Nova's boots barely made a sound on the stone floors as she stepped back into her shared quarters.

  Elle looked up the moment Nova entered.

  "Nova!" she exclaimed and dashed across the room to hug her. "Where the hell have you—?"

  "I'm sorry Elle." Nova cut in, lowering her head. She was embarrassed by what happened and worse how she ran away. It all seemed silly now.

  Elle blinked. Then frowned harder. "Nova, you were gone for two days. I'm so glad you're okay! Fuck those warriors and that stupid training exercise. That was not your fault and the entire castle and pack knows it."

  Nova froze. "Two... days?"

  Elle nodded slowly. "You don't remember?"

  "I..." Nova's lips parted. She glanced down at her hands, then back at Elle. "Was I in Jax's room that whole time?"

  Elle's expression shifted. Less concern. More curiosity. "That is making more sense now. I heard rumors he claimed you as his mate to the council."

  Nova slowly walked toward her bed, flopping down with a groan. "I woke up this morning on top of him. Dr. Quell... Elias ordered skin-to-skin contact for body heat."

  Elle's mouth fell open. "Are you telling me Gamma Thorne did that with you for two days?"

  Nova flushed. "I am so glad we got waxed the other day."

  They both burst into laughter.

  "Something strange happened with Beta Valehart," Elle said, scooting closer, lowering her voice.

  Nova raised a brow. "Strange how?"

  Elle blew out a breath. "I went after you... and he was playing with me. His wolf and mine in the woods... playing tag or something. But then he tackled me out of nowhere and ordered me to return. So I figured he lost his mind or something."

  "That's odd. Did he say why after?" Nova asked.

  "I walked past him yesterday in the eastern corridor. Alone. And he just—out of nowhere—kissed me. Nova, he wasn't even looking at me. I didn't see it coming."

  Nova blinked. "What?"

  Elle threw her hands up. "Exactly! Then he ran off."

  "Gods, this place is insane," Nova muttered, rubbing her face.

  They both burst into another round of laughter, and Nova felt the ache in her chest ease.

  "Well," Elle declared, suddenly springing to her feet. "You and I have tomorrow off, and we are not spending it sulking in bed."

  Nova groaned. "Elle—no. I feel like death."

  Elle rolled her eyes. "You fought off a wolf mid-shift and slept on top of a Gamma. You can handle a little fresh air."

  ???

  "Welcome to the Underglow," Elle said, tugging her toward a table.

  They met Milo, Rael, and Ash at a standing table near the back, laughs and conversation flowed.

  "Moonveil," came a familiar voice behind her. Low. Confident.

  She turned slowly.

  Captain Hunter Ryker stood there, clean and composed in a dark tunic that did little to soften the storm behind his eyes. He extended a hand—surprisingly formal.

  "Captain Ryker," she said, her tone level.

  His grip was firm, fingers wrapping around hers with a deliberate steadiness. "Didn't expect to see you here. After what happened on the field."

  Elle raised a brow. "You mean the scrimmage where she laid you flat?"

  But all of them knew exactly what he was referring to and it wasn't the scrimmage she did with him a few days ago. It was Helga.

  His smile twitched. "She did. Not many can say that."

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  He didn't let go right away. His thumb brushed lightly over her knuckles before he finally released her hand. "That last move... Brutal. But impressive."

  His grin stretched wide. "Nasty finish. You're lucky I like it rough."

  "You grabbed my neck," she reminded him.

  "And you kicked me in the balls," he said. "I haven't stopped thinking about it."

  She stared at him, unreadable.

  He smirked, eyes glinting. "You're quicker than you look."

  "I'll take that as a compliment. You usually only think about yourself," she said not faltering.

  "Not true," he said lightly, grin widening. "I'm thinking about you right now."

  "Careful. Wouldn't want you hurting yourself by thinking too hard," Nova said, rolling her eyes.

  The corner of his mouth twitched. "Don't worry, I'm tougher than I look. And better looking than you remember."

  "Then you've improved — marginally," she said flatly.

  "Marginal, hmm? Then maybe you should measure again — up close this time."

  He gave her one last look, equal parts challenge and invitation, and walked away.

  "Believe me," Nova huffed, exasperated. "I'm not getting anywhere near him to measure anything."

  ???

  Jax pushed open the door to Nova's room.

  Empty.

  He frowned, stepping further inside. The bed was untouched, the fire low. He stepped back into the hall — just in time to nearly collide with Beta Cael Valehart.

  Both froze.

  "What are you doing here?" they asked in unison.

  They stared at each other for a long beat before Cael broke the silence. "You first."

  "I was checking on Nova," Jax said, arms crossing.

  Cael gave a humorless laugh. "Relax. I might be the only male in this castle not throwing himself at her."

  Jax snorted. "Dark joke."

