Zoya’s P.O.V
The day seemed to stretch on endlessly, each passing minute adding to my anxiety.
I sat on the edge of the couch, my eyes darting towards the window every few seconds, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ezra's familiar figure returning to the cabin.
I had already cleaned the cabin from top to bottom to distract myself and even cooked myself a small feast for lunch.
The next thing I knew, the hours had gone by. And now that the morning had passed, I no longer had anything to do but wait.
I had received a text from him at noon stating that he’d be home later, but I didn’t want to wait all day anymore. But I also didn’t want to sound like a desperate, clingy mate who couldn’t do anything without her man.
And so I waited. All day long.
The soft rays of the now-afternoon sun filtered through the curtains, casting warm patterns of light across the room.
But the gentle glow failed to ease the growing tension in my chest.
I felt a constant knot of worry, wondering if someone was lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
As I waited, I tried to occupy my mind with thoughts of Ezra, finding some semblance of comfort in the memories of his warm embrace and reassuring words.
But even the memories couldn't completely banish the lingering fear that clung to my thoughts.
Feeling restless, I stood up and walked to the window, peering outside once again.
The woods appeared calm and serene, but I knew better than to trust the surface appearance.
My heightened senses, a side effect of the fear, made me hyper-aware of every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs.
I tried to finish the book I was reading, but to no avail. At some point I even began to fiddle with my phone but got frustrated with the weak signal and tossed it aside in the end.
Minutes turned into hours, and the evening sun began its descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.
The silence inside the cabin was only broken by the occasional crackling of the fireplace, and my thoughts swirled with worry and uncertainty. I never knew that the cabin could feel this…isolated.
Maybe because I had hardly ever been alone in here.
From the first day I had come to this cabin, I had Silas to keep me company, and now I had Ezra.
With every passing moment, my heart ached for Ezra's return.
My mind played scenarios of him finding his way back to me, rushing through the door to sweep me into his arms.
In the midst of my anxiety, I placed a protective hand over my stomach, silently praying that our child would be safe.
That’s right! Even though it was hardly two months old…a tiny being in the process of being formed…this child could still feel my anxiety, my fears.
So I took deep breaths, trying to calm my mind and my racing heart, so that my baby won’t feel scared of everything around it.
As the evening light began to dim, I noticed the eerie feeling of being watched gradually dissipate.
The woods outside seemed to regain their peaceful allure, but my heart still beat with a lingering sense of unease.
Just when the last rays of sunlight painted the sky in hues of pink and purple, a familiar engine's rumble caught my attention, and I glanced out of the window to see Ezra's car pulling up in front of the cabin.
Oh. Finally!
Was his presence the reason why I no longer felt that suffocating fear?
If so… what did that imply? Did that mean that Silas was indeed the source of that ominous feeling? Did he leave because he saw that Ezra was here?
There was no time or reason to overthink. Relief washed over me, and I practically flew towards the door, barely containing my excitement to see him again after what felt like an eternity.
As he stepped out of the car, his eyes met mine, and without a moment's hesitation, I rushed into his arms.
His embrace enveloped me in warmth and safety, like coming home after a long journey.
“Woah there, hello to you too,” he said with a laugh, returning my embrace with his own warm arms. “Did you miss me that much?”
I didn’t answer and instead hugged him even tighter.
Concern clouded Ezra's eyes as he felt the tension in my body, and he gently asked, "What happened, Zoya? Are you alright?"
Taking a deep breath, I looked up into his eyes, deciding to tell him about the unsettling feeling of being watched that had haunted me throughout the day.
“Whenever I looked outside the window, I never saw anybody or anything, so I just dismissed it as pregnancy jitters or something,” I said with a shrug. “But… it had truly been a very long day, and I don’t mean to whine, but I never want to experience that ever again.”
“Why didn’t you call me?” he asked, eyebrows furrowed as he cupped my face in his hands.
“I… didn’t want to disturb you at work for nothing.”
Ezra's protective instincts immediately kicked in, and he scanned the surrounding area with a vigilant gaze.
"I'll get a few patrol wolves to sniff around the house and make sure everything is secure," he reassured me, his voice firm and determined.
He squeezed my hand, pulling me close to his body. “And please…” he added. “You would never disturb me. I never want you to sacrifice your peace of mind and wellbeing for fear of disturbing me. You have nothing to worry about in that regard. You are free to call me whenever you need me. Okay?”
I nodded. “Okay.”
He pulled me in for a kiss, and my heart swelled with love and gratitude for this man who had entered my life and become my pillar of strength.
As he made the arrangements, I stood by his side and watched him work, my heart swelling with pride for this wonderful man.
Soon, the patrol wolves arrived, their keen senses on high alert. The magnificent beings making me stick closer to Ezra, even though I had nothing to fear.