The opening chant filled the room—deep, echoing, ancient.
"Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba—"
Golden sunlight spilled across Pride Rock on the screen, painting the living room in flickering warmth as the animals gathered below, bowing, honoring, witnessing.
Nova sat curled into the corner of the couch, one leg tucked under her, Allison resting comfortably against her chest. The baby was wide awake, little eyes blinking at the colors and movement, tiny fingers twitching like she was trying to grab the light itself.
Thea lounged beside them, one arm draped lazily along the back of the couch behind Nova, her body angled in, relaxed but aware—always aware now.
On screen—
Rafiki stepped forward.
Lifted Simba.
Held him high above the kingdom.
The music swelled.
Everything stilled.
And Nova—
Turned her head very slowly toward Thea.
Thea didn't even look at her yet.
She already felt it.
That look.
That idea forming.
"...No," Thea said flatly.
Nova blinked innocently. "What?"
Now Thea turned, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"Don't 'what' me. I know that look."
Nova shifted Allison slightly, adjusting her in her arms as the baby let out a tiny coo.
"I don't have a look."
Thea gave her a deadpan stare. "You absolutely have a look."
Nova tried—and failed—not to smile.
Her eyes flicked back to the screen where Simba was still being held up in dramatic, glowing perfection.
Then back to Thea.
"We need to do that."
Thea blinked once.
Slowly.
"...Do what."
Nova gestured toward the TV with her chin. "That."
Thea stared at her.
Then at the TV.
Then back at her.
"...You want to hold our child over a cliff?"
Nova huffed.
"It's not a cliff, it's a rock. And not like—dangerously. Just... for pictures."
Thea let out a quiet, incredulous laugh.
"You want Lion King presentation photos."
Nova's grin widened.
"Yes."
Thea shook her head, but she was smiling now, reaching over and tugging Nova closer by the waist.
"You're insane."
Nova leaned into her easily, letting herself be pulled in while still holding Allison securely.
"You love me anyway."
Thea pressed a quick kiss to her temple.
"Debatable."
Allison made a small, happy noise between them, her little hand smacking lightly against Nova's chest.
Nova glanced down immediately.
"Hey, baby girl."
Thea's hand drifted down, gently brushing over Allison's stomach, fingers tracing soft, absent patterns.
"She'd actually look adorable doing it."
Nova turned her head slowly, eyes lighting up like she'd just been validated.
"Right?"
Thea groaned quietly.
"I walked into that."
══════════ ➤ ══════════
The movie played on.
The tension of days before felt... distant.
Not gone.
But softened.
Contained.
Allison passed between them effortlessly—like breathing, like something they'd always done.
At one point she rested against Thea's chest, her tiny fingers gripping onto Thea's shirt as Thea absently rocked her with a slow, steady rhythm.
"You're drooling on me," Thea muttered.
Nova smirked from her spot, stretched out now with her legs across Thea's lap.
"She's marking her territory."
Thea snorted.
"Oh yeah? Guess that means I'm her favorite."
Nova raised an eyebrow.
"Bold claim."
Thea smirked slightly, glancing down at Allison.
"You hear that? She's jealous."
Allison made a soft little sound, like she was answering.
Nova narrowed her eyes.
"Traitor."
══════════ ➤ ══════════
By the time the sun had dipped lower and the room dimmed into soft evening gold, Allison's movements had slowed.
Her tiny hands relaxed.
Her breathing evened out.
As Simba grew on screen, Allison drifted off.
A maid entered quietly, practiced and gentle.
"Miss Queen," she said softly.
Thea nodded, carefully transferring Allison into her arms with a surprising amount of delicacy for someone who could now crush steel if she wasn't careful.
"She just fell asleep."
The maid smiled faintly.
"I'll take her upstairs."
Nova leaned in, brushing a soft kiss against Allison's forehead.
"Sweet dreams, baby girl."
Thea lingered just a second longer before letting go.
Then Allison was gone.
And the room felt...
Quieter.
Thea dropped back onto the couch, stretching her arms above her head.
Nova immediately shifted closer, curling into her side without hesitation.
Thea wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in.
Comfort.
Simple. Easy. Solid.
They stayed like that as the movie continued—half watching, half just... existing.
At some point, Nova's head rested against Thea's shoulder.
Thea's fingers traced slow, idle patterns along Nova's arm.
No tension.
No urgency.
Just them.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
The credits began to roll.
Soft music filled the room.
