Jax had survived ambushes, rogue attacks, and one memorable bar fight. Nothing had prepared him for this sickbed performance.

  As soon as they stepped into Meredith's chambers, a staged, delicate little cough drifted from the bed — the kind of cough someone practiced in the mirror.

  Meredith lay nestled in silk sheets and an excessive number of pillows, arranged like she was posing for her own death portrait. Her hair was perfectly brushed. Lips glossed. Zero sign of injury anywhere.

  Fin and Jax wore identical expressions: polite concern layered over pure internal suffering.

  "Are you alright, Princess?" Jax asked smoothly, respectful enough to pass for genuine — if you didn't know him.

  "Oh, Gamma Thorne," Meredith sighed, voice trembling with the fragility of a dying swan, three seconds too dramatic. "I'm... trying to be."

  Fin stepped forward with the grace of a king and the soul of a man deeply regretting his life choices.

  He leaned in. He kissed her forehead. He survived it. Barely.

  Jax stared at the wall so he wouldn't burst out laughing. He was going to need a drink after this. Several drinks.

  "I'm glad you're alright," Fin said gently — warm, soft, the kind of voice he used on grieving families and dying elders, not princesses who weaponized cosmetics. "Can you tell us what happened?"

  Meredith exhaled like she was summoning courage from a deep reserve she did not have.

  "I woke in the night," she whispered dramatically. "And I sensed... something wrong. Disturbed. Dangerous."

  Jax's left eyebrow twitched.

  "I opened my eyes," she continued, lowering her lashes significantly for effect, "and Nova was standing over me."

  "She grabbed me by the throat," Meredith said breathlessly, her fingers fluttering to her neck — her smooth, unmarked, absolutely bruise-free neck. "She squeezed. I could barely breathe. It was... terrifying."

  Fin stared directly at her completely flawless skin. His tone was perfectly sincere, "And that bruise must have been very painful."

  "She struck me before I could scream," Meredith continued bravely. "I fell. I don't remember everything. It's all... a blur."

  "Of course," Fin murmured, nodding solemnly. "Trauma often is."

  Jax chose to stare at the painting on the wall. At this point, it was taking concerted effort not to laugh.

  "And then," Meredith whispered, clutching the blanket as though it were the only thing keeping her alive, "she grabbed my golden comb. I told her... she could have it. I begged her. But she told me—" her voice trembled, "she told me she wanted more. That she deserved more. That everything I have... should be hers."

  A single tear slid down her cheek.

  "I was terrified."

  "I'm glad you're safe now," Fin said, voice rich with concern.

  Jax nodded solemnly.

  Fin lifted a thoughtful hand to his chin, eyebrows pinched in manufactured contemplation.

  "I'm only thinking aloud, Princess... but are you certain it was Nova? Was the person masked?"

  His tone was warm. Gentle. "Because Nova was cleaning the fields with a team of omegas that entire night. Remus Draven supervised."

  A test. A trap.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Meredith's face faltered — just barely — before she caught it.

  "Oh—yes," she answered quickly, breath shuddering. "Yes, the person was masked. But I caught her scent. It was Nova's scent."

  Fin nodded slowly, the picture of thoughtful acceptance.

  "Did you see the size and build of the perpetrator?"

  "Oh, yes," Meredith said with immediate confidence, lifting her chin. "Entirely too scrawny. And... unattractive."

  Jax nodded sympathetically. "That must have been terrifying."

  "It was," she breathed.

  "We will conduct a full investigation. We'll get to the bottom of this. You have my word," Jax said.

  "We've already begun asking questions, actually. Which is how we learned Nova was not in her room at all — she was working the fields with Remus all night," Fin said.

  He paused, eyes sharpening. "Are there any omegas we could speak with who might confirm or expand on what you experienced?"

  The color drained from Meredith's face like ink from parchment.

  "N–no," she blurted, too fast. "No omegas would know anything. And there is no need for further investigation."

  "If you think of anyone we can question, please let me know," Fin said, stepping closer to her bedside in a show of support. "I want you to feel safe."

  Meredith nearly sat upright in alarm, composure cracking. "Oh—that's not necessary. Truly. Just remove Nova. She's the one behind this."

