Jax's wolf was howling. Everything about this felt wrong. He wanted to take her back to his own quarters, tuck her into his bed, guard the door, and rip apart the first person who tried to touch her.
He didn't want to let her out of his arms or out of his sight.
Fin was watching him — eyes sharp, angry. As if he could see every instinct Jax was trying and failing to bury.
Jax forced a breath.
"Understood, Alpha."
He carried her to the infirmary and lowered her onto a cot, every instinct resisting the moment he had to let her go. As he set her down, her forehead brushed the crook of his neck, and a burst of heat sparked across his skin, sharp and undeniable.
This was now the third time he'd felt this.
He'd told himself he imagined it.
A trick of exhaustion.
But no, he definitely felt it that time.
When he reached out and touched her forehead again to brush back her hair — the same electric jolt shot up his arm.
Not imagined.
Real.
He froze, breath shaky.
She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, but it wasn't her beauty that terrified him.It was the pull of her, relentless as gravity.
Mine.
Claim her.
Mark her now.
The instinct struck so hard he actually staggered back.
Now he was supposed to walk away like he hadn't carried Nova pressed against him…like he hadn't felt her sparks on his skin… like he wasn't coming apart at the seams wanting to protect her.
He swallowed, throat tight, and forced himself to turn away, ignoring every instinct screaming at him to turn back.
That night, Jax tossed and turned.
When he finally closed his eyes, he dreamed of her.
Alone in a white field.
Sad.
Her green eyes found his.
"Who are you?" she whispered.
He tried to speak, but nothing came out.
He reached for her but darkness swallowed everything before his fingers touched her cheek.
Jax jolted awake at dawn, panting.
"Just a dream," he muttered, dragging a hand over his face.
He got out of bed, and cleaned himself off, preparing for the day.
When he grabbed his cloak to leave, he froze.
Her scent lingered on the fabric.
Vanilla and Moonlight.
Still strong enough to punch him in the chest.
He shouldn't have been able to smell her like that hours later. Not unless…
Was she his fated mate?
His heart stuttered.
He was already moving back toward the infirmary before his mind caught up.
She was still unconscious when he reached the infirmary, resting in the same cot beneath a blanket.
He brushed her forehead with his fingers, and the sparks hit harder this time, a surge of heat and lightning.
He hadn't imagined any of it.
Her scent was intoxicating.
His pulse thundered.
His wolf pushed violently against his ribs.
But still no word.
No bond recognition.
No declaration of mate.
Just confusion so deep it hollowed him out. Just longing.
Blessed by fate or not, he cared for her.
Again, the urge rose to take her to his quarters and keep her there, like she was his.
He wanted to hold her, to press a kiss to her forehead. The need was nearly overwhelming for someone he barely knew, yet felt as though he already did.
Fin's voice cut through his mind like ice.
Fin:Jax. Report. Now.
The trance shattered.
He swallowed, throat tight, and forced himself to turn away.