Zeke's POV

"Breach on my mark," I said into my radio while watching the teams get into position around the warehouse. "Three, two, one, go."

Four teams hit their entry points at the same time while I pulled open the main warehouse door with Cecelia right behind me. The inside was huge while shipping containers were stacked everywhere creating walls and passages like a giant maze. Our flashlights cut through the dim space while dust floated in

the beams.

We'd taken maybe three steps inside when gunfire exploded from somewhere above us. Bullets pinged off metal containers while the sound was deafening in the enclosed space. I grabbed Cecelia while pulling her down behind the nearest container as more shots rang out.

"Stay down," I ordered while covering her body completely with mine. More bullets hit the container we hid behind while the metal rang like a bell with each impact.

Through the bond I felt Cecelia's fear while it wasn't for herself but for Golden. She was terrified that the gunfire would hit our son somewhere in this building. Her terror fed into mine while my wolf snarled wanting to tear apart whoever was shooting at us.

"Return fire," I shouted into my radio while my team started shooting back at the hidden positions.

The warehouse turned into chaos while bullets flew in both directions. I pulled my weapon while staying low and returning fire toward the muzzle flashes I could see up on

the catwalk level. Cecelia pressed against the container while her hands covered her ears from the loud gunshots.

"Alpha, we've got multiple hostiles on the upper level," Marcus's voice came through my earpiece. "At least six shooters, maybe more."

"Push forward," I commanded while knowing we couldn't stay pinned down. "Use the containers for cover and advance toward the back of the building."

We moved as a unit while going from container to container. I kept

Cecelia between me and the metal walls while making sure my body stayed between her and the shooters. Every time we had to cross an open space I went first while checking that it was clear before pulling her across.

A figure appeared from behind a container ahead while raising a weapon toward us. I recognized Callum from Theseus's guard while anger flooded through me that the

Brooke Pack was definitely involved. Before Callum could fire, Marcus shot him from the side while the guard went down hard.

"Brooke Pack confirmed," Marcus said while moving up beside me. "This is an act of war."

"Deal with the politics later," I said while more of Theseus's people emerged from hiding spots. "Right now we focus on getting Golden out."

The firefight got worse while it seemed like people kept coming from everywhere. My team was well trained while we

slowly pushed forward through the container maze despite the resistance. I shot two more of Theseus's guards while my wolf was howling for

blood because these people had my son.

Cecelia stayed close to my back while I felt her shaking through our bond. She was scared but also angry while her need to get to Golden pushed her forward instead of making her freeze up. My mate was braver than she gave herself credit for.

"Movement on the right," one of my warriors called out while spinning to face a new threat.

Three more guards appeared while firing at us. We took cover while

returning fire until all three were down. The warehouse was filling with smoke from all the gunshots while the smell of gunpowder burned my nose.

"How many more?" I asked Marcus while reloading my weapon.

"Unknown," he replied while doing the same. "But we're getting close to the back offices where the heat signatures were concentrated."

We kept pushing forward while leaving some of my team behind to secure the areas we'd already cleared. The gunfire was getting

less frequent while we'd either taken down most of the guards or they were falling back to protect whatever was in those back rooms.

Then I heard it while a sound that made everything else fade away. A child crying somewhere ahead of us while the sound was weak but definitely there. Cecelia heard it too because she froze completely while her whole body went stiff.

"Golden," she breathed while then she was running toward the sound before I could stop her.

"Cecelia, wait," I shouted while

cursing as I chased after her. She was fast while weaving through the containers toward the back of the warehouse. I pushed my legs harder while catching up to her just as she reached a door.

She didn't slow down while hitting the door with her shoulder. The door burst open while we both

stumbled into a back office that had been set up like a medical room. My eyes took in everything at once while my brain struggled to process what I was seeing.

Golden lay on a metal table in the center of the room while his small

body looked too pale and wrong. Blue light flickered under his skin like lightning while it pulsed brighter then dimmer in waves. Medical equipment surrounded the table while tubes and wires connected to my son's small arms.

