The air felt heavy as they turned back toward camp—too many eyes, too much silence left in the wake of what had just happened. Cloaked once again, Nova walked beside Cael, her steps quiet, but her breath uneven.
She'd said nothing since the dragons bowed.
Her glow had dimmed, but it hadn't vanished. The silver in her eyes still lingered faintly—shimmering like a reflection of moonlight over deep water. She moved like someone walking between worlds.
Marra was a step ahead, eyes scanning the camp perimeter. "Almost there," she muttered, mindlinking Cael and Jax both.
Marra: Too many eyes. We need cover. Now.
Nova's foot faltered. Then again. She swayed, and suddenly her knees gave out.
Jax was there in an instant.
He caught her before she hit the ground, scooping her into his arms like it had always been instinct. His face was pure fire—panic warring with fury.
"She's burning up," he said, jaw tight.
"Follow me. Now," Marra snapped, her tone leaving no room for argument.
They moved fast, cloaked shadows cutting through the camp. Luckily it was still early and not everyone had risen. Marra yanked open the nearest tent flap, throwing her shoulder into it.
It wasn't until they stepped inside that Cael froze.
They were standing in Alpha Renwick Lunaris's war tent.
It was far more ornate than most—dark green and silver tapestries, a polished blackwood table, maps and scrolls strewn across it. But thankfully, empty. For now.
Jax laid Nova down gently on the nearest bench, not wanting to put her anywhere near Lunaris's bed. He brushed damp hair from her face.
"Can you heal her?" Marra asked Jax, eyes not leaving Nova.
Before Jax could answer, footsteps approached thundering toward the tent.
The tent flap flew open again, and in walked Rex Redmoon and Alpha Ragnar Redmoon behind him.
Rex's eyes zeroed in on Nova instantly, his whole body tense. His wolf was just beneath the surface. He sensed something was wrong and seeing her unconscious made his blood boil.
Redmoon's gaze swept over the scene—Nova pale and unconscious, Jax knelt beside her like a shield, Cael visibly unsettled, and Marra standing like she was ready to kill if someone dared speak the wrong word.
Then Redmoon looked at Lunaris's crest stitched into the canvas.
"Of all tents," he muttered.
Rex stepped forward, voice low but taut. "She collapsed?"
"She's okay. I just mindlinked our healer," Cael answered.
"She's burning up." Marra said, feeling Nova's head.
"Can we get her back to our tent without being spotted?" Cael asked, already knowing the answer.
Lunaris's voice cut through the tension behind them.
"Well, you could've just asked to use my bed, darling," he said smoothly, striding in behind them all. "But I must admit—this is much more dramatic."
Everyone turned toward him.
Rex's jaw locked. Ragnar exhaled slowly.
But Jax... Jax stood, standing fully between Nova and Lunaris, his eyes glowing faintly with fury.
"This isn't the time," he growled.
Marra looked Lunaris dead in the eye, her voice composed but firm.
"Alpha, please excuse us. Our Queen was overheated. I apologize for invading your space. We'll be leaving now."
She gave a slight incline of her head—formal, but far from deferential.
Renwick's smirk faded just enough to show he understood her meaning. He stepped aside with a theatrical wave of his hand.
"By all means. But next time, knock."
Marra didn't respond.
She turned to Jax and gave him a look that said everything: Stay calm. Get her out. Eyes forward.
Jax's jaw was clenched so hard it looked like stone, but he nodded once. Without a word, he gathered Nova into his arms again—gentle despite the fury radiating from him—and strode past Lunaris without so much as a glance.
Nova stirred faintly in his arms, but didn't wake. Her dark lashes fluttered, skin still glowing faintly in the low light.
Cael followed silently, one hand on his sword hilt, the other lifting the flap.
As they stepped back into the open, sunlight hit them like a second spotlight—and the eyes were still watching.
Alpha Redmoon and Rex followed. Redmoon took one look at Nova, still limp in Jax's arms, and stepped forward.
"Your camp is across the grounds. Too far. Bring her to ours—a few tents down."
His voice was low, authoritative, meant only for them. "The less people that see her like this, the better."
Marra gave him a grateful nod, her voice quiet. "Thank you, Alpha. That's very generous."
"No need," Redmoon replied, already leading the way. "It's the smart play."
Rex said nothing. But his eyes never left Nova.
The tent was dim and cool, the heavy canvas walls muffling the sounds of the morning camp. Nova lay on a large bed, her breathing shallow, her brow damp with sweat.
Her cloak had been pulled back, and she looked both beautiful and fragile.
