Half the Omega wing thought Nova was cursed. The other half thought she was here to seduce the Alpha. She'd been in Shadowclaw for less than an hour.

  The whispers had started the moment she entered the Omega wing of the castle.

  She caught bits, most not bothering to lower their voices.

  "...silver scars..."

  "...look at her hair..."

  "She looks like a corpse they forgot to bury."

  By the time they got to a door marked Suite 3B, Nova's legs were shaking. She was used to whispers and stares. That wasn't new. But her energy was still shot. She felt like she'd ran a mile just from that short walk.

  Mary Caldus, the Head Omega clearly didn't want to be there. Nova could sense her dislike immediately, but she wasn't openly aggressive either.

  "You'll rise at dawn. All wolves in our pack receive training. Rank doesn't exempt you. Seven sharp."

  They stepped into a small, clean room with two beds. A girl sat cross-legged on one with a book open in her lap. She looked up the moment Nova entered.

  Mary left without another word.

  The girl gave a warm smile. "Elle Varrin. And you are Nova Moonveil." It wasn't a question.

  Her gaze traveled over Nova with the precision of someone who missed nothing. "That does explain the whispers."

  "The Omega wing is losing its mind," she continued. "Half think you're cursed. The other half think you're here to seduce the Alpha."

  Nova sighed, already very well aware. "I... I wouldn't even know how to seduce anyone."

  Elle grinned. "You don't need instructions. Men are remarkably uncoordinated. Especially when a girl walks in looking like a half-starved moon goddess."

  Nova's face flushed at that. "I'm not— I don't— I'm just an omega."

  "No, you're something else." Elle's gaze dipped to Nova's wrists. "Omegas don't look like you or arrive wearing silver."

  Nova pulled her hands instinctively closer to her chest.

  "Whoever did that to you, will not find the same courage here," Elle added, sensing Nova's unease. "If they try, I'll rearrange their face."

  Nova gave a short, startled laugh and shook her head.

  Elle beamed. "Good. We're friends then. I'd have declared it regardless, but consent is a nice bonus."

  ???

  Their bonding was short-lived.

  The next morning, they were both summoned to Princess Meredith's wing. Her room was extravagant with shining perfume bottles, gold jewelry, and warm sunlight.

  Meredith stood at her vanity in a white silk robe, brushing her hair.

  She didn't turn right away. When she finally did, her eyes landed on Nova.

  The brush stilled mid-stroke. "You."

  She gave a wicked smile that didn't meet her eyes. "I hoped you'd died."

  Elle glanced at Nova, visibly confused.

  Meredith stepped forward with unhurried grace.

  "You have her eyes," she said. "That same vacant, pathetic look. I wonder if she screamed when my mother opened her throat."

  She cackled. At what, Nova wasn't sure.

  "Do you still wake up crying at night for your dead whore of a mother?"

  Stolen story; please report.

  Nova held her composure, not letting her emotions bleed through.

  Mistake number one.

  That was not the reaction Meredith wanted.

  Without warning, Meredith stormed across the room. Her hand slammed against Nova's throat, shoving her back into the wall.

  Elle gasped and stepped forward, but froze when Meredith snapped her head in her direction.

  "Don't."

  She turned back to Nova with a face full of disgust and squeezed Nova's neck harder.

  "You're a scar. A slave born of a whore. A living, breathing stain. If you ever speak to me, look at me, or so much as breathe wrong near me again..."

  She leaned closer, her smile widening.

  "I'll finish what my mother started."

  Her fingers pressed tighter around Nova's throat, until spots danced at the edges of her vision.

  "You are a bastard slut and exist because someone forgot to drown you at birth. You ruined my family and my life."

  She laughed. Then she smiled, teeth gritted like she was enjoying this. "I hope you're raped by every warrior here and die a painful death."

  She didn't bother lowering her voice for that last part. The statement was as crazy as her eyes.

  Nova's pulse thundered in her ears. Her eyes stayed locked on Meredith's, steady.

  Finally, Meredith let go and stepped back, smoothing her black hair with delicate fingers. Her smile returned as if nothing had happened.

  "Don't forget your place. Or else... your throat will be slit as fast as you spread your legs."

  Nova's voice came out calm. Almost amused.

  "Careful, Princess. Your crown is slipping."