And standing over him with her hands raised was Fatima while Cecelia's supposed best friend looked panicked and guilty.

"Cecelia, I can explain," Fatima started while backing away from the table.

Cecelia screamed while it was a

sound of pure rage and betrayal. She launched herself at Fatima while her hands reached for the other woman's throat. I barely caught Cecelia around the waist while pulling her back as she fought against me.

"You bitch," Cecelia screamed while trying to break free from my grip. "You helped them take my baby, I trusted you and you sold us out."

"I'm sorry," Fatima cried while tears ran down her face. "I didn't know they were going to hurt him, I thought they just wanted to study his magic."

"Liar," Cecelia shouted while still fighting to get at Fatima. "You knew exactly what you were doing."

I held Cecelia back while she was strong in her rage but I was stronger. "Marcus, detain her," I ordered while nodding toward Fatima.

Two of my warriors grabbed Fatima while she didn't resist. Cecelia finally stopped fighting me while instead she turned and ran to Golden's side. I let her go while moving to the other side of the table.

Up close I could see how bad Golden was while his breathing was too fast and shallow. The blue light under his skin was his wolf trying to emerge while his body was way too young to handle it. Sweat covered his face while his little hands clenched into fists like he was fighting something.

"What did you do to him?" I demanded while looking at Fatima.

"We tried to extract the magic," Fatima said while her voice shook. "But his body reacted badly. The extraction triggered premature wolf emergence which is killing him."

My stomach dropped while I knew enough about wolf biology to understand how serious that was. Children couldn't survive their first shift before puberty while their bodies weren't developed enough. If Golden's wolf emerged now it would tear him apart from the inside.

"How do we stop it?" Cecelia asked while her hands smoothed Golden's hair back from his sweaty forehead.

"We can't," Fatima said while more tears fell. "Only constant Alpha essence from his father can

suppress the emergence until his body matures enough to handle it safely."

I didn't think while just moved on instinct. My hand went to Golden's chest while I pushed my Alpha essence through the touch into my son's small body. The bond between father and son that had never existed before suddenly flared to life while connecting us for the first time.

Golden's eyes flew open while they glowed blue with his wolf. He looked right at me while I felt recognition pass between us on a

level deeper than words. He knew I was his father while the bond told him even though he'd never met me before.

"Daddy?" Golden's small voice was weak but clear.

My throat closed up while I couldn't speak. I just nodded

while pushing more essence into him through our connected bond. The blue light under his skin started to dim while his breathing slowed to something more normal.

"That's right buddy," I finally managed to say. "I'm your dad and

I'm here now."

Golden's eyes closed again while he was too weak to stay awake but I felt through our bond that he was calmer now. Having his father's essence stabilizing him was working while the premature emergence pulled back.

Cecelia was crying while watching us. Through our mate bond I felt everything she was feeling while relief that Golden was alive mixed with devastation over Fatima's betrayal mixed with hope that maybe we could fix this.

"Start talking," I said to Fatima while keeping my hand on Golden's chest. "Tell me everything about this plot."

Fatima took a shaky breath while looking at the guards holding her arms. "Layla planned all of it," she started.

"She contacted me about a year ago offering money to keep tabs on Cecelia and report her location."

"Why would Layla want to know where I was?" Cecelia demanded.

"She wanted revenge," Fatima said. "She blamed you for Zeke never loving her back. When she found

out you'd had a son with Alpha blood and ancient magic, she saw an opportunity."

"Opportunity for what?" I asked while my anger was building with every word.

"She wanted Golden's magic extracted so she could use it for

power," Fatima continued. "She hired Brock to do the actual kidnapping while Theseus provided this location and resources. Callum and other Brooke Pack guards were paid to help."

"And you?" Cecelia's voice was ice

cold. "What did you get out of betraying your best friend?"

"Money," Fatima admitted while she couldn't look at Cecelia. "Layla paid me fifty thousand dollars to help coordinate the

kidnapping and report on Golden's routines."

"You sold out my son for money," Cecelia said while her voice broke. "I trusted you with everything. You were at his

birth, you helped me raise him, you were the only friend I had."

