(A/N – I wrote the first like 1/2 of this chapter to Move Along by All American Rejects – It’s in the Control playlist for those that love music!)

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Hagen’s POV

Until the age of ten, I thought Josey and I would spend our entire lives together.

Ironically enough, the day that I realised that we, in fact, wouldn’t be glued at the hip was the very same day that I realised that Josey had been talking more and more about the Academy, and not just as something she loved for a time before she dropped it.

For months after that, I’d been so shaken that I started praying for the hours to stretch longer so the day she’d leave would never come. But it was here, and I didn’t feel any more prepared for it now than I did when we were ten.

“You still up?”

“Of course,” I reply as I tighten my fingers around hers.

I wait for her to say something else, but she doesn’t; she remains as quiet as she’d been since the others fell asleep. Only Peter’s teetering breaths could be heard amidst the early morning chirps outside.

Every day for the last week, I had spent the night right here— in my childhood bed, posted at Josey’s side. I helped her pack, we had movie nights with Dad and Pops, and when they went to sleep, we stayed up all night talking about everything we could think of. Then, for her last night, Peter, Levi, and Damon had shown up with all the pillows they could carry and all the sheets in the house to build forts.

It’d been years since we’d made skyscrapers out of nothing, but we’d still done it with ease. Levi had his stupid ‘condo’ he always used half of the room for, Damon and Peter, their attached ‘complexes’, and Josey and I had the rest of it to construct whatever monstrosity we could.

We’d spent most of the night awake, laughing, fighting, and reliving our childhood memories, but we weren’t kids anymore. Jetlagged and exhausted, Peter knocked out first, then Levi was right there behind him, and although Damon fought his best, he was down for the count soon after.

Now they all lie on the floor together, piled over each other with their mouths slack and the early morning light cast over them.

Josey and I had climbed into my bed, but not to sleep— there was no way either of us was sleeping tonight.

“What if I hate it?” She whispers into the quiet.

I turn my head to look at her, but when she keeps her attention on the ceiling, I return my gaze there as well.

“You won’t hate it,” I reply easily.

“But what if I do?” She presses.

“Then, you come home,” I retort with a shrug. “Or you stay and endure it, but either way, that’s a problem for future-Josey.”

“Hagen,” she chides as her fingers shift within mine. “What if… what if it’s nothing like I think it’ll be? What if I fucking suck? What if they kick me out?”

“Firstly, it’s not going to be anything like you think it’ll be, and that’s a good thing ‘cause it means you can’t be underprepared. No one really knows what they’re going into when they head to the Academy, so you’ll be at the same starting point,” I remind, reciting the very accounts she’d rattled off to me for years from past graduates. “Second off, you won’t suck. I mean, you might—”

“Hagen!”

“But—” I continue with a chuckle, “then you’ll figure out a way not to. That’s what the teachers are for, right?”

“I guess,” she mumbles with a heavy exhale.

“And they won’t kick you out. Not unless you give them a reason to, and you’re many things, but you’re not an idiot, Josey.”

I watch in my periphery as Josey nods to herself, breathing slowly to calm her racing heart, but it barely helps. She’s nervous and scared, and no matter how much she knows my words to be true and wants to believe them, her fears are louder than her hopes.

It’s weird, watching her fret. It’s normal, but weird for Josey.

I’d never known Josey to be scared, not of anything. Every first day of school, while I’d been stressed about new people in my class or what work I would have to clobber through, Josey had eagerly strode inside, ready to tackle anything that put itself in her way.

“Hagen, what if—” she turns, and I do the same, meeting her brown eyes that are a perfect replica of mine, only hers are narrowed now as she frowns at me. “What if I’m really bad— like me, like I’m not even good enough to be there?”

My heart crumples in on itself as Josey’s worries skulk through our bond, raw and pained. I turn onto my side, drawing closer, and she does the same until we’re lying side to side with our hands clenched between us.

“Hey. Okay, you’re scared. I get it. Trust me, I get it. I’ve been habitually scared for like, the last ten years, but I’ll share with you what I use to quiet all the ‘what ifs’,” I promise with a small smile. “When I felt like this— like you do right now, I would tell myself one undeniable fact.”

She frowns slightly, making the sunlight on her skin highlight the raised ridges.

“If I thought I wasn’t good enough for a job or I was going to fuck it up, I would tell myself, ‘well they hired me so I must be able to do it’,” I explain. “But it wouldn’t really work for me ‘cause half the time I lied on my resume, so it wasn’t like they really knew who— or what they were hiring.”

