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.

POV

Golden had been stable for twenty four hours while the doctor said Cecelia could maintain contact with him for short periods now. Her touch wouldn't suppress the wolf emergence like mine did but it would keep Golden calm and comfortable while I handled pack business that couldn't wait

any longer

.

"Are you sure about this?" Cecelia asked while looking nervous about being left alone with Golden even

though the doctor and nurses were right outside.

"You'll be fine," I assured her while leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Just keep your hand on his chest like I've been doing. If anything changes the monitors will alert the medical staff immediately."

"How long will you be gone?" she asked while her hand replaced mine on Golden's small chest.

"A few hours at most," I said while hating to leave them but knowing this couldn't be put off. "I need to handle Layla's interrogation

personally."

Cecelia's expression hardened while anger flashed in her eyes at Layla's name. "Make her suffer," she said quietly.

"I will," I promised while meaning every word.

I left the hospital room while my wolf was already pushing forward wanting blood. Layla had threatened my son, manipulated my life, destroyed my marriage, all because of some twisted obsession. She would pay for every bit of damage she'd caused.

The pack detention center was underground below the main pack house while it was designed to hold even the strongest wolves. Guards snapped to attention when I entered while they could probably feel the rage rolling off me in waves.

"Where is she?" I asked the head guard.

"Cell three," he replied while handing me the keys. "She's been asking to see you."

Of course she had while Layla probably thought she could talk her

way out of this like she'd talked her way into my trust for years. But I was done listening to her lies.

I walked down the hallway while my footsteps echoed off the concrete walls. Cell three was at the end while I could see Layla sitting on the bench inside looking defiant despite being locked up.

She stood when she saw me while smoothing down her clothes like she was preparing for a social visit instead of an interrogation. "Zeke, finally," she said while her voice held relief. "I knew you'd come once you heard my side of things."

I unlocked the cell but didn't step inside while I didn't trust myself to be in an enclosed space with her right now. "Start talking," I said while my voice came out cold and hard. "And don't bother lying because we have evidence of everything."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Layla said while

trying to look confused. "Whatever Brock told you, he's lying to save himself."

"Brock has receipts of payments you made to him," I said while watching her face carefully. "Bank transfers, text messages, all of it

proving you paid him to kidnap Golden."

Her expression flickered while the false confusion slipped for just a second. "That's not what happened."

"Then tell me what did happen," I demanded while my hands clenched into fists at my sides. "Because from where I'm standing, you orchestrated the kidnapping of my three year old son."

"I never wanted him hurt," Layla said while her voice rose defensively. "I just wanted access

to his magic."

The casual admission made my blood run cold while she'd just confessed without even realizing it. "You wanted access to his magic," I repeated slowly. "So you hired people to kidnap a child."

"It wasn't supposed to be like this," Layla said while she was starting to panic now. "Brock said the extraction would be painless, that Golden wouldn't even remember it."

"The extraction almost killed him," I said while my wolf snarled wanting to tear her apart. "His body is

fighting premature wolf emergence because of what you did."

Layla's face went pale while she sat back down on the bench. "I didn't know that would happen."

"You didn't care what would happen," I corrected while stepping into the cell now because I needed her to see my face when I said this. "You cared about getting power you thought you could use to make me want you."

"I did it for us," Layla insisted while tears started falling. "If I had that kind of magic you would finally see

me as an equal. You would finally love me the way you loved her."

"I never loved you," I said flatly while the words were harsh but true. "I cared about you as a friend but I never loved you romantically. And you kidnapping my son just proved I was right to keep that distance."

"You loved me once," Layla argued while she was crying harder now. "Before Cecelia came along we were perfect together."

"We were never together," I said while my patience was running out. "That was all in your head Layla. I

never gave you any indication I wanted more than friendship."

"You slept with me," she shot back while anger replaced her tears.

"Once, when we were both drunk after Cecelia supposedly died," I said while that night was fuzzy in my memory but I remembered enough. "That didn't mean anything

beyond two people seeking comfort in the wrong way."

"It meant something to me," Layla said while her voice dropped to something bitter. "But then you pushed me away like I was nothing."

"Because you were using my grief to try and manipulate me into a relationship I didn't want," I said while finally understanding what had happened. "You thought if you got pregnant it would trap me."

Layla's face told me I was right while she looked away unable to

meet my eyes. "I thought if we had a child together you'd stay with me.

"Except Cameron isn't my child," I said while pulling out the DNA test results Marcus had rushed through this morning. "Robert is his biological father."

Layla's mouth opened and closed while she searched for something to say. "How did you find out?"