"I know," Fatima sobbed. "I'm so sorry Cecelia. When I realized the

extraction would kill him I tried to stop it but Brock and the others wouldn't listen."

"You drew the line at murder but kidnapping was fine?" Cecelia asked while her tone was sharp with hurt. "Taking a three year old from his home and terrifying him was acceptable as long as he lived?"

Fatima had no answer while she just cried harder. I felt Cecelia's pain through our bond while this betrayal cut even deeper than Layla's because Fatima had been her only support for three years.

The woman she'd considered family had sold her out.

"Get her out of my sight," Cecelia said while turning away from Fatima completely. "I never want to see her face again."

"Take her to holding," I ordered the guards. "We'll deal with her later."

They dragged Fatima away while she kept apologizing over and over. Cecelia ignored her while focusing entirely on Golden. Her hands carefully checked him over for injuries while tears kept falling down her face.

"Is he going to be okay?" she asked me while her voice was small and scared.

"I'll keep him stable with my essence until we can get him proper medical care," I promised while not moving my hand from his chest. "But we need to get him to the pack hospital right away."

Marcus appeared in the doorway while looking grim. "We've secured the building. Found Brock trying to escape through a back exit."

"Good," I said. "What's he saying?"

"Everything," Marcus replied. "He's

giving up everyone involved including full details about Layla being the mastermind. He has evidence of payments she made, communications showing her planning, all of it."

My blood went cold while the confirmation that Layla orchestrated my son's kidnapping made me want to tear something apart. Cameron's mother had done this while the woman I'd trusted to be part of my inner circle for years had plotted against my actual son.

ZEKE'S POV

"Layla," Cecelia breathed while looking at me with shock. "She really did this?"

"Apparently," I said while my voice came out harsh. "Brock has proof."

"What about Theseus?" I asked Marcus.

"Gone," Marcus said while his jaw clenched. "He fled before we breached. His pack is claiming he acted without their knowledge or approval."

"They're lying," I said flatly. "But we'll deal with that later. Right now I need a medical transport for Golden."

"Already called," Marcus confirmed. "Helicopter will be here in ten minutes."

I carefully lifted Golden while keeping one hand pressed to his chest the whole time. He was so light while my son barely weighed anything in my arms. His head rolled against my shoulder while the blue light under his skin pulsed weakly.

Cecelia stayed pressed to my other side while one of her hands rested on Golden's back. The three of us connected through touch while our family bond was finally complete even under these terrible circumstances.

We moved through the warehouse while my team had cleared out all of Theseus's guards. Bodies lay scattered while I stepped over them without looking. They'd threatened my son which meant they got exactly what they deserved.

Outside the helicopter was landing while its blades kicked up dust and

debris. I climbed in carefully with Golden while Cecelia scrambled in behind me. The pack doctor was already inside while he immediately started checking Golden's vital signs.

"How long has he been like this?" the doctor asked while hooking Golden up to portable monitors

.

"We don't know exactly," I said. "But Fatima said they were trying to extract his magic which triggered the premature emergence."

The doctor's face went grim while he checked the readings. "His body

is fighting the emergence but losing. You'll need to maintain constant physical contact for at least the next seventy two hours to keep him stable."

"I'm not letting go of him," I promised while my hand stayed firm on Golden's chest.

Cecelia took Golden's small hand in hers while completing the circuit between all three of us. Through the bonds connecting us I felt Golden's life force flickering like a candle in the wind. But my Alpha essence was feeding into him while keeping that flame from going out.

The helicopter lifted off while carrying us away from the warehouse. Below I could see my team loading Brock and other prisoners into vehicles. Marcus was coordinating the cleanup while making sure every piece of evidence was collected.

"Layla's been arrested," Marcus's voice came through my earpiece. "She tried to run when she heard we'd found Golden but we caught her at the border."

Good, I thought while my rage toward her was ice cold and deadly. She would pay for every second of

fear she'd caused while I would personally make sure of it.

But right now none of that mattered while my son fought for his life in my arms. Golden whimpered in his sleep while the blue light flared brighter for a second before dimming again. I pushed more essence into him while willing my strength to become his.