Elias entered a moment later, concern etched across his face. He hurried to Nova's side, brushing Marra's arm as he passed.
He leaned over her, placing two fingers gently to her temple. Immediately, his brow furrowed.
"That's odd… she's burning up—more than usual."
He looked up at them sharply. "What happened?"
Marra answered quickly, her tone flat. "She overheated."
Elias nodded, but didn't seem convinced. He reached for a cloth, dipped it into a nearby basin, and gently dabbed the back of her neck and across her forehead.
Rex stood silently nearby, eyes narrowed slightly. More than usual?
The phrase echoed in his mind. There was more to this Queen than any of them were saying.
Elias paused, then looked to Jax with a questioning gaze—silent, but heavy with meaning. It was the kind of look that asked, "Can you help her?" but knew full well that doing so might reveal something far more dangerous.
Jax didn't answer. His fists were clenched. His jaw tight, and his mind was weighing the risk of revealing himself to a new ally this soon, where she'd likely be alright without him.
Just then, the tent flap lifted again. A tall man entered—robed in black and crimson, embroidered with subtle silver arcane runes. He walked with the calm, confident bearing of a man accustomed to wielding power.
"This is Hyran Drakonis," Alpha Ragnar said from the entrance, stepping aside to let the mage pass. "Our Master of Mages. He's offered to help."
Everyone stilled. Tension sparked.
Jax's eyes narrowed but reluctantly, he nodded.
Hyran moved to Nova's side and placed a hand lightly over her chest. He muttered under his breath, and red light poured softly from his palm into her.
The room went quiet.
Nova stirred slightly, her lips parting in a faint sigh.
"Forgive me, but… how old is she?" Alpha Ragnar Redmoon asked, his voice low and careful as his eyes drifted back to the unconscious girl laid out in front of him.
"She turned eighteen a few months ago," Jax replied.
Rex stared at Nova and frowned, realizing that's why she didn't acknowledge him. She might not feel it yet.
Redmoon blinked. "When was she crowned?"
Cael rubbed his face with both hands, aware of how ludicrous this would sound to any rational pack leader. "Two days ago."
Redmoon exhaled slowly. "And how long has she been with the Alpha as his mate?"
"Less than one week," Jax said, jaw tight. He rubbed the back of his neck, also realizing how ridiculous that sounded.
"Marra," Redmoon said, voice steady but curious, "you mentioned you knew her as a child. What pack was she originally from?"
Marra nodded. "Yes, when we were children. Her mother was taken by the late Alpha Ashbane. Everyone thought her as his bastard, but…" She hesitated before continuing, "Her true father was the late Moonveil Alpha."
Redmoon's expression shifted—shock, then sorrow.
"Moonveil," he echoed, voice low. "They were good wolves. I didn't know they had a child." He looked down, shaking his head in quiet disgust. "The things that were done to that pack…"
He turned his gaze back to Nova, still unconscious, brow creased with concern.
"How did Alpha Shadowclaw acquire her from Riven?"
Jax spoke this time, his voice rough.
"She was chained when we found her. We didn't know who she was. Finric had made a deal—military support in exchange for a political alliance with Ashbane. Nova was meant to come back with us… as an omega. To tend to Meredith."
Redmoon's jaw clenched. "Meredith… That's Grant's mate now, yes?"
Marra gave a tight nod. "The same."
Rex, quiet until now, finally spoke—his voice tight with restrained fury. "What do you mean, 'chained'?"
Jax's face darkened. His voice was cold and sharp. "Exactly what it sounds like. She was unconscious, strung up on silver chains bolted to a stone wall. No way to lie down or sit. She had been unconscious for a while by the time Finric found her—barely alive. The silver was burning through her skin."
A heavy silence fell. Then Rex muttered, "That son of a bitch," his voice low and venomous. His fists clenched, trembling.
Redmoon exhaled slowly. "Riven is already his father's son. I'm only surprised Riven believed that and didn't try to make her his mistress."
Rex dragged a hand through his hair, pacing slightly, trying to keep himself grounded. His wolf clawed at the surface—angry, possessive, protective.
No one spoke for a moment.
"Does he have any inclination on her… abilities?" Redmoon asked, trying to find the right word. None of them had acknowledged the glowing and Redmoon wasn't going to press if they didn't want to share.
Seeing Jax tense beside him, Redmoon added quietly,
"Her secret is safe with us. I've led men with gifts before—my son among them. We don't press on power that isn't ours to name. But if Ashbane knows even a piece of what she is, we should understand how much he knows."
