Nova's head throbbed as she stepped out of Fin's room. The corridors felt heavier than usual, the air too still. Elle walked beside her quietly, her face drawn in concern.
Back in their room, Elle exhaled and flopped dramatically onto her bed. "You look like death warmed over," she muttered.
"Thanks," Nova said flatly, a ghost of a smile tugging at her lips.
"Seriously, Nova—"
"Elle," Nova interrupted softly, "go stay with Cael. You don't have to keep watch over me. I'm fine. I just need to rest my eyes for a bit, that's all."
Elle frowned, arms crossing.
"Go," Nova said again, gentler this time. "Please."
It took a full minute of arguing, but finally Elle relented. "Fine. But if you start glowing again or doing weird magic stuff, I'm coming right back."
Nova managed a small laugh. "Deal."
When the door shut, silence settled. It was too quiet.
She made her way to the adjoining bathing chamber and filled the large stone tub. Steam rose, fogging the mirror. She slipped into the hot water, wincing as the heat seeped into sore muscles and bruised skin. The tension began to unwind, but her chest still hurt—the ache behind her ribs that no healing could touch.
Two near-death experiences and a broken heart in one week. She closed her eyes and let the thought drift bitterly through her head. How much can one girl take?
By the time she got out, the water had gone cold. She dried herself and pulled on a blue lace bra and matching thong. The moonlight filtering through the curtains painted her silver blonde hair almost white. She didn't bother with the rest—just crawled into bed, damp hair spread across the pillow, and pulled the blanket up to her chin.
The tears came quietly. Hot and relentless. She didn't even know when she fell asleep.
Her dreams led her back to the forest she'd been running through to a river that glowed when she touched it. There was a large cave with runes carved around it. When she stepped forward to enter the cave, arrows came down at her.
She woke with a start—heart hammering—when she saw him.
Jax kneeled beside her bed, his hazel eyes catching the dim light of the fire. His hand was on her forehead, gentle and trembling.
"Hey," he said softly. "It's okay. You were dreaming."
She blinked, dazed. "J…Jax?"
His face broke. "I'm so sorry, Nova."
He swallowed hard, voice rough with guilt. "You have every reason to hate me, but please believe me when I say—I wasn't in control. That dark magic twisted everything. I didn't remember who I was, who you were. All I had was anger—and it wasn't mine. But the moment I started remembering you, it almost killed me that I'd hurt you."
She couldn't stop the tears. "I… I'm sorry my mark hurt you. If I'd known, I would've been more careful. My wolf—she just took over, and—"
"No," he said quickly, reaching to wipe the tears from her cheeks. His thumb was warm, steady. "This isn't your fault. None of it is."
He crawled onto the bed beside her, wrapping her against his chest. She hiccuped softly, burying her face into the hollow of his throat.
He pressed his lips to her hair and whispered, "That poison—it blocked everything. I didn't just forget you, Nova. It made me think you were the enemy. I forgot everyone including myself."
She tilted her face up, voice small and trembling. "D-d-do you still feel it? The matebond?"
She sucked in a deep breath of air that was part sob.
"Yes," he said without hesitation. "I feel you. Every heartbeat. Every breath. And even if it vanished, even if the bond broke, I'd still love you. Nothing could change that."
Her hand reached up instinctively, fingers threading into his hair. "Were you scared while you were out there?" she whispered. "I was so worried."
He froze, the sound of her voice shattering him all over again. She wasn't angry—she was worried.
He leaned his forehead against hers, closing his eyes. "I was scared you'd never want to see me again," he admitted. His voice cracked on the last word.
She reached up, brushing away the single tear that slid down his cheek. He pulled her closer as their heartbeats slowly fell in sync.
He finally leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, tentative kiss. It was a kiss that spoke of longing, of unspoken desires, and of a love so deep there were no words. The kiss deepened, becoming more passionate, more urgent.
Their bodies pressed together, their hands exploring each other's forms. He slid his fingers between her legs, feeling the heat of her.
"Let me make you feel good." He said and began to stroke her above her lace thong, his fingers moving in a slow, deliberate rhythm, and her body responded to it whether she wanted it to or not.
'Jax… I.." she whispered, torn on if pleasure was what she really wanted. His fingers moved faster, his thumb finding her clit and circling it gently. She let out an involuntary moan, he could smell her arousal and feel her body responding to his touch.
He leaned in, his lips finding hers in a passionate kiss, and she came undone, her shaking with pleasure.
He held her close, his fingers still moving, drawing out her orgasm until she was a panting, trembling mess in his arms. He leaned in, his lips finding the mark he left on her neck, and she let out a soft moan, her fingers tangling in his hair.
Jax pulled back, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he looked into Nova's eyes. The love and desire he saw there mirrored his own. His hands gently caressing her thighs as he moved between them. He leaned in, his lips finding the sensitive spot on her inner thigh, his mark.