Thea stretched again, rolling her shoulders.
"Okay, that was actually a solid choice."
Nova yawned slightly, stretching her legs out.
"Obviously."
Thea smirked.
"Still not holding our kid over a rock."
Nova tilted her head.
"...We'll revisit."
Thea huffed a quiet laugh.
They both stood, stretching out the last remnants of stiffness—
And then—
A knock.
Sharp. Polite.
Both of them paused.
Thea frowned slightly.
"Were we expecting someone?"
Nova shook her head slowly.
"No..."
The door opened.
The butler stepped in, composed as ever.
"Miss Nova," he said, "your friends are here. They're waiting in the sitting room."
Nova blinked.
Thea glanced at her.
"...You told them?"
Nova frowned.
"No."
The sitting room was already full.
Voices.
Familiar ones.
Scott. Stiles. Lydia. Derek. Isaac. Kira. Ethan. Aiden.
And—
Malia.
Who currently had Allison in her arms.
Nova stopped in the doorway.
"You're holding my child."
Malia didn't even look up.
"Yeah."
She bounced Allison slightly.
"She likes me."
Allison made a soft, happy noise.
Nova narrowed her eyes.
"...I'm sensing a pattern I don't like."
Stiles snorted.
"Dude, she likes everyone except you. That's kinda rough."
"I carried her for nine months," Nova shot back.
"And yet," Lydia added smoothly, "the data suggests otherwise."
Thea walked in beside Nova, arms crossing loosely.
And that's when it happened.
The shift.
Subtle.
But unmistakable.
Every werewolf in the room—
Froze.
Derek's head tilted slightly.
Scott's expression tightened.
Isaac straightened.
Ethan and Aiden exchanged a look.
Lydia's eyes narrowed.
Kira blinked.
Stiles looked between them.
"...Why did the room just get weird?"
Derek spoke first.
Low.
Certain.
"You turned her."
Silence dropped like a stone.
Scott's head snapped toward Nova.
"You what?"
Thea didn't hesitate.
"I asked her to."
Scott stepped forward, frustration already rising.
"That's not the point—Nova, you agreed to it? You turned someone?"
Nova's jaw tightened.
Before she could answer—
Thea cut in.
Blunt.
Clear.
"I wouldn't drop it."
Scott blinked.
"...What?"
"I pressured her," Thea said. "She tried to talk me out of it."
Derek's gaze flicked to Nova.
Lydia crossed her arms.
"And you didn't think to tell anyone?"
Nova exhaled slowly.
"It wasn't exactly a group decision."
"It should've been," Lydia shot back.
Isaac nodded slightly.
"That's... kind of a big thing."
Ethan tilted his head.
"We're talking life or death big."
Aiden added—
"Mostly death, statistically."
Thea rolled her eyes slightly.
"I'm right here. And alive."
Derek's voice cut through.
"That doesn't make it a good call."
Scott stepped closer, frustration bleeding into something sharper.
"You don't just turn people, Nova. That's not—"
Nova's eyes flicked to him.
Dangerously calm.
Thea stepped forward slightly.
"She didn't just turn someone."
Scott looked at her.
Thea held his gaze.
"She turned me. Because I asked her to."
Scott's jaw tightened.
"That doesn't make it okay."
Stiles stepped in, hands raised slightly.
"Okay—okay—let's not spiral immediately—"
Malia, still completely removed from everything:
"She blinked at me again."
Stiles looked over.
"That's called being alive."
"No," Malia said seriously. "This one meant something."
Thea laughed under her breath.
Nova exhaled slowly beside her.
"Her grip is stronger now."
Everyone paused.
"...What?" Stiles said.
Malia shrugged.
"The baby. She grabbed my finger harder earlier."
A beat.
"Good grip strength."
Kira blinked.
"...That's what you're focusing on?"
Malia nodded.
"Yeah."
Then went back to playing with Allison.
"Hi," she said softly to the baby.
The tension snapped slightly—but only for a second.
Scott wasn't letting it go.
"You're an Alpha," he said to Nova. "That means something. You don't just—"
Derek cut in.
Firm.
"Scott, you are not the only Alpha here."
Scott stopped.
Derek stepped forward slightly.
"And you are not the leader of this pack."
A beat.
Derek's gaze shifted to Nova.
"She is."
Silence.
Heavy.
Measured.
Derek continued—
"And sometimes there isn't a perfect choice."
Scott looked between them, frustrated.
