Two months in Shadowclaw, and Nova had learned three things: Elle snored, Ash cheated at sparring, and someone was still leaving parchment under their door.

  Today, she sat in a class of fifty students and first year cadets.

  At the front of the class stood Professor Malloran, waving his hand over a black chain.

  To her horror, his eyes landed on her. "You. Moonveil. Approach the binding."

  Nova cautiously rose, throat tightening. "I—Professor—"

  "Now."

  She felt light-headed for some reason, but walked forward anyways as instructed.

  "Sir, maybe—" Elle started.

  "Quiet."

  The room fell completely silent, and everyone leaned forward in their seats.

  The professor explicitly said do not touch the chain. She wasn't stupid. Yet, she found herself stretching out her hand.

  Aware but not in control.

  As soon as her fingers brushed against the iron, unfamiliar pain lanced through her violently.

  It hurt like a motherfucker. A high-pitched sound escaped her throat before she could stop it.

  The pain grew more intense, like a hot knife slashing her insides.

  But she couldn't move or let go.

  The chain pulsed under her fingers. All the torches in the room blew out, plunging everyone into pitch blackness.

  And then Nova glowed. Her hair lifted from her shoulders, shimmering like moonfire. Her eyes shifted from green to silver.

  The chain cracked, snapping in half with a sound as loud as a thunderclap.

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  The torches flared back to life and gasps echoed around the room.

  Professor Malloran moved fast — throwing a containment rune onto the table.

  Nova swayed, the silver light in her eyes flickering.

  Her knees buckled. She then collapsed, unconscious, onto the stone floor.

  ???

  "...We'll double the patrols near the southern ridge and await confirmation from Cael's team," Fin Shadowclaw commanded.

  "On it," Colonel Sterling said.

  At that instant, a sudden pan sliced under Fin's ribs. He inhaled sharply in surprise, hand going to his sternum.

  "...Alpha?" Colonel Sterling asked, frowning.

  Something was wrong.

  Fin's pulse began to race. His wolf, usually quiet and controlled, was now howling like it had just been wounded.

  Xeon: Mate.

  His vision tunneled for a split second.

  Xeon: Pain. She's in pain.

  Fin mindlinked the only person he truly could trust with this, unable to leave this meeting.

  ???

  Jax felt a pain spear through his chest.

  He gripped the table knuckles white. Fin's voice cut through haze in his mind.

  Fin: Jax... locate Nova and bring her to me. It's urgent.

  Jax knew she'd be in class and mindlinked every professor at once.

  Jax: Is Nova Moonveil in any of your classes?

  Malloran answered immediately.

  Malloran: Yes. Classroom Sublevel Three. She collapsed.

  His chair slammed back as he surged to his feet, already taking the stairs three at a time, the meeting forgotten behind him as startled omegas and warriors stared.

  Please don't be dead. Please don't be broken.

  By the time he threw open the heavy oak door, students and cadets had spilled into the corridor, whispering.

  Jax eyes found her instantly. She lay on the stone floor unconscious. Her skin and hair shimmered faintly, like moonlight. Steam rose off the broken chain beside her.

  Malloran stood over her with a wary expression on his face. He was visibly shaken in a way Jax hadn't seen before.

  "She touched a cursed binding and cracked it," the professor said stiffly. "I don't know what she did or how.. but—"

  Jax didn't wait for the rest. He crossed the room in three strides, dropped to one knee, and scooped Nova up like she weighed nothing.

  The moment his arms wrapped around her, his wolf surged to the surface.

  Protective. Possessive.

  Mine.

  It was a feeling he hadn't felt since his fated mate, who passed away five years ago. The one who he still thought about everyday.

  Why did he care for this girl he barely knew? It didn't make sense.

  "Come with me," Jax said curtly to Malloran.

  He turned without another word and strode from the classroom — boots echoing down the hall,

  Nova's cheek fell lightly against his chest.

  Every student in the corridor watched.

  One boy muttered, "Is that the Gamma... carrying her?"

  Another said, "She glowed. I swear it."

  Jax's grip on her tightened and he walked forward, ignoring the commentary.

  Every step drew more adrenaline. Sparks flared where his skin met hers. Her scent flooded him, intoxicating and wrong in how right it felt.

  The pull was strong enough that his mind reached for mate.

  But his wolf did not answer.