He then ripped her thong completely off her body, tearing it. She gasped, not expecting that. His lips found her clit. She gasped again and started to writhe in pleasure, his tongue moving in slow, deliberate strokes, her hips responding to his touch.
"Let me see you cum." He commanded, his eyes meeting hers as he continued to pleasure her. He could see the silver starting to flicker. He loved to see that when she came for him.
He increased his pace, moving his thumb to her clit and sliding his tongue inside of her. Her taste was driving him crazy and he wanted more, tongue still moving in her as he felt her orgasm through their mate bond and her body. Her eyes turned silver, pulsing as she came for him.
"Jax… make me forget about all of this week." She whispered.
Jax didn't hesitate. He pulled down his pants and threw his shirt on the floor. He ripped off her bra tearing it completely and threw it on the floor. He was hard and ready.
He stared at her, taking her in and her face flushed. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen and he still couldn't get used to it.
"You are so beautiful, Nova." He said thumbs circling her nipples, and she gasped as he did that but let him keep going.
"You are mine." He said as he entered her with a primal need, filling her completely. She winced. It hurt.
"You're so tight and wet for me." He said. He didn't wait for her to adjust this time, he couldn't. He began to thrust into her urgently.
It was painful again.
"Relax baby." He said, feeling how tight she was. He leaned in, his lips finding hers in a passionate kiss, and she moaned. "Hold onto me. Let me show you."
Her body responded to him. He thrust harder, faster, his body demanding more, and she met him, her hips moving in time with his.
The room was filled with the sound of their lovemaking, their breaths, their moans, their hearts beating in time.
He could feel her getting closer, her body tensing, her breath coming in short gasps.
"Cum for me again." He said in her ear and kissed it.
She felt a heat like nothing she's ever experienced rise within her and started to orgasm, shaking with pleasure while his body shuddering with release, his heart pounding in his chest. He pumped his cum inside of her and they writhed in pleasure.
They stayed like that for a moment, their bodies entwined, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.
It was mind-blowing. The amount of pleasure he felt was unfathomable. Like nothing he'd ever experienced before.
He held her as she fell asleep naked on him. Her scent calmed him. His eyes closed and when they opened again, the sun was rising. She stirred awake as well.
He was hard again for her and flipped her on her stomach. He entered her again, this time with more force, more dominance. He didn't ask.
She gasped, not fully awake. Her fingers dug into the sheets as he began to move, his hips thrusting against hers with a rhythm that was both demanding and intoxicating.
He could feel her tighten around him, her body responding to his aggressive, dominant touch.
He reached around, his fingers finding her clit, and he began to stroke her, his touch in sync with his thrusts.
Nova's body arched against his, her hips moving in time with his thrusts.
"Just like that. Does it feel good?" Jax whispered in her ear.
"Yes." she whispered with jagged breaths.
He could feel her getting closer.
He whispered, "Let me feel you come undone."
"Jax…" She gasped his name, her body shaking as she came, her orgasm ripping through her with a force at the same time his body released inside of her.
"I love you, Nova," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion.
He continued to thrust, his fingers still moving, drawing out her pleasure until she was a quivering, breathless mess.
He held her tightly for a moment before.
She turned to face him feeling his chest under her hands.
Her eyes filled with tears and she looked away from him. "I…I missed you so much."
She breathed in his scent and let the silent tears trickle down her face.
He pulled her against him. "I'm here now and I will never leave you again."
He held her as she dozed off to sleep, kissing her hair. He watched her while she slept, a lump forming in his throat as he did. He loved her so deeply it was hard to understand.
His wolf, Talon, agreed.
Talon: Our bond runs deeper than what we had with Cira.
Jax: We've only known each other for a few months and I love her so deeply it hurts. Almost like I loved her in another life and we're picking up where we left off. I just don't understand. How are we not fated?
Talon: You are asking questions you already know the answers to. You are afraid of them.
Jax's breath caught, the truth settling cold and hot all at once. He hated the idea of her having an actual fated mate out in the world that wasn't him.
Jax: I felt her long before I marked her. Long before I should have felt anything. That isn't normal. That isn't chance. We both know it.
Talon: I agree. It was there before marking. Claiming her only confirmed it.
Jax closed his eyes and pressed his forehead gently to the back of her head, grounding himself in the scent that had undone him from day one.
Jax: I don't care if she's fated to someone else. I don't care what the moon has planned. I chose her. I'll choose her again. And if fate wants to fight me for her, it can goddamn try.
Talon rumbled with approval.
Talon: Good. Because I will never release her wolf Seraphine. Not in this life, not the next.
Jax tightened his arms around Nova, voice low in their shared mind.
Jax:She's our mate. Blessed or not. I know it in my soul.
Talon: Ours.
A restless heat surged through him. He pulled her closer, his grip speaking the vow he'd already made with teeth and blood and instinct.