Fin was dead on his feet and barely concealing it. His shoulders ached, his mind was running on fumes, and the emotional whiplash of the night had nearly broken him in two. Still, he stood by the door of his chambers, trying to get everyone to leave without sounding like a complete bastard.
Elle appeared in the hallway with a satin bag slung over her shoulder, Cael trailing behind her. She handed Fin the bag and lifted an eyebrow.
"I brought her clothes for the morning, and…" she glanced down, then lowered her voice, "a pajama set. Just something comfortable. Silk shorts, camisole top. She's slept in this before, and I figured she'd want something familiar."
Fin blinked at her.
She added, "Trust me—those sapphires on her dress are probably digging into her spine right now. I can help get her changed."
Fin nodded slowly. "Okay. Thank you."
He wanted her out of that dress too—but he would've just removed it.
Xeon: You're overthinking this. She is our mate.
Fin: There's so much I still don't know about her.
Xeon: You're trying. That's all that matters. Give it time—and remember, she was made for you. And you for her.
Everyone filtered out quietly, leaving Elle behind.
She disappeared into the bedroom, and a few minutes later came out looking like she'd sprinted a mile.
"That was a lot harder than I expected," she said with a grin, cheeks flushed. "But she's good now."
Cael smirked. "You sure you didn't just fight her in there?"
Elle huffed. "That dress was stitched like it was forged in battle. I was trying not to rip it."
"Guarantee she never wears that dress again," Cael said, laughing. "It's your dress now."
"Do you have no shame?" Elle swatted his arm, her laughter warm and unfiltered.
Fin watched them, a strange weightless feeling settling in his chest. Exhausted as he was, their ease—the comfort, the laughter, the playful jabs—it made something bloom in him. Something he hadn't realized how much he longed for until just now.
When he returned to his bedroom, the rain had picked up outside. A soft, steady tapping against the windows. A perfect veil of spring's return.
Nova was asleep under the blanket, curled small. The fire in the hearth cast a golden glow across her skin.
He moved carefully, lifting her just enough to slide her under the proper covers. The thought of leaving again crept up—would waking up to him scare her?
Xeon: Hold her. Lay with her. Let her feel your skin against hers. Let her breathe in your scent. It'll help her heal faster. She'll wake up feeling safe.
Fin: Am I pushing too far?
Xeon: No. She's your mate. If you don't move closer out of fear, she'll mirror it and think she should be afraid of touching you. Don't let uncertainty write your future.
Fin stood there for a beat.
Xeon: You're nervous because you care. Because you love her.
Fin exhaled.
Fin: I wonder what she's dreaming about.
Xeon: She's dreaming about me… About us. She keeps asking me who I am. Why I feel like her destiny. I try to tell her, but the words don't come.
Fin brushed a strand of hair from Nova's face and leaned down, his lips grazed her forehead.
"What am I going to do with you, Moonveil?" he whispered. "Already driving me mad."
He stripped down quietly, slipped beneath the covers, and pulled her gently into his arms. Her warmth hit him like a shock of comfort, like homecoming.
Her breathing stayed steady. She didn't stir.
But her body relaxed even more the second his skin touched hers. Her back fit perfectly against his chest. Her scent—vanilla and moonlight —wrapped around him like a balm.
He swallowed hard. A lump formed in his throat.
He had wanted this for so long.
He didn't expect it to feel like peace.
Holding her, Fin finally closed his eyes, letting the sound of the rain lull him into the first deep sleep he'd had in weeks.
For once, he didn't dream about duty or war or regret.
He dreamt of her.
Fin felt her stirring in her dreams and opened his eyes. He gently wiped the tears from her face with his thumb. And instinctively pulled her closer to him.
"It's okay, Nova. I'm here." He whispered, kissing her ear.
Her expression softened and she responded to his comfort relaxing into him. His touch.
Their legs were intertwined and he was holding her tight against his chest.
He felt her emotions surge through their mate bond, like she was remembering what happened. When she took a steading breath, he knew she was awake, but she laid with him like that. He wasn't going to move until she wanted to.
Another few minutes pass and her eyes finally fluttered open with some flickering of silver and gold.
The fire in the hearth was low, casting amber shadows across the stone walls. A storm rumbled in the distance, and rain continued its steady rhythm against the windows.
She blinked.
She was in Fin's bed.
And she was in his arms.
She could feel the slow rise and fall of his chest behind her, and his hand — large, warm — resting just above her ribs, like it had always been meant to be there.
Her heart caught in her throat.
Before she could move, before she could even process what she was feeling, Fin shifted behind her.
"Hey," he said quietly. His voice was rough from sleep, low and gentle.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, knowing the answer.
"I've had better mornings," she whispered. "Woke up feeling like someone punched me in the soul and then ran it over with a cart."
Fin huffed a soft laugh behind her, but didn't press.
"I carried you here last night," he said. "Elle got you out of that damn dress. Apparently it was built like armor."
Nova exhaled, a small, tired smile curving her lips. "Those sapphires were trying to assassinate my spine."
He chuckled again.
"Thanks for taking care of me," she whispered.
Fin gently wiped another tear as it slid down her cheek. His heart clenched.
"You never have to thank me for that. I will always take care of you. Always."
Silence wrapped around them, until Nova rolled onto her back to look at him. He could sense some confusion coming from her. He propped himself on one elbow, studying her like she might vanish.
"But I do want to talk to you about something," he said.
