Zoya's P.O.V
"Look, I know you're all upset after what I said," I began. "I know you don't want to think bad about Lily's afterlife. You don't want to condemn her memory, and I get that. And you also probably think I'm crazy. But I swear to you I…" I trailed off with a sigh, realizing that I was getting nowhere with this.
I never thought I would say this, but thank the heavens for Anika. When another bout of awkward silence ensued, she stepped forward and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You should rest, Zoya," she told me, not unkindly. "Maybe the hit on your head is affecting your memories." She paused, then added, "Stress is not only bad for the baby, you know, it's also bad for the mother."
Anika's words washed over me like a gentle breeze, but they did little to ease the lingering unease that gripped my heart.
It was a plausible explanation, yet the images of that house, the darkness, and Lily's tortured face felt so vivid, as though they were permanently etched into my mind.
"Maybe." I barely managed to get the words out in a whisper when Anika leaned in as she began to bid me goodbye.
A shiver traced its way down my spine, an instinctual response to her proximity.
Her whispered words, though soft, carried a weight that bore down on me. "I want to talk to you," she said. "Alone. Soon."
With a small nod, I acknowledged her message, my curiosity mingling with my apprehension.
Before I could say anything, Ezra's voice cut through the room like a sharp blade. The room seemed to hold its breath as Ezra's command reverberated through the air.
"My men are to escort the both of you out of our territory immediately."
His words were a resolute declaration, the weight of his authority clear in every syllable.
The directive he issued hung in the air, laden with the urgency of the situation.
I looked at both Silas and Anika to see how they would react.
The silence that followed was thick with tension, as if the very air had become heavy with the unspoken emotions swirling between us.
Anger simmered just beneath the surface, an undercurrent that threatened to boil over at any moment. It was clear that Silas and Anika took offense at Ezra's command.
It was as if the clash of wills was palpable, and the room seemed to shrink under the weight of our conflicting desires.
"Now," Ezra's voice was a warning, a reminder that he held the power to enforce his orders.
Anika's face remained an enigma, a mask that gave nothing away as her eyes locked onto Ezra's.
Her lips, those that were capable of both honeyed words and sharp retorts, hovered in a moment of hesitation.
It was as though the indecision of leaving her thoughts unspoken pressed down upon her, an invisible force stifling her next words.
"Is this necessary, Ezra?" Anika's tone was composed when she finally spoke, the calm before the storm.
"The safety of the pack comes first," Ezra's reply was firm, unyielding. “Luna.”
The sudden reappearance of the guards heightened the tension, their presence a physical reminder of the authority that governed this realm.
Anika paused again, and there was a glint in her eyes that made me think she would try something — protest, maybe, or turn into a wolf.
But she surprised me instead.
Her subtle nod of submission seemed almost reluctant, a surrender to circumstances that were beyond her control, but it was there nonetheless.
Her gaze flickered briefly to mine, a fleeting connection that held a complexity of emotions – a mixture of understanding, uncertainty, and something else I couldn't quite decipher.
I held her gaze, trying to tell her that I didn't forget about our agreement to meet in private.
With a stoic grace, she turned and allowed herself to be led from the room by the guards, the door closing behind her with a soft click.
Silas followed her, his posture a rigid testament to his resistance. He, on the other hand, refused to be manhandled, shrugging off the guards' hands as he walked, his determination evident in each stride.
The room seemed to exhale once they were gone, leaving me alone with Ezra.
He looked at me, his gaze a blend of concern and determination.
The way he held himself, so resolute and focused, was a stark reminder of the responsibilities he carried as the Alpha.
It was a bit reassuring, and to some degree, my frustration ebbed away a little, but not enough.
His voice this time, was a gentle murmur that cut through the lingering tension. "Is there anything you need? Food? Water? Some space. Tell me."
I managed a weak smile, my heart warmed by his presence.
"I'm alright," I replied, my voice soft but genuine. "Just a bit shaken."
He reached for my hand, his touch grounding and comforting. "You're safe now," he said, his eyes locked onto mine. "I won't let anything happen to you, or our baby, ever again."
The weight of his words and the depth of his concern brought a lump to my throat.
"Okay."
We were silent then, and it was just us there in my room. He was holding me, and I was letting myself melt into his embrace.
Here was solace, in his arms. Here was safety and love rolled into one, and I could not be any more grateful for Ezra.
"Zoya," he said to break the silence, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern, "can I ask you something?"
Caught off guard by the sudden shift in the conversation, I nodded, my heart quickening its pace. "Of course," I replied, my voice steady despite the nervous flutter in my stomach.
I had nothing to hide, but the sudden interrogation still made me a bit nervous. Was he going to ask me what I was doing in his old house? Is he angry at me?
Ezra hesitated for a moment, his gaze unwavering. Then…
"Do you still have feelings for Silas?" he asked, his words hanging in the air between us.
Huh?