Votes are in and what Thea is as a supernatural creature was chosen!!!!
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— Morning After the Bite
Thea woke slowly.
Not the groggy, half-lost kind of waking she was used to—but sharp. Clear. Like someone had turned the contrast up on the world while she slept.
She blinked.
And found Nova watching her.
Close. Too close. Curled on her side, chin resting on Thea's chest, dark circles bruising the skin beneath her eyes. Her hair was a mess, hoodie wrinkled, one hand splayed flat over Thea's heart like she was counting every beat.
She hadn't slept.
Thea frowned immediately.
"You didn't sleep."
Nova flinched—just a little—then sighed.
"I slept."
Thea arched a brow.
"Nova."
Nova's mouth twitched.
"Okay. I dozed. A little."
Thea's hand came up without thinking, fingers threading into Nova's hair, stroking slow and grounding. She felt... more. The texture of Nova's hair was sharper under her fingertips. The warmth of her body more defined.
"You should've rested," Thea murmured, not angry—just worried.
Nova shook her head, pressing her cheek more firmly to Thea's chest.
"I was listening to your heartbeat."
That made something tight loosen in Thea's ribs.
"You're impossible."
"You scared me," Nova admitted quietly. "I didn't want to close my eyes in case—"
Thea tightened her arm around her.
"Hey. I'm here."
Nova nodded, breathing her in. Thea could feel it—Nova's relief—like it had weight now.
They stayed like that for a while.
Quiet.
Thea stroked Nova's back in long, steady lines, fingers brushing over her hoodie, down her spine, up again. Nova melted into her, snuggling closer until her head fit perfectly over Thea's heart.
Thea realized she could hear it too.
Her own heartbeat.
Strong. Steady. Louder than it had ever been.
"How do you feel?" Nova asked after a moment, voice cautious.
Thea closed her eyes, checking in with herself.
"Fine," she said honestly. "Better than fine."
Nova lifted her head slightly, searching her face.
"No pain? No fever?"
"Just... awake," Thea said. Then, quieter, "And hungry."
Nova snorted, tension easing a notch.
"That tracks."
Eventually, they moved.
Slowly. Carefully. Like neither of them wanted to spook the moment.
They got dressed—Nova in one of Thea's shirts, Thea tugging on jeans and a T-shirt—and that was when it really hit.
Thea froze halfway through pulling on her shoes.
She frowned.
Tilted her head.
"...Do you hear that?"
Nova paused.
"Hear what?"
Thea focused.
She could hear the faint hum of the refrigerator two rooms away. The distant sound of the groundskeeper's truck outside the gates. The soft footfall of a maid moving downstairs.
All of it layered. Clear.
Too clear.
"I can hear... everything."
Nova's eyes sharpened.
Thea lifted her gaze—and realized the room looked different too. Brighter. Sharper around the edges. She could see dust motes in the air. The grain of the wood floor. The subtle shift of Nova's pupils as she watched her.
She stood.
And felt it.
Her body responded instantly—balance perfect, muscles coiled and ready like they hadn't been yesterday.
She flexed her hand.
Strength hummed under her skin.
"...Nova," Thea said, voice low now. "I think it worked."
Nova's breath caught.
For a long second, she just stared—hope and fear tangling in her expression.
Then she stepped closer, hands gentle on Thea's arms, eyes scanning, listening.
"Your scent changed," Nova whispered. "Not sick. Not dying."
She swallowed hard.
"You're... changing."
Thea looked down at herself, then back at Nova.
A slow grin spread across her face—equal parts awe and nerves.
"Guess I should've listened when you said there was no going back."
Nova laughed softly, but it broke halfway through.
And then something in her chest finally gave way.
Her shoulders sagged like a massive weight had just been lifted off them. The tension she'd been holding for hours—since the moment her teeth pierced Thea's skin—finally cracked.
She pulled Thea into a tight hug.
But instead of laughing again, Nova buried her face into Thea's shoulder.
Her body trembled.
Tears slipped down her cheeks—silent, warm, unstoppable.
Relief.
Pure, overwhelming relief.
"Hey," Thea murmured softly, wrapping her arms around her. "Nova?"
