The training yard was half mud, half sun — and smelled like sweat, steel, and whatever beast had died near the stables last week.
Nova stood at the edge with her arms crossed, watching as Elle waved her forward like she was dragging a nervous stray into town square.
"Come on," Elle said. "They don't bite. Often."
Three boys were sprawled near the weapons rack, just finishing drills. One was still catching his breath, the second was stretching like he'd pulled something (probably pride), and the third leaned lazily against a sparring dummy with the bored look of someone who was only deadly when he was motivated.
They looked up as the girls approached.
"Boys," Elle said. "This is Nova. Play nice. I like her."
The one with tousled sandy hair and a nose that had clearly been broken at least twice gave a crooked grin. "She's got that haunted-librarian-who-secretly-kills vibe. I like it."
"Ignore Milo," Elle said. "He's been dropped on his head. Recently."
"Once," Milo said with a shrug. "Just… really hard."
The boy beside him with sharp cheekbones and easy confidence straightened. "Ash. This is Rael," he nodded toward the quiet, stone-faced one with pale eyes, "and Milo, who loses most of our spars but wins at never shutting up."
"Untrue," Milo said. "I only lose physically. Spiritually, I'm undefeated."
Nova raised a brow. "And how often do you spar?"
"Daily," Ash said. "Usually right before lunch. Or bad decisions."
"She's not a fan of bad decisions," Elle said dryly. "That's why she's with me."
Ash grinned. "Oh, you're gonna be just fine."
He bent, scooping up a practice stick from the rack and offering it to her. The sparring sticks were padded, but thick — enough to bruise if you hit hard, but not break anything important.
"Wanna go a round?" he asked.
Nova hesitated.
Her ribs still ached. Her throat still pulsed where Meredith's grip had left fingerprints. But…
Why not?
She took the stick and tested the weight.
"I've never sparred before." Nova said, unable to hide her grin. It looked fun.
Ash stepped back, rolling his shoulders and twirling his own. "Alright, Moonveil. Let's see what that Ashbane tower training did for you."
Nova's jaw dropped for a second. Everyone seemed to know she was in that tower.
He shrugged. "Shadowclaw isn't that big. Word gets around."
Elle groaned. "He means he eavesdrops."
"I observe," Ash corrected, offended. Then he pointed at Nova's stick. "Now come on. Show me what tower life taught you."
Nova shook her head, still processing, still baffled that strangers knew pieces of her she hadn't spoken aloud.
Ash grinned. "Trust me, they only know the boring parts."
Elle smacked him again. "Stop before you ruin this entire friendship."
Nova laughed, lifting the stick. "Friendship? Already?"
Elle shrugged. "Good point. That's bold."
Ash tapped his stick against hers. "Now hit me. Gently. Or don't. Surprise me."
Nova swung.
Ash yelped.
Elle sighed.
Nova smiled.
Fast friends. Perfectly ridiculous.
Milo leaned over to Rian. "She's definitely going to destroy him."
Ash grinned and struck.
Nova blocked — barely — then swung low, catching him in the thigh.
He grunted. "Oh, okay. You're mean."
"I've seen toddlers dodge better." Nova said giggling.
Milo threw his hands up. "Ash, she called you a toddler. I can't defend you anymore."
They circled, trading blows and quips. Ash was fast, but Nova was unpredictable — patient when he expected boldness, reckless when he expected caution.
Rian watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, saying nothing.
But Nova could feel his eyes on her.
Measuring.
Approving.
When the match ended — a soft tap of Ash's stick against her knee — he stepped back with a grin.
"You're dangerous," he said. "I like it."
"I wasn't trying to be," Nova said smiling. The truth was that it was just plain fun.
"That makes it worse."
_____________________________________________________________________
The afternoon sun hung low, casting long shadows across the high west balcony.
Fin stood with his arms folded behind his back, eyes trained on the training yard below. Jax stood beside him, legs shoulder-width apart, posture formal — but his gaze kept drifting as well.
They were both supposed to be listening.
Elder Halsten stood across from them, sweat at his brow, recounting the latest update from Beta Cael's mission into the rogue-infested foothills of East Varos.
"We've confirmed three more border breaches near the Duskwind cliffs. Beta Cael's message indicated rogue numbers are higher than expected. Coordinated movement. Tactics, not chaos."
Finric didn't respond right away.
His gaze was locked on a girl with hair the color of moonlight. She was in the yard below — too slender, bruised at the throat, flushed with effort as she moved lightly on her feet, sparring with one of the young warriors-in-training.
Nova.
A wooden staff in her hands.
Laughter in her mouth.
Too close.
Too loud.
Too free.
Jax said nothing, but Fin could feel his Gamma tense beside him.
"They've requested backup from the outer garrisons," the Elder continued. "But Cael is holding position until you give the order."
Finric didn't answer.
Below, Nova spun, ducked, and cracked her staff across Ash's shoulder. The boy stumbled back, laughing, and said something that made the others laugh too.
Finric's jaw flexed.
Jax finally cleared his throat. "We'll prepare the second garrison by sundown. Cael's team will hold for another day."
Finric gave the smallest nod.
"Very good, my Alpha," the Elder said, bowing slightly.
Neither of them looked at him.
They didn't speak again until the Elder stepped back and disappeared down the stairwell.
Silence.
The breeze rolled across the balcony, cool and biting.
The Elder had just finished delivering his report and turned to leave when he paused, squinting down at the yard below.
Nova swept low and cracked her sparring stick against Ash's ribs again — fast, clean, precise. The boys laughed, backing off, but their stances were shifting now.
Halsten frowned slightly.
"Pardon me, Alpha…" he said, hesitating. "Is that not the girl who was… kept in the Ashbane tower?"
Finric didn't respond.
The Elder continued anyway, more to himself than anyone.
"Strange. A girl like that shouldn't know how to fight like that. Not unless someone taught her."
He gave a small, respectful nod and left the balcony.
Neither Fin nor Jax moved.
Nova spun the stick once more — effortless, fluid — then flipped it behind her back and caught it with one hand without looking.
A simple motion.
A devastating one.
Finric's expression did not shift, but his wolf prowled under his skin, claws scraping for release.
Jax exhaled through his nose, arms crossing tighter over his chest, shoulders bunching like he was resisting the urge to leap off the balcony.
Silence stretched thin between them.
Below, Nova laughed softly at something Elle said. Ash handed her a water flask with far too much enthusiasm. Rael watched her like he was memorizing her for later.
Fin's knuckles whitened against the stone ledge.
Jax's jaw ticked once. Hard.
Two men.
Two wolves.
Two very different tempers cracking at the same fault line.
And both thinking the exact same thought:
Why are three boys talking to her?
And who, in the gods' name, are you really, Nova Moonveil?