Nova stirred gently in Fin's arms, the tension in her body finally melting as exhaustion claimed her. Her head rested against his chest, his heartbeat steady beneath her cheek. The nightmare had passed. The whispers were gone—for now.
Fin brushed a damp strand of hair from her temple and murmured, barely above a breath, "Sleep, baby. I've got you."
She didn't respond. She was already sinking into a deep, dream-heavy sleep. Fin stayed exactly as he was, unmoving, for nearly an hour. Emotion pressed against his ribs, raw and unfamiliar. He had almost lost her—again—and he hated the helplessness that came with it.
His wolf's voice stirred in his mind.
Xeon:We need her mark to protect her. We were lucky Jax was there. I fear this is only the first tremor before the mountain breaks.
A single tear slid down Fin's face. He wiped it away, irritated at himself, unsure why the emotion was still so heavy. An hour after the fact, in middle of the night.
Xeon:You love her. She was in pain, and we could not reach her. That is why.
Fin: I hate that I couldn't pull her back. I hate that I wasn't enough.
Xeon's voice deepened, steady and sure.
Xeon:You are enough. In that moment, you lacked the power to reach her. That does not make you weak. You earn her every day, and you do not take a single breath of her for granted.
Fin: I love her with all that I am. I need her mark so I can stand with her, guard her, and keep her from carrying this torment alone.
Fin's eyes finally slipped shut, and he drifted into sleep without ever releasing her.
Morning light woke him up, and he slipped out from beneath her carefully, laying her onto the soft bedding and covering her up.
He kissed her forehead, then stood and mindlinked an omega for a bath to be prepared with calming mint, rose petals, and silverleaf for muscle soreness. He knew her muscles would be sore from last night. He shook his head with a dark chuckle, trying to fathom how all of that had occurred the same night of her Luna ceremony.
He returned to the room, finding her still asleep, wrapped in the blankets like a fragile little Moon Goddess. Fin smiled softly and brushed his knuckles down her cheek.
He drifted back asleep with her on top of him for a little while longer until she stirred awake.
"Come on, my queen," he whispered.
She stirred, groggy and blinking. Before she responded, he lifted her easily, carrying her to the bathing room.
She blushed as he undressed her with practiced tenderness.
"So beautiful. I love you Nova." He said, kissing her on the lips.
She kissed him back, running her hands through his hair.
He knew that if he kept going, they wouldn't get in the bath. He pulled away and lowered her into the tub and settled in behind her, pulling her back against his chest.
She let out a soft sigh.
"You are so sweet to me. I don't know why you keep taking care of me, but I'm so lucky to have you." she murmured, not fully awake.
"I told you," he murmured into her hair. "I know what you need, even when you don't."
She turned her head to kiss his shoulder.
A soft knock on the door.
"Food's here," Fin said, slipping out of the tub, drying off quickly, and returning with the tray. He helped her eat—fruit, broth, and a few slices of soft bread.
"I can't believe you are real sometimes." She admitted truthfully and then blushed at her own words
She added, "I love you Fin."
Fin felt warmth again through his body. He felt the love she had for him.
"I love you Nova. I'll always take care of you." He said kissing her on the head. "I'll always protect you." He added, kissing her shoulder.
"You're mine." He said, squeezing her possessively.
She loved it when he said that and couldn't help but grin.
"Yours."
He claimed her lips.