Nova didn't sleep that night.
Even after her brothers reluctantly allowed her to stay in her room—after hours of hovering, watching, warning—she could still feel their presence in the halls, guarding like wolves. It wasn't comforting. It was stifling. She loved them, sure, in her own way. But tonight, it felt like she was being protected from something she didn't even fear.
Kane.
Or maybe… something worse.
Her fingers absentmindedly traced the small crescent-shaped scar on her wrist. She didn't remember getting it. But since meeting Kane, it had started to itch, burn slightly when he was near. She thought it was just stress—or psychosomatic. But deep down, she knew it meant more.
The house was too quiet. That kind of eerie stillness that feels like it's waiting to snap.
Suddenly, a whisper.
"Nova…"
She sat bolt upright in bed, heart thundering. But there was no one. Only shadows.
And then again, clearer, right at her window:
"Nova."
She leapt out of bed and pulled the curtains open—only to find Kane, standing outside in the moonlight.
She opened the window with a scowl. "Are you insane? My brothers will kill you."
"They're already on alert," Kane said with a ghost of a smile. "But I needed to see you. Now."
His tone was different. Urgent. No flirtation. No teasing. Just… fear.
"You need to come with me. Something's happening. Something's waking up, Nova. And it's tied to you."
She stared at him. "Tied to me? What are you talking about—?"
But before he could answer, a blur moved behind her door. She turned just as it slammed open.
Ryder.
He looked like a storm about to break. His hair was messy, shirt half-tucked, but the fury in his eyes was sharp as knives.
"Step away from the window," he growled at Kane.
"Ryder, wait—!"
"No. Enough of this." He walked to her, grabbed her wrist (the scar flaring under his touch), and pulled her back. "You're not going anywhere with him."
Kane didn't flinch. "She needs to hear this."
"She'll hear it when we say she can. She's not your responsibility."
"She's my mate," Kane said softly. Too softly.
Nova froze.
Ryder's eyes widened, but just for a split second. Then he launched forward so fast she didn't have time to react.
"Kane!"
But Kane had already vanished into the shadows.
Nova stood there, trembling—not from fear, but from confusion.
Her brothers were behind her now, all four. Darian, silent and cold. Ethan, worried but calm. Max, for once, not joking.
They had all heard.
She turned to them. "What does that even mean? What's a mate?"
No one answered.
But from the silence, Nova understood one thing clearly.
Her life was about to change—again.
And this time, she wasn't sure who she could trust anymore.