Sawtooth Spire all ashore

Alya wavered for a moment, wanting to take the words at face value but knowing Nikai didn't have all the information. Does your mother know we were supposed to be together? she wanted to ask, but she didn't want to explain about her time in Morningside or all that had proceeded it - not yet. One day, maybe she would tlel him what she had been up to while they'd been apart, but it definitely wasn't today.

"I hope so," she said simply, giving into the urge to sigh. It was strange to think about being in another pack of her own volition, and the idea that the leader of the pack was not only not one of her parents, but might also possibly not like her... well, it was best not to think about it. If it came down to that, they could figure something out. But Nikai said it would be fine, and Alya was willing to try and believe him. Besides, Valette had been nice when they met, and Nikai clearly thought the world of her. "My parents are kind of scary, huh?" she asked suddenly, her voice teasing.