Chapter 2 : Zeke

I found him in his study an hour later, sitting behind the massive oak desk that had belonged to his father.Zeke looked up when I entered, and I saw my own pain reflected in his green eyes.

"She told you."

It wasn't a question.I closed the door behind me and walked to the chair across from his desk, my spine straight and my chin lifted.If I was going down, I'd go down with dignity.

"Yes.""Cecelia-"

"Is it true?"

He was quiet for a long moment, his hands clasped on the desk in front of him.When he finally spoke, his voice was barely audible.

"Yes."

The simple word destroyed the last fragment of hope I'd been clinging to.

"How long?"I asked.

"How long what?"

"How long have you been fuckingmy sister?"

He flinched at the crude language.

"Cecelia, don't-"

"Answer the question, Zeke.How long?"

"Since the second week after our mating ceremony."

I closed my eyes, absorbing the blow."So our entire marriage has been a lie."

"No."He stood up abruptly, moving around the desk toward me."No, Cecelia, that's not-"

"Don't."I held up a hand to stop him."Don't come any closer.

Don't touch me.And for the love of the Moon Goddess, don't lie to me anymore."

He stopped mid-step, his jaw clenching."I never lied to you."

"You've been screwing my sister for six months behind my back!What would you call that?"

"I never promised you love."

The words were like a knife to the heart."No, you didn't, did you?Silly me for thinking that might develop naturally between mates.""Cecelia, please try to understand-"

"Oh, I understand perfectly."I stood up, smoothing down my skirt with hands that only trembled slightly."You never got over your first love, so you found a way to have us both.You marry the adopted daughter to secure the peace treaty, then keep the real daughter as your mistress.Isn't that very smart of you?"

"It wasn't like that."

"Then tell me what it was like, Zeke.Explain to me how this happened."

He ran a hand through his dark silky hair.I loved whenever he did that.My stomach would clench and butterflies would flutter everywhere, but now I hated it.It was a reminder that like my sister, his good looks could guarantee him everything.

"When I chose you at the betrothal ceremony-"

"Why did you choose me?"I interrupted."I need to know.Was it always part of some elaborate plan?"

"No!"I could hear the pain and desperation in that one word, but I refused to be deceived."No, Cecelia, I chose you because... because I thought it would be easier."

I tried to stop the tears from moistening my voice."Easier how?"

"Easier to do my duty without my heart being involved."

I laughed, but it sounded more like a sob."You chose me because you didn't love me."

"I chose you because I thought I could learn to love you," he said quietly."I thought if I married Layla, I'd spend my whole life fighting the mate bond, trying to be the Alpha my pack needed instead of the man she wanted.But with you...""With me, you thought you could be both."I finished for him.

"Yes."

"And then Layla came back."

He nodded, his eyes fixed on the floor."The moment I saw her again, I knew I'd made a mistake.The feelings I thought I'd buried came rushing back, stronger than ever."

"So you decided to have an affair behind my back, Zeke."My voice cracked.Hearing this from his mouth was not making this any easier.

"I tried to stay away from her," he said desperately, trying to come closer to me.I stepped back."For the first week after she arrived, I avoided her completely.But then she came to me, crying, begging me to explain why I'd chosen you over her.She said she needed closure."

My hands shook as I rubbed my temples."She was tempting you.It was very obvious.You let her."My voice became hard."You gave it to her."

"I gave her the truth.I told her I'd chosen you because I was a coward who couldn't handle loving her the way she deserved."

"And then?"

"And then she kissed me."

I felt something inside me die."And you kissed her back."

"Yes."

"In our house.In the pack house where we live as mates."

"Cecelia-"

"Where?"The question came out as a growl."Where did you betray our bond?"

"It doesn't matter-"

"It matters to me!"I slammed my hand down on his desk, making him jump."Where, Zeke?"

"The library," he whispered.

The library.Where I spent most of my afternoons reading, where I'd foolishly imagined bringing our children someday to share the stories I loved.

"And after that?"

"After that, we... we couldn't stay away from each other."

"So you've been meeting in secret ever since."I chuckled, but not in amusement, in rage.I was angry at myself that I let this happen.They were sleeping with each other under my nose, but I trusted them so much and I let this happen.

"Yes."He confirmed, his eyes never leaving mine.

"While coming home to me every night and pretending to be my devoted husband."