Josey snickers, her frown fading enough to let her usual smile surface. I grin in the face of it.

“It works for me now, though,” I continue as I squeeze her fingers. “I am actually good with languages, and I love them, so I know that I deserve to be in my classes. I work hard so I’m not going to fuck it all up. And even if it doesn’t turn out well in the end, one undeniable fact right now is that I’m trying my best.

“For you, Josey, whenever you’re feeling scared or you’re worried that you’re not good enough to be there, remember your undeniable fact— they chose you.” My smile widens even as tears prick my eyes. “You, Josey. They never choose werewolves— they’ve only had like five EVER, and they chose you. It’s not because of family name or connections; you know Dad said his line tried for decades. You’ve been training for years. You took the exams, you did the trials, and they picked you. They chose you, Josey, so you belong there— you are good enough to be there… that’s your undeniable fact.”

Tears swim in Josey’s brown eyes as she nods against her pillow, her hand clenching mine like a vice. Her watery smile wobbles as she peers at me, trying to hold onto this moment as if we could stay in it forever, but we weren’t kids anymore, and no matter how scared she was right now, this was the one thing she’d wanted all her life.

She was ready.

“You’re going to be okay,” I promise, and she nods again. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Fuck, Hagen,” she croaks with a laugh as she wipes at her tears. “I’m barely keeping it together as is. Lighten up.”

“Sorry,” I mumble, wiping my own tears. I try to get them all, but it’s impossible when they keep flowing.

I give up, just staring at Josey, and she does the same, lying still with a shaky smile while we wait for the sun to rise and for Dad to come wake us all.

We wait for the day to start, the day that we’ve been dreading and looking forward to for half our lives.

———————

“Remember, you’re stronger than you look,” Damon coaches while Jayson and I carry the barrel-topped, crammed trunk to the car. “That’s your biggest advantage— pure strength. Be quick, and put power behind every strike.”

“And think first,” Levi adds, standing right beside Damon, his dark eyes serious. “You evaluate the situation before jumping in.’

“I got it,” Josey replies, nodding with a bright smile as she glances between them. “But it’s not all fighting, you know.”

“Yes, l-lots to read,” Peter agrees as she squeezes between Damon and Levi to look at Josey. “The Academy has o-one of t-the oldest libraries. You-You should t-t-take advantage of i-it.”

“I will,” Josey promises as she shifts from side to side. She’s antsy, dying to dive in and hug them again, even though that’s all we’ve been doing all morning— hugging her like crazy.

They all last a good five seconds before they’re piling onto her for another hug with smiles big enough to rival the sun.

“What the hell did she pack in here?” Jayson huffs as we shimmy our way to the car’s open trunk. “Bodies? Of trolls?”

I huff a laugh and then immediately regret it as the muscles in my arm strain. “I think it’s just clothes.”

Jayson and I make it to the trunk before we peer inside. It’s empty and clear to fit the leather-bound chest, but I have no idea how we’re even going to lift it high enough to get it inside.

“Why are you doing that?”

I almost drop my side of the trunk as I snap my head up to look at Nikola as he approaches with his family at his side. I straighten, eager to rush over, but before I do that and risk breaking Jayson’s knees, familiar magic takes over. Jayson slumps with a heavy sigh of relief as the trunk slides into the back before I run over to my mate.

He’s already smiling before I crash into him, but that smile turns into chuckles as I send us stumbling back a few steps.

“You saw him yesterday, Hagen,” Aunty Kat drawls as she moves past us, though she’s smiling as she looks us over.

“Yeah, it’s been ages,” I reply as I draw back to look at him. “Missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” he replies, still smiling as he palms my cheek, and I lean into the touch.

I kiss his palm over and over until he’s laughing for me again. Only then do I push up onto my toes to peck his lips before drawing back.

“I still have to—” I start in a whisper, but he’s already nodding against me before I finish. I grin, feeling my heart swell as I peck his lips again. “Love you.”

“I love you,” Nik whispers before he releases me, letting me rush back over to Josey’s side.

Neither of us wanted to spend a single night away from one another, but Nikola had understood without me having to explain or beg. I needed to spend Josey’s last week at her side, and when I’d said as much, Nikola had said, ‘Of course’.

I didn’t know if it was because of the reportedly great talk they had or if he just got it, but I appreciated it all the same.

