Page 67 of Primal

“Why am I not surprised?”

Zora smirks from her perch across the little table, but her dark eyes are pinned on me like she’s reading more than what’s physically there. Which is probably exactly what she’s doing. Empathic charmers are like that. Can sense lies, emotion, probably the super chill and not at all unhinged flare of jealousy in my ribs when Talis’s name is mentioned.

“Because you’re smart and a good judge of character.” She smirks like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “You proved it by choosing to come see me.”

I try to laugh, really I do, but it comes out like a broken puff of air. More pain than humor. Will I ever laugh again? Goddess, I hope so. Though, at the rate I’m disintegrating, I don’t want to get my hopes up.

“I didn’t come here to prove anything,” I tell her, pulling Rennick’s hoodie tighter around me before I can think better of it. “I came because I have questions. And I thought…maybe you knew more about my mom than you let on.”

Zora leans back in her seat, folding her hands in her lap like she’s settling in for a story. “What do you want to know, Noa?”

I hesitate, not because I don’t know the question—it's burned into the inside of my skull—but because saying it aloud might make it real. Might take that last shred of denial I’ve been white-knuckling and shred it to pieces.

Still, I ask.

“Do you think it’s possible my mother bound my wolf?”

The second the words leave my mouth, I brace myself like I’m anticipating a physical blow.

But Zora doesn’t blink. Doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t look remotely surprised. No, if anything, she looks as if she was expecting it.

“True latent wolves don’t display any traits of any particular designation,” she says calmly, like she’s reading it from a textbook. “Their wolves are too dormant for that. When I first met you, I knew with one look that you were an omega, even if you didn’t smell like one. And now…” She takes in a deep breath as her gaze drifts down to where I’ve curled up in the chair. “That typical omega sweetness is wafting off you, and I’m sitting here watching you practically burrow in a sweatshirt—one that doesnotbelong to you—like you’d make a nest right there in that dinky chair if I let you.”

Heat crawls up my neck. I didn’t realize how slumped into myself I’ve become or how much I’ve snuggled up in his hoodie. I sit up a little straighter, trying to preserve what little dignity I’ve got left.

Zora watches me like she’s cataloging every microexpression. “Have you been showing any other omega traits lately?”

My brain glitches for a second. This whole week’s been a blur of agony, and, if I’m being honest, I don’t think I remember what day it even is. How am I supposed to remember if I’ve done anything that’s textbook omega?

I could call Seren. I have no doubt that girl’s been keeping a list in her Notes app.

“Like you said, I smell more…omeganow,” I mutter, trying to discreetly test my scent but end up getting a face full of his hoodie instead. Great. “And I’ve…whined. A couple times. I think.”Week’s been a blur, remember?

Zora hums, smug, nodding like she’s connecting puzzle pieces I didn’t know were on the board.

“And voices?” she asks, throwing me for an absolute loop.

“Voices?”

“Yes, have you heard anyone else’s voice in your head after you heard the Alpha’s that day?”

I stiffen. She knows. Of course she knows. I told her, didn’t I, about what I heard? The chatter in my mind that accidently led me to claim Rennick as my mine.

Mate. Mate. Mate. Mate. Mate.

“Yeah,” I admit, cheeks warm at the memory of waking up in that state with Zora, Rhosyn, and the handy puke bowl waiting for me. “Only a couple times, but it’s only happened during …”

I trail off, trying to figure out the best way to explain what was happening at those times without giving too much away about Siggy’s own pain.

“Emotionally charged moments?” Zora’s smile is irritatingly knowing.

I narrow my eyes at her, then reluctantly nod. “Yes.”

“That’s how most oracles start out,” she says, like it’s no big deal.

I blink. “Oracle?”

“Mmhm. Most hear things before they see them. Gets a lot of young charmer pups in trouble, overhearing things they shouldn’t, seeing things no one is meant to.”

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