"I never pretended-"

"You marked me!"I touched the scar on my neck, the physical reminder of our bond."You claimed me in front of the entire pack,promised to cherish and protect me, and then you spent the next six months sneaking around with my sister!"

"The marking was part of the ceremony.It didn't mean-"

"It didn't mean anything to you," I finished for him."I get it now.The great Alpha Zeke Brooke, finally being honest."

He stepped toward me again, and this time I didn't stop him.When he reached out to touch my face, I let him, even though his touch felt like poison now.

"Cecelia, I'm sorry.I'm so fucking sorry.I never wanted to hurt you."

I bit my cheek to prevent the tears from spilling."But you did it anyway."

"Yes.

I shook my head, chuckling to myself again."She said that you want me to release you from our bond so you can marry her instead."

"I want you to be free," he said softly."Free to find someone who can love you the way you deserve."

"How noble of you."I stepped back,

breaking his hold on my face."Tell me something, Zeke.If Layla wasn't pregnant, would you still be asking for your freedom?"

He was quiet for so long I thought he wouldn't answer.When he finally spoke, his voice was barely a whisper.

"I don't know."

"I see."I walked to the door, then paused with my hand on the handle."One more question.""

Anything."

"Do you love her?""Yes."

"Have you ever loved me?Even a little?"

The pause that followed told me everything I needed to know.

"I, Zeke Woods of Brooke pack reject you, Cecelia Mayers as my chosen mate."

I screamed as I doubled over in pain.I took deep breaths as I struggled to stand erect."I Cecelia Mayers accept your rejection."At this point, I was proud of myself for not crying."Thank you for finally being honest."

"Where are you going?"

"For a walk.

"Cecelia, wait-"

I opened the door without looking back."Don't follow me, Zeke.I think you've done enough for one day."

I was going to the seacliffs to clear my head, and to think clearly and for once in my life, I was going to listen to what I wanted instead of what everyone else needed from me

A thudding headache from the right side of my skull dragged me into consciousness.I forced my eyes open, and my vision was blurry.The surroundings around me were unfamiliar.Finally, all the blur cleared into focus and I immediately saw three pairs of brown eyes staring at me.

"She's awake!"The smallest girl smiled down at me, then nudged the others who were still staring at me in awe."Mama, she's awake!"

They ran off, shouting, "Mama!The

sea lady opened her eyes!"

I tried to sit up bewildered by what it was they were saying.What did they mean sea-lady?What was I doing here?The last thing I remembered was sitting on my favourite nest on the sea-cliff and crying.The rest was fuzzy.As I sat up, there was a sharp pain in my lower belly.I flinched, shutting my eyes as the pain almost demoralized me.

A woman appeared in the doorway, clearly their mother from the resemblance."Easy now," she said, settling into a chair."I'm Fatima.You've been asleep for a very long time."

"I..."My head was still spinning as she talked to me, I looked around to see if I could recognize where I was at, but nothing."Where am I?"

"Safe."She poured water into a cup, then handed it over to me with an outstretched hand."Drink slowly."

The water tasted sweet, but there was something more salt in it than the normal water.The memory hit me.

"The sea," I gasped."I remember the sea."

Fatima's face grew serious."I found you washed up on our shore three moons ago.More dead than alive."

"Three months?I've been unconscious for three months?"I've been unconscious for three months?"

"Your body needed time to heal.Whatever happened to you out there nearly killed you."

The memory crashed back with a blinding flash of pain, and I nearly toppled the cup as I ground my teeth.Fatima's hands steadied me.

I had been sitting on my favorite perch at the sea-cliff, the wind whipping my hair as I stared out at the endless horizon.The tears wouldn't stop coming.How long had I being played for a fool?Weeks?Months?But hearing them say it this morning was like a knife to my chest.My sister.My own blood.And my mate.

There was a sound of footsteps on the rocky path behind me, light and soft, I suspected that it should be Layla but I didn't turn when I heard her approach.I was too lost in my grief to care.

"Cecelia."Layla's voice was soft, almost gentle.The way she used to speak when we were children and she was trying to coax me into some mischief.

"Go away."I didn't want to see her face, didn't want to see those perfect features that everyone always said were more beautiful than mine.

"We need to talk."

I finally turned, wiping my eyes.She stood there in a flowing white dress, her golden hair catching the afternoon sun.Even now, even knowing what I knew, she was breathtaking.

"About what?About how you've been sharing my mate's bed while playing the devoted sister?About how you smile at me during pack meetings while plotting behind my back?"