The second I’m at her side again, Josey grins and slips her fingers in mine before sending a slight nod to Nikola, who returns it as he approaches. He joins the circle, standing at his parents’ side while the rest of our makeshift family surrounds us.

Here was everyone we’d grown up with and everyone who’d helped to get her this far— Uncle Emitt, and Uncle Beckett, Amelia and her mate, Jacob, Mekhi, Damon, Will and their girls, Levi, Jayson and the boys, Peter, Aunty Kat, Uncle Apollos, and us— the rest of the Heil-Calderon brood.

Dad and Pops were still trying to pack the car up with snacks and every little thing Josey might need, but they were close with bright smiles as they watched the rest of us make our goodbyes.

They’d drive her all the way to the Academy, staying beside her until they couldn’t go any further, so they were safe from the waterworks today, but Dad, in normal Dad fashion, is already looking teary-eyed.

“So, it’s finally the big day, huh,” Aunty Kat says as she beams at Josey. “You gonna show them how amazing you are?”

“Of course,” Josey replies, releasing my hand so that she can step into her open arms.

Aunty Kat pulls her close, hugging her tight while her eyes fall shut. “You’re going to be great, Lil J.”

“Thanks,” she whispers, squeezing her back before she falls into Uncle Apollos’ waiting embrace.

One by one, Josey hugs them all, getting words of encouragement as she goes, which just adds to the moisture in her eyes and widens the smile on her face.

Damon’s a blubber of tears by the time he gets to her, which earns him a fresh heckling from Josey, but he doesn’t care. He holds onto her like a teddy bear while Will and the girls rub at his back before getting their own hugs.

Levi and Jayson are better with the waterworks, but only barely. They sniffle while they hold onto her, and while Levi tells her to be careful, Jayson tries to fill her mind with the best sneak attacks. Peter, surprisingly, is the only one who’s not tearful, but that’s only until Josey looks at him; then it’s all downhill from there.

When he starts wailing, Josey can’t stop herself from doing the same.

We were all close in our different ways, but Peter had always been there for Josey and me. He was our big brother, the one who we listened to without complaint and the one who always knew exactly what to say. But there’s nothing to say now, because while we’re all sad to see her go, we’re more happy to let her go.

By the time Josey gets to me, I feel like I’m going to break, because I’m the last and I don’t know if I’m ready for this.

“Hey,” she whispers with a frown while I bite into the inside of my cheeks. “When Jayson left, you were so sad that you ran away. Should I be offended you’re still here?”

“Shut up,” I grumble past my chuckles as she stops in front of me. I take her hands, squeezing them tightly, and she does the same. “I was 14, and I wasn’t happy for him the way I’m happy for you.”

Josey grins at me even while a fresh tear slips free. She doesn’t bother wiping it away, and neither do I.

For a moment, we just look at one another— at these versions of each other that were larger shadows of the toothless things we used to see in the mirror every day. It’d been years since we stood side by side, brushing our teeth before school and running circles around our parents, but somehow, this feels like the first time we’re really separating.

Maybe it’s ‘cause we know we won’t be a hop and skip away. Outside magic wasn’t allowed and even without it, Josey couldn’t just pick up from the Academy and return home. There weren’t any mid-term breaks, and she wouldn’t leave until she graduated or quit, and we both knew she’d sooner die before she did the latter.

So, who knew when I’d see her again, but this was all she’d ever wanted so…

I fall into her, and she does the same. We hold onto one another, pressing tight while our bond battles to contain the heartache that erupts between us. It hurts more than words could ever express— knowing that when I let her go, I’ll be letting her go for real, but I try not to think about that.

I try to think about the next time I’d get to hold her. It’ll be full of smiles and joy. She’ll be a different person and so will I, and we’ll spend every second catching each other up so that we fit together just the same as we always did.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” Josey whispers into my collar as her hold tightens.

“I’m going to be a fucking mess,” I reply with a chuckle that turns into a short sob. “But I can’t wait to hear all about it when you come back.”

With one last, far too short squeeze, Josey and I step back, facing each other with matching wrecked smiles that somehow hold.

Josey steps back, and I let her go, wrapping my arms around myself instead as I watch her pull open the back door. Dad’s already climbing into the front seat, and Pops is in the driver’s.

“Hagen,” Josey calls, turning to look at me with the same fearful eyes she’d carried this morning.

“One fact,” I whisper with a nod. “Remember that.”

Josey’s eyes glow for a moment before she smiles again, this time for real, and nods.

