Nova dropped the amulet onto the polished table with a soft clink, her breath still uneven.
Fin stood across the room, arms crossed, brow raised.
"Doing some light reading, Nova?" he said dryly.
He should have been furious—but she was standing there drenched, clothes clinging to her like a second skin, see through, and hair dripping onto the floor. And gods help him—she looked adorable.
Fin sighed and strode forward, sweeping her up into his arms before she could argue.
"Hang on," he muttered. "I need to get my mate some dry clothes."
He carried her into their closet, setting her down gently before grabbing a thick towel. Wordless, he began drying her off—slow, careful, familiar. But his brows furrowed as he felt the slight tremble in her limbs.
Her emotions leaked through their matebond—guilt, fear, shame—and it hit him like a weight in his chest.
"Hey there…" he said softly, crouching a little to meet her eyes. "What's wrong?"
She blinked back tears—unsuccessfully—and still wouldn't look at him. Fin had been nothing but a good mate to her. What was wrong with her?
"Nova, tell me. What's wrong?"
She couldn't answer.
She mindlinked Elle, not realizing Jax, Cael, and Fin could all hear it.
Nova: Can you come to the closet and say you need me for something?
Elle: Yes. Are you okay?
Nova didn't answer.
Fin was trying to understand, watching her closely.
"Baby… tell me. What happened? I'll fix it," he said gently, feeling just how distraught she was. Like she was trying not to spiral into a full panic.
That made her tears fall harder.
"Hey, it's okay," he said softly, pulling her into a hug.
He tried surging calmness and love into her through the matebond—just like always.
But for the first time ever… it didn't help. She blinked back more tears, barely holding it together.
Elle arrived a second later, eyes landing on Nova still in her soaked white silk robe, a towel draped over her shoulders, and Fin trying his best to comfort her.
"Nova, I need you for something. Really urgent." She didn't wait. She glanced at Fin and added, "Woman troubles. We'll be right back."
Fin had no intention of letting Nova leave. His grip tightened. But, she was already moving. She slipped out of his arms in a blur of alpha speed. He reached for her again on reflex, grasping empty air.
Elle didn't hesitate. She ran after her, catching up with Nova on the stairs. Without a word, she pulled her straight into her and Cael's quarters. Through their bedroom, and into Elle's sanctuary: her closet.
Cael, who'd still been in Fin's study, felt Elle's sudden surge of emotion and moved quickly. Her distress triggered his instincts. He followed.
Inside, Elle didn't waste time. She wordlessly grabbed a training suit for Nova—no robe, no slippers this time. She grabbed a sports bra and matching thong that were still wrapped in tissue paper, never worn.
Then Elle led her into the same room they'd used that night she needed Nova's help—when Cael wasn't allowed to find out.
The runes on the door lit as they passed through, sealing the room in silence. Their unspoken rule: the SOS room. No one could hear them here. Not even their mates.
They stepped into the warded room and Elle shut the door, locking it behind them. The second the latch clicked, Nova's composure shattered, trembling.
Elle moved quickly, helping her out of her wet clothes and change.
"These were going to be too small for me. I was going to give them to you either way." She said when Nova looked at the undergarments.
"Thank you Elle." Nova whispered. "I owe you a few outfits."
Elle laughed at that. "You and Marra both do now."
The moment Elle said that, Nova collapsed against the wall and slid down, hands in her hair, sobbing.
"Nova—hey—hey, I've got you." Elle dropped to the floor beside her, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Talk to me. What happened?"
Nova couldn't speak. She tried—but nothing came out except a strangled gasp.
"Elle, I'm such a horrible person," she finally sobbed, her voice ragged. "What is wrong with me…"
"You are not a horrible person," Elle said firmly, cupping the sides of Nova's face. "Nova, look at me. Right here. Eyes on me."
Nova tried. Her vision was blurred from tears.
"Breathe. In through your nose—come on, with me—one, two, three… hold it… now out through your mouth. Four seconds. Like this." Elle inhaled slow and deep with her, exaggerating the movement. "Good. Again."
Nova followed, her breathing still hitched but trying.
"In… two, three… hold… now out. Good, Nova. You're okay. You're safe. Just keep breathing with me."
Elle didn't let go, didn't ease up on her voice, her grip, or her presence. She grounded her.
"I'm right here. I've got you. Whatever happened, we will deal with it together. Just breathe."
Bit by bit, Nova's shaking began to slow. Her breaths started to sync with Elle's, though tears still streamed down her face.
"There you go," Elle whispered, brushing wet hair from Nova's forehead. "You've got this."
Once Nova had calmed—still hiccuping through shallow breaths—Elle gently brushed her hair back and said, "Okay. Let's make this easier. I'll ask, you answer yes or no."
Nova nodded, eyes still glassy.
"Jax came out of the portal calling your name. He looked like a kicked puppy. Did you two fight?"