Her face didn't change.That was what chilled me most; the complete lack of surprise or shame."You don't understand the bigger picture, Cecelia."

"Enlighten me."She stepped closer, and I should have backed away.I should have listened to the warning bells in my mind."The pack needs strong leadership.You're too emotional, too volatile.Look at you now, crying on a cliff like a child."

"I'm crying because my sister betraye me!"

"I did what was necessary."Her voice was cold now, all pretense gone."Zeke sees it too.You're not Luna material.You never were."

My anger spiked, and my voice was above level now."He's my mate,

Layla.The Moon Goddess chose-"

"The Moon Goddess makes mistakes."She was close enough now that I could see the glint of wickedness in her eyes."But we can fix them."

I started to stand, some instinct finally kicking in, but she was faster.Her hands slammed into my chest with surprising force.For a moment, I teetered on the edge, arms windmilling, the cliff's edge crumbling beneath my feet.

"Layla!"I reached for her, desperate, but she stepped back."Goodbye, sister," she whispered, and there was almost something like sadness in her voice."I'll take good care of what should have been mine all along."

The world tilted.I screamed as I heard the roaring waters beneath me.The last thing I saw was her silhouette against the sky, watching as I fell.

"Someone threw me in.They pushed me into the sea."I could recall hands pushing me, the shock of cold water."My sister pushed me off the cliff."

Fatima's eyes widened."Your own sister?This wasn't an accident?"

"No.She wanted me gone so she could take my place as Luna."The certainty settled in my chest along with grief I couldn't name.The betrayal cut deeper than the physical wounds."She was sleeping with my mate.

"Fatima's face hardened with righteous anger.

"Blood betraying blood.There's no sin worse in the eyes of the sea spirits.""I'm so sorry," I said, looking at her ashen face."You saved my life.But I need to find my way home, so I can remember who I once was.I promise I'll find a way to repay you-"

I tried to stand but the world tilted.I was falling until strong arms caught me.

"I won't allow you to leave in your condition.You have to be hale and hearty.You've been still for months so you will not be able to walk around as you normally would."

I closed my eyes, as I tried to catch my breath."Being in a coma so long, my muscles have forgotten-"

"Cecelia."Her voice stopped me."That's not the only reason you're weak."

Something in her tone made my blood run cold."What do you mean?"

She took my hands."You're carrying a child."

I shook my head, desperately."That's impossible."

"Yes."She nodded, "For about four months along.The babe is why your body fought so hard to survive."

Four months.Golden eyes flashed in my memory.Zeke.And then my sister's face, Layla with her perfect smile twisted into something cruel as she pushed me to my death.The timeline made terrible sense now.She must have known.She must have seen the signs I was too naive to recognize.

"I can't go back then," I whispered."Not like this.Not when I'm pregnant with his child and she's probably Luna now.""Back where?"

"The Brooke Pack.My sister... she's probably Luna now.I can't compete with her anymore.Not with a baby."The injustice burned through me.She had tried to kill me, and she still got everything she wanted."I had every right to that position."

"Then don't compete," Fatima said."Choose something different.Choose your child."

"Why are you helping me?""I believe the sea brought you to us for a reason.And everyone deserves a second chance."She moved toward the door.

"What is this place?"I asked.

"This is the Seacreek Pack.Most of us are fishers and farmers.We are simple folk, but good people."She paused."Rest now.When you're ready, I'll introduce you properly."

I settled back, one hand on my barely visible belly.The child of the man who had betrayed me, but innocent of his father's sins, who was also innocent of his aunt's murderous ambition.

The pain in my heart began to ease, just a little."Just you and me now," I whispered to the tiny life inside."We'll make our own way."

Three years later

"Mama, look what I drew!"Golden's excited voice pulled me from the kitchen as he burst through the door, his preschool drawing clutched in his tiny hands.

My heart clenched the way it always did when I looked at him.Three years old and already so much like his father; the He's going to start asking questions soon."same wheat-colored hair, the same stubborn chin, and those eyes.

God, those eyes were exactly like Zeke's, molten gold that seemed to see right through you.

"Let me see, swee

"I swore a lot of things."theart."I set down the kettle and lifted him onto my lap, studying his crayon masterpiece."Is this our house?"

"Uh-huh!And that's you, and that's me, and that's Aunty Fatima!"He pointed to each stick figure with pride."Miss Sarah says I'm the best drawer in class."

