came like wind through trees—silent, but felt in every fiber of her being.
"You're destiny."
Her lips parted. "What…?"
The wolf tried to speak again—Nova could feel the urgency—but the words didn't come through. Like they were being said on the other side of glass. She reached out.
"I can't hear you—wait, please—"
The world shattered.
Nova gasped awake, bolting upright in a bed she didn't recognize. The silk sheets fell from her bare shoulders, and her heart thundered in her chest.
This wasn't her room. This was… extravagant. Warm-toned wood, velvet drapes, bookshelves, a fireplace. Definitely not the infirmary.
And she wasn't alone.
From the other side of the room, Elle burst in. "Oh good! You're awake!"
Nova blinked, disoriented. "Elle?"
"Yep. You've been out for nearly a full day again. Finric just mindlinked me a few minutes ago to bring you some clothes." Elle rushed to the side of the bed, setting down folded garments on a chair. "He figured you'd be waking up soon."
Nova clutched the edge of the blanket, still dazed. "What… happened?"
Elle's face softened, her voice turning gentler. "A lot. But you're okay. You're safe."
Nova's eyes scanned the room again. "Where are we?"
Elle pulled the curtains back a little to let in moonlight. "Your training suit was destroyed, and you were covered in blood. Finric carried you back. He had Elias and Aeron check you over. Elias did a transfusion. You were losing too much blood, and..." she hesitated, "...you saved Finric's life."
Nova's hand trembled slightly beneath the blanket. The dream still clung to her skin like mist. "Did I?"
Elle nodded. "Yeah. He's pretty shaken up. Won't admit it, of course, but I saw his face. He didn't leave your side for a second."
Nova swallowed hard.
"Oh, and Aeron placed a protection spell on the door. Meredith can't enter. At all."
Nova blinked again. "Seriously?"
"Mmhmm." Elle smirked, handing her the clothes. "Apparently there was some concern she'd try to sneak in. Fin wasn't having any of it."
Nova took the clothes slowly. "He said… this was the safest place?"
Elle shrugged. "His words were: 'I'm not putting her anywhere near Meredith.'" Her smirk deepened. "So… yeah."
Nova looked down at her lap, gripping the fabric Elle handed her. Her pulse was still racing, but she felt grounded now. Her friend. Warm light. A heartbeat that wasn't her own still lingering in the back of her mind.
The black wolf's words echoed through her head again.
"You're destiny."
She wasn't sure what it meant.