Ezra's P.O.V
Zoya's love was a balm to my wounded soul. She taught me that love was not about forgetting the past but about embracing it and using it to grow and become stronger.
I knew from the moment I met her that she was special, but I never could have imagined just how much she would come to mean to me.
Zoya was not just my second chance at both love and life, but she was my hope, my anchor, and my reason to believe in the beauty of life once more.
And now, three months later, I found myself sitting beside her, who turned out to be my second chance mate as destined by the Moon goddess, grateful for this incredible twist of destiny.
And we were expecting a baby as well.
I reached for Zoya's hand, gently interlacing our fingers, wanting to assure her that we were in this together. "Zoya," I said softly, "I know this might not have been what we expected, but I can't help feeling overjoyed about becoming a father."
A flicker of relief crossed her features, and a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "I'm scared, Ezra," she admitted, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "I just… " She sighed. "Everything happened so fast, and I don't know what to expect."
Her reaction was ambiguous, and the uncertainty made me wish I could read her emotions through our bond. But I had no such insight, leaving me to grapple with worry about what would happen next.
Though I was thrilled about the prospect of becoming a father, a part of me fretted over whether Zoya shared the same sentiment. I desperately wanted her to be as excited as I was, but her mixed emotions kept me on edge.
Did she want this baby? Was she ready to embrace motherhood? Or would she prefer not to have a child out of wedlock?
As these questions swirled in my mind, I turned to look at her, trying to read any sign of her feelings in her expression. I knew she was raised in a conservative community and that had eventually shaped the person she was now, but even though she was trying to break free from her old norms, I knew it wouldn’t happen in a day.
Zoya's face was a canvas of emotions, a delicate interplay of uncertainty, fear, and maybe even a glimmer of hope. The complexity of her feelings mirrored my own, and I wished for nothing more than to alleviate her worries.
Gently, I placed a hand on her cheek, my thumb caressing her skin in a tender gesture. "Zoya," I began softly, "I want you to know that whatever you decide, I will support you completely. I am here for you, no matter what."
She met my gaze, her eyes searching mine for reassurance.
At that moment, I knew that even if she didn’t want to proceed, even if she wasn’t ready…I would accept her decision. Because the weight she was about to carry was much heavier than anything I could ever imagine.
Zoya nodded, her eyes welling with emotion. "Thank you, Ezra," she whispered, her voice quivering with a mix of vulnerability and relief. "It's just... I need some time to process everything."
"Take all the time you need," I replied, my heart swelling with affection for her. "There's no rush, and whatever decision you make, I'll be right there beside you."
Her lips curved into a small smile, and I felt a rush of hope. We might not have all the answers now, but our bond was strong, and together, we could weather any uncertainty.
As we sat here in the car, parked by the side of the road, taking it all in, I held her hand in mine, silently promising to support her through every step of this journey.
One prominent idea kept circling in my head like a persistent melody — I wanted to propose to her.
It would have to be carefully crafted, hoping to make her feel secure and cherished, to show her that I was committed to our future together.
Growing up as an illegitimate child had taught me the importance of family and stability, and I yearned to give our child the love and support I had craved in my own childhood.
And also…
I had been planning on proposing to Zoya long before the pregnancy news even came into play.
Honestly, if Lily’s death had taught me anything, it was the fact that uncertainty lurked at every corner and sometimes, there was nothing we could do about it.
Zoya and I have had our fair share of uncertainties and tragedies. I didn’t want to waste any more time in worrying about the future anymore.
In fact, the whole trip to New York had been to find a ring for her, but when I had sensed the vast array of negative emotions coming from Zoya, I hadn't been able to resist the urge and had ended up going to the wedding in the end, cutting my ring searching journey earlier than I had hoped.
Now, I knew for a fact that it was the right thing to do. Especially after watching Zoya in the traditional attires she was wearing…I wanted a grand wedding, a traditional Indian one where Zoya would sparkle like the diamond she was and everyone would know it.
"I love you," I whispered, my voice soft and filled with tenderness as I held her close. "I know it’s too soon to say this…but I love our baby as well."
Her response was a gentle nod, her eyes shining with emotion as she met my gaze. "I love you too, Ezra," she replied, her voice trembling with the weight of her feelings. "And I know a mother is supposed to love her baby unconditionally, but I love our baby as well…so, so much."
With those words, I felt a newfound sense of hope and certainty.
As we continued our drive back to the pack, my heart swelled with love and anticipation. I was ready to embrace this new chapter of our lives, to cherish every moment we spent together, and to create a future filled with love, happiness, and the joy of becoming parents.
And perhaps, in the very near future, I would take the next step in our journey — asking Zoya to be my wife and committing to a lifetime of love and devotion.
And if Lily could somehow reach me from the afterlife, I'm sure she'd tell me she was happy for me, too.