Ezra’s P.O.V
Monday morning, I dropped her off at the clinic after breakfast, making sure she was feeling alright before she headed inside.
"I'll pick you up later," I told her, stealing a quick kiss before dibbing her farewell temporarily.
"Okay," she said. "See you then."
"Hang in there, love," I told her. "If you still feel unwell and want to head home early, just call me and I'll come and get you, okay?"
"Okay, Captain!" She gave me a mock salute, a small smile on her lips. "Thank you. For everything."
"Always."
As I watched her walk in the clinic, a sense of concern still lingered in my mind. She had been sick all weekend, throwing up occasionally and unable to get up from bed.
I was worried that this was all a physical reaction to forcing herself to do things she didn’t want to do, like attending her ex-fiancé’s wedding. I wanted to be there with her, but she insisted on going alone, not wanting to burden me with any potential family drama.
I knew how difficult her family could be, and I hoped she could handle whatever they threw at her. But as an Alpha and as her mate, my instincts to protect her were strong, and it was hard to let her face it alone.
The drive to the office seemed shorter than usual as I was lost in my thoughts. The radio played some of my favorite tunes, and I sang along almost absent-mindedly.
But the worry for Zoya was distracting, and I found myself glancing at my phone every few minutes, hoping for a message from her.
As I entered my office, Gustav, my trusted beta, approached me with a worried expression. I could sense there's something urgent he needs to tell me.
Pushing aside my worries for a moment, I force myself to focus on my pack. As the Sheriff, I had responsibilities to this town, and as the Alpha I also had responsibilities to my pack, and so, I needed to maintain a level head.
I looked at Gustav expectantly, and he wasted no time in relaying the information.
"There's some…unusual activity at the pack borders," Gustav began, his voice grave. "We've spotted some unknown wolves lingering nearby, trying to monitor our patrol schedule."
My eyebrows furrowed in concern. Unknown wolves so close to our territory could mean trouble. I considered the possibilities - rival packs looking for weaknesses to exploit or maybe even lone wolves seeking to join our pack?
However, I couldn’t forget the fact that my father, the previous Alpha, had been killed due to an invasion by the rogues. So the possibility of another rogue attack wasn’t as impossible either.
“Put together a team of some of the strongest wolves in the pack.” I instructed Gustav. “Investigate the situation further. I need to know who these unknown wolves are, what their intentions are, and whether they pose any threat to my pack.”
"But make sure that they don't notice that we're observing them," I told Gustav specifically. "They need to be under the impression that they're one step in front of us."
“Yes, Alpha.” I could see the pride in Gustav’s eyes as he took orders from me and we discussed some of our strategies in details.
However, as I continued to listen to Gustav’s report about the movements of the unknown wolves near our borders, my mind immediately jumped to Silas.
He had been missing for the past two months, and it was all too coincidental that we now had unidentified wolves lurking around pack perimeter.
Could Silas be involved in this? Had he returned to our territory with ill intentions? Did he now have outside help?
Silas was my brother, and I couldn't believe he would be capable of such violence against his own people, but I couldn't ignore the possibility.
I had to do whatever it took to protect my pack from any potential threat, even if it meant facing my own flesh and blood.
Suddenly, I no longer wanted to act passively. I didn't care if they found out that we were enacting countermeasures to their obvious acts of espionage. I just wanted to do something immediately.
"Change our patrol schedules," I instructed firmly, my jaw set with determination. "I want our guards to be extra vigilant, and they must keep a close eye on their surroundings. If they spot any of those wolves, I want them caught and brought in for questioning."
“Ezra?” Gustav seemed confused. “Shouldn’t we be taking it slow without alerting the enemy?”
“I had thought it would be the best way in the beginning, Gustav, but what if it’s Silas?” I asked him. “What if he now wants to take over the pack with brute force?”
The safety of my pack members was non-negotiable, and I wouldn't rest until I knew the truth about these intruders.
However, I couldn't shake off the worry gnawing at me. Silas was once my brother, and we shared a bond that was broken by tragedy.
I always thought I'd have to confront him like this ever since he killed Lily and ran from the scene, but… I don't know this is what it would lead to. It still doesn't feel real.
Still… I wouldn't let sentimentality cloud my judgment.
Gustav furrowed his brows, clearly torn between following my orders and voicing his concerns.
I understand his hesitation as well. Aside from being the pack’s Beta, he had watched over Silas and me ever since we were infants.
"Ezra, I know you want to protect the pack, but capturing those wolves without evidence could lead to unnecessary conflict," Gustav said, his voice cautious but firm.
I nodded, acknowledging his point. "You're right, Gustav. We can't act hastily without knowing their true intentions. But we can't ignore the potential threat either. I'll consider your advice, but for now, we need to be cautious at the perimeters."
Gustav nodded, satisfied with my response, and then brought up the topic that I've been trying to avoid — the truth about Silas.
"Do you still think Silas killed Lily?" he asked, concern etched on his face. "I have a feeling he didn't."
I sighed heavily, feeling the weight of uncertainty bearing down on me. "I wish I could believe that, Gustav. But why did he run if he was innocent? Why hasn't he reached out to us, to me? The silence is deafening, and it only makes me more anxious about what he might be planning."
Gustav placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "I understand your doubts, Ezra. But we shouldn't jump to conclusions. We need to find him, talk to him, and get to the bottom of this. Maybe he is just scared. Maybe he is just as uncertain as you are?"
I appreciate Gustav's support, but the inner turmoil remains.
The thought of facing my brother, confronting him about Lily's death, and the possibility that he might be involved in the recent events with the unknown wolves — it's overwhelming.
I want to believe the best in him, but my responsibilities as Alpha leave no room for blind trust.
"Why?" I challenged. "Why do you believe he didn’t do it?"
He was silent for a long while, and just as I was beginning to think that he wasn't going to answer, he opened his mouth to speak.
"We'll find him, Ezra," Gustav assured me. "We'll get to the truth, whatever it may be."
It wasn't an answer, but the implication was clear: he was having doubts.