Jax hesitated, jaw ticking. Then he exhaled.
"Not at first. But yes—we believe he knows now. Riven tried to take her back by force."
He paused, voice gravelly as the memory surfaced. He needed to only tell them certain parts.
"She was running through our forests as a wolf. Her second shift."
Redmoon lost composure for a second, "Her second shift?"
"Yes. Finric and I found her defending herself against a fleet of Ashbane's soldiers—fifty, maybe more. Silver cuffs, mindlink blocks, full weapons. They stabbed me. I nearly bled out right there. But Nova… she saved my life."
"Ashbane himself appeared. He stabbed her with a blade laced in forbidden sacrifice magic. He dragged her off a cliff and she couldn't shift before impact due to the blade in her."
A beat of silence. The air turned cold.
"I dove after her. Finric took down the soldiers attacking us." He shook his head slowly. "We couldn't chase him. Not without losing her. We chose Nova."
Across the tent, Redmoon's face darkened. His son, Rex, looked stricken. Even Marra had brought her hand to her mouth, eyes wide in horror.
"I knew she'd been poisoned," Marra whispered. "But I didn't realize that happened too."
Rex's eyes snapped to Marra at that comment.
Redmoon's voice sliced through the quiet, low and incredulous. "So let me understand this. He invaded your territory, sent fifty armed soldiers, attacked her along with yourself and the Alpha, and there was forbidden magic involved."
Redmoon leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "And that wasn't considered a declaration of war?"
Cael scoffed, voice sharp with disgust. "No. Our elders argued that because Nova wasn't an official pack member at the time, her presence jeopardized our neutrality. It was a personal matter, not political and they wanted us to return her to prevent escalation."
Jax's jaw was tight, voice clipped. "Finric and I were ready to fight. We proposed initiating her into the pack the moment she regained consciousness. But that still wasn't enough. They clung to the fact that she was an omega. No rank. No standing." Jax added
He paused, voice tightening. "So I claimed her as my mate before the council. I tied her to my name, my rank as gamma, and as a member of the royal family. We did not declare war, but we did ensure her protection moving forward."
Marra stepped in then, calm and composed. "Nova stepped aside, when Jax and I discovered we were second-chance mates."
Alpha Redmoon folded his arms slowly. "So she went from being chained in Ashbane, to an omega of Shadowclaw, to Gamma Luna, and now she's Queen of North Varos."
He turned to Marra, brows raised. "You mentioned arriving in Shadowclaw a week ago?"
"Yes," Marra said evenly.
The weight of everything unsaid hung thick in the air.
"So when you say she's been with Alpha Shadowclaw for a week," Alpha Redmoon repeated slowly, tone dipped in disbelief, "that would've been immediately after breaking the matebond?"
"Yes." Jax's voice was flat—devoid of feeling—but his rigid posture and flickering eyes told another story.
Redmoon turned slightly, gaze cutting toward Jax. "A full bond, marked?"
"Yes." Cael and Jax spoke in perfect sync, neither flinching.
A long silence passed. The crackling of the brazier at the edge of the tent was suddenly deafening.
"Why," Redmoon asked slowly, "did Alpha Shadowclaw take her as a mate so quickly afterward?" His brows lifted, voice still composed but edged with tension. "She's beautiful, yes. But at that point, your pack owed her protection, regardless. Stepping aside for a fated mate couple is noble—but this?"
Cael's jaw ticked, but he answered steadily. "She is his fated mate. She didn't know because she couldn't feel the bond yet."
Alpha Redmoon's brows furrowed, genuine confusion creasing his usually unreadable face. "She's his fated mate… but he didn't claim her to begin with? And let his Gamma claim her instead?"
"He was betrothed to Meredith, and was planning on honoring that." Cael answered.
Across the room, Rex's jaw ticked. His gaze flicked to Nova's still figure, then back to Jax and Cael.
He'd never heard of someone having two fated mates at the same time. And Rex knew she was most definitely his fated mate. So either Finric was not telling the truth and they weren't fated or he had known. And if he'd known, he let her be claimed by someone else first and put her as an omega in his pack.
Redmoon folded his arms, voice still calm but carrying steel underneath. "Forgive my bluntness again, but I have to ask…"
He looked at Cael, then Jax. "Why in the hell would Alpha Shadowclaw allow his queen of two days, bonded for less than one week, to walk into a war summit in his stead—alone—in a tent full of wolves?"
The silence was loud.
His implication wasn't missed. Jax looked away.