"Does it matter?" I asked while tossing the papers at her feet. "You lied about him being mine for three years. You let me raise a child who wasn't mine while my actual son

was being hidden away because you destroyed my marriage to his mother."

"I didn't destroy your marriage," Layla said while trying to redirect blame. "You destroyed it yourself by rejecting Cecelia.

"Because you manipulated the situation," I said while Marcus had shown me evidence of that too. "You paid the guards who were supposed to protect Cecelia to make it look like she died."

Layla went very still while I could see her calculating what I knew

versus what she could still deny. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"We have their confessions," I said while my voice dropped into Alpha command. "They told us everything. How you paid them to stage Cecelia's death, how you helped them create the fake evidence, all of it."

"Fine," Layla said while her defiance crumbled completely. "Yes, I arranged for Cecelia to disappear. She was in the way and I needed her gone so you would finally see me."

"You destroyed three years of my life," I said while my wolf was howling for her blood. "Three years I could have spent with my mate and my son but instead I was mourning a woman who wasn't even dead because you couldn't accept that I didn't want you."

"I loved you," Layla screamed while standing up to face me. "I loved you for years while watching you pine after someone who didn't even want you back. Then you got forced into marriage with her and suddenly you were in love? That wasn't fair."

"Life isn't fair," I said coldly. "But

that didn't give you the right to play god with other people's lives."

"I was trying to fix things," Layla insisted while she actually believed her own twisted logic. "If I had Golden's magic I could have made everything right."

"Nothing about this is right," I said while turning toward the cell door because I couldn't look at her anymore. "You're delusional if you think kidnapping a child would ever end well for you."

"Wait," Layla called while I heard her move toward me. "What about

Cameron? What happens to him?"

I stopped while turning back to face her. "Cameron will be placed with his actual father Robert once we confirm paternity through DNA testing."

"No," Layla said while panic filled her voice. "You can't give him to Robert, Cameron barely knows him."

"Whose fault is that?" I asked while no sympathy in my tone. "You kept Robert away from his own son while lying to me about Cameron being mine. You made this bed so

now you get to lie in it."

"Please Zeke," Layla begged while reaching through the bars toward me. "I know I messed up but Cameron is innocent in this. Don't punish him for my mistakes."

"I'm not punishing him," I said while stepping back so she couldn't touch me. "I'm making sure he grows up with his real father instead of the man his mother tricked into raising him."

The truth of that statement hit me while I'd spent three years bonding with Cameron thinking he was my

punish him for my mistakes."

"I'm not punishing him," I said while stepping back so she couldn't touch me. "I'm making sure he grows up with his real father instead of the man his mother tricked into raising him."

The truth of that statement hit me while I'd spent three years bonding with Cameron thinking he was my son. I'd read him bedtime stories, taught him to throw a ball, been there for his nightmares. And none of it had been real because Cameron wasn't mine.

But the strange thing was I didn't feel as devastated as I should. My immediate reaction had been relief that my actual son Golden was safe rather than grief over losing Cameron. Maybe I'd known on some level that something was off while the bond between Cameron and me never felt as strong as it should have.

"Did Robert know about the kidnapping?" I asked while needing to know if Cameron's real father was involved.

"No," Layla said while shaking her head quickly. "Robert had nothing

to do with Golden. He only came around to see Cameron because I finally told him the truth about paternity."

So the Robert mystery was separate from the kidnapping while Layla had kept those two manipulations compartmentalized. The realization that she'd been juggling multiple lies made me feel sick while I couldn't believe I'd ever trusted this woman.

Marcus appeared at the end of the hallway while carrying a folder of documents. "Alpha, I have the financial records you requested."

I left Layla's cell while locking it behind me. She called after me but I ignored her while walking to meet Marcus halfway down the corridor.

"What did you find?" I asked while taking the folder from him.

"Bank transfers from Layla's account to Brock, Theseus, and Fatima," Marcus said while pointing to highlighted sections. "The dates match up with when the kidnapping was being

planned. She also rented the warehouse where we found Golden using a fake company name but the payment traced back to her personal account."

"So we have her on conspiracy, kidnapping, child endangerment, and treason against the Alpha's family," I said while reviewing the evidence.

"Plus the fake death situation from three years ago," Marcus added. "The guards she paid have signed statements admitting their involvement in exchange for reduced sentences."

"Good," I said while closing the folder. "Call an emergency council meeting for tomorrow morning. I want Layla formally charged and sentenced as soon as possible."

