Cael wasn't sure how much time went by. To him, it was maybe 10 minutes. He couldn't feel Elle through the matebond which made him uneasy but it hadn't been long enough to go in. Then, without warning, a portal shimmered to life in front of him, and Nova stepped through. Completely covered in gods knows what.
"Nova!" Cael called out, blinking at the mess before him.
Her eyes were the only thing visible beneath the thick coating of grime and wet dirt smeared across her face and hair. Her expression was murder.
He held up his hands, cautiously amused. "What in the seven hells are you two wearing?" he asked, just as Elle came through behind Nova looking equally wrecked.
"You're not supposed to be here!" Elle said, her voice hoarse. She was dripping in the same quicksand cocktail, her hair stuck to her face in clumps.
"Why do you look so furious right now?" he asked, trying very hard not to laugh.
Before he could respond, Jax and Fin came through the portal behind them. Jax's jaw was ticking like a bomb about to blow. Fin looked murderous—shoulders tense, fists clenched at his sides.
Compared to the girls, they looked slightly less wrecked—but both of them carried the kind of rage that made Cael straighten instinctively.
Cael slowly raised his hands. "Okay. I feel like I've missed a lot... but judging by the dirt, blood, and mutual homicidal energy—I'm just gonna assume we're not talking about a relaxing girls' trip."
Elle started to sniffle and fought the urge to cry. Tears welling in her eyes. Would Cael die because he followed her?
"Hey… Elle it's okay. I'm not going anywhere." Cael said, feeling her through the matebond. He walked to her and pulled her into his arms.
"You know I've fought in two wars right?" Cael said after a moment.
Elle's voice cracked, unsure how to even explain that she knew that but was told not to bring him.
"We have one more unfortunately. We have to do it tonight. We're already doing this out of order. It was supposed to be before Nova's ceremony." Elle said.
She mindlinked Nova, not knowing that everyone could hear.
Elle: I think… I dreamed of a different chain of events. Your ceremony wasn't until the summer last time.
Nova: Wait why?
Elle swallowed wondering if she should say it.
"It's down this hill." Nova said walking forward, not looking at anyone.
Elle moved quickly next to her and whispered in her ear. None of them could hear. The two of them ran down the hill in human form. Too exhausted to shift.
At the bottom they placed their daggers and Cael's sword on a rock. The water before them glowed—first under Nova's step, then pulsed as Elle joined. Unfazed by the strange light, both waded into the water until it reached their waists, then submerged themselves fully. Their training suits were already soaked from quicksand, so the water was just another element to endure.
Jax, Cael, and Fin headed down towards them.
"Tell me why. Just say it." Nova said.
Jax, Fin, Cael all could still hear with their werewolf hearing.
"Jax rejected Marra to stay with you," Elle said quietly. "You and he stayed together… but Marra killed him a few weeks later. You nearly died from grief. But you found out you were with a child. You came of age, and that's when you realized you were fated to Fin. You and he ended up together. You and Fin had children after that, but Jax's child was raised as the firstborn plus he inherited the House Thorne title. He never knew the difference. Fin was his father."
Nova's jaw dropped. Elle continued.
Elle went on. "I've seen another version. One where Fin brought you here. Put you in as an omega but then changed his mind an hour later and claimed you immediately. You were never with Jax at all. You were marked, it looked like a few days after. He didn't hesitate."
Nova said nothing. She bent forward and splashed water over her face, then dunked her head under to rinse the thick layers of grit from her hair. Elle did the same beside her, submerging herself fully. Elle mind‑linked Nova in silence.
Elle: I've seen Jax reject Marra. You reject Fin and you and Jax end up together. Fated. Jax's third chance I guess? And your second chance.
Nova: My head hurts.
Elle: I've also for sure seen Fin reject you on your eighteenth birthday. He married Meredith. Fin tried to marry you to Grant Bloodmoon so Jax was forced to take Marra as a trade. But the Redmoon Alpha's son came for you and Grant handed you over. You became queen of the largest kingdom in Varos. Fin changed his mind, even though he rejected you but you were already with Rex and it was too late. He honored the bond between Meredith and Grant though and annulled his marriage with Meredith. He and Jax both ended up unhappy.
Nova: Gods. How many times have we done this? Why would Fin marry Meredith?
Elle: Too many… I've seen Fin reject your bond a handful of times. It is confusing because he clearly regrets it every time. There was one where he somehow ended up marrying Marra. You were sent to Redmoon after Jax and Marra met. But after a day, Jax rejected the bond with Marra and got you back. You and him end up together. Meredith ended up with Grant. And Marra was Queen of the North next to Fin.
Nova: So Marra and I essentially swap places right now? Gods. All of these are a mess.
Elle: You mean all of them outside of one, where Fin just claimed you right away?
Nova: Hopefully Marra's Luna ceremony went better than her Gamma one.
Elle laughed.
Elle: You just made me laugh under water and quicksand went up my nose.
Fin, Jax, and Cael were listening to this conversation.
Jax was shocked by that revelation. He rejected Marra and Nova stayed with him after? Marra killing him wasn't ideal.
Fin was now shaking his head. Not liking the direction of this conversation. He and Nova were still new and this was the last thing they needed.
"Well, at least in one version, you claim her right away. Props to that guy." Cael said. Jax busted out laughing.
"Meredith? Really? That's who I settle for in some of these dreams? What did I do—lose a bet with the gods?" Fin said, annoyed.
Jax listened, noting again the confirmation of what he knew. He and Nova would be fated if she wasn't fated to Fin.
Fin felt a wave of uncertainty and anxiety wash through Nova. He immediately pushed back a strong feeling of unwavering love. He would never reject her. There's no way all of those dreams happened. He loved her with everything inside of him.
"This is the last thing she needs to hear right now." Fin said with gritted teeth, annoyed.
The girls were still getting the quicksand off of them.
Elle: Cael rejected me in a handful too … so don't feel bad. In one of them Cael ended up with Marra, Fin rejected you, and I somehow marry Hunter Ryker. You end up with the Redmoon Prince, and Fin stuck with Meredith.
Nova: Is this a game of musical chairs?
Elle: The only scenarios I haven't seen is Jax rejecting you or me rejecting Cael. I guess if we're calling spades here. I've also never seen you ending with Cael. I've never ended with Fin or Jax.
Elle and Nova stood up and walked back to shore, both wringing their hair. Elle picked up Cael's sword and her dagger. Fin had already picked up the bow and dagger that Nova left.
"You girls feel better?" Cael asked.
"Yes." they said in unison. Shivering but feeling much better.
"Didn't know you made water light up Nova." Cael commented pretending to be surprised by the sight, even though they'd been spying all night.
Fin walked over and pulled Nova into a hug warming her and kissed her on the temple. The only scenario there that he wished for was the one where he claimed her right away and listened to his wolf and his own instincts.
Elle: Poor Marra. Actually… I remember her being burned at her Luna ceremony. You were gone already with the Redmoon Prince in that one… So she was on her own.
Nova: Do you remember why she kills Jax?
Elle: No, but if it comes back to me and I don't like it. Bye Marra.
Elle let out a dark laugh and Nova stifled a laugh shaking her head. She shivered in Fin's arms.
Nova: Let's start looping those 3 in moving forward. I really think this would be easier.
Elle: I think you might be right.