"Hold on buddy," I whispered while pressing a kiss to his sweaty forehead. "Just hold on a little longer."

Cecelia's hand tightened around

Golden's while through our mate bond I felt her desperate hope. We'd found him alive which was more than we'd dared hope for sometimes. Now we just had to keep him that way while getting him the medical help he needed.

The flight to the pack hospital felt endless while every minute stretched into hours. Golden's condition stayed critical but stable while my constant essence kept his wolf from fully

emerging. The doctor monitored his vitals while occasionally injecting medicine to help support his struggling body.

Finally the hospital came into view while we landed on the roof pad. Medical staff rushed out with a gurney while the doctor shouted orders. I refused to let go of Golden while walking beside the gurney as they wheeled him inside. Cecelia stayed on the other side while both of us maintained contact with our son.

They rushed us to intensive care while the room was set up for long term monitoring. Machines beeped while nurses moved around efficiently getting everything ready. The head doctor examined Golden

while his expression was serious.

"The next seventy two hours are critical," he explained. "The Alpha essence is suppressing the emergence but his body is under extreme stress. We need to monitor him constantly while being ready to intervene if things get worse."

"What happens after seventy two hours?" Cecelia asked.

"If we can keep him stable that long, his body should adjust to having his father's essence present," the doctor said. "Then we can work on a long term treatment

plan to prevent emergence until he's old enough to survive it safely."

"How long is that?" I asked.

"At least ten years," the doctor replied. "He won't be able to have his first shift until after puberty which means suppressing his wolf until then."

Ten years of keeping Golden's wolf controlled while it was a long time but it was better than the alternative of losing him completely. I would do whatever it took while my son deserved the chance to grow up and live a full

life.

"We'll do whatever is necessary," I said while my Alpha voice made it clear this wasn't up for debate.

The doctor nodded while then he and the nurses left us alone. The room was quiet except for the beeping monitors while Golden lay small and pale in the hospital bed. I sat in the chair beside him while keeping my hand pressed to his chest. Cecelia sat on the other side while holding his small hand in both of hers.

Cecelia's POV

The hospital room was quiet except for the machines beeping while tracking Golden's heartbeat. I sat on one side of his bed while Zeke sat on the other with his hand pressed to Golden's chest. We'd been here for hours already while

Golden stayed unconscious except for brief moments.

The doctor said the next few days were critical while Zeke's Alpha essence was the only thing keeping Golden's wolf

from emerging too early. My baby's small body was fighting a battle it was too young to win while all I could do was sit here

holding his hand.

Golden's eyes moved under his closed lids while I wondered what he was dreaming about. Was he scared? Did he remember being taken? The thought of him being terrified while I couldn't reach him made my chest hurt so bad I could barely breathe.

Then his eyes fluttered open while I sat up straighter immediately. He blinked slowly while looking confused about where he was. His eyes moved around the room taking in the machines and the hospital bed before finally landing on me.

"Mama?" his small voice was rough like his throat hurt.

I broke down completely while tears poured down my face. "Yes baby, it's mama," I said while smoothing his curly hair back from his forehead. "You're safe now, I promise you're safe."

"Where am I?" Golden asked while his bottom lip trembled like he might cry.

"You're in a hospital," I explained while trying to keep my voice calm even though I was falling apart inside. "Some bad people took you

but we found you and now you're getting better."

Golden's eyes filled with tears while he looked so small and scared in the big hospital bed. "I want to go home."

"I know sweetie," I said while more of my own tears fell. "Soon, I promise. You just need to rest and get strong first."

Golden's eyes moved past me while landing on Zeke.

He stared at the man on the other side of his bed while confusion crossed his little face. "Who's that?"

I looked at Zeke while seeing his expression crack with emotion. His eyes got shiny with tears while his jaw was tight like he was trying not to break down. He cleared his throat before speaking.

"I'm your father," Zeke said while his voice came out rough. "My name is Zeke."

Golden stared at him while processing this information. "My daddy?"