  CRACK.

  Meredith's backhand slammed across Nova's face.

  Her head whipped to the side. The impact sent her to the ground and she tasted blood.

  Her breathing was shallow. But she didn't cry or move.

  Meredith stood over her for a moment, chest rising and falling with fury. Then she turned to the steward who had just entered after hearing the commotion.

  "Remove her from my presence."

  The steward finally found his voice. "Princess—"

  "Get. Her. Out."

  He bowed and motioned to the door.

  Meredith turned back toward the vanity, calm once more. "And don't let her in my sight moving forward. Either of them."

  The door shut behind them with a soft click.

  Nova didn't speak for a while after they left Meredith's wing. She walked stiffly, one hand hovering near her ribs like she was holding herself together by force of habit. Dark, violet bruises bloomed across the side of her throat and face. Her eyes were red from holding back tears.

  She tried not to think of the terrible memories she'd had with Riven or Meredith growing up. A slap and being called a whore was nothing in comparison.

  Elle kept pace beside her. Every few steps, her eyes flicked to Nova's throat, then away again, jaw tightening.

  Finally, Elle spoke. "You okay?"

  Nova wiped at her mouth, only then noticing the blood.

  "Did you ruin her life like she said?" Elle asked softly.

  Nova met her eyes. "Yes."

  Elle stared at her for a moment and then shrugged. "Good. Sounds like she deserved it."

  She said it so offhand that Nova nearly stopped walking.

  Elle glanced at her, unimpressed. "What? I'm supposed to gasp and clutch my pearls? Please."

  A small, tired laugh escaped Nova. "You're not very diplomatic."

  "And I don't trust people who think royalty is an excuse to act like a bitch," Elle said.

  Nova's gaze dropped. "She wasn't wrong. My mother was the Alpha King's fated mate. He already had Queen Velora. Two children."

  She swallowed. "She was carrying me when they met. He claimed me anyway. It turned into a civil war."

  Her voice faltered. "When it was over, my mother was dead."

  "A luna and queen should not be cruel," Elle said, firmly. "Alpha Shadowclaw probably has no idea she's like that."

  "We'll stay out of her way," she added, like it was settled law.

  Nova nodded weakly.

  "I apologize. Being associated with me might cause you some problems."

  "Don't apologize," Elle said. Then she shrugged, tone shifting to as casual as a weather report. "I've always had a tender spot for whores, bastards, and stains."

  Nova laughed hard at that.

  Elle's grin vanished the second she saw parchment tucked under their door.

  "Oh look. Fan mail."

  Nova bent to read it, and Elle's fingers curled into fists.

  "Cute," she muttered. "They can write. Too bad they can't think."

  Elle picked up the next parchment, skimmed it, and snorted.

  "Okay. That's it. I'm done being polite. Someone wants to play? Fine. Let's play."

  ???

  The scent of blood hit him first. But not just any blood. This was distinct.

  Jax Thorne caught it just as he rounded the top stairwell, heading toward the west wing training yard. It was all too familiar. Vanilla and moonlight.

  He slowed, pausing near the balcony that overlooked the hall below.

  Voices drifted up from the far corner.

  He recognized one voice as Elle. The one from the southern border pack they'd taken in after the rogue attacks.

  The other voice was new and sounded sad. His heart cracked at that.

  He stepped forward and recognized the girl speaking.

  Nova. The one Alpha Shadowclaw had pulled from the tower. The one Jax had carried out himself.

  And there it was. Her scent.

  The same scent that had unsettled him a few days prior. He chalked it up to adrenaline.

  This time, there was no excuse.

  It settled tight in his chest, like a blow he didn't dodge. Like something his body recognized before his mind caught up.

  Was it always this strong?

  He didn't need to ask.

  Of course it was.

  He had just been too afraid to name it.

  His wolf snarled in his mind.

  Mine.

  She looked worse than the last time he'd seen her. A dark bruise stained the side of her neck and her lip was split.

  He exhaled slowly and pulled away from the railing.

  Time to find out what the hell happened.

  Ten minutes later, he found Elder Norrin, the steward assigned to the princess's wing.

  "Elder Norrin. A word."

  Norrin looked up, immediately straightening. "Gamma Thorne. Of course."

  "Tell me what happened to Nova Moonveil."