Nova stood in the middle of the living room, arms crossed, barefoot, and still trembling from what had happened just hours ago. Her heart was pounding—not from fear this time, but rage.
Darian leaned against the fireplace, silent and brooding as always. Ryder paced like a storm about to break. Ethan stood quietly in the corner, his jaw clenched. Max… for once wasn't joking. He sat on the edge of the couch, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
"You're going to tell me everything," Nova said, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife. "Right now."
No one answered.
"Kane said I'm not human," she continued, glaring at each of them. "That you all know something I don't. That you've been hiding it from me. So I want to know—what am I?"
Max looked up, guilt flashing in his eyes. "Nova, it's not that simple."
"Yes, it is. You all knew he was coming tonight, didn't you?"
"No," Ryder snapped. "We didn't expect he'd be stupid enough to try and take you. Not tonight."
"So you do know what he is."
Ethan sighed, finally stepping forward. "He's not just some spoiled rich boy from a powerful family. He's… a werewolf. The Alpha King of the Northern Pack."
Nova blinked. "A werewolf? That's not real—"
"It is," Darian said quietly. "And you've seen it. Felt it. The dreams. The moon. The way you react around him—it's not just a crush. It's something else."
"You mean the whole mate thing?" she scoffed. "That's not even… how is that a real thing?"
"It's old magic," Ethan explained. "The bond between two souls that are... matched. It's instinctual. Animalistic. Powerful."
Nova felt her knees wobble. She sat down on the armrest, processing.
"So why am I feeling it? I'm not a werewolf."
No one spoke.
"I said—why?" Her voice cracked.
Darian finally lifted his gaze. "Because Mom wasn't just human either. She was half-shifter. She hid it. Ran from that world. But it's in your blood too."
Nova stared at him, mouth open.
"We never thought the gene would awaken," Ethan said gently. "But something's triggered it. Maybe the full moon. Maybe Kane's bond. Maybe both."
"You all knew," she said in disbelief. "And you let me walk around thinking I was normal. Thinking I was crazy."
"We wanted to protect you!" Ryder shouted. "You think it was easy? Watching him circle you like a predator? You think we didn't want to tell you?"
"I don't know what to think anymore," she whispered.
"We're your brothers, Nova," Max said, eyes soft. "Nothing's changed."
"Everything's changed."
She stood slowly. Her mind was racing. Her world was upside down. But one thing was clear—she couldn't ignore who she was anymore. Or what Kane wanted from her.
"No more lies," she said. "If you want to protect me, then stop treating me like a child."
Darian's jaw tightened. "What do you want to do?"
Nova's eyes narrowed. "I want to find out everything. About him. About me. About what this bond really means."