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CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

NOVA

T he warmth pulling me forward intensifies as Beta leads me through a final set of twists and turns. The air shifts—warmer, richer—and the scent hits me when a door opens. It wraps around me, crisp coolness and soft, inviting sweetness that stirs something primal in my chest.

My wolf shivers in delight. Ours.

At the threshold, I stop and kick off my sneakers without thinking, leaving them neatly at the edge. It’s only now I realize I’m wearing pants, and I definitely wasn’t when I’d arrived. They must’ve dressed me when I’d been brought in.

The floor beneath my bare feet feels like walking on plush clouds designed for comfort. My wolf approves with an eager flick of her tail, and I bite the inside of my cheek to keep her giddy hums from spilling over into my own thoughts. A purr nearly rumbles out of me.

“Your room is prepared,” Beta says, the only thing anchoring me in this surreal haze. “Everything you need has been arranged. You may nest at your discretion.”

The door swings shut behind me, sealing with a soft click.

I draw in a breath, the scent hitting me in waves and seeping into my bones. My wolf presses eagerly against my thoughts, urging me forward. Blind, I shuffle forward and reach out until my fingertips brush against piles of fabric. Each piece carries the same intoxicating scent, its warmth curling around me.

I drop to my knees, running my hands over the blankets and pillows, the textures so impossibly soft. My wolf pushes harder, taking control, my hands moving of their own accord as I start rearranging the materials. A thick, heavy blanket drapes across my lap, and I drag it closer, the scent pulling me deeper into the haze. My fingers find a pillow, smaller and densely packed, and I press it into what feels like the center of the growing nest.

Not enough, my wolf growls. My hands keep moving, grabbing, pulling, layering. Fix that corner. Smooth it out. There.

My knees press into the soft floor as I shift my weight, instinct driving every movement. The scent is everywhere now, coating every fiber of fabric, every breath I take. It burrows into my skin, wrapping around me like an embrace. My wolf preens, purring with satisfaction as I tug one last blanket into place, my fingers brushing against the pillow I’d set earlier. Perfect.

I slump back onto my heels, chest heaving, my arms trembling from the frantic pace. The nest feels complete, secure, radiating warmth, bathing me in comfort. My wolf hums her approval, her contentment flowing through me in waves. It’s ready, she says softly, and I can feel her pride swelling in my chest.

“Done,” I call out tentatively, unsure if I’m really alone in here.

Beta’s voice startles me. “Your nest is complete. If you require anything additional, let me know.”

“Thanks,” I rasp, my throat dry from the heat pooling under my skin. My fingers curl into the nearest blanket as I tilt my head slightly, as if seeking his presence despite not being able to see.

“Your alpha has been notified and is waiting in his designated area,” Beta continues. “He will be guided to you only when you are ready.”

I nod slowly, trying to steady my breathing, but the weight of the air—thick with pheromones—makes it difficult. “How long …” My voice falters. “How long will it last?”

I miss Tai and Callum already. Hopefully it’ll be quick.

We should go to Earth and visit the dark blue wolf with pretty golden eyes.

We’re not going to Earth. And why are you thinking about him again?

“There is no exact timeframe,” Beta replies. “It is your first heat, so it will be several days, possibly up to a week. You are in complete control of this process. Your safety and comfort are our priority.”

The words feel like a lifeline, but they do little to soothe the ache building in my chest, the growing heat licking at the edges of my restraint. My wolf shifts restlessly, her anticipation growing.

I tighten my grip on the blanket. Control? It feels like a joke in the face of my wolf’s smug satisfaction.

I know I said I wanted him to be a complete stranger to me, but I don’t know if I can fuck a complete stranger. Maybe I should have him come in now, before I’m not very lucid.

Good idea.

I roll my eyes. You only want him to come in so you can smell him.

I want his knot, too.

I can’t stop the smirk that tugs my cheeks at her sass. Perhaps we are really one and the same.

“You can send him in now.”

The door swooshes open, the sound amplified in the quiet warmth of the room. A stampede runs wild beneath my ribs, the heat coursing through my veins making it nearly impossible to keep still, and cramping starts in my abdomen. My grip tightens on the blanket draped over my lap, my knuckles brushing against the soft texture as my wolf stirs with anticipation.

A deep, modulated voice fills the space and carrying an undeniable weight. “Omega, may I enter?”

The word sinks into me, softening something inside that I didn’t even realize had tensed.