"Yes," Zeke said while a tear escaped down his cheek. "I'm your daddy."

"Why haven't I met you before?" Golden asked while his innocent question made both Zeke and me flinch.

"That's complicated buddy," Zeke said while struggling to find the right words. "But I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere."

Golden looked between us while his small face was serious as he thought about this. "Okay," he finally said while accepting it with the simple trust that children have. "I always wanted a daddy like the other kids."

That simple statement destroyed me while I had to look away so Golden wouldn't see me crying harder. Zeke made a sound like he'd been punched while through our bond I felt his heart breaking and healing at the same time.

"Well now you have one," Zeke managed to say while his thumb

rubbed gentle circles on Golden's chest. "And I'm never leaving you."

Golden's eyes were already closing again while the effort of staying awake was too much. "Love you mama," he mumbled while drifting back to sleep.

"I love you too baby," I whispered while pressing a kiss to his forehead. "So much."

I looked up at Zeke while we stared at each other over our son's sleeping body. His face was wet with tears while mine probably looked the same. Through the bond

I felt everything he was feeling while the love and regret and determination all mixed together.

"He's perfect," Zeke said quietly

"He is," I agreed while my hand smoothed Golden's hair again just to touch him.

The next forty eight hours passed in a blur while time moved both too fast and too slow. Zeke never left Golden's bedside while he kept his hand on our son's chest the entire time. Even when he dozed off in the chair his hand stayed in place pushing Alpha essence into Golden

to keep him stable.

I watched them together during Golden's brief awake periods while seeing a side of Zeke I'd never witnessed during our marriage. He was so gentle with Golden while his big hands were careful when touching our small son. His voice went soft when he talked while telling Golden stories about the pack and what his life would be like here.

"You'll go to school with other wolf children," Zeke explained during one of Golden's more alert moments. "And when you're older I'll teach you

how to be strong and brave like an Alpha."

"Will I be an Alpha?" Golden asked while his eyes were wide with interest.

"You already are," Zeke said while pride filled his voice. "You're my son which makes you an Alpha prince."

"Like in the stories?" Golden's face lit up with excitement.

"Exactly like in the stories," Zeke confirmed while a small smile crossed his tired face. "Except better because this is real."

I sat in the other chair while just listening to them talk. Seeing Zeke fall in love with our son right in front of me made my heart ache while I remembered why I'd fallen for

him in the first place. Under all his walls and fear he was a good man who cared deeply when he let himself.

"You should rest," I said to Zeke after Golden fell asleep again. "I can maintain contact for a while."

"No," Zeke said immediately while shaking his head. "The doctor said my Alpha essence specifically is what Golden needs. Your touch

helps comfort him but mine is what's keeping his wolf suppressed."

"You're exhausted," I pointed out while seeing the dark circles under his eyes. "You haven't really slept in two days."

"I'll sleep when Golden is stable," Zeke said while his stubborn protectiveness reminded me so much of how he used to be. "Right now he needs me more than I need rest."

CECELIA'S POV

I didn't argue while knowing he wouldn't change his mind anyway. Instead I just stayed close while taking turns with Zeke sleeping in short bursts. When I was awake I watched them both while my heart felt too full and too broken at the same time.

During one of my shifts staying awake, I looked at Zeke asleep in his chair with his hand still pressed to Golden's chest. His large hand completely covered Golden's small

torso while the size difference was almost funny. But seeing them connected like that while father and son bound together, made something settle in my chest that had been restless for three years.

I never stopped loving him while I realized with sudden clarity. I'd been angry and hurt and determined to move on but under all that I still loved Zeke with the same intensity I

had during our marriage. Maybe even more now while seeing him with Golden showed me the man he could be when he let his walls down.

The thought scared me while I didn't know if I was ready to admit that out loud. But sitting there in the quiet hospital room watching my family sleep, I couldn't deny the truth anymore.

On the second day, Marcus came by with updates that made my blood boil. He knocked quietly before entering while his face was grim with whatever news he brought.

"Layla's been arrested," Marcus said while keeping his voice low so he wouldn't wake Golden. "She's being held in detention awaiting trial."