"That doesn't mean you make reckless ones."
Nova hadn't spoken yet.
Not really.
But now—
Thea moved first.
She saw it.
The shift in Nova's posture.
The way her shoulders tightened just slightly.
Thea stepped in close and pulled her into a hug.
Grounding.
Protective.
"Hey," she murmured softly.
Nova held it for a second.
Two.
Then pulled back.
And stepped forward.
Her voice was calm.
But sharp.
"I made the choice as an Alpha."
Scott opened his mouth—
Nova didn't let him.
"I told her the risks. Every single one."
Her eyes locked onto his.
"The bite. The pain. The possibility of death. The reality of becoming something else."
The room stilled.
"She still chose it."
A beat.
"And as a couple, we made the decision to go through with it."
Scott's jaw clenched.
Nova's voice dropped slightly.
Colder.
"So if you don't like it—"
A pause.
Sharp.
Final.
"Then fuck you."
Silence.
Absolute.
"It was our choice," Nova continued. "Our decision."
Her eyes didn't leave his.
"And it had nothing to do with you."
No one spoke.
Not immediately.
Even Scott didn't have a response ready.
Across the room—
Malia lifted Allison slightly.
"She just burped."
Stiles blinked.
"...Thank you, Malia."
Malia nodded.
"You're welcome."
And just like that—
The storm wasn't gone.
But it had... shifted.
Lines drawn.
Truths spoken.
Nothing hidden anymore.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
The silence didn't last.
It never did with this group.
It cracked—not from Nova this time, not from Thea—
But from Isaac.
He shifted forward, arms crossing as he looked directly at Scott, expression flat but eyes sharp.
"Okay, you need to stop."
Scott blinked, thrown slightly.
"...Excuse me?"
Isaac didn't back down.
Didn't soften it.
"You heard me."
A beat.
The room shifted again—not tense like before, but... aligning.
Isaac tilted his head slightly, voice steady.
"You're acting like you're in charge of everyone here."
Scott's jaw tightened.
"I'm not—"
Isaac cut him off.
"Yeah. You are."
That landed.
Scott looked around, like maybe someone would jump in.
No one did.
Isaac stepped a little closer.
Not aggressive.
But firm.
Grounded.
"When Derek turned me—me, Erica, Boyd... you tried to stop that too."
Scott's expression shifted.
"That was different."
Isaac let out a short breath.
"No, it wasn't."
A beat.
"He told us the risks."
His voice sharpened slightly.
"We made the choice."
Ethan nodded from where he leaned against the wall.
"Same deal here."
Aiden added with a shrug—
"Just... less screaming and dying involved this time."
Thea smirked faintly.
Scott looked frustrated now.
Cornered.
"That doesn't make it right."
Isaac didn't flinch.
"It makes it their decision."
Silence.
Then, quieter—but heavier—
"You don't get to control everyone, Scott."
That one stuck.
Scott didn't respond.
Didn't argue.
He just... stepped back slightly.
Retreated—not physically far, but enough.
Enough to show it hit.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
Lydia exhaled softly, stepping in before the silence could turn into something worse.
"Okay, can we not implode for five minutes?"
Stiles immediately pointed at her.
"Yes, let's go with Lydia's plan, I like that plan."
Lydia ignored him, eyes shifting to Thea.
"So... what exactly are you now? Werewolf? Something else?"
Thea glanced at Nova.
Nova answered.
"Not a werewolf."
A beat.
"She's a werelioness."
That got reactions.
Kira blinked.
"...That's new."
Stiles leaned forward, eyes lighting up.
"Okay, I'm sorry—are we just skipping past how cool that sounds?"
Malia, still holding Allison, nodded.
"It sounds strong."
Allison made a soft little noise, like she agreed.
Thea huffed a quiet laugh.
"It is strong."
Derek watched her carefully.
"Different instincts?"
Nova nodded.
"Yeah. More solitary baseline, but still capable of pack bonds."
Lydia's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued.
"Enhanced senses?"
Nova gave a small nod.
"Sharper in some areas. Broader range."
Stiles looked between them.
"...I understood maybe forty percent of that, but I'm assuming it's impressive."
"It is," Kira said with a small smile.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
Across the room—
Scott had gone quiet.
Leaning against the wall now, arms crossed, jaw tight.
Listening.
But not engaging.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
The tension dissolved.
Not completely.
But enough.
Malia shifted Allison in her arms, then walked straight over to Thea.