The moment she sinks into the car, strong arms slide around my waist, and I thank Goddess above for them as I lean into Nikola. He holds me up with ease, letting me cling to his arm while the others step forward.

“Good luck, Josey!” Uncle Emitt cheers, his arms raised with excitement that we all adopt.

“Good luck!” We chorus while Pops backs up from the drive. “You’re going to do great! We’re so proud of you!”

Josey smiles, waving at everyone the way we wave her, and then, she’s going.

I catch her gaze one more time, and in our bond, I project nothing but my excitement and love forward. It’s the last push she needs. I know because her eyes glow as she feels it. She grins at me, winking, before the car pulls forward, stealing her away.

We watch the car go, all still cheering her on, until she’s too far to hear us anymore.

——————————————————

“I kept telling her that she’d be fine, and I know she will be, but what if she’s not?”

I pause with Nikola’s hair clenched in one fist and his brush in the other.

“She’ll be fine, Hagen,” he reassures me for what must be the tenth time in this last hour alone. He should be sick of it, but he says it with the same patience he had the first time.

“I know,” I whisper, before I run the brush through his hair, trying to catch any loose strands even though I have them all. “But… fuck, they’ll be creatures we’ve never even encountered there, and witches who still don’t like werewolves.”

“And Josey will still be fine,” Nikola promises, stretching his arm back to smooth a hand over my thigh.

It helps the same way being home and at his side has helped all afternoon, but I can’t get rid of the restlessness simmering beneath my skin that keeps me from being still for more than a second.

“But what if she opens her big mouth and somebody has it out for her the whole time she’s there, and I’m not there to distract them with food!” I exclaim as my fingers tighten around Nikola’s hair. He winces, making me immediately let go. “Shit— I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Nikola dismisses as he lifts his hands to meet mine. “Come here.”

“I’m not done,” I complain, but I can’t resist as Nikola pulls me, leading me around the back of his favourite chair so that I’m standing in front of him. Unfolding his legs, he pulls me down into his lap and slides the brush into the free space beside him.

Without my fingers, his hair tumbles back down into the wavy furl it naturally was, falling perfectly as if he’d styled it that way. I push back one strand from his eyes while he settles me, tucking a hand under my legs as he pulls me closer.

“Hagen, Josey is going to be fine,” he says, his grey eyes unflinching as they peer at me. “She’s prepared for this, she knows the risk, and as rigid as the Academy is, it is not a place that takes lives. In the very worst case, she returns home, and even then, she will find a way to be fine.”

“I know. I know,” I mumble while I toy with the ends of his hair. “But—”

“If she is to come to any harm,” Nik continues before I can dream up something new, “my magic will protect her.”

I still with a quickly forming frown as I blink at him.

“Outside magic isn’t allowed into the Academy.” It could be present, physically, but it would get her booted out, and that was not something I was willing to risk.

“Don’t worry,” Nikola soothes as he thumbs the skin beneath my thighs. “I would not risk such a thing with a spell. I cursed her cells— rather, blessed them— but if she is in true danger that risks her life, she will receive the same protection all of our family will in such a situation.”

I gape at him, lips closing only to part again as I try to find words.

Nikola’s lips tilt up a little as he lifts a hand to my chin. “You do not truly believe I would allow anything to happen to the ones you love? You should know me better than this.”

“Nik!” I groan as I push past his hand to wrap my arms around his neck. I squeeze him, barely managing to stop myself from shaking as I sink into him. “You’re the fucking best.”

“I try,” he muses, making me chuckle as I relax for probably the first time since I’d watched Josey drive away this morning. “Now, no more fretting. I’ll make us some dinner, I won’t complain while we watch one of your animes, and—” I laugh, making him smile against my skin. “—and then we’ll call it a night.”

“Wait, no,” I say, pushing up to meet his gaze. “Tonight’s the night.”

Nikola nods, but his eyes aren’t filled with excitement, only resignation. “It was supposed to be, but I think you’ll do better with some comforting.”

“No,” I groan. I know I’m basically whining, but I can’t help it. “I’ve actually been looking forward to this, Nikola. I want it.”

After weeks and weeks of talking through the next stage of our relationship, including rules, limits, expectations, desires, and everything else under the sun, Nikola and I were ready for our first scene.

We’d agreed on the lifestyle pieces we’d slowly integrate, and we had been— Nikola and I went through my tasks for the day each day, with me setting my goals and him only stepping in if he thought I was taking on too much or too little. We did some form of exercise together each day, and when he said jump, more often than not, I was already in the air before I asked how high.