"Because she's brilliant." Marra said, tone unquestioning and fierce.
Redmoon nodded. "Oh, I see that. That's not in question."
He tilted his head slightly, eyes sharp. "But brilliance alone doesn't keep a wolf from being torn apart if she stumbles into the wrong game."
A quiet beat passed before he spoke again. "There's more to that. But I won't press."
Across the tent, Rex's eyes closed for a moment, pushing his wolf down. His wolf was trying to surface snarling and furious.
She was chained. Hunted. Crowned. Sent here like a pawn.
That would never have happened on his watch. Ever. She would have been claimed the day he met her.
Mine. Mate.
Hyran studied her as the glow settled into her body—then gave a quiet, mirthless chuckle and slowly shook his head. As if he realized something that his Alpha didn't realize.
He stood straight, brushing his hands together. He knew something, but didn't say it out loud.
Marra's face went pale.
Jax went still.
Cael tensed.
"She is safe with us," Redmoon said, voice like steel wrapped in velvet. "No harm will come to her—not by our hand. Not while she stands under our protection."
Rex stepped forward then, and added quietly, his voice steady: "On my life."
The Queen of the North lay still, her glow fading slowly from beneath her skin.
But no one in that tent would ever see her the same way again.
_________________________
Nova stirred, her eyes fluttering open slowly to the muted light filtering through the canvas of the tent. She blinked once, then again, sitting up slightly with a wince.
She looked around the room—Redmoon, Rex, Marra, Cael, Jax—all of them watching her with quiet concern.
"I apologize," she said, looking at Redmoon and Rex specifically. "Thank you… for allowing me the space to recover."
Her gaze shifted to Marra, and something unspoken passed between them. A silent signal. Marra gave a single nod in return—measured and solemn, as if confirming the weight of what was coming.
Nova turned her eyes to Jax, searching his face, her expression asking the same silent question.
Jax stepped forward. "There's something else we haven't told you yet," he said grimly. "In the third and fourth council meetings. For some reason, Cael and I…" he glanced at Cael, who gave a grim nod "we're not there. We don't know why. We disappear. And whatever happens in that room… it's not good."
Nova's face darkened, but she didn't flinch. "We're walking into a trap," she said. "Wear armor beneath your formal attire. Quietly. Have your men do the same—but do not spread the word. We need to see who draws the first blade."
Marra stepped forward, voice low and urgent. "In my dream… during the fourth meeting, Alpha Redmoon, you were on Nova's right and to her left was my father. Starfang was at the far end of the table. I saw him leading this and using dark magic. They will try to kill everyone in the tent."
Marra looked uneasy, and Nova realized why. She just referenced her dream, but she wasn't aware that Jax and Cael already knew. Cael, for his part, looked just as uncertain, though for a different reason. He didn't know how much they could safely reveal to Marra. Nova took mental note of it all. She'd need to bring them into alignment—carefully, without exposing too much. The message from the ancestors was not something to mishandle.
Nova turned her gaze back to Redmoon. "We don't know who else is already compromised."
Marra nodded. "Nova is meeting with my father this afternoon."
Alpha Redmoon leaned forward, brows drawn. "Then we operate under the assumption that every other Alpha present is a coin in the air. Until it lands, we trust nothing."
Rex, arms folded and eyes sharp, added, "And if that bastard's taint spreads to even one more army, we'll be outnumbered before we unsheathe a single blade."
Nova nodded grimly. "We don't know if the magic infecting Starfang is the same force behind Ashbane… or an ally to it. If they're connected, we're looking at something bigger than a rogue Alpha."
She stood slowly, still pale but steady. "My goal today is to delay our strike until after the fourth council meeting. If we move too soon, we'll walk into battle flanked by enemies instead of allies."
Cael added, "If this is a trap, we won't get another chance to expose them."
Ragnar nodded slowly. "If Starfang so much as breathes wrong, he dies."
"If we could move both the third and fourth council sessions to tomorrow, we'd reduce the risk of leaks and limit the time for external influence. That would be the most ideal… if we can find a reason compelling enough to justify it." Nova said.
Redmoon leaned back, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Easy. We cite military necessity. We're on a war timeline—Ashbane won't wait for us to debate logistics over four days. If you raise the concern formally and suggest the acceleration as a matter of readiness, every Alpha worth their title will fall in line."
He smirked slightly, voice dry. "Say your scouts reported increased movement near your northern border. That'll do it. Nothing gets Alphas moving like the scent of war on someone else's doorstep."
He looked at her with something like respect. "And it puts you in control of the pace."