My wolf practically rolls over, stretching languidly in my mind, her purr vibrating through me. Alpha, she croons, her satisfaction bleeding into my thoughts like a drug.

“You may,” I reply, my voice quieter than intended, the words so soft, they had to have been plucked from the distant edge of my soul.

My modulated voice is so odd, but I love it.

The door clicks shut, and his scent hits me like a tidal wave, stronger now than when it was laced through the nesting materials. It envelops me—cool, crisp, but threaded with something warm, like earth after rain. My wolf practically swoons, her excitement clawing at my self-control. I press my lips together, trying not to let her enthusiasm overwhelm me.

Before I do anything embarrassing, like purr. Or worse, whine.

“I’m here to serve you,” he says, his tone even but somehow … warm. “Tell me what you need, Omega.”

The way he says it sends a ripple of heat through me, and my wolf sighs, utterly besotted. Perfect alpha, she whispers. I shove her back, struggling to keep my composure.

“Come here.”

I hear the shuffle of his feet against the soft floor before he stops.

“Closer,” I murmur, my wolf practically vibrating with approval as I sense his presence just outside the edge of the nest.

“Better?” he asks softly, the modulation of his voice deepening the effect of his words. The sound curls around me, and I hate how much my wolf eats it up.

He’s here for us. He’s perfect.

I take a shaky breath, trying to focus. “Not yet,” I manage, my words breathless but teasing. “You’re still standing. Sit.” Clearing my throat, I add, “Please. If you still want to do this.”

He hesitates, and for a moment, the silence stretches between us, and my wolf builds a whine in my chest at the fear of his rejection.

When he doesn’t move, I whisper, “Red, yellow, or green?”

“Green.” Then, slowly, I hear the sound of fabric against the floor as he kneels. His scent wraps around me again, stronger now, and my wolf practically hums in satisfaction. “Sorry, I was trying to feel my way closer to you.”

“That’s better,” I whisper, shifting slightly toward him. My body feels like it’s burning from the inside out, every nerve alive and aware of his proximity. My wolf urges me forward, her instincts taking over. Touch him. Let him soothe us.

Soothe what?!

An intense cramp steals my breath as I double over, bracing myself with one hand against the floor and the other holding my middle.

“Tell me how to help you.”

I press my forehead against the blanket, my breath hitching as I try to wrestle back control. “Just … stay close,” I say finally, my voice trembling with the effort of holding myself together.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

His words wrap around me like a balm, soothing the raw edges of my need. But I hold myself back, curling tighter into myself as another wave of cramping pain rolls through me.

I feel the alpha scoot closer to me. His arm snakes around my shoulders, tugging me into his side, and electricity dances along my skin.

A deep rumbling purr emanates from his chest as he holds me close, the vibrations resonating through my body and easing the cramp. I can’t help but lean into him, my wolf craving his touch, his comfort.

“Such a good omega,” he croons in my ear. “You don’t have to suffer alone. Let me take care of you.”

A soft whimper escapes me at his words and a gush of slick dampens my panties. His scent, his touch, his deep rumbling voice, it’s all too much and not enough. I bury my face against his chest, breathing him in deeply as I tremble in his arms.

“Fuck, you smell so good, Omega.” His fingers brush against my cheek, tilting my face up towards his.

I wish I could see him right now, to look at him and know the male holding me. His thumb drags against my bottom lip before dipping inside my mouth, pressing on my tongue.

“Does my omega want a kiss?”

A whine builds in my chest and careens out of my throat. I can’t form words, can’t think beyond the overwhelming need consuming me. I nod almost imperceptibly, my breath coming in short, desperate pants. Every cell in my body is straining towards him, aching for his touch, his kiss.

The alpha’s thumb slips from my mouth, his hand cupping my jaw as he leans in. His breath ghosts over my lips, teasing me with the promise of his kiss. I whimper, tilting my head back in invitation.

"My sweet little omega," he murmurs. "So needy for your alpha."

And then his mouth is on mine, his lips impossibly soft. He claims me with a possessive growl, his tongue delving deep to taste me. I melt into him, surrendering to his dominance, to the fire he's stoking inside me.

His kiss is both soothing and inflaming, easing the ache within me while simultaneously fueling the flames of my desire. I'm lost to the heat of him, the intoxicating taste and scent of my alpha.

