Zoya’s P.O.V
Cam's immediate denial of the idea hit me with a force I hadn't anticipated. She spoke vehemently, her brows drawn together, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Zoya, there's absolutely no way Lily would have committed suicide. Suicide requires a motive, a reason. And Lily… she was so perfectly happy here in the pack. She loved and was loved by everyone. She had a wonderful mate, a best friend in Silas, and all the people who cherished her. Why would a woman so filled with love and happiness want to end her own life?"
I listened to Cam's passionate defense of Lily, her words echoing through the room, a little thankful that the patients were on the other side of the wall and that the only one left was a human woman of seventy with joint pain. Otherwise, Cam’s wouldn’t have been the only voice in the room in defense of Lily.
It was true – Lily was a bright spirit, a beacon of warmth and joy. Her laughter had been infectious, her presence a comfort to all.
And yet… there was a darkness in her image that I couldn’t ignore.
And I was so certain that I was on to something… Cam needed to see my side of the story.
When I didn’t immediately speak, Cam's gaze met mine, a myriad of emotions swirling within her eyes. "So, you think there's more to her death than what we know?"
"Yes," I said softly, my voice tinged with conviction. "And I think Anika might hold some answers. I need to talk to her, to understand what really happened that night."
I paused for a bit, biting my lower lip.
…And that’s when I decided to tell Cam the whole truth.
But first, I urged her to step inside the room when I saw a werewolf, someone from the pack area, enter the clinic and take a seat next to the elderly woman.
The last thing I wanted was for their super-hearing to pick out parts of our conversation and then go rushing to Ezra.
Our friendship had always been a comforting presence, and I needed her understanding now more than ever. I noticed Cam's expression shift from curiosity to concern. Her dark eyes locked onto mine, and I could see her genuine worry for me.
The clinic wasn't the ideal place for such a private and potentially unsettling conversation. I glanced around, feeling the eyes of patients on us, and a sudden urge to find a more secluded space overtook me.
Cam must have sensed it too, for she nodded subtly and gently steered me towards a nearby empty examination room.
As we stepped inside, the contrast was striking.
The hushed stillness of the room was a world away from the activity beyond its walls. The soft, muted light and the gentle hum of an air purifier made the space feel like a haven of solitude.
The soundproofed walls seemed to wrap us in a protective cocoon, shutting out the world's distractions and allowing us to focus entirely on our conversation.
I took a deep breath, my gaze meeting Cam's once more.
The concern in her eyes mirrored my own. The tension of the clinic melted away as we settled into a pair of chairs, facing each other in the intimate space. It felt like a secret enclave, a place where I could share my fears and uncertainties openly.
As I shared my thoughts with Cam, she listened intently, her gaze focused on me as if trying to gauge the depth of my conviction. Her eyes held what seemed to be both concern and curiosity, and I could sense that she was grappling with her own emotions as I spoke.
“When I tried to tell Ezra and Silas about this the night before,” I began, “they seemed to be too disturbed about Lily’s memory being brought up in such a terrible, ill-fated manner that I knew they wouldn’t be willing to open their minds up to the possibility that what I was telling them wasn’t just a consequence of me losing my consciousness… but rather, something that I actually witnessed, which caused me to faint.”
I continued, “They were so distressed that I felt bad about trying to keep telling them about my experience, so I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I knew they would only be more upset and unwilling to join me in my mission to find out the truth.”
"Well, you're right about that, Zoya," she began, her voice gentle yet contemplative. "Ezra and Silas are deeply affected by Lily's memory. I can understand why they might find it difficult to discuss. Even I myself am finding it difficult to wrap my head around… what you are implying… about sweet Lily."
I nodded, appreciating Cam's understanding. "That's exactly why I couldn't tell them everything last night. I didn't want to add to their distress without having all the pieces of the puzzle."
Cam's brow furrowed slightly, as if she were deep in thought. "But what you said about feeling drawn to the house… that's intriguing. It's almost as if there's a connection you're uncovering."