Later that morning…
Fin left Nova to give her space to clean up and change. Not long after, Elle knocked on the door and threw her arms around Nova in a tight hug.
"We're taking the day off," she announced. "Let's get out of this stuffy castle and go into the city. A good run and some shopping. I could use some Nova time."
Nova smiled weakly. "Okay. Should I… tell Fin I'm going? I don't even know what I'm doing anymore."
"I'll tell Cael once we're on our way. Otherwise they'll assign us some overbearing chaperones."
"Good point." Nova gave a small, sad laugh.
But her hands were trembling, and she knew Elle noticed.
"Why would you tell Fin where you're going?"
That's when Fin stepped back into the room, catching the tail end of the question.
He paused, his gaze shifting from Elle to Nova. He didn't say anything—didn't want to crowd her—but the flicker of confusion on his face made Nova's cheeks flush. Her uncertainty rolled off her like a wave, and he felt every inch of it.
Elle looked between them, clearly not understanding.
Nova turned to Fin. "Is it okay if I take the day off from shadowing?"
"Of course," Fin said, a little too quickly. There was concern etched into his face. The idea that she even had to ask clearly unsettled him.
"Thank you," Nova said softly. Her voice cracked. She looked down at the floor, fighting back a fresh wave of tears.
Fin's chest ached at the sight of her. He felt the storm still swirling in her heart, the lingering ache. It killed him.
"We'll be back before dinner," Elle promised, trying to keep things light. "Just getting some fresh air."
As the door was closing, Fin heard Nova ask Elle, "Can I borrow one of your cloaks? All of mine are still in…" She didn't finish the sentence.
"You can borrow whatever you want," Elle said.
Once they were out of the castle walls, out of earshot, Nova exhaled shakily. "Elle, there's something wrong with me. I feel all over the place."
"You just broke a soulmate bond, Nova. That's not something you walk away from clean."
Nova nodded, tears in her eyes. "I hope he's not as miserable as I am."
"Oh, sweetheart… he is. But guess what? Meredith is gone. No more poisonings for us!"
Nova snorted. "That is one good thing to come out of last night."
"Now back to the important question—why do you think you have to tell Fin where you're going?"
Nova hesitated, then mumbled, "Because he's my fated mate."
Elle froze in place. "I'm sorry, WHAT?"
"He told me this morning… after I woke up."
"And you buried the lead?" Elle hissed. "Nova!"
"I don't know if he is confused… or if I am even supposed to tell anyone." Nova said, eyes welling.
"You've been fated for what, an hour and a half? You don't need to know all the answers yet." Elle said.
Nova gave a small nod.
"I just… miss Jax so much." She said, voice cracking. Tears came out of her eyes.
"I know you do." Elle looped an arm through hers. "But Fin's not just some guy. He's been there for you through things even Jax hasn't. Panic attacks, battle, a dark wizard, almost all your near death experiences. He's your friend. That's the strongest foundation you can have."
Nova sniffled. "Thank you. I'm going to need your help."
"You've got me. Always. That gold flame moment? I KNEW it." Elle said grinning.
Nova gave a tearful laugh. "Yeah… it explains a lot."
"Do you need to mindlink Cael?"
"In a second." Elle replied cheerfully.
"I wish I could let my wolf out to run and just go in the back of my mind."
Elle hesitated, her expression softening. "I heard the gist of Alpha Bloodmoon's comments. It's… concerning."
Nova sighed, tears still clinging to her lashes. "I agree. Everyone in our pack knows I am the white wolf. All Bloodmoon or the alliance would have to do is ask any member of our pack."
She swallowed, "I am a liability to whatever pack I'm in. They'll always be coming after me."
"Nova, you're spiraling," Elle said gently. "It's okay. You are confusing your emotions for different events. You are a blessing to any pack. It's not your fault you were born the way you were."
Nova felt like she couldn't breathe. She stopped, placing her hand over her chest.
"I don't think Fin will want me as his mate once he realizes I bring destruction and he'd constantly be having to protect me. I don't even know if I'm supposed to tell anyone we're mates. What if it's not real?"
"Nova. Breathe." Elle's voice dropped to a firm whisper. "In… out… it's okay. Let's get your mind off this for a second. We'll come back to it when your heart isn't punching through your ribs."