Her brow furrowed. "Okay…"
"First," Fin began with a small smile, "what you did yesterday? That was the most badass thing I've ever seen. And I've seen you shoot arrows and recite the entire war strategy archives like you were born in a military tent."
Nova let out a laugh — raspy and short — but genuine. "Heartbreak is significantly less fun."
Fin smiled wider. "Still. You impressed the hell out of me."
She swallowed and took a steadying breath.
"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
A single tear slipped down her cheek, and Fin brushed it away with his thumb again.
His tone shifted, growing more serious.
"There's something I need to tell you. Something overdue." He paused. "There's a reason you're here. Why you're in my bed. Why you've been in my heart this whole time."
Her eyes widened.
"When I found you in the tower, it wasn't just a scent I couldn't shake. It was a bond. A calling. I tried to pretend it wasn't real because you were underage, because I was betrothed to Meredith, because duty and honor and alliances told me I couldn't have you."
His voice broke slightly. "But I knew. I knew you were my mate."
"I assigned you to the omega quarters to keep my distance. I told myself pretending that I'd reject the bond when the time came, and everything would sort itself out."
A flicker of pain and shock crossed her face but then vanished.
"I felt the pull. So I kept my distance," he continued. "But the moment I saw you in danger that day, I almost lost you and it intensified. It slammed into me like a storm."
He ran a hand down his face. She was still silent, eyes locked on him, wide and searching.
"I wanted to claim you as my mate during that council meeting after. But there was a lot of pushback on cutting Meredith. It was our only leverage on Ashbane. And then Jax…" Fin's throat worked as he swallowed. "He stepped up. Claimed you as his. Said he loved you and it was deeper than his fated mate. He loved you so openly. So fiercely. I watched you light up for him and I thought… he deserves her more than I ever could."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
She was breathing shallow now a tear fell down her cheek
"You chose him," Fin said. "And I understand why. But Nova, I need you to know this—what I saw yesterday, when you let him go… That was the bravest thing I've ever seen. And it killed me. Because I knew I'd let you suffer alone. I should've told you the truth a long time ago."
He paused. Let the truth settle between them like ash after fire.
She looked at him, taking a breath. Her eyes shimmered.
"That explains a lot." She said, wheels turning in her mind.
"When you took me running, my wolf felt like she'd done that with you before. It made me forget about my mate running away and hating me for a second." She said with a laugh at the end.
Fin's heart stuttered.
"I had dreams," she said. "Of a wolf with golden eyes. I kept trying to ask who he was, and every time, I felt like he wanted to tell me… but couldn't."
"Xeon… is that your wolf's name?"
Fin nodded once. "Yes."
Tears welled in her eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?
"I should have, but I couldn't do it to Jax or you. I knew I wanted you in my life, mate or not. I care for you and I don't want to cause you more pain."
"You were going through all of that alone. That must have been hard." She said with genuine concern in her eyes which took him aback for a second.
Fin took a breath, not breaking eye contact. He hadn't expected her to say that.
"I know I don't deserve a do over, but if you'll let me try, I'll do everything I can to be the man you deserve."
He took a breath, and added: "I want to claim you as my mate, Luna of Shadowclaw, Queen of the North, my wife, and I want the world to know. I know you are processing and we can start slow and take our time. You will keep your Gamma title until you're ready, that is if you'll have me."
She swallowed, her throat tight, heart pounding like it was trying to break out of her chest. Fin's words settled into her like warmth, even as her mind tried to keep up with everything she'd just heard.
Nova looked at him — really looked at him. The storm of emotion in his eyes. The raw vulnerability. The steadiness beneath it all.
She searched his face and saw a man who had carried this truth for too long. A man who had waited, endured, and still stood before her with his heart in his hands.
Tears welled in her eyes, and she looked away.
"You should've told me sooner."
Her voice cracked.
"But… I understand why you didn't."
She reached for his face, brushing her thumb over the edge of his jaw — a touch that said everything she couldn't yet voice.
"You're not too late."
A soft breath.
"Yes, Fin. Of course."
"But, I just had my heart shattered into a thousand pieces." She said voice cracking at the end with tears rolling down her face. "I won't be the best…"
"You don't need to worry about that. I understand. I will take care of you." He said, not hesitating.
He exhaled, like he'd been holding his breath since the day she arrived.
Nova leaned into him just a little, letting her head rest against his chest, heart still aching. Fin exhaled shakily. His arms came around her.
"Would you be comfortable if I had Omegas bring some of your things here?" he asked softly, brushing her hair back. "I just thought… this could be your space too. If you want it to be."
Okay," she said softly. Then after a pause, she added, "Only if you're it feels right to you."
There was a flicker of uncertainty in her voice — not doubt in him, but in herself. What if it's too soon? What if he didn't actually want her there, not really?
She looked down, twisting her fingers lightly in the blanket. "I'm sure Marra will not appreciate my stuff in her mate's room." she added. "I don't want her to feel unwelcome. She didn't do anything wrong."
"Nova," he said, voice firm but warm, "you are not some guest I'm doing a favor for. You are my mate."
He let that settle between them. "There is nowhere else I'd want you but here."
Her eyes searched his, still unsure.
"If anything, I should've asked you the day you woke up in Shadowclaw. This is your home. And my quarters—" he reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together, "— is our quarters now, if you'll have it."
"But if you'd rather move in with Elle and Cael, I understand. Just be warned—he talks in his sleep."
She laughed and let herself breathe him in. Rain. Forest. Home.