“Adjacent to his, of course.” She tilts her head. “Is that not customary in your old pack? For the female to have her personal space?”
I set down my spoon, gathering my thoughts. In the Silvercrest Pack, females—especially claimed ones—had no such luxury. They were expected to be available to their mates at all times, their personal space limited to whatever corner they could carve out in their mate’s den.
As for me, I was offered a small room in the rear of Varick’s house. It had been big enough for a small pallet on the floor, and one bedside table filled with my clothes. I’d owned three books, none of which I could read, and nothing else.
“No,” I admit. “It isn’t customary.”
A look of pity passes across Nora’s face before it’s quickly masked. “Shadowmist ways are different. The Alpha Female has her own territory, just as the Alpha has his.” She moves toward a doorway I hadn’t noticed before. “Would you like to see the space?”
I finish eating then follow her through a short corridor at the rear of our den, emerging into a chamber that takes my breath away. Like Ryker’s rooms, it’s built into the natural rock formation, but where his quarters are masculine, this space is infinitely feminine.
A bed smaller than Ryker’s but still luxurious rests against one wall. Shelves have been carved directly into the stone, holding books, crystals, and what look like scrying tools. A natural skylight brings in streams of sunlight, while a small waterfall trickles down one wall into a basin, the sound soothing and peaceful.
“This is…” I start, then stop, overwhelmed.
“It hasn’t been used in some time,” Nora explains, running a hand along one of the shelves. “Not since the Alpha’s mother.”
“His mother lived here?” I ask, surprised.
Nora nods. “The Alpha will tell you about her in time, I’m sure.”
I step farther into the room, drawn to a small alcove where a silver bowl rests on a raised stone platform. The bowl’s interior is polished to a mirror finish, its rim etched with symbols I don’t recognize.
“A scrying basin,” Nora explains, keeping her distance. “For focused visions.”
I barely resist the urge to touch it, feeling the latent power humming from its surface. “Ryker’s mother used this?”
“No, our previous seer, Cheyenne, did.”
“Is she alive?”
Nora chuckles. “No. She was old before I was born. She passed when I was but a few summers old.” She touches the bowl. “But I remember her. She had a kind spirit, and when she wanted to see specific things rather than wait for visions to come naturally she used these tools.” Nora gestures to the books. “Her journals are there as well. I’m sure the Alpha would want you to have them.”
My heart stutters at the thought, the pleasure of this room quickly shadowed by shame. I’d never been taught to read. Knowledge had always been kept just out of reach, a tool wielded against me rather than gifted freely. And my visions weren’t seen as a trainable skill, they’d simply been ripped from me when needed, leaving me to deal with the aftermath alone. The idea that there might be guidance, methods, even a community of knowledge around seers leaves me dizzy with possibility, and wretched with shame at yet another of my failings.
“All these are mine?” I ask, running my fingers along the spines of the ancient books.
“This is your space,” Nora confirms. “But you’ll continue to share the Alpha’s chambers. He was quite clear about that.” There’s something in her tone, not quite judgment, not quite amusement. “The library is yours to use as you wish. A place for study and reflection.”
I nod, overwhelmed by this bounty.
“Thank you for showing me,” I say, my voice thick with emotion.
Nora inclines her head. “The Alpha said you’ll begin training today to strengthen your control.”
“Training?”
“He believes your gift can be honed, like any other weapon.” She reaches down to fluff a pillow on the bed. “We’ve never had a seer who couldn’t shift. It will be interesting to see what you’re capable of.”
The words aren’t unkind, merely factual. But in them, I hear what she doesn’t say.
Prove your worth. Show us why our Alpha chose you.
I lift my chin. “When do we start?”
“As soon as you’re ready.” Ryker’s voice fills the chamber, and I turn to find him leaning against the doorway, watching us with those mismatched eyes. His body still carries the wildenergy of the forest, like he’s brought part of the hunt back with him.
Nora lowers her gaze, tilting her head to expose her neck in deference. “Alpha.”
