Zoya's P.O.V
The heavy atmosphere in the room seemed to mirror the weight of the revelation.
Ezra's brows were furrowed deeply, his usually composed demeanor shaken by the intensity of the situation.
Beside him, Silas wore a conflicted expression, his gaze distant as if he was wrestling with his own memories.
"Lily... trapped in hell?" Silas's voice was laced with disbelief, a raw emotion that cut through the air like a blade. "Zoya, that can't be right. Lily was a wonderful person. A blessed soul. She was full of kindness and warmth. She'd never be condemned to something like that. I know her. I knew her."
His words held a fervent conviction, a heartfelt defense of the woman he had once loved.
I understood his sentiments, the urge to protect her memory from such a grim fate.
I didn't hear only good things about her for no reason — of course they would be protective of her and her name even in death because she had been nothing but kind in life.
And yet, the image had etched itself into my mind, and I couldn't shake the visceral feeling of unease that accompanied it.
"But I saw it, Silas," I replied softly, my voice quivering slightly with the weight of my experience. "I saw her in the mirror. I know what I saw was real, I swear it. I wasn't dreaming."
Ezra's gaze shifted between us, his eyes reflecting a blend of concern and confusion. "Zoya, are you sure about what you just said?"
I nodded, my conviction unwavering. "Yes, I'm sure. And... there's something more. When I woke up this morning, something drew me back there, to that house. It felt like a pull, like there was a reason I had to return."
I sighed, my gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I'm afraid that I can't properly explain it. I just… I felt the need to go to that house all of a sudden. And I've been having other sensations of being watched…" My voice trailed off as I spoke the last sentence, and they probably couldn't hear me very well.
I looked up, holding their gaze. "I swear, I am telling the whole truth. I would never lie about such things. You have to believe me?"
Ezra placed a gentle hand on my head, stroking my hair. "We don't think you're lying, love. It's just… difficult to process."
"I know."
Silas's hands clenched into fists, his expression a maelstrom of emotions. "This doesn't make sense. I'm still not convinced about that thing with Lily, but nonetheless, we need to figure out what's going on."
"Also," I added, "Lily… she spoke to me. But it didn't sound like her voice, at least not what I imagined she would sound like. It was all… gnarly. And wicked. And… scary." I shivered again. "She told me that it was my turn next."
Everyone was silent once again and at this point, I was worried that I would be called a liar straight out because the more I narrated everything that’s been happening…the more it all felt like the ramblings of a crazy person.
"What did Lily mean by that?’Your turn next'?" Anika's voice held a hint of unease, and it felt like she was probably the only one who believed me.
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to process the mysterious phrase. "I don't know... it was like she was warning me about something. But what could it be? And why would she use those words?"
Or maybe, I thought secretly, she was threatening me.
Ezra's brows furrowed deeply as he got up from the bed and paced across the room, his footsteps echoing with a sense of urgency.
Everyone exchanged concerned looks and I had this feeling that they were doing that mind-talking thing that wolves did to discuss strategies. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that they thought I was spiraling into paranoia.
They seemed reluctant to believe me about my vision, but I could only hope that they didn’t believe me to be a liar.
Besides, what did I had to gain from lying? Nothing.
Lily was gone. Long gone…what would I gain from lying about her?
I knew what I saw…
But…maybe Ezra was mad that I didn’t ask his permission before I invaded his personal life? His privacy? Lily was his past…his first mate. I should’ve asked him to take me to that house. But instead, I had asked Cam…and now…this was how he finds out that I had been to that house?
Maybe he felt betrayed by me? I really wanted to apologize, but I didn’t think doing so in front of Silas and Anika was the answer. As of now, they were still considered the enemy after Silas’s declaration of war at the wedding.
The tension in the room seemed to be reflecting my own unease.
"Perhaps it's the stress," Cam offered, almost like she could read my mind. "Zoya here has been too worried about the impending Alpha challenge, fearing it might compromise the safety of her baby."
"Then let's postpone it," Silas said immediately. "Until the baby is delivered safely, no Alpha challenge shall take place."
Silas's compromise was noble, and I appreciated his intention to prioritize my baby's safety… or maybe he was worrying about me.
Still, my apprehension persisted, lingering like a shadow in the back of my mind.
Just then, my gaze landed on Anika's hand, and I blinked in surprise, before my eyes narrowed at the sight of a bracelet around her wrist.
My heart skipped a beat, and I couldn't ignore the feeling that I’d seen something like this before.
It couldn't be a coincidence, could it?
"Anika, your bracelet..." I began hesitantly, my voice quiet but filled with urgency.
"What about it?" Anika glanced down at her hand, her expression turning puzzled as she inspected the bracelet.
But then I saw her eyes widen. "What in the world..."