Nova shook her head against her shoulder, trying to laugh through it.
"You're okay," she whispered hoarsely. "You're actually okay."
Thea's hand slid into her hair, holding her close.
For the first time since the bite—
Nova could finally breathe.
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Morning light streamed through the tall windows of the Queen mansion's formal dining room.
The long polished table had been set for breakfast—white china, silverware perfectly aligned, fresh flowers placed neatly in the center. A maid had already brought out plates of eggs, toast, and fruit before quietly retreating with the rest of the staff.
Beside the table sat a portable baby carrier resting securely on a raised stand, bringing it level with the dining table so Allison was within easy reach.
Inside, baby Allison slept peacefully, bundled in a soft blanket. A tuft of dark hair poked out beneath the edge of the blanket, her tiny hand curled near her cheek.
Thea sat beside the carrier, finishing the last bite of scrambled eggs while occasionally reaching over to gently rock the carrier with her hand, the stand swaying just enough to keep the baby comfortable.
Across from her, Nova leaned forward slightly, arms folded on the table.
Watching.
Thea noticed.
"You're staring again."
Nova blinked.
"I'm not."
"You absolutely are."
Nova grabbed her juice and took a sip.
"I'm just... monitoring."
Thea snorted.
"Monitoring."
Across the table, Moira Queen slowly lowered her coffee cup, her sharp eyes moving between the two girls.
Something was different.
She couldn't quite explain it.
Thea looked the same.
But she held herself differently. More alert. More grounded.
And Nova—
Nova kept watching Thea like she was studying her for signs of something.
Moira had spent decades reading people.
Something had shifted.
Just then Allison made a soft little sleepy noise, her lips puckering as if she was about to cry.
Both Nova and Thea reacted instantly.
Two hands reached out at the same time.
Thea gently rocked the carrier.
Nova adjusted the blanket slightly, brushing a finger over Allison's tiny hand.
The baby settled again immediately.
Nova and Thea froze for a moment, realizing they had moved in perfect sync.
Thea looked at Nova.
Nova looked at Thea.
Then both slowly pulled their hands back like nothing had happened.
Moira saw that too.
Her brow lifted slightly.
Walter glanced up from the newspaper.
"Parent reflexes."
Nova cleared her throat.
Thea casually took another sip of juice.
Across the table, Moira watched them carefully.
And then Nova realized Moira was watching.
Color immediately crept up Nova's neck and into her cheeks.
Moira noticed.
Of course she noticed.
The faintest smirk tugged at the corner of Moira's mouth.
She didn't say anything.
But the memory of last night's dinner conversation lingered quietly in the room.
Safe sex.
Condoms.
Birth control.
Nova suddenly found the polished tabletop extremely interesting to stare at.
Thea, meanwhile, completely missed the silent exchange and leaned over to gently tuck the blanket around Allison's tiny foot.
Moira lifted her coffee again, taking a slow sip.
Well.
That answered one question.
Moira cleared her throat lightly.
"Did you two sleep well?"
Nova answered immediately.
"Yes."
Thea shot her a look.
Moira's brow lifted slightly.
Nova never answered that quickly unless she was covering something.
And judging by the blush still burning across the girl's face—
Moira was fairly certain she knew exactly what had happened after that dinner conversation.
Walter looked up from the newspaper.
"Plans today?"
Thea wiped her hands and stood.
"We're taking a walk around the property."
Nova nodded.
"Once Allie wakes up we'll leave her with the nanny."
Moira inclined her head.
"Fresh air is good."
But as the girls stood and left the dining room together, Moira's gaze followed them.
Something had definitely changed.
She just didn't know what yet.
Later – Queen Estate Grounds
The nanny took Allison once she stirred awake, carrying the sleepy baby toward the nursery.
That left Thea and Nova free to step outside.
The Queen estate stretched for acres—rolling lawns, carefully trimmed gardens, and deep wooded sections that bordered the far edges of the property.
Thea walked beside Nova with relaxed confidence, hands shoved in her jacket pockets.
Nova carried a small bouquet.
They followed the stone path through the gardens until they reached the quiet memorial area.