He growls into my mouth, a possessive sound that sends heat racing down my spine and slick gushing out of me. His hands are everywhere—stroking my back, gripping my hips, tangling in my hair. Each touch sends sparks dancing across my unseeing eyes like fireworks.

Heat scorches me, and I break the kiss to yank my shirt off. The alpha helps me, his strong hands grasping the hem and pulling it up and over my head in one swift motion. The cool air kisses my fevered skin, making me shiver. But it's not enough. I need more of him, all of him.

“Beta,” Alpha calls out. “Has my omega consented to partial sight?”

After a moment, the automated attendant answers. “Yes, alpha, if you’d like to have sight without identifiable characteristics, please let me know.”

“Omega?”

I suck in a breath. “Wait,” I sit up. “We can do that? But?—”

“It’s a spell,” Alpha explains. “It blurs and reshapes our features, makes them indistinct—unrecognizable. Even if we passed each other outside this clinic, we wouldn’t know.” He pauses for a moment, as though gauging my reaction. “It’s the same as our scents, altered enough to keep our identities private. But if you want, it can give you something to focus on.”

The promise of sight, even distorted, sends a spark of curiosity through me. The idea of seeing something—someone—rather than feeling adrift in this endless darkness feels like an anchor, no matter how vague or indistinct they might be.

“Yes, please give us partial sight.”

Within seconds, the spell activates. At first, it's blinding. I wince, squinting hard against the sudden flood of muted light, throwing up a hand to shield my eyes. Shadows and shapes blur in my vision, as if I’ve been dropped into a watercolor painting, everything soft and undefined.

But then, as my eyes adjust, the figure in front of me comes into focus—or at least the version this spell wants me to see.

My breath catches. He’s … gods, he’s stunning. Perfect in a way that doesn’t seem real. His cheekbones are carved like marble, his jaw strong and shadowed with just the right amount of stubble. His golden skin nearly glows in the soft fae lights sprinkled throughout the room, his dark hair is slightly tousled, and his eyes—achingly familiar yet not—are deep enough to drown in, a blend of colors I can’t quite pin down. There’s a warmth to him, a magnetism that leaves me rooted to the spot.

I blink, my heart stumbling as my wolf stretches lazily, satisfied. This is what an alpha should look like, she purrs, smug.

I lean back, unsettled by how much his appearance feels ... tailored. Like someone reached into my mind and pulled out every fleeting daydream, every stolen glance, and shaped him into this.

The alpha’s lips part as his pupils blow wide, his expression shifting from surprise to something indecipherable. His shoulders stiffen, but only for a moment before he recovers, his features smoothing.

“You’re startled,” he says, his deep, modulated voice softer now, as though he’s trying not to spook me further. But there’s an edge to his tone, almost like he’s working through his own shock. “The spell shows us what we think we want, our ...” He clears his throat. “Ideal.”

“That’s an understatement,” I murmur, still staring despite myself.

Beta’s voice chimes in overhead, dispassionate and informative. “The spell is designed to project a fabricated version of the other person’s dream mate based on subconscious preferences. It’s entirely anonymous.”

The explanation doesn’t help much. My hands itch to touch, to confirm he’s real, even though I know this isn’t truly him . “You look ...” I trail off, unable to find the words.

The alpha doesn’t respond immediately. His throat works, his jaw flexing as if he’s trying to swallow down something that won’t budge. When he finally speaks, his voice is tighter, more controlled. “You’re not what I expected, either.”

A keening whine tears from my throat as pain slices my chest.

He’s rejecting us.

The alpha's eyes widen, as if realizing the impact of his words. He reaches out, pulling me into his arms, a rumbling purr igniting in his chest. “You’re fucking perfect. I just didn’t expect it to be so … accurate.”

Relief washes over me as I bury my head against his neck, breathing him in and letting his scent envelop me. It’s both foreign and familiar, as if my body recognizes him on an instinctual level.

The alpha's arms tighten around me, one hand cradling the back of my head while the other splays possessively at the base of my spine. His purr deepens, vibrating through me and eliciting an answering purr of my own.

Slick gathers between my thighs as my body responds to his touch, his scent, his very presence. It’s instinctual, primal, and I want to crawl inside him and make myself a home. I press closer, molding myself to his hard planes and angles, desperate to eliminate any space between us.

Being able to see the perfect version of a mate is everything I needed. My breath catches as recognition strikes. Parts of him look like Tai. Others, like the thick happy trail on his lower abs, are definitely Callum. I can’t quite pick out some of the other features yet.