Nova wiped her cheek, panic creeping back. "Elle… what if he isn't attracted to me? What if that's why he didn't want me right away? What do I do?"
"Then you make him attracted to you. That's why the Moon Goddess blessed us with makeup, hot outfits, and perfume," Elle said with a playful grin.
Nova swallowed, nodding a little, but the worry didn't leave her eyes.
"But I doubt that's it," Elle went on. "He'd be the only man in Shadowclaw outside of Cael if that were true."
Nova's voice trembled. "Elle… I don't know if he actually wants me in his room or what. Is he just claiming me because Meredith is gone… and Jax has his fated mate… and he feels sorry for me?"
"Nova, breathe. In. Out." Elle guided her gently toward a bench. "Let's sit for a second."
Nova sat, rubbing her hands over her chest as if trying to press down the rising panic. "He said he was going to reject me when the bond surfaced," she whispered. "I guess he could still do that… worst case."
She drew in a shaky breath. The thought hollowed her out; she couldn't imagine feeling worse than she did now… though some part of her feared she absolutely could. Gods.
"Then you would have the worst love life in Varos." Elle said dryly, nudging her shoulder.
Nova let out a weak laugh, a tear slipping down her cheek. She wiped it away.
"I'll be taking after my mother then," Nova said, shaking her head.
Elle's face fell, remembering what Nova had told her once. The man who killed her father and slaughtered her pack had been her mother's second-chance mate.
"Fin won't break it with you for no reason," Elle said, swallowing. The reassurance sounded thin, and Nova heard the doubt she tried to hide.
Another tear rolled down Nova's face. "It's okay, Elle. I'm sorry I'm all over the place."
"Don't apologize. And remember, not all bonds are created…" She caught herself, changing course at the last second. "Every fated bond starts in a different place. Some feel it right away, some don't. Sometimes love has to grow. He doesn't really know you yet, so how could you expect him to love you? You and Jax had months."
More tears welled, spilling as Jax's name hit her like a bruise.
"Jax probably won't love Marra right away either," Elle added gently.
Nova's heart cracked. She didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Then she shook her head, breath trembling. Of course it would be a bad thing.
Her chest tightened, and she felt like she couldn't breathe again.
____________________________
Fin walked into the war room where Cael was already waiting for their morning meeting with the summit delegates.
"Is Elle still in your quarters?" Cael asked.
"She said she and Nova were getting some fresh air," Fin replied.
Cael's brows furrowed. He tried to mindlink Elle.
Cael:Elle, love, where are you guys? Just a worried mate here.
No response.
"I just tried her. Nothing. Can you try Nova?"
Fin nodded, concern prickling at the back of his neck.
Fin:Nova, are you with Elle?
Silence.
He looked up. "No answer."
Cael stood. "That's… not normal. She always links back right away."
"Let's get a patrol to check the palace grounds," Fin said.
Cael mindlinked Shadowclaw's Castle Security Captain, Thalen Crestwood.
Cael:Captain Crestwood, send a sweep of the castle and outer grounds. Elle and Nova aren't answering. Don't trigger an alert—just a quiet scan.
Crestwood:Copy.
A beat passed. Then two. Then Fin felt his chest constrict. Just for a flash.
"You alright brother?" Cael asked, concerned.
He looked at Cael, about to respond but Captain Crestwood mindlinked first.
Crestwood:Negative. Neither are within the palace grounds or courtyard. All mindlinks drop off just past the gate. I've dispatched a warrior to try to locate them.
Cael swore under his breath. "Elle's going to kill me one of these days."
"There's something wrong with Nova. I've been feeling her all morning and something just happened." Fin said.
Cael rubbed his temples. "They left the castle with no backup during a summit with a fragile alliance, a political ceasefire, and a literal bounty on Nova's head."
"What the hell were they thinking?" Fin growled.
Cael sighed. "They were thinking like best friends. Like girls who needed to breathe."
"Still doesn't mean I'm not going to kill them," Fin muttered, already heading toward the war room exit.
A pain under his ribs exploded … almost like he couldn't breathe. His hand went to his chest as he leaned over.