"Here."
Thea raised an eyebrow.
"That's not how that works."
Malia tilted her head.
"I decided it is."
Nova snorted.
"You can't just rewrite parenting rules."
Malia handed Allison over anyway.
"I can try."
Allison settled easily back into Thea's arms, letting out a soft coo.
Isaac stepped closer, glancing down.
"She's gotten bigger."
Nova smiled slightly.
"She's growing."
Aiden leaned in.
"Can I hold her?"
Thea hesitated—
Just a fraction.
Nova nudged her lightly.
"He won't drop her."
Aiden put a hand to his chest.
"Wow, the lack of faith—"
Ethan cut in—
"He might drop her."
Aiden shot him a look.
"I will not drop the baby."
Thea rolled her eyes but carefully passed Allison over.
Aiden held her like she was made of glass.
"...Okay, this is terrifying."
Stiles grinned.
"Yeah, welcome to responsibility."
Kira smiled softly, watching.
"She's really calm."
Nova leaned back slightly, more relaxed now.
"She usually is."
Malia was already hovering again.
"Can I have her back?"
Aiden turned slightly away.
"No, I just got her."
Malia frowned.
"You've had her for like ten seconds."
"It's been longer than that."
"It hasn't."
Stiles pointed between them.
"You two are fighting over a baby like it's a chew toy."
Malia shrugged.
"She's not a toy."
A beat.
"...She's a tiny human."
Stiles stared at her.
"...That did not help your case."
══════════ ➤ ══════════
Time blurred.
Voices overlapped.
Laughter filled the space.
Even Derek relaxed slightly, arms uncrossing as he leaned back, just watching instead of controlling.
Lydia and Nova slipped into a quieter conversation about control and adaptation.
Kira asked Thea questions—careful, curious, fascinated.
Ethan and Aiden kept rotating baby-holding like it was a competition.
Malia stayed glued to Allison at all times.
Stiles hovered everywhere at once.
Scott stayed where he was.
Quiet.
Processing.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
By evening, no one had left.
Thea glanced around the room, then at Nova.
"They're not leaving, are they?"
Nova smirked slightly.
"Nope."
Stiles perked up immediately.
"Sleepover?"
Malia nodded.
"Yes."
Lydia sighed—but didn't object.
"Fine."
Kira smiled.
"That sounds fun."
Isaac shrugged.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Ethan grinned.
"We've stayed in worse places."
Aiden added—
"Yeah, this is luxury pack bonding."
Later—
The house shifted into controlled chaos.
Rooms claimed.
Couches occupied.
Voices echoing down halls.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
Upstairs—
The energy softened.
Girls' night.
Nova, Thea, Lydia, Kira, and Malia gathered together, more relaxed now.
Shoes off.
Guard down.
Malia looked around.
"Are there snacks?"
Thea leaned back slightly, completely at ease.
"You know you can just ask the maids, right?"
Malia paused.
"...For what?"
Thea smirked faintly.
"Anything. Snacks, drinks—whatever you want, they'll bring it up."
A beat.
Malia blinked.
"...That's efficient."
From the doorway, Stiles leaned in—
"I'm sorry—there's room service?"
Nova didn't even look up.
"It's not room service. It's just how the house works."
Stiles pointed at her.
"That is literally room service with better PR."
Malia nodded once.
"I'm using it."
Then immediately walked out anyway.
Kira laughed softly.
"She still went herself."
Lydia smirked.
"Of course she did."
Thea glanced at Nova.
"We should call Laurel."
Nova nodded, already grabbing her phone.
"Yeah."
She dialed.
Waited.
Then—
"Hey. You busy?"
A pause.
Nova smirked slightly.
"Good. Get over here."
She hung up.
Lydia raised an eyebrow.
"You didn't give her a choice."
Nova shrugged.
"She wouldn't take one anyway."
══════════ ➤ ══════════
Thea leaned back, watching the room.
Watching Nova.
Watching how everything had settled.
Not perfect.
Not resolved.
Scott still in the house, still not okay.
But—
The pack stayed.
They chose to stay.
And that meant something.
Something solid.
Something real.
Then—
Footsteps.
Not hesitant.
Not unsure.
Measured. Familiar.
The door downstairs opened without ceremony.
A voice carried up before the person did.
"You know, most people text before inviting me into a house full of werewolves."
Nova smirked instantly.
"You came anyway."
Laurel stepped into the doorway a second later, already slipping her jacket off like she owned the place just as much as anyone else.
