A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I thought about Ezra. "If I’m being honest, it’s the other way around," I replied, gratitude lacing my words. "He's my anchor, helping me navigate this unpredictable world. Even though he clearly had his own problems to deal with, he still had been the best to me and always took care of me in the best way possible." I couldn't help but smile. "He can sense my mood and emotions and is always ready to calm me down as best as he can whenever I feel overwhelmed."
Cam returned my smile. "I'm glad to hear that," she said genuinely. "Thank you for taking good care of Ezra as well. Especially after what happened… Well, to say that we were concerned for him was an understatement."
Oh.
Cam's words hit me like a tidal wave, and a mix of emotions washed over me.
I never fully comprehended the depth of Ezra's pain and sorrow, nor the profound impact his first mate's death had on him. It dawned on me just now that the burden he carries is far heavier than I had initially realized.
Cam placed a comforting hand on my arm, her gaze filled with compassion. "It was a devastating loss for him," she explained, her voice tinged with a somber tone. "Wolves mate for life, and when they lose their mate, it's like losing a part of their own soul."
"Ezra was shattered, and we were all worried about him," Cam continued, her words carrying a deep sincerity, her gaze pinned to the floor. "Zoya, you brought light back into his life. If it wasn't for you, he might have faded away, day by day, until there was nothing left of him. He could have even died."
I tried to imagine a world without him, and instantly felt like the walls were closing in on me, suffocating me from all sides.
What was a world like, without Ezra?
It would feel cold. And empty. As if I had lost all purpose in life.
And now that I had witnessed happiness and love like I had never felt before, I didn’t think I would survive losing him, losing Ezra. I would never be able to live with myself if the only reason for me carrying on was gone.
If I hadn't gotten here when I had gotten here, what would have happened to him? Was this how he would’ve felt too? After losing Lily?
The weight of Cam's words settled upon me, and a pang of guilt tugged at my heart. I hadn't realized the depth of Ezra's suffering when we first crossed paths, unaware of the scars he carried from his past.
I never imagined that my presence could have such a profound impact on Ezra's well-being, that my own journey of healing and self-discovery would intertwine so deeply with his.
"I... I had no idea," I stammered, my voice filled with a mixture of surprise and concern. "I didn't realize how important it was for him to have me in his life."
Part of me was glad that was the case, and some of my sadness lifted. I had always wanted my presence to be of help to him, and I was more than glad to hear that I had quite literally saved him from death.
Cam offered me a reassuring smile, her eyes filled with warmth. "You've given him hope, Zoya," she assured me, her voice filled with sincerity.
"Your presence, your love and care, have breathed life back into him. It's a rare and precious second chance, and I have no doubt that you two are meant to be together."
You two are meant to be together.
Somehow, that sentence brought me comfort. I didn't know whether it was true or not, but I wanted it to be real, and so I believed it.
Destiny had woven the intricate tapestry of our lives together. And I will cherish this love till the day I was dust in the wind.