"Yes," Nova croaked, another tear slipping down.
"Did he confess his undying, can't-live-without-you love?"
"Yes."
Elle grinned. "Ha. I knew it."
"Did you kiss him?"
"Yes."
Elle leaned forward. "Did you do more than kiss?"
Nova covered her face with both hands. "Yes. For sixty seconds."
Elle froze—then cracked up. Nova started laughing at her reaction.
Elle wiped tears from her eyes. "Was it like, 'I love you—boom—passion—oh gods we're out of time—abort mission'?"
Nova buried her face in her arms, equal parts laughing and sobbing. "Basically."
"Well. At least you didn't commit to a full-blown affair. Just… a spicy minute."
Nova choked on a laugh. "Elle!"
"What?! I'm just saying. Sixty seconds isn't cheating. It's a warm-up."
That earned a genuine snort. Nova's shoulders shook with it—and Elle reached over, wrapping her up in another tight hug.
"He's been in love with you, Nova," Elle said quietly, but there was certainty under the softness. "Always has been."
"He never loved Marra," Elle went on, sharper now. "Gods, he didn't even blink when she was rejected at the Gamma ceremony. That wasn't heartbreak. That was relief." She tilted her head. "They were friends. Comfortable. That's it. You see that, right? He never stopped loving you."
She reached out and brushed the tear from Nova's cheek with her thumb. "And for the record, Marra's already living with Aeron."
Nova looked up, surprised.
"She took care of him in his quarters after the black rain," Elle continued casually. "Next thing she knew, all her things were moved in. Aeron had omegas do it without telling her."
Nova let out a small, broken laugh despite herself. "Gee," she said dryly, "I wonder where he got that idea from."
Elle snorted. "A classic." Then, grinning, "Throwback to that one time our mates did the exact same thing while we were serving time for talking back to Shard."
Nova laughed weakly, then it crumpled. Tears slipped free again. That was when she had been Jax's. When he and Cael had done it together. The memory ached. Sweet. Ruined.
"Elle," Nova whispered, shaking her head. "That doesn't make this easier." She swallowed hard. "I'm with my fated mate. What am I supposed to do with that?"
Her voice cracked. "And now Jax says I'm his fated mate too." She pressed a hand to her chest. "But I know Fin is mine. I felt it. I still feel it."
Elle's expression shifted. Thoughtful. Careful. She did not rush this.
She leaned back slightly, studying Nova the way a chess player studies a board. "All right," she said slowly. "Then let's stop pretending this is simple."
Elle frowned, thinking, trying to tread carefully.
She met Nova's eyes, sharp but gentle. "Because fate doesn't usually knock twice unless it plans to break something."
Nova nodded, wiping at her cheeks, voice cracking. "What is wrong with the men in Shadowclaw?"
Elle raised a brow. "Were the Redmoon men better? Heard you had a dream about one."
Nova let out a broken laugh mid-sob, half horrified. "Oh my gods. What is wrong with me?"
Elle didn't miss a beat. "You're hot. They're dumb. That's all I've got."
Nova snorted, definitely crying, definitely laughing, completely undone.
"Nothing is wrong with you," Elle said firmly, cutting through it. "Fin didn't claim you when you arrived. Jax did. That's just the truth." She tilted her head. "And Jax never loved Marra. Even if Fin had claimed you, I think Jax still would have fallen for you, Nova. No bond was going to stop that."
She hesitated, lips pressing together, eyes darting as if deciding whether to open a door she'd meant to keep shut.
"When you were still unconscious, I came to check on you one morning. I saw someone sleeping next to you. I thought it was Fin. So I left."
Nova blinked.
"But then," Elle continued, casual but watchful, "I ran into Fin. Heading toward your room. Like… right after." She shrugged. "And about a minute later, Jax walked out."
"I wasn't going to say anything," Elle added quickly, lifting her hands. "But the next day, Cael told me he saw something similar. A little changing-of-the-guard moment."
Her voice dropped. "Cael told me not to bring it up. Said neither of them ever mentioned it to him, and he had no idea what the hell was going on."
"Was Jax asleep with you when you woke up and made a portal to Redmoon?" Elle asked.
Nova frowned, confusion lingering in her eyes.
A moment later she gasped, her cheeks paling.
"Oh gods… he was next to me in the bed. Oh shit. I—didn't realize."
"Nova," Elle said, laughter creeping in despite the seriousness, "Fin would have been aware. He's pretty damn territorial if you catch my drift."
Nova's head shook slowly. "I don't know if Jax was in the bed actually…" Her voice trailed off, uncertainty warring with memory.
Elle gave her a look. One of those looks. Silent. All knowing.
"I would just avoid them both for the rest of the day." Elle said. "Let the dust settle."
Nova nodded.
"Good idea." She agreed.