Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Whispers from the Past (2)

SONIA’S POV

"What do you think it is?" I asked, looking intensely at Ivy. My heart raced as she reached for the book, curiosity and nerves twisting together in my stomach.

She rose from the bed and went to my closet. Dragging the book out, she returned to her space beside me. The leather cover caught the faint light from the window, looking even more mysterious in her hands.

"Who gave you this?" She asked, reading through the front text. Her fingers traced the embossed letters gently.

"Alpha Daisy, why?"

"Because I’ve seen something like this before," she lowered her voice and leaned closer to me, as if the walls had recording devices. "Back when I used to serve in the alpha’s quarters, I’d usually linger around the library."

"There’s a library here? I’ve only seen the antique room," I gasped, interrupting her. The idea of hidden shelves filled with knowledge sent a spark of excitement through me despite everything.

She chuckled at my enthusiasm instead of getting annoyed. "There’s a library. It’s often occupied by the higher ranks of the pack though. Also many of the inquisitive children. The alpha made it accessible to them."

"Nice." I bobbed my head, filing that away for later.

"So back to my story. I was hovering around the library one of those days when I saw a book exactly like this. Curiosity got the better of me, and I moved to touch it. From touching it, I picked it up and began to go through it," she paused to breathe, and my palms began to itch in anticipation.

"What was in the book?" I asked hastily, leaning forward.

"It was a book passed down from a mother to her daughter." Her words landed like a stone in still water.

My heart instantly skipped a beat. Could it be this same book? Because I could swear this book was from my mother to me.

"Apparently, it’s an old tradition that involved mothers passing down their gifts to their children. It doesn’t happen that often anymore, but from time to time, there are such rare cases recorded," she continued.

My heart was pounding hard against my chest at this point. I knew I had to come clean and confess this was a book from my mother. Even though I knew she was still hiding something from me, she had helped a lot with this information she freely gave.

"Alpha Daisy said the book was my mother’s. It was a gift from her to me. The very first page starts with ’Dear Sonia,’ but I don’t know how possible it is."

"You don’t know how possible what is?"

"My mother died giving birth to me. How could she have written a book to me?"

She scrunched her face, staring at me oddly. "What?"

"You do know people write things before they die? What if she already did, because she knew what your name would be?"

"That makes sense. But it doesn’t explain how the book landed in Alpha Daisy’s hands."

"Yeah," she nodded, as if half aware and half in deep thought. "You’re right about that. We’d have to ask Alpha Daisy how she came into possession of the book. But first, think of it as a gift from your mother. Maybe this is her way to help you navigate your gift easily?"

I pouted as my heart began to ache. It was such a thoughtful gift. But it just didn’t sit right with me that the first time I would make use of her gift, it would be because of the mystery of the cursed land.

"I really don’t want anything to do with the cursed land. I wish I could avoid it."

"I know, darling. But you can’t go against Alpha Ramon when he stubbornly insists on doing something. I would know," she muttered the last part under her breath.

It was so quick I barely caught what she was saying. Yet, I didn’t push it. Whatever it was she was hiding, she would tell me in her own time.

"You don’t have to look at it now if you don’t want to," she continued with our conversation.

I looked at the book in her arms. It had such a pretty cover too. Made me wonder the kind of things my mother loved. Now I knew we had healing in common, I wondered if she ever had to deal with curses. And if she did, how she was able to navigate the situation. If she loved to work on those ancient mysteries. Or she was like me that feared them.

There were so many questions to be asked. Perhaps the book would help answer them.

"Yeah, I’d like to take my time. Maybe tomorrow I could look at it."

"Alright," she smiled and placed the book on my bedside table. "I’ll leave this here for when you’re ready. For now, you should eat something. Are you hungry?"

The thought of food made me want to throw up. "I don’t think I can stomach anything now," I said.

"Too bad, because I would have loved to take you somewhere interesting," she said and smiled mischievously.

"What are you up to?" My eyes narrowed suspiciously on her.

"Okay, there’s something that happens during the preparation for the full moon. You know that urge that suddenly sweeps through you, tugging your most animalistic senses and cravings?"

"I wouldn’t put it that raw, but I get what you’re talking about."

"Great!" She pumped a happy fist. "To help with those cravings, there’s a buffet that goes on at night. It happens in the pack’s market, but with a caveat."

I slanted my brow curiously, and she broke into a fit of laughter.

"Everyone knows it’s in the market, but no one ever knows where to find it. The wolves who find it first get the best portions. Basically, you get the scraps if you arrive late."

I guess I could see the allure, but I didn’t think I was interested in playing hide and seek.

"Oh come on!" She shook me when I didn’t respond. "It’s going to be so much fun."

"I don’t think the alpha would want me participating in anything that brings me joy," I said.

Her smile widened and she clapped. "Here comes the caveat. In order for it to be fair, everyone wears a mask."

"What?" My eyes almost bulged out of their sockets.

"You heard me," she said, already getting to her feet. "I have two masks available. What do you say?" She threw me a wink.

My wolf was already excited. Besides, I couldn’t refuse her. "Let’s do it!"