Soulless ✔️

Chapter 39

Zaya's p.o.v:

My mind feels foggy as I sit at a clearing, the lake stretched in front of me but that doesn't even matter as I feel empty. The hole in my chest unable to be filled.

The wind whistles through the trees. It's quite peaceful here, I thought as I stared at my reflection in the water. Pulling my knees up to my chest.

I look lost even to my own eyes.

A familiar figure approaches me from behind and sits down next to me at the lake. I don't look up but only stare at her through the water's reflection. She looks as perfect as always, but she has a sort of sadness to her today.

"I'm sorry for everything you have endured child." She says in her silky voice, but the genuine sadness in her voice makes me look up to meet her silver eyes. "I tried to change Deacon's course, I really did but I can also only do so much. In the end it's still their choice."

"Why did you even make him a Lycan?" I ask, my voice hoarse and barely above a whisper.

"Why did I make all of you Lycan's? He also upset the balance and I saw potential in him. He was hurting and I thought he could still change. I truly believed it. He did stay in the right path at first, did as he was told but he strayed. He only grew darker and darker."

There was a comfortable silence that surrounded us. I knew this was only a dream but the sadness followed me even here and I did not want to wake up and face reality, the grief would leave me unable to function.

"Lycan's aren't indestructible or unkillable as you found out." She gave me a faint smile.

"I'm sorry for killing all those wolves. Again." I say but she simply waved me off.

"Don't mind that. I understand why you did it. I'm not unreasonable like you thought. Deacon has twisted their minds so much that there was no going back anyway. In some twisted way, you did them a favour."

"I don't want to go back." I whisper

"I know child, but you can't stay here forever. Besides you have a responsibility as queen of the wolves now." She gave me a genuine smile

"I can't do it without my mate."

"I know you can't. You love him unconditionally and both of you would die for each other because you would rather die than live without them. I need you and him to rule over the wolves. You are the only one's capable of the job." She started to get up and held her hand out to help me up as well. I took it and let her pull me to my feet.

"You didn't know? Deacon he... he killed him. Ezra's..." My voice caught in a sob but I pushed it down. "He's dead."

The goddess gave me a kind smile which I didn't quite understand. "That's what you saw yes. But I'm the moon goddess or did you forget." She turned to look at me and pat my cheek, giving me another knowing smile. "So much to learn. I kept him safe. He's here." She turned to look at something in the distance and I followed her gaze to where Ezra stands. Alive.

"But I saw him die.."

"You did and he did. In the physical term of the word. But he's here just like you are here. Take it as an... extended nap for both of you. You'll be able to wake up and return to the physical world. The same goes for Ezra. But there's a... condition if you will."

"What is it?" I don't really care. I'd give just about anything to have Ezra again.

"You will have to extend your Lycan abilities to him. He'll earn part of enhanced abilities but you'll become more... mortal too. You'll be able to grow old, it will still take longer but it'll be possible. You'll be bound to each other by more than the usual mates." She continues.

"That's it?" She nods at me. "Yeah of course. Anything it takes to be able to get him home." She smiles and does something with her arms, a mist thing appears and Ezra is next to me.

I throw myself at him, allowing to be consumed by his embrace and his smell. He laughs as he hugs me back, the sound spreading warmth through my body.

"I love you." I sniffle as I snuggle into his neck, inhaling his scent.

He pulls back slightly to take my face between his hand, giving me a million dollar smile. He studies my face before kissing my forehead. "I love you too." Then he captures my lips for a kiss that shows me exactly how he feels.

A throat clears behind us as our kiss lasted a bit longer than what we both intended. We turn towards the moon goddess, Ezra giving her a nod.

"You can both return whenever you'd like. Preferably sooner than later, not trying to kick you out or anything but you have people worrying about you." She smiles kindly at us both again before stepping towards me again. I untangle myself from Ezra's embrace and step towards her as well until I'm standing right in front of her.

She leans down towards my ear. "I think I have something that you deserve." She steps back and we are in a similar position as 200 years ago, with her hand on my chest as she returns my soul. "Make me proud, Zaya." She gives me a toothy grin that makes her appear childlike.

I throw my arms around her and thank her for everything before she gives us a farewell and disappears.

Ezra captures me in another kiss before leaning his forehead against mine. We stay like this, enjoying the feel of each other for a while longer.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to get enough of you." He whispers near my ear before kissing me again on the mouth. Then my cheeks. My jaw. My neck and then finally my mark. An involuntary moan escapes me and he growls as he pulls me even closer to his body. He kisses me all over my face again. "You are so beautiful and I love you so so much."

I take his hands in mine and kiss both of his palms before looking at his eyes again. "I love you more." I wink at him as he laughs lowly.

"Impossible." He kisses me again quickly before pulling away. "Let's go home, baby."

My heart swells as he laces my finger with his and we walk hand in hand.

Home

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