Chapter 152: Is This the Right Choice? Part 1

Zoya's P.O.V

The sun’s golden rays gently filtered through the curtains in the room as the new morning made itself known.

My thoughts, however, were far from the tranquility of the morning.

Even though I had slept soundly last night, I had spent a restless morning wrestling with questions that seemed to have no easy answers. The memory of the previous evening's eerie encounter still lingered, casting a shadow over my thoughts.

A knock on the door interrupted my reverie, and I blinked away my thoughts as Cam's voice floated in. "Zoya? Are you ready?"

Turning towards the door, I offered a faint smile. "Yes, Cam. I'm coming."

I rose from the bed, my movements cautious as I still felt a residual ache in my head. My heart's rhythm had calmed since the previous night's ordeal, but the unease still pulsed beneath the surface.

As I stepped out of the room, I found Cam waiting for me, her expression a mix of professionalism and concern. "How are you feeling today, Zoya?"

I mustered a small smile, trying to push aside the lingering discomfort. "Better, thank you."

Her eyes held a flicker of empathy as she nodded. "Good. We have everything set up at the clinic for the tests. Let's head there."

Ezra, who had risen before me to prepare breakfast and take care of the chores around the house, now looked at the two of us with worry etched on his face. His brow furrowed as he glanced from me to Cam, his voice laced with a protective edge. “What’s going on?” he asked. “What tests?”

“She needs a few tests and scans to make sure that the child growing in her is developing well and that all is well with her pregnancy,” Cam informed him in a light-hearted tone in order to keep Ezra from feeling worried.

“Why?” Ezra’s voice was protective, on guard, and for good reason. “Did something happen to her? What warrants this checkup?”

“Oh, it’s nothing, Ezra, don’t worry about it,” said Cam with a dismissive wave of her hand. “It’s just some routine scans.”

“Shouldn’t I come with you, then?” he asked. “I should be going with you to see to her wellbeing seeing as I’m the father.”

He had a point, and I was worried that we weren’t going to be able to shake him off when Cam shook her head and said, “No can do, Ezra.” She waved a finger sternly. “A neighboring Alpha is going to visit to talk to you about a business proposition, remember? You need to stay here and attend to that.”

“Ah,” Ezra said with a nod. "You are right. I forgot about that. Take care of her, then, Cam. I need to know she's safe."

Cam's nod was both assured and understanding. "I will, Ezra. She's in good hands."

“Take Gustav with you.”

“Not a problem!”

Ezra's gaze lingered on me for a moment, a silent reassurance that resonated in the air.

With a final glance, he turned and walked away, his broad shoulders retreating as he headed back to his responsibilities as both the Alpha and the sheriff. Since Cam had come to pick me up, it was clear to him that he didn’t have to drop me off at the hospital, and that he could head to his office without waiting for me to finish my morning routine of getting ready.

“I’ll see you later,” he told me before he left, pressing a kiss on my forehead. “Let me know how the tests go.” And off he went.

Cam and I exchanged a knowing look, a shared understanding of the stakes at hand.

With the sun already climbing higher in the sky, we turned our attention to the awaiting car outside the house. Gustav, a loyal and steadfast presence, was seated inside.

Cam gestured for me to enter the car, and I settled into the back seat.

As she took the driver's seat and started the engine, the car pulled away from our driveway, embarking on a journey that was far from my ordinary routine.

My mind, however, was preoccupied with the secret plan that lingered beneath the surface. A plan I desperately needed to convey to Cam, despite my limited means of communication.

With Gustav's watchful eyes on us, I attempted to send a message through a series of rapid blinks, a message I hoped that Cam would be able to understand.

Cam glanced at me through the rearview mirror, her lips curling into an amused smile. "Zoya, you don’t have to keep blinking aggressively at me." She chuckled. “Gustav knows.”

I chuckled softly, realizing my attempt had been in vain. Wait a minute…"Gustav knows?"

Cam's laughter echoed through the car, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Yes, he knows about our plan. I told him. He’s safe."

Relief washed over me, mingling with a sense of camaraderie.

Even in my current state, I wasn't alone in my pursuit of answers.

Gustav's deep and resonant voice broke the silence. "Zoya, you know Cam and I never truly believed Silas could be responsible, despite the evidence. We've watched Silas and Ezra grow up since they were just kids. It’s just not possible for either of them to be the culprit of Lily’s murder. I don’t believe it. I can’t. There's something more to this story that we're missing."

I nodded in agreement, my gratitude for their trust and loyalty evident in my eyes. Gustav's insight was invaluable, a testament to the bonds that held our pack together... and would also, perhaps, lead us to the answers we sought.

As the car wound its way through the winding mountain roads, I couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of determination.

Cam's lips curled into a wry smile, her gaze flicking between me and Gustav. "I never thought our pack's challenges would involve dealing with ghosts… or whatever that thing is."

A hint of seriousness crossed my expression as I recalled the haunting sensation of being watched. "Actually, Cam, there’s something I have to tell you. That thing… it came for me last night, in the supposed safety of our own home."

Cam's brows furrowed, the humor in her eyes giving way to anxiety. "Wait, you're saying that whatever had been haunting Ezra’s old house came to his new one last night?"

I nodded slowly, my voice lowered as I recounted the unsettling events. "I had that same sensation of being watched, heard whispered voices, and even saw a shadow with red eyes. It was like I was in the grip of something otherworldly."

Cam's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her expression reflecting a blend of concern and determination. "We need to get to the bottom of this. If it's not just Lily but you as well, then there's something deeper at play."