Zoya's P.O.V
Thoughts of the upcoming wedding plague my mind, making me feel even more depressed as I get through my day at the Clinic.
The idea of facing my parents and my ex-fiancé, Ravi, felt like an insurmountable challenge. I knew they would be judgmental, critical, and eager to find fault in me, just as they always had.
Despite promising to myself that I was going to be courageous and strong, I still couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and anxiety.
Why was I doing this to myself? I asked myself yet again as the familiar scent of antiseptic now made my stomach churn.
I knew that going alone would put me at a disadvantage, especially with the way my family tended to gang up on me during family gatherings.
I knew that they would have a field day with all my insecurities laid bare. I knew that I would be mercilessly, verbally slaughtered in front of everyone just because I even dared to show my face.
Then why was I even going there? Just to prove a point that I was beyond their reach now?
But what would it cost me at the end? A chunk of my mental and physical health. Was it even going to be worth it?
Lost in my thoughts, I absentmindedly picked up a syringe to administer medication to a patient.
My hands trembled with nerves, and my mind was so clouded that I almost made a grave mistake…
…which I didn't even realize until the last damn minute, when, thankfully, Cam, my ever-watchful colleague and friend, noticed my distraction just in time.
“Doctor!” Cam’s voice alerted me just as I was about to inject the patient. “Excuse me a second!”
Startled, both me and the patient looked up at her. “Is everything alright?” The middle aged woman, who was one of the few humans in the pack, asked Cam before I could.
“I’m so sorry.” Cam bowed her head. “I think there has been a little mistake. Please, allow me and Dr. Mehra to correct it for you. We’re extremely sorry.”
And that was when I noticed…the medicine in the syringe was completely different from what I was supposed to administer her!
Fuck! I almost put someone's life in danger back there!
Cam did a whole lot more than just stop from making that mistake, too. She also saved my career as a doctor and kept the patient from being uncomfortable by taking the blame.
"This one's on me," she said apologetically. "Turns out, I hadn’t checked the bottles before handing her the correct one." She took the bottle from me and raised it. "This one's expired. Sorry, that was a close one."
After I was able to administer the proper medicine, the patient left, and Cam pulled me aside.
"Zoya, what's wrong?" Cam's voice cut through my haze, and I snapped back to reality. "You almost injected the patient with the wrong medicine."
My heart raced with embarrassment and gratitude. "Yeah, about that… thank you, Cam," I whispered, relieved that she had caught my mistake. "I don't know what I'd do without you. And…I’m so sorry for what just happened."
Cam smiled warmly, a comforting presence amidst the chaos in my mind. "It happens to the best of us, I guess."
I shook my head, feeling guilty for being so distracted. "No, Cam, it was my fault. I should have been more careful."
Cam shook her head, concern etched on her face. "Enough of that," she said sternly. "What matters is that nothing awful happened to the patient. On the other hand… are you feeling okay? Or are you still under the weather? Didn't I tell you to stay at home if you don't feel all too well yet?"
I felt a wave of guilt wash over me, knowing that my distraction had put the patient at risk, and that I was also worrying my friend. "I'm so sorry, Cam. My mind's been all over the place today," I admitted, appreciating Cam's quick thinking that had prevented any harm.
Cam's eyes softened with understanding. "No use crying over spilled milk. Don't beat yourself up about it. But tell me, what's been bothering you?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should burden her with my personal troubles. But Cam had always been there for me, and I knew I could trust her.
Taking a deep breath, I decided to confide in her.
"It's the upcoming wedding," I confessed. "Do you remember when you dropped off a letter and gave it to Ezra?"
She nodded. “Yes.”
I sighed. "That letter… it was an invitation to Ravi and Tania's wedding. Ravi is my ex-fiancé who cheated on me with my cousin, Tania."
"Son of a -that's fucking messed up," she cursed, looking like she’d claw Ravi’s heart out if given the chance. And it sounded damn tempting at the moment.
And so I told her everything. About how I had found Ravi and Tania, to how my boss had tried to abuse me, which had ultimately led to my transfer here. And to be honest, I felt a lot lighter after I opened up about it.
"That's disgusting," Cam said, making a face. "I'm so sorry that happened to you."
I shrugged. "What's worse is that my mother blamed me for not satisfying Ravi enough to keep our engagement on." I shook my head. "All my life, I feel like I’ve been her biggest failure. Unmarried to the man of her choice. And now I couldn’t even keep my job at New York. That’s why facing my parents and Ravi feels daunting. I'm not sure how to handle it all."
Cam's expression turned sympathetic, and she put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I can understand how stressful that must be. But remember, you don't have to do it alone. You have Ezra. Why not let him tag along?"
Yes, it would probably be better if Ezra went with me. But the idea of subjecting Ezra to their scrutiny and potential humiliation was something I couldn't bear.
I didn't want him to be caught in the crossfire of my family's disapproval and probing questions. He deserved better than to be subjected to their harsh words and narrow-minded opinions.
So I shook my head, offering her a reassuring smile. "I think this…today, helped a lot. I probably needed a place to vent so I could feel better. And I do. I just…don’t want Ezra to be involved in my family drama. He probably has a lot on his plate."
“I’m glad it did, Zoya. However, speaking of Ezra, is he okay?" Cam asked. "My mate said he's seemed really stressed today."
I shook my head, completely unaware of it. "I don't know…is there anything going on?"
Cam hesitated, then shook her head with a smile. "It's pack stuff, Zoya. You know how being an Alpha comes with its challenges. But I can tell he's worried about you too. Maybe your mood is affecting him."
I wanted to ask more about this "pack stuff" she was referring to, but I worried that I wasn't qualified to know about it since I was human and technically not part of their pack, so I didn't push the topic.
Concerned for Ezra, I instead asked, "Is there anything I can do to help him? I don't want to add to his stress."
Cam smiled warmly. "Just being there for him is enough. He needed someone like you in his life, and you've made a difference. Thank you for being there for him when he needed it the most."
I smiled at Cam as she put a hand on my shoulder and giving it a light squeeze before walking away to continue her job, grateful for her friendship and support.
I knew that the wedding might not be easy, and I might have to endure uncomfortable situations and awkward conversations.
But I was no longer the same timid girl I once was and the whole point of me showing us just that. To prove to them that I was no longer the same woman and I was definitely not a victim.
I had grown and evolved, and I was ready to face my past head-on, knowing that I had love, strength, and resilience to guide me through it.