Jax carried Nova through the halls, his aura spilling out uncontrollably. The weight of it pressed down on every wolf he passed — heads bowed, eyes averted, silence following in his wake.
He never used his aura like this. It was instinct, pure and dangerous, radiating from every inch of him. Anyone with sense could feel what it meant. Someone had hurt his mate.
He took a breath, steadying himself, forcing control back into his chest. It didn't help much.
When he reached his quarters, he shouldered the door open and laid her carefully on the bed. She didn't stir. Blood streaked her ribs, and her breathing hitched, uneven and shallow. His heart hammered, but his hands were steady as he brushed her hair back from her face.
He opened a mindlink to Elias.
Jax: Nova got hit in training. She's unconscious. I need you in my quarters.
Elias: Wait—what? In training?
Jax: Yes.
Elias: I'm on my way.
Jax sat beside her, jaw locked. Every minute stretched too long. The faint sound of her breathing was the only thing keeping him tethered.
When Elias arrived, he didn't knock — just stepped in, healer's coat half-buttoned, expression already grim. Fin followed close behind, his usual calm nowhere to be found.
Elias crossed the room in seconds, kneeling beside Nova. His hands hovered over her ribs, then pressed gently. Her body tensed even in unconsciousness.
"If you want to dismiss him, I'll support it," Fin said, voice low but firm.
"He doesn't act like a cadet. Let alone a captain," Jax spat, pacing beside the bed. His aura was still leaking, sharp and cold, every pulse of it rattling the air.
"He isn't ready," Fin said. "Even if she wasn't your mate, this would still be unacceptable."
Jax didn't answer. He couldn't.
Fin's gaze flickered to Nova. She lay motionless, her breathing shallow, skin pale. The blood on her temple had turned dark, dried against her cheek. More streaked down her ribs, the claw marks tearing clean through her training suit. Her thigh was soaked through where the knife had caught her, and her lip was split—bruise already rising along her cheekbone.
Fin exhaled, the anger draining just enough for shock to take its place. He hadn't realized how bad it was until now.
"…Is she okay?" he asked quietly, stepping closer.
Elias didn't look up from where he worked, hands steady but jaw tight.
"No," he said. And for once, there wasn't a trace of the usual healer's composure in his voice—just honest, human disbelief.
"What does no mean…" Jax's voice was low, dangerous.
Elias didn't answer the question. Instead, he asked, "What type of training exercise was this?"
"Talk, Elias," Jax snapped. The edge in his voice made Fin turn his head. He'd heard Jax angry before. Nothing like this.
Elias finally looked up, eyes dark. "Besides the obvious bruising to her face, she has a broken rib on the left side and heavy bruising on the right. Deep claw lacerations along her ribs that will need medication to prevent infection. A knife wound to the thigh," he paused, swallowing, "not a graze. It went at least an inch into the muscle. Her right shoulder was dislocated, but it looks like she pushed it back in herself."
He drew a slow breath. "Likely a concussion. She took at least two hits to the head. And… rope burns on both wrists."
Neither Jax nor Fin spoke. They just stood there as the weight of it sank in.
Elias broke the silence, his voice quieter now. "I just mindlinked Aeron. He's on his way."
Then, looking between them, he asked, "Who did this?"
Fin's jaw ticked. "One of our younger captains," he said quietly, "and two of his lieutenants."
Elias straightened, disbelief flickering across his face. "So he'd be aware of the force it would take to break a rib."
"Well aware," Jax said through gritted teeth. His hands were fisted at his sides, veins standing out along his forearms.
"Why is she going up against officers?" Elias demanded. "She's a student. She's been here what, a few months? If this had been clean sparring, that's one thing. But this—" His tone hardened. "This was fighting dirty."
Fin's eyes darkened. He opened a mindlink to Draven, leaving it open to Jax, Cael, and Elias.
Fin:Effective immediately. Nova Moonveil is not to be placed against anyone who isn't a student without prior approval from Jax, Cael, or myself.
Draven: Copy. Is she alright?
Fin:Her rib is broken, among other things. Cormaire didn't fight clean. That's the second time I've seen that behavior from a Captain on your watch.
Draven:He and his men won't be stepping foot in my classroom again.
Fin: Why were they there in the first place?
Draven:He requested to do evaluations. Said he wanted to see how she'd handle pressure. I was under the impression he cleared it with Jax.
Jax's head snapped up, eyes dark.
Jax:He didn't.
Draven:What do you mean he didn't? She's your mate and he reports to you. Who else would he have cleared it by?
Fin:Then it's not just a lapse in judgment. He's overstepping.
Jax took a steading breath, trying to make a sound decision not clouded by his own emotion.
"He's grounded until further notice. His captain rank is gone. If we have any further issues, he'll be dismissed." Jax said.
Fin exhaled, looking at Nova, then back at Jax.
"I get he's young. We train our best rough, but not to this degree. This doesn't happen again."
Jax looked back down at Nova. Her breathing was still shallow.