"Already scheduled," Marcus confirmed. "The council members have been briefed on the evidence so this should be straightforward."

I nodded while heading for the exit. "I need to get back to the hospital. Cecelia's alone with Golden."

"How is he doing?" Marcus asked while falling into step beside me.

"Better," I said while feeling the bond between Golden and me humming in the background. "The doctor thinks he'll make a full recovery but it's going to take time."

"That's good to hear," Marcus said.

"The pack has been asking about him, wondering when they'll get to meet the Alpha's son."

"Soon," I promised while thinking about introducing Golden to the pack properly. "Once he's strong enough to handle that kind of attention."

We reached the main level while I headed for my vehicle. The drive back to the hospital gave me time to process everything Layla had confessed. The depths of her delusion and manipulation were staggering while I couldn't believe I'd missed the signs for so long.

But dwelling on that wouldn't help anyone while I needed to focus on the future with Cecelia and Golden instead of the past Layla had poisoned.

The next morning I stood before the

pack council while Layla was brought in wearing restraints. She looked smaller somehow while all her defiance from yesterday was gone. The council members watched her with expressions ranging from disgust to disappointment while many had known her for years.

"Layla Winters, you stand accused of conspiracy to kidnap, child endangerment, and treason against the Alpha's family," the head councilman read from the formal charges. "How do you plead?"

"Guilty," Layla said quietly while not looking at anyone.

Murmurs went through the council while they'd expected her to fight the charges. But confronted with overwhelming evidence Layla had apparently decided to accept responsibility.

"The evidence shows you

orchestrated the kidnapping of the Alpha's three year old son Golden," the councilman continued. "You paid

co-conspirators to abduct the child and attempt extraction of his magical abilities. This extraction resulted in life threatening medical complications. Do you deny these facts?"

"No," Layla said while her voice barely above a whisper.

"You also stand accused of orchestrating the fake death of Cecelia Blackwood three years ago," the councilman said while reading from another document.

"Paying guards to help stage her disappearance in order to separate her from the Alpha. Do you deny this?"

"No," Layla repeated.

The council exchanged glances while the admission of guilt made the proceedings simpler but also more damning. Under pack law, crimes against an Alpha's child were among the most serious offenses possible while punishment could include execution.

"Does anyone wish to speak on the

"No," Layla said while her voice barely above a whisper.

"You also stand accused of orchestrating the fake death of Cecelia Blackwood three years ago," the councilman said while reading from another document. "Paying guards to

help stage her disappearance in order to separate her from the Alpha. Do you deny this?"

"No," Layla repeated.

The council exchanged glances while the admission of guilt made

the proceedings simpler but also more damning. Under pack law, crimes against an Alpha's child were among the most serious offenses possible while punishment could include execution.

"Does anyone wish to speak on the defendant's behalf?" the councilman asked while looking around the room.

Silence while no one moved to defend Layla. Even her closest friends stayed quiet while they couldn't support what she'd done.

"Does the prosecution wish to present testimony?" the councilman asked while looking at me.

"Yes," I said while standing. "I call Cecelia Blackwood to testify."

The doors opened while Cecelia walked in wearing a simple dress with her hair pulled back. She looked composed while I could feel through our bond that she was nervous. But her head stayed high as she moved to stand before the council.

"State your name for the record," the councilman said.

"Cecelia Blackwood, former Luna of this pack," she said clearly.

"Please tell the council about your experiences related to these charges," the councilman prompted.

Cecelia took a breath while organizing her thoughts. "Three years ago I was forced to leave this pack while believing my mate had rejected me. I didn't know at the time that my supposed death had been staged by Layla who paid guards to help me disappear."

She continued while describing her years in hiding, raising Golden

alone while constantly looking over her shoulder. She talked about the fear of being found, the struggle to survive in a

fishing village with no support system besides Fatima who turned out to be another of Layla's paid informants.

"Then my son was taken from me," Cecelia said while her voice broke slightly. "Three years old and scared while these people did terrible things to him trying to steal his magic.

The doctor says Golden will need years of treatment to prevent the premature wolf emergence from killing him. All

because Layla wanted power she thought would make the Alpha love her."

The council listened while several members looked visibly moved by her testimony. Cecelia's pain was obvious while she described searching frantically for Golden, the terror of not knowing if he was alive or dead.

"Layla didn't just hurt me," Cecelia finished. "She hurt an innocent child who never did anything except be born to the wrong parents. That kind of cruelty deserves the harshest punishment possible."

"Thank you," the councilman said while Cecelia returned to sit beside me.