His hand slips lower, cupping my ass and squeezing possessively. My omega instincts flare to life under his touch, urging me to submit, to present myself to this virile alpha. I arch into him, tilting my head back in offering.

The alpha growls his approval, his lips skimming along the column of my throat. He nips at my mating gland and pleasure zings through me, my body trembling with need.

"Please," I whimper, not even sure what I'm begging for. I just know I need more—more of his touch, his scent, his everything.

He makes quick work of my remaining clothes, baring my flushed skin to the cool air. I whimper when he begins to remove his own clothes, revealing a sculpted chest and deep-cut abs. Tattoos pepper his skin, dark lines curling and weaving like living art across his chest and arms.

Tai’s tattoos.

Some of the patterns match the tribal marks etched into his skin—black, red, and white swirls that flow over defined muscle like ink spilled across a canvas.

But it’s not just the tattoos. There’s an intensity in the angle of his jaw, the way his body carries itself. Strength, but not just physical. It’s the same kind of quiet, commanding presence that Tai has, the way he doesn’t need to say anything to own a room.

My gaze shifts upward to his hair, a thick, dark mane that falls just past his ears, slightly unruly, as though the wind had played with it. It’s the kind of wildness that suggests freedom, control surrendered only to nature itself. My wolf stirs at the sight, a low purr of approval rumbling in my mind.

Then there are his eyes—striking blue, so pale they almost glow.

His body, too, is nothing short of imposing. Broad shoulders and a solid chest taper down to a trim waist and strong legs, his stance both commanding and strangely at ease as he allows me to drink my fill of him. Everything about him radiates raw power, yet there’s a restraint, a calmness in the way he moves that sets him apart from the feral unpredictability I’ve come to associate with alphas.

I drag my eyes lower, catching the ink on the tops of his hands and his thighs. The tattoos there are different, more angular, almost like runes—but no runes I’ve ever seen before. There’s a story written in the lines of his body, one I can’t read but feel the pull to understand.

My wolf practically purrs, satisfaction rolling off her in waves. Strong. Powerful. Ours.

He’s not real, but fuck, I wish he was.

I take a steadying breath, forcing myself to focus. Whoever he is, whatever this strange, distorted spell shows me, it doesn’t matter. This isn’t real. Not really. But the way my wolf reacts makes it impossible to convince myself of that entirely.

“See something you like?” He grins, and fuck, it’s a sight.

I lick my lips as my eyes trail down to his cock. It’s large, with a knot at the base that looks like it would stretch me to my limits. A whine escapes my throat at the thought.

“Come here, Omega, I’ll give you what you need.”

My wolf practically vibrates with excitement, urging me to go to him, to submit to his dominance. I crawl to him, my body moving of its own accord, pulled by an irresistible force. As I reach him, he runs a hand through my hair, his touch electric against my skin.

“Such a good omega.”

Slick drenches my thighs, and I preen at his praise, a pleasing warmth filling me. Those mesmerizing blue eyes bore into mine, stripping away any lingering reservations. In this moment, it’s just us, and nothing exists but him and the searing need he ignites within me.

He lays me on my back, cushioning my head on a small pillow. His hands roam my body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. “Fuck, your scent is driving me wild. You’re perfect, Omega, do you understand?”

I arch into him, craving more contact, needing to feel his skin against mine. “Please,” I whimper.

He chuckles, lazily sweeping his fingers down the inside of my thighs before pushing them apart, his thumb coming to rest tantalizingly close to my dripping core. My breath hitches as he teases me, circling around my clit without quite touching where I need him most. I buck my hips, seeking more friction, more pressure, anything to relieve the ache inside me.

Slowly, he lowers himself flat to his stomach, bracing his forearms on the soft blankets beneath me.

He parts my folds with his thumbs, exposing my sensitive flesh to his hungry gaze. I whimper and writhe as the cool air hits my heated core. He licks his lips, a predatory gleam in his eyes.

"Look at you, so wet and ready for me, aren’t you?” His breath ghosts over my aching sex, making me shudder with anticipation.

I nod frantically, unable to form coherent words, silently begging him to touch me, taste me, consume me.

A low growl rumbles from his chest as he leans in, wrapping his arms around my thighs and tilting my pelvis so he can reach me better.