In bed, we were basically the same as we always were, ‘cause as it turned out, we were pretty kinky as it was. But we hadn’t actually done a scene yet.

We were supposed to a week ago, then I’d said I wanted to spend each night with Josey for her last week, and now, there was no reason not to.

“Hagen,” Nikola begins softly, but I shake my head.

“I need it, Nik,” I whisper as my head drops a little. “I’m still… I’m not worried-worried anymore, my brain is just on, and I could use an escape. Scenes are supposed to do that, right?”

“In part,” he allows, though with some reluctance.

“I’m itching out of my skin, and I probably won’t actually watch a second of anything we put on,” I admit as I curl my fingers over his chest. “I… I want this. It’ll put my mind on something else, and I could do with the lull that comes after.”

Subspace. That’s what it was called every time I got floaty after things got intense between us, and it was usually followed by a drop, but Nik knew how to curb those, so I wasn’t so scared of falling apart after if I did. Nikola would take care of me.

“Please, Nikola,” I beg. “I want this.”

Nikola’s eyes dart between mine, studying me for a long moment before he releases a little breath. I grin, knowing I’ve won, and he scowls.

“To be clear, I’m not agreeing simply because you begged, and I also want this,” he starts with a frown that I’m already kissing away. “I’m doing this… because I can tell you need it.”

“Yup,” I mumble between kisses. “So, let’s get to it.”

“Well, no,” Nikola puts a hand between us, RUDELY pushing me back. I glare at him, and he looks slightly apologetic as he licks over his lips. “We’re still going to have dinner first, and then, we’ll talk through what’s going to happen tonight, and then, we’ll have our scene.”

“Whatever you say, sir,” I reply with a grin that grows as Nikola’s gaze turns heavy.

I was still feeling the ‘sir’ thing out. I didn’t say it all the time, even when we were being serious, because it didn’t always feel right. One of the things Nik and I agreed on was that I could call him whatever I wanted whenever I felt like it.

Lucky for me, that meant that I could use ‘sir’ at times like this to drive Nikola mad.

“Trouble,” Nikola grumbles as he looks between me and my lips. “You’re nothing but trouble.”

“That’s what they call you,” I remind as I press against his hand, which slowly gives to me.

Nikola’s lips tilt up at the corners once again as he chuckles, “Well, we are one, so…”

I seal the truth with a kiss as I press my lips to his.

I never tired of kissing Nikola. I didn’t think it was possible to get tired of the easiest gateway to joy in my life. From the moment his lips touched mine, things made sense; the world disappeared, and all I knew was Nikola and the electric pleasure that rose between us whenever we came together the way we were meant to.

“Alright, up,” Nikola demands with a pat to my hip that makes my toes curl. “I need to feed you.”

Stealing two more pecks and then a third, I force myself up and drag Nikola after me. He rises and keeps his fingers curled in mine as he leads us over to the kitchen. He leaves me to watch from the counter while he starts pulling out ingredients.

I didn’t like cooking, but I didn’t mind doing it and would happily help, but when Nikola was cooking, he hated any hands but his own in the room. I was barely getting away with lingering by the perimeter as it was.

I was only allowed to because he loved me, and he knew I needed him close today.

“Did you miss me when I was gone?” I ask as I settle my chin in my hands.

“Is the sky blue?” Nikola retorts, his expression plain while I snort.

“I was just checking,” I defend as I glance down to where Wreck rubs himself against my ankle.

“Yes, Hagen. I missed you,” Nikola replies while he digs into the fridge for tomatoes. “I did not sleep so well without you, but I managed to rest somewhat with my parents’ company.”

“How was that by the way?” I ask as I reach a hand down for Knots. He settles his head happily into my palm while the rest of him climbs up onto the stool. “They looked super happy every time I saw them.”

“They were,” Nikola confirms as his magic opens the cupboards and drawers for the dishes and utensils he’ll need. In a minute, there’s a pepper on top of a chopping board and a knife in his hand. “I don’t know why Ma believed leaving home meant I would not be home, but I believe this week proved to her that we will still have time for just the three of us.”

“Good,” I reply with a smile. “At least with my parents, there’s five of us. You’re her only kid. I don’t want her to think I’m stealing you away.”

Nikola hums noncommittally.

“What did you guys do?” I ask while Wreck jumps up onto the counter. Nikola’s gaze darts up, and it’s like a laser zapping him into my lap. He frowns with his little cat face at me, as if blaming me for not standing up for him, but he knew the rules— no prancing on the counters.