  Jax stepped forward, posture respectful, tone perfectly polite.

  "Princess, may I ask... during the struggle, did Nova say anything else? Anything that might help us understand her motive?"

  Meredith blinked rapidly.

  "M–motive?"

  Fin looked at her with his hands clasped behind his back in the picture of Alpha concern.

  "If she threatened you, even verbally, we must document it. Did she say why she wanted the comb?"

  "Well, she... uh..." Meredith looked up at the ceiling, as though the answer lived there. "She said she wanted what was mine."

  Fin nodded with sympathetic gravity.

  "I see. In that case, I should question her myself, so we uncover anything else of value."

  Meredith's fingers tightened around her blanket like a vise. "That won't be necessary. I have my golden comb back and I survived the incident. Just send her back to Ashbane or lock her up."

  "I'll take that under advisement," Fin said warmly, as though she'd suggested redecorating a guest room. "But I will still ask Nova for clarity on your behalf."

  "No. I mean—no, that won't be... helpful."

  "Not helpful?" Jax echoed with polite confusion. "Princess, you were the one harmed. Surely you'd want her to explain herself."

  "Well... perhaps she'll lie."

  Fin sat down at the foot of Meredith's bed, not breaking eye contact with her. "Then your account holds even stronger. But if she's innocent, we must know that too. You wouldn't want to punish someone unjustly."

  Her throat bobbed. "Of course not."

  "So questioning her is best," Fin concluded.

  "Actually... " Meredith took a steadying breath. "Perhaps it's better if we don't ask Nova anything at all. It could upset her."

  Jax blinked slowly.

  "Unstable? She attacked you with precision."

  Meredith's eyes darted between them.

  "Well—maybe not unstable. Just... fragile."

  Fin's expression remained serenely supportive.

  "Then we'll question her even more gently."

  Meredith shook her head rapidly.

  "No. Actually—I've been thinking. Maybe... maybe she shouldn't be questioned. Maybe it's best she stays where she is and we all just... move on."

  "Princess, to be clear... moments ago you said she should be locked up or sent back to Ashbane. Now you say she should stay and not be questioned. Which do you prefer?" Fin asked, folding his arms.

  "I—well—I only meant that the matter shouldn't be... overcomplicated."

  "Overcomplicated?" Jax echoed kindly. "Princess, someone attacked you. That is not something we simply overlook."

  "Perhaps... perhaps Nova didn't mean it," she said quickly. "Or perhaps I misremembered parts. We don't need to investigate."

  Jax nodded sympathetically. "Regardless, we will ensure your safety. You handled yourself admirably."

  She sat a little straighter, glowing.

  "Thank you, Gamma."

  Fin pretended to consider his next words.

  "Very well. I will hold off on questioning Nova—unless you tell me otherwise."

  Meredith relaxed into her pillows.

  "Yes. Exactly. That is best."

  Fin offered a warm smile.

  "Will you be well enough to meet with me tomorrow for lunch?"

  "Oh, yes, Alpha," Meredith said eagerly. "I feel much better already. I'm fine, really."

  "Good. I'm glad you're alright."

  He leaned in and pressed another kiss to her forehead.

  "I'm assigning double guards outside your chambers for the next few weeks. At least until this settles."

  "Oh, Alpha," Meredith said, flushed with triumph. "So thoughtful."

  Jax bowed with a hand to his chest.

  "Rest well, Princess. And do tell us if you change your mind about pursuing justice. We will handle everything."

  "I will, Gamma Thorne," she said sweetly. "Though I assure you—there's no need."

  Jax inclined his head.

  "Nothing is more important than our future Luna."

  Meredith beamed.

  "As it should be."

  The moment Fin and Jax turned away, she let out a dreamy, victorious sigh utterly convinced she had outsmarted Shadowclaw's Alpha and Gamma.

  The door clicked shut behind them.

  Fin and Jax stayed silent, stone-faced, dead-eyed, and absolutely not okay.

  They didn't breathe a word until they stepped inside the war room and the door shut behind them.

  Jax turned first, studying Fin like someone checking a bomb for loose wires. "...You good?"