Finric's boots slammed against the stone corridor floor, fast and loud. Every step was a storm.
Nova's scent still clung to him — the faintest trace of vanilla and moonlight — but it was being smothered by his own fury.
The moment the door to his chambers came into view, he shoved it open, jaw tight, breath short.
He needed space. He needed time to think.
He needed—
"Oh," came a soft, syrupy voice.
He froze.
Meredith was draped across the armchair by the fire, wearing far too little and smiling like she belonged there.
"Finally," she purred. "I thought you'd locked yourself away for the night."
He said nothing. Just stared at her.
"I came to check on you," she added, rising from the chair with fluid grace, her gown slipping off one shoulder. "You've been so tense lately. So distracted."
She approached slowly — a serpent in silk — and placed both hands on his chest.
He didn't move.
She mistook that for permission.
With a small, practiced smile, she ran her hands up toward his shoulders and around his back. Her fingers began to knead the muscles there, warm and invasive.
"You're wound up like a bowstring," she whispered into his ear, pressing closer. "Let me take care of you."
Her hands slid lower. Finric grabbed her wrist.
"Relax Alpha. I don't bite."
His eyes met hers, cold and furious. "What are you doing in my room, Princess?"
Her lashes fluttered. "I told you. I came to check on you. I was worried."
"I don't need your worry," he said, voice like flint. "Or your hands."
She blinked, stunned, then scoffed — stepping back, smoothing her gown like he'd wronged her.
"You're upset," she said. "You're lashing out."
"Don't." He growled.
Meredith's mouth snapped shut. She hadn't seen that edge before.
But her name thundered in his mind like a battle drum. Nova.
Fin's breath hitched as Meredith's fingers began to knead the tension from his shoulders, her touch gentle yet firm. He lost his train of thought.
He could feel the heat of her body, close behind him, and it sent a shiver down his spine. Her hands moved lower, tracing the line of his spine, and he felt a familiar stirring in his loins. He was used to taking what he wanted, his strength and reputation making it easy.
Yet her scent and presence repulsed him.
He turned to face her, his eyes meeting hers. Her gaze was steady, unyielding, and he saw a spark of evil in her eyes. She was not the silver-blond-haired princess he wanted.
"You don't need to feel guilty, Alpha," she whispered, her voice a low purr. "I can help you find release, Alpha. I can help you forget."
She pulled his face down to hers, her lips capturing his in a fierce, hungry kiss. She pressed her body against his as her hands moved to his waist. He could feel her fingers fumbling with the fastenings of his pants, and he broke the kiss, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
This felt so wrong.
"My heart yearns for another." He voiced, hoarse. She ignored him, her hands pushing his pants down, revealing the hard length of him. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a wicked gleam.
She sank to her knees, her hands wrapping around him, and he groaned, his head falling back. Her tongue flicked out, tasting him. But, it didn't feel pleasurable like it should. She took him into her mouth, her head moving slowly, her lips tight around him.
He wanted release… but he looked down and saw black strands. It was different from the silver-blonde he wished for. He closed his eyes and pretended it wasn't Meredith in his chambers.
He was with Nova. He wondered how beautiful her body was, under those undergarments. Her skin against his. He felt sparks today when he touched her. He wondered if her cum would taste as good as her scent. He could only imagine how tight she would feel around him when he entered her for the first time.
His emotions were a storm of desire, anger, the frustration, the pain— but finally he was able to release into Meredith's mouth as she moaned and swallowed his cum.
"Feeling better Alpha?"
"Get out."
"I know it felt good."
He took a single step toward her.
She calmly left the room.
And Fin was left standing alone, breath ragged, fists clenched.
Her name still thundered in his mind like a battle drum.
Nova.
Down the hall, Nova was still unconscious.
Jax turned the corner and froze. Princess Meredith's silhouette lingered at the door across from Fin's quarters, her fingers tightening around the handle. She began to ease it open with a soft, deliberate creak.