The Packs Connection

The Weekend Ahead

The weekend was almost here, and Nova couldn’t shake the feeling of anticipation buzzing under her skin. The moment she had invited Kade to the cabin, a rush of excitement had flooded her. It was like she was finally stepping out of the shadow of her own uncertainty, toward something new, something thrilling—and it had Kade’s name written all over it.

But as much as she tried to ignore it, Dorian’s text still loomed in the back of her mind. I’ll find out on my own. What did that even mean? He’d been distant lately, and the tension between them felt like it was building, layer by layer. She had been too quick to dismiss his offer to visit this weekend, but it felt like there was something else she wasn’t seeing, something beneath the surface of his words.

The thought of Dorian pushed to the back of her mind when she saw Kade’s name flash on her phone. It had been quiet for a few hours after their text exchange earlier, and Nova hadn’t heard from him since. She couldn’t help herself; she tapped the message.

Kade: Can’t wait to see you. You make me nervous in the best way.

Nova’s heart fluttered at his words. Nervous? Did he mean it, or was he just being charming, like always?

She quickly typed back, trying to keep it casual. I’m looking forward to it too. Should be fun.

Almost immediately, Kade’s response came in.

Kade: It will be. See you soon.

She stared at the screen for a moment, unable to ignore the feeling that was building in her chest. The energy between them was undeniable, like a current flowing under her skin every time she thought of him, every time they exchanged even the smallest of words. And now, she’d be alone with him for an entire weekend.

But then the guilt crept in. Dorian was still her boyfriend. She still cared about him, right? She owed it to him to be honest, but she didn’t know how to be honest without destroying everything. She shoved the phone back into her pocket, letting out a long breath.

“Nova? You ready to go?” Sienna’s voice snapped her from her thoughts, and Nova looked up to find her standing in the doorway, holding a jacket and grinning.

“I guess so,” Nova replied, forcing a smile. She had been lost in her own head all day, trying to sort out the mess she’d found herself in.

Before they left, Nova quickly dialed Dorian’s number. She couldn’t put it off any longer. The phone rang once, twice, before he picked up.

“Hey, babe,” Dorian’s voice sounded on the other end, familiar but laced with something like hesitation. “What’s up? How’s the first day of classes been?”

Nova swallowed, trying to sound casual. “It was fine. A lot to take in, but I’m surviving.”

There was a brief pause on Dorian’s end, then, “So, what are you doing this weekend? Any plans?”

Nova felt her stomach twist. Plans? She hadn’t even thought about how to explain this to him. She had already invited Kade to the cabin, and there was no turning back now.

“Oh, you know,” she said, forcing the words out, “just hanging around the dorm. Probably just relax and get ahead on some homework. Nothing special.”

Dorian’s voice suddenly sharpened. “You sure about that? Because I thought you told me you didn’t have much going on this weekend.”

Nova bit her lip. He didn’t believe her. She could tell by the tone in his voice, by the way he was pressing her. But she couldn’t back out of her plans now. “Yeah, just the usual. Nothing crazy,” she lied, her voice steady but strained.

He was silent for a moment, and she could almost hear him analyzing her words. “Alright,” he finally said, though there was something suspicious in his tone. “But I don’t know... you seem off, Nova. What’s going on?”

“I’m fine, Dorian,” she said quickly. “Just a long day. We’ll talk later, okay?”

He didn’t respond right away, but she could feel him still staring through the phone. “Alright. Just... don’t keep things from me, okay?”

“I won’t,” she said, her voice sounding emptier than she intended.

With that, she hung up, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew he didn’t believe her, and for a second, she felt a wave of guilt crash over her. But she shoved it down. She couldn’t back out now. She’d made her decision.

Sienna, noticing the change in her demeanor, looked at her curiously. “Everything okay?”

Nova nodded, though she didn’t feel okay. “Yeah. Just... had to talk to Dorian.”

Sienna smiled knowingly. “Well, I’m sure he’ll get over it. But don’t think about him right now. Tonight’s about you.”

Nova tried to smile back, but her mind was still on Dorian’s voice, still trying to figure out how she was going to handle the fallout once the weekend was over.

The weekend came quickly, and Nova found herself packing for the cabin. The tension in her chest hadn’t gone away, but as she loaded her bag with clothes and essentials, she couldn’t help but feel a spark of excitement. She knew Kade would be there, and for the first time in a long while, she felt like she was doing something for herself.

When she and Sienna arrived at the cabin, it was just as picturesque as she had imagined. A small, cozy getaway nestled in the woods, far away from the pressures of school and relationships. The cool night air was refreshing, and the distant sounds of nature wrapped around her like a blanket.

As they unpacked, Nova’s thoughts kept drifting back to Kade. She was nervous about seeing him again—about how they’d both act when they were alone, away from the eyes of their friends and the weight of expectations.

But she couldn’t deny it. She was excited. She was excited to finally feel alive again.

The doorbell rang, and Nova’s heart skipped. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the fluttering in her chest.

And there he was. Kade. Standing at the door, a smirk on his lips and that look in his eyes—the one that always made her heart race.

“Hey, Nova,” he said, his voice smooth as ever. "I brought something for the weekend."

Nova felt her pulse quicken as she smiled back, her nerves slowly melting away. "Glad you could make it," she replied, her voice quieter than usual.

The tension between them was palpable, but neither of them said anything about it. Not yet.

Sienna nudged her playfully. "I’ll go grab us some drinks,” she said, her voice filled with excitement. “You two have fun.”

Nova shot her a look of warning, but Sienna just winked and disappeared into the cabin.

Kade stepped inside, his presence filling the space. As the door clicked shut behind him, Nova knew there was no turning back now.