I took her hand while squeezing gently. Through our bond I sent her support and pride while her testimony had been powerful.

"The council will now deliberate on sentencing," the councilman announced. "Given the severity of the crimes, we must consider all options including execution."

"Wait," I said while standing again. "There's the matter of Cameron to consider."

"The child thought to be yours?" another council member asked.

"Yes," I confirmed. "DNA testing proved Cameron is not my biological son. His father is a man named Robert who was kept away from the child by Layla's deception."

"What is your recommendation regarding the child?" the councilman asked.

"Cameron is innocent in all of this," I said while making sure everyone heard. "He shouldn't suffer because of his mother's crimes. I recommend he be placed with his

biological father Robert who has expressed desire to raise him."

"And if the defendant is executed, what then?" another council member asked.

"Then Robert becomes Cameron's sole parent," I said. "The child deserves a chance at a normal life away from all this."

The council deliberated while Layla sat with her head down. After twenty minutes they returned with their decision.

"The council has voted," the head councilman announced. "Given the

testimony and evidence presented, and considering the wellbeing of the minor child Cameron, we sentence Layla Winters to permanent banishment from this pack and all allied territories.

Layla's head snapped up while surprise crossed her face. She'd expected execution while banishment was more merciful than she deserved.

"You will never contact Alpha Zeke, Cecelia Blackwood, or the child Golden," the councilman continued. "Any attempt to do so will result in immediate execution. Cameron will

be released to his biological father Robert's custody following DNA confirmation. You have twenty four hours to gather personal belongings before your banishment begins."

"Thank you," Layla whispered while tears streamed down her face.

"Don't thank us," the councilman said coldly. "Thank the Alpha for arguing against execution because of your innocent son. Now get her out of my sight."

Guards escorted Layla away while she looked back once at me with

something like regret. But I felt nothing while any feelings I'd had for her as a friend had died the moment she threatened my son.

"Now for the matter of Theseus and the Brooke Pack," the councilman said while turning to new business.

A delegation from the Brooke Pack had been waiting outside while they filed in looking nervous. Their head diplomat stepped forward while bowing respectfully.

"Alpha Zeke, the Brooke Pack wishes to express our deepest apologies for Theseus's actions," he

said formally. "We had no knowledge of his involvement in this kidnapping and do not condone his crimes."

"Yet he used pack resources to house the victim and provide support to the kidnappers," I said while keeping my voice level. "That reflects poorly on your pack's oversight."

"We take full responsibility for our Alpha's failures," the

diplomat said. "Which is why we come bearing an offer. Theseus has been stripped of his position and banished from our pack. We are prepared to turn him

over to you for prosecution."

"In exchange for?" I asked while knowing they wanted something.

"Peace between our packs," the diplomat said. "We offer reparations to be paid to Cecelia Blackwood and her son for their trauma. We also propose a formal treaty to prevent future conflicts between our territories."

I looked at Cecelia while she nodded slightly. Through our bond I felt her agreement that this was the best solution.

"How much in reparations?" I

asked.

"Five million dollars," the diplomat said. "To be paid immediately to Cecelia and Golden for their medical expenses and suffering."

"And the treaty terms?" I pressed.

"Free trade between our territories, joint border patrols, and severe penalties for any pack member who commits crimes against the other pack," the diplomat listed. "We want peace Alpha Zeke. What Theseus did was unconscionable while we hope to make amends."

I pretended to consider while I'd

already decided to accept. War between packs was costly and bloody while this solution gave us justice without more death.

"Agreed," I said while the diplomat looked relieved. "Turn over Theseus, pay the reparations, and sign the treaty. Then we'll have peace."

"Thank you Alpha," the diplomat said while bowing again. "Theseus was captured trying to flee to neutral territory. He's being held at our border waiting for your warriors to retrieve him."

"Marcus, send a team immediately," I ordered.

"Already on their way," Marcus confirmed.

The diplomatic negotiations continued for another hour while lawyers worked out the specific treaty language. Cecelia signed where needed while accepting the reparations on

behalf of herself and Golden. The money would be put in trust for Golden's future while ensuring he'd be provided for no matter what happened.

Finally it was done while papers

were signed and hands were shaken. The Brooke Pack delegation left promising the reparations would be transferred within forty eight hours.

"Well handled," the head councilman said to me once the room cleared. "War would have been costly for both sides."

"I'm glad it didn't come to that," I admitted. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my family."

Back at the hospital, I found Cecelia and Golden both napping while she'd climbed into the hospital bed

beside our son. They looked peaceful together while I just stood in the doorway watching them for a minute.