My hands clenched into fists while rage flooded through me hot and violent. "Good," I said while my voice came out hard. "What else?"

"Brock is talking," Marcus continued. "He's giving us everything including proof that Layla orchestrated your fake death three years ago."

The room spun while I processed what he'd just said. "What?"

"Layla paid the guards who were supposed to protect you to instead help stage your death," Marcus explained while looking

uncomfortable. "She wanted you separated from Zeke so she could have him."

I stood up so fast my chair scraped loudly against the floor. "That bitch," I said while my voice rose. "She destroyed my entire life, separated me from Zeke, made me raise Golden alone for three years, all because she wanted something she could never have."

"Cecelia," Zeke's voice was calm but firm. "Sit down."

"No," I said while pacing the small room. "I need to see her. I need to

look her in the face and ask her why she thought she had the right to destroy everything."

"You're not going anywhere," Zeke said while standing up though his hand stayed on Golden. "Golden needs both of us here."

"Golden is stable right now," I argued while anger made me reckless. "I'll just be gone for an hour to confront that woman."

"No," Zeke moved to block my path to the door. "Layla will be punished through proper channels. You don't need to give her the satisfaction of

seeing how much she hurt you."

"She kidnapped our son," I shouted while not caring if I woke Golden. "She deserves more than proper channels, she deserves to suffer like she made us suffer."

"And she will," Zeke said while his hands came up to hold my face. "I promise you Cecelia, Layla will pay for everything she did. But you confronting her now while you're emotional won't help anyone."

"I don't care," I said while trying to pull away but his grip was firm. "She needs to know what she did,

she needs to hear from me how much damage she caused."

"She knows," Zeke said while his thumbs wiped away the angry tears on my cheeks. "Trust me, she knows exactly what she did."

I struggled against his hold while screaming things that didn't even

make sense. All the rage and hurt from three years came pouring out while I wanted Layla to feel a fraction of the pain she'd caused. Zeke just held me through it while letting me rage against him until I ran out of energy.

Finally I broke down crying while all the fight drained out of me. Zeke pulled me against his chest while one hand rubbed my back as I sobbed into his shirt. Through our bond I felt his own rage while he was just as angry as me but controlling it better.

"She'll pay," Zeke promised while his

voice was cold with certainty. "I swear to you Cecelia, Layla will suffer consequences for every ounce of pain she caused our family."

"It's not enough," I cried while my hands fisted in his shirt. "Nothing will ever be enough to make up for what she did."

"I know," Zeke said while just holding me tighter. "But it's what we have."

Marcus cleared his throat uncomfortably while he was still standing near the door. "There's

also the matter of Cameron," he said carefully. "He's been placed with pack relatives temporarily while we figure out permanent arrangements."

"Cameron is innocent in this," I said while pulling back from Zeke to wipe my face. "Whatever happens to Layla, her son shouldn't suffer for her choices."

"Agreed," Zeke said while looking relieved that I wasn't arguing about that. "We'll make sure Cameron is cared for properly."

Marcus nodded while then he left

us alone again. I went back to my chair beside Golden's bed while feeling exhausted from the emotional outburst. Zeke returned to his spot while his hand automatically going back to Golden's chest.

We sat in silence for a while while just being near each other and our son. Through the bond I felt Zeke's steady presence while he was my anchor keeping me from flying apart completely.

On the third day, Golden woke up more alert than he'd been since we found him. His eyes were clearer

while he looked around the room with curiosity instead of confusion.

"Hi mama," he said while his voice was stronger. "Hi daddy."

Hearing him call Zeke daddy so naturally made my throat tight while Golden had accepted his father completely in just three days.

"Hi baby," I said while squeezing his hand gently. "How do you feel?"

"Tired," Golden admitted while his little face scrunched up. "And my tummy hurts."

"That's normal," Zeke said while his

free hand smoothed Golden's hair back. "You've been very sick but you're getting better."

"What happened to me?" Golden asked while looking between us. "I remember bad people and being scared but then it's all fuzzy."