"You absolutely are."I pressed a kiss to the top of his head, breathing in his sweet scent."Why don't you go show Aunty Fatima?She's in the back counting today's catch."

Golden scrambled down and raced toward the storage room, his little feet pounding against the wooden floors.I smiled as watched him go, my chest tight with so much love for him.Love for this perfect little boy who'd become my entire world.

"Your boy's got too much energy," Fatima grumbled as he emerged from the back room, Golden clinging to her weathered hand. "Reminds me of my children at that age.Always into something.Never staying at ne place.""Speaking of which," I glanced at the clock, "I should get him ready for lunch soon.You know how it is a hassle to strip him of his clothes so that I can bath him."

As soon as Golden heard the word 'bath' he ran into the backroom, and me and Fatima chuckled.

Fatima helped me lay out the dining for the dishes.

"Where are your children?"I asked her."Aren't they supposed to be back from school?"

"I let them play by the shore," "Is that safe Fatima?"my voice grew worried.She smiled brightly at me."They all know how to swim."

I set some vegetables to boil, and I sat down by the dining, Fatima slipped in beside me. ."Cecelia, I've been meaning to ask.You ever think about... well, about Golden's father?He's going to start asking questions soon."

I sat up straighter, alarmed by the sentence.."There's nothing to discuss.Golden has everything he needs right here."

"I'm not trying to pry, but-" "Mama!"Golden's scream cut through the air like a blade."Mama, help!"

I spun around, but he was gone.The back door hung open, creaking in the harbor breeze.

"Golden!"I sprinted outside, Fatima close behind me."Golden, where are you?"

Golden!"We both yelled

simultaneously. we were greeted with deafening silence.

The only noise was the cry of seagulls and the lapping of waves against the dock."Check the boat slips," Fatima shouted and I could hear the tremor in her voice.She walked toward the market."I'll take the street."

My wolf senses kicked in as panic flooded my system.I could smell Golden's scent, faint but growing fainter, leading toward the tree line behind the Fishermen's warehouse.My heart hammered as I followed the trail, calling his name until my voice went hoarse.

Nothing.My baby was gone.

By evening, we had alerted the pack, and half the pack was

searching.Fatima organized search parties while the men combed every inch of Seacreek territory.I sat in the pack house, staring at Golden's drawing, my hands shaking so violently I could barely hold it.

"We'll find him," Fatima said softly, placing a warm cup of tea in my hands."These things happen sometimes.Kids wander off-"

"He didn't wander off."My voice came out flat, like all my life have been stolen from me "Someone took him.I can feel it."

Fatima squeezed my shoulder."The Seacreek pack isn't large, but we're thorough.We've searched everywhere twice.If he's in our territory-"

"He's not."I stood abruptly, the cup clattering to the floor."Whoever took him is long gone by now."

"Cecelia, you need to rest.You can't help Golden if you collapse from exhaustion."

Rest?How could I rest when my son; my golden boy was out there somewhere, probably scared and crying for his mama?

I looked outside and it was past sunset.If he had indeed wandered off, he would hav eocme home.He knew his way home.Somebody would have seen him.Somebody would have brought him back to me.

I closed my eyes, and suddenly I could see Zeke's face as clearly as if he were standing in front of me.Zeke, with his resources and connections.Zeke, who commanded respect and fear across multiple territories.Zeke, who could find anyone, anywhere.

The thought made me sick, butwhat choice did I have?

"I know someone who can help," I whispered, hating myself for the words."Someone with the resources to search beyond Seacreek."

Fatima looked up from the tea she was sadly spooning. "Who is that?"

"You will not know him but he used to leave in the pack where I came from?"

She stood up."If you're going to your former pack, then I am coming with you."I placed my hands on her shoulders."You don't have to."Her eyes held confusion.I swallowed."It's something I have to do alone."

Fatima's eyes widened with understanding."Cecelia, no.You swore you'd never-"

"I swore a lot of things."I picked up Golden's drawing, folding it carefully and tucking it into my pocket."But my son's life is worth more than my pride."

"No, Cecelia."She grabbed onto me as I made to turn away."It's best you inform the Alpha and have the Alpha meet Zeke on your behalf."

"And where will that have me be?"My Voice cracked with tears."Sitting around here, when I can be helping instead."

I met her gaze, seeing my own desperation reflected in her eyes."But who would have taken him?Why?"

I shook my head, the tears threatening to spill on my cheeks.And now I was going to see the one person I hoped I'd never have to face again.