“Mostly slept,” Nikola replies, making me laugh. “It was more about being close, I believe.”

I hum, understanding that just fine. I hadn’t spent every waking moment talking with Josey this last week. Some nights, we just lounged around watching shows or lied out in the backyard, but it’d been more than enough.

“They said my Appa would like me to reintroduce you,” Nikola says, going for nonchalant, but I see the way he peeks up at me.

Every time I thought of Nikola’s ‘Appa’, a cold shiver skittered over my skin.

“Yeah, no,” I reply with a chuckle.

“I am not pleased to discover how they treated you, and I will not forgive it ever, but I would like you to eventually know him as I do,” Nikola pleas, not bothering with a glance anymore. He goes for the kill by staring at me with his version of puppy dog eyes.

Not. Fucking. Fair.

“One day, sure,” I correct, “but not anytime soon. I’m glad they don’t hate me and no hard feelings, but he still scares the fuck out of me.”

“You got on fine in the end,” he argues, his half-sliced pepper forgotten with his Appa as the subject.

“Yeah, but that had been me running on adrenaline and sheer fucking determination. I had nothing to lose,” I state while I pampered our pets. “This is me, happy and mated. I remember things like fear and self-preservation. I’ll probably piss myself and I’m too old to be doing embarrassing shit like that, Nik.”

“You’re not going to pee yourself,” Nikola dismisses, choosing to focus on that because he can’t argue against any of the rest.

“Until I’m sure that I won’t, I will respectfully decline any meetings with your Appa,” I reply, adding a smile to soften the blow. Nikola frowns, but lets it be as he gets back to chopping. “Wait, was he only asking because your birthday’s coming up and he wants youto himself?”

“No,” Nikola dismisses quickly. “He loathes birthday celebrations as much as I do.”

“Which is such a shame, but I’m not going to complain about getting you all to myself.”

Nikola’s lips pull into a smile as he glances at me, and Goddess help me, he looks way too good cooking with a smile like that.

If it was up to me, I’d put on the biggest party this pack has ever seen for Nikola, but there were several things wrong with that. One, Nikola hated parties; two, he didn’t particularly love birthdays; and three, Nikola didn’t like loud crowds.

He didn’t even want a party with our loved ones, or even just one with his friends. He wanted nothing at all but a few confined interactions in increments he claimed he had to do in order to ‘avoid social toiling for the rest of the year.’

It was crazy, but I wasn’t going to argue against it when I was getting him for his day, and I had my own plans to make it extra special, even without the crowds.

“What are you thinking? The bond feels strange,” he mumbles as he pulls the onions out next.

“I’m thinking about how good your birthday is going to be and how you’re going to be a blubbering mess,” I retort, making him raise a brow.

“Is that so?” he muses, his lips tugging into a smirk.

“Yeah, it is,” I reply with a matching grin while my heart flutters in my chest. “I’m also thinking about how excited I am for tonight.”

Nikola pauses, passing an intrigued yet fiery leer my way. He inhales before saying, “I am excited, too.”

“I know you are.”

It’d been a long time coming, and while we’d finished putting together the puzzle that was us a while back, this felt like an extra little something that could make it all even better. If it didn’t work, then we’d still be fine— great, but if it did…

I smile, and Nikola returns it.

—————–

The way they and y’all are in no shape or form ready for what comes next

Thoughts??????????????

Thoughts on Josey’s goodbye??? On more domestic Hagen and Nik??? On the lead up to their first scene???!?

I’m not gonna lie, I was fighting tears writing those Josey and Hagen scenes.

I’ve moved a lot already in life and having to leave family and friends is not an easy things at all, but having to leave your twin must be true hell. I love that Hagen has Nik and that he is protecting Josey like he protects the rest of them.

I also love seeing Nikola so assured and relaxed in his relationship with Hagen. I don’t think Past Nikola would’ve been okay with losing out on time with Hagen for a whole week. He’d be like, Josey has had him her whole life! But this Nikola is so much more comfortable in their bond, and wants not just to make Hagen happy in ways he wants, but in ways Hagen needs.

UGHHH I adore them and that hip pat – NEED THAT

The scene was supposed to be in this chapter, but seeing as that turned into 8000 words on my second draft, I split them and I’m so glad I did. Some of my greatest Nik-Hagen smut yet, if I do say so myself hehe.

That will be out tomorrow for you guys!

Until next time,
Byeeeeeeeeee Humansssssssss