Her eyes swept the room quickly—cataloging, assessing—
Then landed on Nova.
Then Thea.
Then—
Something in her expression shifted.
Subtle.
But there.
"Okay," Laurel said slowly, stepping fully inside. "Something's different."
Malia reappeared behind her, holding a bowl of snacks like she'd successfully completed a mission.
"I got food."
Laurel blinked once.
"...Good for you."
Stiles popped his head into the hallway.
"Hey! Reinforcements!"
Laurel gave him a look.
"If you're calling me reinforcement, something's already gone wrong."
Stiles pointed toward the room.
"You missed a whole alpha-level argument. It was great."
Laurel raised an eyebrow.
"I leave for a few hours and you all start a supernatural civil war?"
Nova shrugged lightly.
"Standard day."
Laurel's gaze shifted back to Thea.
Really looking now.
Not surface-level.
Not casual.
She stepped closer.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Circling just slightly—not threatening, just... reading.
Thea didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Met her eyes evenly.
Laurel stopped in front of her.
A beat.
Then—
A small exhale.
"...Huh."
Kira tilted her head.
"You can tell?"
Laurel didn't look away from Thea.
"Yeah. Thea's whole vibe is different."
Nova looks a little sheepish.
"Um, I bit her and she turned."
Thea crossed her arms loosely.
"Werelioness."
Laurel's eyebrow lifted.
"...Of course you are."
Nova snorted.
"That's your reaction?"
Laurel glanced at her.
"At this point? I'm just impressed you didn't come back as something with wings."
Stiles lit up immediately.
"Wait—can that happen?"
Lydia didn't even look at him.
"No."
A beat.
"...Probably."
Stiles pointed.
"You hesitated. I heard that."
══════════ ➤ ══════════
Laurel stepped closer to Thea again, studying her one last second before nodding slightly.
Approval.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
But there.
"You stabilized well," she said. "No scent of instability. No erratic pulse."
Thea smirked faintly.
"I had a good teacher."
Laurel's eyes flicked to Nova.
"Clearly."
That was enough.
No lecture.
No judgment.
Just acknowledgment.
And somehow—
That meant more.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
Malia pushed the bowl toward Laurel.
"Do you want food?"
Laurel looked at it.
Then at her.
"...What is it?"
"I don't know."
Laurel paused.
Then took a piece anyway.
"...Bold."
══════════ ➤ ══════════
The room settled again.
Not tense.
Not fractured.
Full.
Voices overlapping.
Laughter threading through conversation.
The kind of noise that meant people were staying—not out of obligation, but because they wanted to.
Nova leaned back slightly, her shoulder brushing Thea's.
Thea didn't look at her—
But her hand found Nova's anyway.
Fingers curling together.
Easy.
Instinctive.
Grounded.
Across the room, Scott still lingered in the background.
Quiet.
Watching.
Not agreeing.
But not leaving either.
And that—
Said enough.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
Later—
The house dimmed further.
Lights softer.
Voices quieter.
Some of the pack had already claimed spaces, settling in for the night.
Others drifted.
In and out.
Comfortable.
At ease.
Upstairs—
The girls had taken over completely.
Lydia stretched out across one side of the couch, Kira curled near the armrest, Malia on the floor with snacks spread around her like a small territory she'd claimed.
Laurel leaned back in a chair, watching everything with quiet amusement.
Thea sat close to Nova.
Close enough that their knees touched.
Close enough that neither of them noticed anymore.
Malia looked up suddenly.
"The baby is asleep, right?"
Nova nodded.
"Yeah."
Malia nodded once.
Satisfied.
Then immediately went back to eating.
Kira laughed softly under her breath.
Lydia stretched slightly, completely at ease now.
Thea shifted just a little closer to Nova, their shoulders brushing. Nova leaned her head on Thea's shoulder.
Neither of them commented on it.
Neither of them needed to.
Laurel's gaze flicked between them again—observing, reading, understanding more than she said out loud.
But this time—
She didn't push.
Didn't question.
Just accepted it for what it was.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
For a while—
There was nothing urgent.
No looming threat.
No fight waiting around the corner.
Just voices overlapping.
Soft laughter.
The quiet rhythm of people who had chosen to stay.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
Thea glanced sideways at Nova.
"You okay?"
Nova turned her head slightly, meeting her eyes.
A small pause.
Then—
A nod.
"Yeah."
And this time—
It was real.