❄️ Winter had arrived with teeth the next day.
Snow dusted the training field like spilled salt. The cold bit at her fingertips, crept under the folds of her sparring uniform, and painted her breath white with every exhale.
Nova sat in the stands of the training arena. Arms crossed shielding her from the cold, watching her classmates take turns getting absolutely wrecked by the warrior guards they were supposed to be learning from.
Most were volunteers — young wolves eager to impress. She wasn't one of them.
Across the packed snow ring, the seasoned warriors stood in a clean formation, weapons sheathed at their sides, expressions bored. The largest female among them, Helga Emberhide, was broad-shouldered with braids like coiled rope and a cocky smirk. She was known for being a sparring champion among the warriors and no one had dared to challenge her.
Brutus Sterling, the Colonel was tall with grey streaks in his black hair and scar shaped like a lightning bolt over one eye and cheek. He gave a lazy yawn.
"Anyone else brave enough to step in?" He called. "Come now, make it a good one. You lot are supposed to be nearing graduation."
Nova hoped to gods someone would step forward. Anyone.
Then—
She felt it.
A pair of eyes.
She turned.
Professor Draven was looking at her. She liked him. Trusted him, even. Up until last night when he blatantly favored the captain she was sparring with.
But right now, he was looking at her.
No. No, no, no—
"Nova," he said simply, nodding once. "Go ahead."
Her stomach sank. Her classmates whipped around to stare.
Colonel Brutus raised an eyebrow. "You sure? She'd be going up against my champion."
Draven's voice didn't waver. "She's ready."
Nova stared at him. "Sir…"
He only smiled gently. "Trust me."
Before she could talk herself out of it, movement caught her eye.
On the far side of the field, tucked beneath one of the awnings, Aeron sat on a frost-covered bench, a book open across his lap. He'd been silent, but did warn her that he'd be keeping a closer eye on her trainings now.
She glanced at him.
He looked up just as she stepped into the ring.
Their eyes met.
He didn't speak.
But he didn't have to. She knew what he was thinking. Keep in control.
The warning from his eyes was clear. And for the first time… it worried her. She didn't want to disappoint him, the person who had invested so much time into developing her. The person who knew right away she never stole from Meredith or assaulted her.
To be fair, she'd never used her powers—unless they counted the time she touched the chain and fainted in class… or when she read that ancient book in the library. Beyond that, she'd never done anything to suggest she couldn't control it. But deep down, she knew he wasn't wrong.
Helga walked across the ring, cracked her neck and sneered. "Better hope I don't mess up that pretty face," she said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Wouldn't want the Gamma losing interest in his little pet."
The other warriors snickered.
Nova's class froze. Elle swore under her breath.
Rael started to rise, growling. Milo also stood up about to say something back but Elle grabbed his sleeve and yanked him down. "Don't, that'll draw more attention." she muttered.
Nova took a slow breath.
Across the grounds, Aeron's mindlink reached Professor Draven.
Aeron: Are you sure this is a good idea?
Draven stood perfectly still, arms folded. His jaw tightened.
Draven: Yes. She is one of the main students the Colonel wanted to see. She won't go unless I make her.
Aeron: I see that. But why against this barbaric giant woman?
Draven paused and then mindlinked.
Draven: I want to see someone take this champion down a peg. All of the warriors need to keep her and Elle's names out of their dirty mouths. It's pissing me off. All of them. Just listen.
Aeron: Let's keep this private.
Aeron added with a grimace. Hopefully their pack leadership would be too busy to pick up on a mindlink like this. Members of higher rank, especially the Alpha had that ability, unless the link was intentionally made private. Across the courtyard, Fin went utterly still. He was seated at a long table with courtiers and diplomats and Princess Meredith.
The princess was speaking, words laced with honey and venom as she traced her finger along the rim of her goblet.
"And as I was saying, I find this region's architecture—"
Finric's eyes narrowed. His head tilted ever so slightly toward the training field. The mindlink's echo had caught his attention. He knew exactly who they were referring to.
Princess Meredith was still talking, not even noticing his attention shift. But he no longer heard her.
His entire wolf was focused on the girl in the sparring ring. Her wolf. He could feel her emotions. She was … anxious? No that wasn't it. Finric concentrated, letting her emotions flood him fully. He then understood, she was afraid of losing control. A fear all too familiar for many shifters.
Meanwhile, in the war tower — Jax and Beta Cael Valehart, newly returned, were reviewing northern patrol routes.
Jax's pen stilled and his back stiffened. That mindlink was about Nova. His Nova. His eyes flicked to the window. Snow was falling harder now. He stood.
Cael looked up. "Something wrong?"
Jax's answer was short. "I hope not."
He walked out. Cael followed.