Zoya's P.O.V
The sun's golden fingers painted the morning sky as another day began in the Sapphire Mountains. A sense of familiarity and warmth enveloped me as I stepped into the clinic.
The soft hum of voices and the gentle rustling of papers created a soothing ambiance, far removed from the chaos of the outside world.
The scent of antiseptic mixed with the faint aroma of brewed tea, creating an oddly comforting blend.
I could hear the occasional giggle of a child, their innocent laughter blending seamlessly with the gentle murmurs around them.
Despite the steady flow of patients, there was a distinct lack of urgency. The atmosphere felt more like a community coming together, a place of healing where individuals could seek solace and care.
It was exactly the environment I needed in my delicate state as a pregnant woman.
Reluctantly, Ezra prepared to leave for the day, the internal conflict of leaving me at the clinic evident in the furrow of his brows. He clearly didn’t want me anywhere out of his sight for fear of my safety, but he couldn’t do anything about it. He had to work, and so did I.
His compromise had been that I stay at home instead of work at the clinic, but the thought of being alone sent a shiver down my spine.
"You need to rest," he insisted, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the air between us.
I gave him a soft smile, understanding the depth of his care even as I shook my head. "Ezra, you know how impossible it is for me to simply sit still when there are patients to attend to."
He sighed, a mixture of frustration and resignation in his eyes. "I worry about you."
"I know," I said, reaching out to touch his hand. "But I promise to take care of myself."
With a lingering gaze, he finally nodded, leaning in to press a gentle kiss on my forehead. "I'll be back soon. Take care of yourself, okay?"
As he left the clinic, the room seemed to lose a part of its warmth, his presence a comforting shield against the world's uncertainties. The thought of going behind his back made me falter a bit, because I knew it would feel a lot like this: cold and empty without him.
But I had no choice. If I wanted to fix whatever the hell was happening to us, I had to act.
Turning to Cam, I hesitated for a moment before voicing my plan. Anika's words, her ominous whispers, were a persistent itch at the back of my mind, driving me to seek the truth.
To be honest, I had my doubts on whether I should tell her about my predicament. As much as I trusted her and how she had proven herself a loyal and helpful friend, she was still, after all, a member of Ezra's pack, and mate to his Beta. I didn't know whether her loyalty for me was stronger than her loyalty for Ezra.
But I didn't know anyone else in the place that I could trust wholeheartedly. Even if Cam decided not to help me after I proposed my plan to her, she would clearly still keep it from Ezra if I asked her to, so that I could do whatever I needed to do.
I didn't want to think about what would happen if I asked someone else. They'd probably snitch to Ezra the first chance they got and he'd have me under lockdown so I wouldn't go and meet Anika.
"Cam, I need your help," I said, my tone earnest.
She looked at me, her expression full of curiosity and concern. Bless her heart, she was always eager to help. "What do you need?" Cam asked.
I took a deep breath, knowing the weight of my request. "I need to leave the mountains for a few hours. There's something I need to talk to Anika about."
Cam's eyes widened, alarm flashing in their depths. "Zoya, as his wife-to-be and the mother of his child, you can't go against the Alpha's wishes. And you can't lie to him either. Moreover, I myself as a member of his pack cannot do that as well."
“You know he is worried, Zoya.” Cam sighed, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I’m not saying this to place some kind of burden on you but to remind you that if you lie to Ezra…and something happens to you again…can you imagine what he’s going to go through? He already lost one mate, Zoya. He lives in constant fear that he might lose you too…”
I nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. My desire to uncover the truth warred with my duty to the bond I shared with Ezra. "I know, Cam. But if there's something I need to know, something that might be a danger to all of us, I have to find out."
The truth about that house…it was haunting me even in my sleep. I had this feeling that I won’t be able to rest properly unless I got to the root of it all…
"Zoya,” she said, “I understand your curiosity, but you have to be careful around Anika. She's not someone you can trust either."
"What do you mean?" I frowned.
She took a deep breath, her eyes reflecting her worry as well as a hint of fear. "Anika has a dark past, Zoya. She was the mistress of a powerful Alpha from a neighboring pack. But when the Alpha found his true mate, Anika's true colors came to light. She tried to poison the Alpha's mate, hoping to get rid of her and reclaim her position. She was caught and kicked out, marked as a traitor. And there are other rumors… of black magic…"