Zeke and I exchanged glances while we'd known this conversation was coming but hadn't figured out how to explain it yet. How did you tell a three year old that he was kidnapped for his magic?

"Some bad people took you," I started carefully. "They wanted to

hurt you but your daddy and I found you and brought you here to get better."

"Why did they want to hurt me?" Golden asked while his eyes filled with fear. "What did I do wrong?"

"Nothing," Zeke said firmly while his voice held Alpha authority even speaking to a child. "You did nothing wrong. Those people made bad choices and they're being punished for it."

"Are they gonna come back?" Golden's bottom lip trembled while he looked scared.

"No," I promised while leaning closer. "They can't come back because your daddy and his warriors caught them. You're safe now."

Golden thought about this while his small face was serious. "You're really my daddy?" he asked Zeke.

"I really am," Zeke confirmed while emotion made his voice rough.

"Where were you before?" Golden asked while the innocent question made Zeke flinch. "Mama said you had to be away but why?"

Zeke looked at me for help while I

eally my daddy?" he asked Zeke.

"I really am," Zeke confirmed while emotion made his voice rough.

"Where were you before?" Golden asked while the innocent question made Zeke flinch. "Mama said you had to be away but why?"

Zeke looked at me for help while I could see him struggling with how to answer. "Your daddy didn't know about you," I explained gently. "I had to leave before you were born which meant daddy didn't get to meet you until now."

"Why did you have to leave?"

Golden asked me while his questions were endless like always.

"It's complicated sweetie," I said while not wanting to explain adult problems to a three year old. "But the important thing is we're all together now."

"Are we a family?" Golden asked while looking between us with hope in his eyes.

The question hung in the air while I saw Zeke's expression shift into something raw and vulnerable. Our eyes met over Golden's body while the bond between us pulsed with

everything unspoken.

"Yes," Zeke said while his hand found mine across Golden's chest. "We're a family."

"Forever?" Golden pressed while he wanted to be sure.

"Forever," Zeke promised while squeezing my hand.

Golden smiled while it was the first real smile I'd seen from him since the kidnapping. "Good," he said while his eyes

were already closing again. "I always wanted a family."

He fell asleep while Zeke and I

stayed frozen with our hands clasped over our son's body. The simple acceptance in Golden's face broke down the last of my walls while I couldn't pretend anymore that I didn't want this.

I wanted us to be a family while I wanted Zeke in my life and in Golden's life. I wanted what we should have had from the beginning while our son deserved to have both his parents together.

Zeke was looking at me while hope and fear mixed in his expression. Through the bond I felt him waiting for me to say something, to confirm

or deny what Golden had just asked for.

"We should talk," I said quietly while my heart was beating hard. "About what happens after Golden is released."

"Okay," Zeke agreed while his thumb rubbed across my knuckles. "What do you want to happen?"

I looked down at our joined hands while thinking about how to put my feelings into words. "I want to try," I finally said while looking back up at him. "I want us to try being a real family, not just for Golden but for us

too."

Zeke's face transformed while hope replaced the fear in his eyes. "Are you sure? Because I need to know you're serious before I let myself believe this is real."

"I'm surb

e," I said while meaning it completely. "I never stopped loving you Zeke. I was angry and hurt but under all that I still loved you. And seeing you with Golden these past few days, seeing how much you already love him, it reminded me why I fell for you in the first place."

"Cecelia," Zeke breathed while his

eyes got shiny with tears. "I love you. I never stopped loving you even when I was too stupid to admit it."

"I know," I said while feeling it through our bond. "And I love you too."

We stared at each other while our son slept peacefully between us. The bond hummed with contentment while everything that had been broken between us was finally starting to heal. We had a long way to go still while trust would take time to rebuild completely. But we were committed

now while both of us wanted this family unit with desperate intensity.

Golden stirred slightly while making a small sound in his sleep. Both Zeke and I immediately looked at him while our attention going right back to our son. But our hands stayed clasped while neither of us wanted to let go of that connection.

This was my family while broken and healing but finally complete. And I would do whatever it took to make sure we stayed together this time.