He devours me, and when I start to whine, he purrs to soothe me. Keeping hold with one arm, he slides two fingers inside my slick channel, curling them just enough to stroke a spot that makes stars explode behind my eyelids.

Slick coats his fingers as he pumps them in and out, building a steady rhythm while his tongue swirls around my clit.

“Alpha, please?—”

He adds another finger, stretching me more, and hitting that sweet spot over and over against until I’m a trembling, moaning mess beneath him. I tangle my fingers in his hair, holding him against me as I buck my hips, chasing the pleasure until it grabs hold of me and shoves me off the cliff.

My body arches, and I cry out a strangled moan of Alpha, as my inner walls clench around him. He rides out my orgasm, never letting up, his fingers and tongue coaxing every last shudder and moan from my body.

He crawls over me, his hands cradling my face. “You taste like heaven, Little Omega, and you come so pretty for me. Now you can take my knot.”

He kisses me deeply, his tongue delving into my mouth, letting me taste myself on his lips. I moan into the kiss, savoring the heady combination of his masculine essence and my own sweet slick.

My body trembles with aftershocks as he settles between my thighs, the thick head of his cock nudging against my entrance. I'm still sensitive from my orgasm but I crave more, need to feel him stretching me, filling me, claiming me completely. He pushes into me slowly, taking his time so I can adjust to his alpha size. I gasp as I feel his knot bump up against my entrance. It’s swollen and hard already. I’d worried he’d have to shift into his beast form for me to get his knot, but he doesn’t, thank fuck.

“It won’t fit,” I whine.

“You were made to take me.” His purr rumbles through his chest, causing a gush of slick to coat his thick shaft, and easing his way as he sinks deeper. The stretch is intense, riding the edge of pleasure and pain as my body yields to his.

“That’s it, Omega,” he murmurs against my lips. “Take all of me.”

With one final thrust, he buries himself to the hilt, his knot locking us together as it swells even larger inside me. I cry out, my inner walls fluttering around his throbbing cock, trying to accommodate his girth.

He stills, letting me adjust to the overwhelming fullness.

“See, I told you that you were made for me.”

He rocks his hips, grinding his knot against my sensitive walls, and his words ignite something primal in me.

I arch my back, pressing my breasts against his chest as I roll my hips, meeting his gentle thrusts. A moan escapes me, and my hands clutch at his broad shoulders, nails digging into his skin as he sucks on my neck.

“Alpha,” I beg, but I don’t know what the fuck for. I’m too far gone, too caught up in the ocean of pleasure I’m drowning in.

“Omega,” he purrs, his tongue lapping at the scent glands behind my ear. “You come so pretty for me, getting this pussy ready for my knot, I knew you could do it. Such a good omega.”

His groans and grunts fill my ears as he grinds against me, his knot tugging deliciously at my entrance with each thrust. The sensation is maddening, the pressure building deep within me once again. I don’t know how I ever lived without this, his knot.

"You're mine," the alpha growls against the column of my throat, punctuating his words with a particularly forceful thrust that has me seeing stars. "This pretty little cunt belongs to me. I'll ruin you for anyone else."

I whimper, his possessive words igniting a fire inside me. “Alpha, please,” I beg, needing his dominance, his seed to satisfy this primal need pulsing through my veins.

His teeth graze the sensitive skin behind my ear. “I’ve never been unable to control myself Sweet Omega, but you’ve completely undone me. I want to sink my teeth into this pretty little neck, make you mine, have you scream my name as I fill you with my seed over and over again until your belly is swollen.”

My back arches as his knot swells even larger, stretching me impossibly wide. “Yes, Alpha!” I cry out, my body trembling with need. “Please fill me!”

He pumps his hips, and I bite down on his neck, unable to help myself. He groans, the sound vibrating through my entire body as his hot come floods my womb in pulsing waves.

I come, my pussy strangling his cock and milking every last drop of his seed. My cries mingle with his guttural moans as we both shatter into a million pieces, our bodies wracked with the intensity of our shared climax. Wave after wave pummels me as I cling to him.

“That’s it, such a perfect omega,” he croons, flipping us so he’s on his back and I can rest on him until his knot deflates, however long that’ll take. “You can rest now, and I’ll take care of you.”

I collapse against his tattooed chest, my body spent and sated. His arms wrap around me protectively, holding close as the aftershocks subside, and his knot continues to pulse deep inside me.

The last thing I feel before sleep pulls me under is the press of his lips to the top of my head.