  They both wandered down to the courtyard, where frost clung to the railings and their breath puffed like smoke.

  Cael broke the silence. "Do you smell cinnamon?"

  Jax blinked. "No. But I smell vanilla."

  Cale took a breath, clearly wanting to come clean about something. "I smelled it in the battle arena a few days ago. I thought I was losing my mind. Then she shifted to run after Nova and my wolf went crazy."

  Jax tilted his head surprised.

  "Elle," Cael said. "Nova's best friend I'm told. She's my fated mate."

  He sighed adding, "But she doesn't feel it yet."

  A smile spread across Jax's face. He shook his head trying to not laugh.

  "I accidentally kissed her," Cael said.

  Jax chuckled at that, unable to contain it. "Damn you have it bad."

  "She looked scared or shocked," Cael admitted. "Then I ran from her. And here I am. Losing my mind over a feisty little redhead that doesn't know I exist. What is it with this pair of minxes? They're tearing this entire pack inside out."

  Jax gave a grim smile, then looked out at the dark. "I kissed Nova."

  Cael turned toward him.

  "She kissed me, actually," Jax added, quieter now. "And I almost lost control of my wolf. He tried to surface multiple times and he talked through me. Told her she was mine. I never had that with Cira ... ever. Even when I left the room, he was fighting me to go back. He tried to take over."

  Cael stared. "Did you tell her?"

  "I haven't had the chance. I told her I needed to cool off and ran out of the room."

  Cael whistled. "So you ran out of the room, right after you kissed her?"

  "Yes." Jax said, sighing.

  "No question they told each other then." Cael said with a defeated laugh.

  "They probably think this pack is nuts." Jax said, now also laughing with his hands in his face.

  "She doesn't know what I told the counsel... I didn't get a chance to tell her," Jax muttered.

  Cael let out a dark laugh. "I know I say this after every council meeting... but that was ridiculous."

  ???

  A familiar scent drifted in. Vanilla and moonlight.

  Nova.

  Jax stilled, Cael beside him, both men tensed in the shadow of the archway just off the main hall. And then—male voices.

  Of course.

  Ash's loud voice broke through first. "Nova, you look like you don't feel very well."

  Elle's sharp retort came immediately. "That's because she doesn't, you dimwit. How many times do we have to tell you?"

  She stumbled. Nova caught her without even looking. But then stumbled herself for a split second and winced. None of the three boys noticed.

  Milo, Rael, and Ash were stumbling alongside them. Laughing. Rael knocked into a suit of armor. Milo shushed him while tripping on his own feet.

  "Can you three be any louder?" Nova hissed. "You might as well knock on every door and wake the entire castle."

  Ash, undeterred, threw his arms across both girls dramatically.

  "You two attract so much attention everywhere we go," he moaned. "Those warriors out there? They weren't drooling over me. That one really wanted you, Nova. He was watching you two dance."

  From the shadows, Jax felt his insides twist at that. He didn't like it. He saw Nova's expression stay cool.

  Nova responded dryly. "Remind me to jump off the roof at the thought of that."

  Milo cackled and looped his arm around her shoulders from the other side. "Somebody's cranky today, isn't she?" he cooed, pinching her cheek like a child.

  Jax clinched his fists. No one should touch what was his. His jaw ticked. He was fighting the urge to punch Milo and carry her to his quarters. Where she belonged. Away from these three.

  "Don't touch me, Milo," she said annoyed.

  Milo clutched his chest. "'Don't touch me, Milo,'" he mimicked in a falsetto, fluttering his lashes like a theater girl. "You wound me."

  "Gods help us," Cael muttered under his breath.

  "We'll sleep on the floor!" Ash announced suddenly.

  "Very good boys," Rael added, mock-saluting. "We've made it into the girls' chambers."

  Elle and Nova exchanged a look. A look that could've started a rebellion.

  He didn't know what it was this time. Jealousy. Concern. Possession. Maybe just exhaustion from all of it for a girl that wasn't his yet.

  Cael's fists clenched.

  And the corridor suddenly felt colder than the night outside.

  Ash was still dramatically gesturing toward Nova's door like a host showing honored guests to their private suite.

  Milo had taken off one boot for reasons no one could understand.

  And then, in perfect sync, Nova and Elle responded:

  "Night."

  They turned and shut the door in their faces.

  There was a long moment of silence.

  Ash sighed, adjusting his collar. "I think that was a no."

  In the shadows, Jax and Cael remained still. Watching. Listening. Not even bothering to hide their smug expressions.

  "Rael had to make things weird. Thanks a lot," Ash said.

  The boys stumbled down the corridor out of the castle, not noticing their Beta and Gamma ten feet from them in the shadows.

  Cael: This never happened.

  Jax: Done. Deleted.