Two graves rested beneath a large oak tree.
Robert Queen
Oliver Queen
Thea knelt.
She placed the flowers gently against the headstones.
For a moment she didn't speak.
Nova stayed a few respectful steps back.
Finally Thea exhaled.
"Hey Dad."
Her voice softened.
"Hey Ollie."
She rested her hand against Oliver's name for a moment.
"Things are... a little weird lately."
Nova watched quietly.
After another moment Thea stood, brushing grass off her knees.
"Okay," she said lightly. "Family obligations complete."
Nova smiled slightly.
"Not quite."
Thea raised an eyebrow.
"Come on."
Nova turned and started walking again.
Past the memorial garden.
Past the manicured paths.
Past the last security camera mounted near the tree line.
Eventually the estate changed.
Grass gave way to forest.
Tall trees. Thick brush. Quiet shade.
Far from the house.
Far from anyone watching.
Nova finally stopped in a small clearing.
She turned to face Thea.
Her expression shifted.
Focused now.
Serious.
Thea folded her arms.
"This looks like the part where you say something mysterious."
Nova ignored the joke.
"How do you feel?"
Thea shrugged.
"Stronger. Faster."
She tilted her head slightly.
"My hearing is insane."
She gestured toward the trees.
"I can hear birds like... a mile away."
Nova nodded slowly.
"Any pain?"
"No."
"Heart racing?"
"No."
"Hunger?"
Thea smirked.
"Always."
Nova exhaled.
"Good."
Thea leaned against a tree.
"So... am I officially a werewolf now?"
Nova hesitated.
"...I don't know."
Thea blinked.
"That sounds like something you should know."
Nova stepped closer.
"Let's test something."
She lifted her hand.
Her fingers flexed.
Bones shifted beneath the skin.
Black claws slid from her fingertips with a soft click.
Thea's eyes widened slightly.
"Okay that will never stop being cool."
Nova ignored the comment.
"Try it."
Thea blinked.
"Try what?"
Nova lifted her hand again.
"Focus. Imagine something sharp pushing forward."
Thea stared at her own fingers.
Nothing happened.
Nova stepped closer.
"Don't think about claws."
"Then what do I think about?"
Nova smirked slightly.
"Instinct."
Thea rolled her eyes.
But she tried again.
She focused on the strange pressure humming through her muscles.
The energy under her skin.
The pull of something deeper.
And then—
Her hand jerked.
A sharp cracking sound.
Claws slid from her fingertips.
Not identical to Nova's.
But close.
"Holy shit."
Nova's eyes lit up.
"Good. That's good."
But she was watching carefully.
Comparing.
Something wasn't quite right.
Nova stepped around her slowly.
"Okay... now try shifting further."
Thea hesitated.
"Further how?"
Nova demonstrated.
Her eyes flashed red.
Fangs lengthened.
Her brow ridge shifted slightly.
A partial shift.
"Like this."
Thea nodded slowly.
She inhaled.
Then let the instinct pull deeper.
Her body responded instantly.
Her eyes flared—
Amber yellow.
Bright.
Different.
Her ears sharpened slightly into subtle points.
Claws lengthened.
Fangs slid from her canines.
Her brow ridged forward slightly.
But the features weren't wolf-like.
They were sharper.
More feline.
Nova froze.
Watching.
Studying.
Thea flexed her hands, amazed.
"Okay that is extremely cool."
Nova didn't answer.
She circled her slowly.
"What?" Thea asked.
Nova shook her head.
"Your scent... your aura... it's not wolf."
Thea blinked.
"What does that mean?"
Nova looked at her glowing amber eyes again.
The claws.
The feline shape of her features.
She exhaled slowly.
"It means the bite didn't turn you into a werewolf."
Thea raised an eyebrow.
"...Is that bad?"
Nova shook her head.
"No."
Then she added quietly—
"But it means you're something else."
Thea grinned.
"Cool. Love a mystery."
Nova was still staring at her.
Trying to place the instinct she felt.
The feline power.
The presence.
Ancient.
Predatory.
But definitely—
Not a wolf.
And Nova Hale had absolutely no idea what her girlfriend had just become.