ZEKE'S POV
"This was planned by multiple people," I said. "At least two, maybe more. They had the resources to acquire expensive vehicles, remove the plates, and surveil a target."
"This is starting to look less like a kidnapping and more like an operation," Marcus said grimly.
Cecelia's hand found mine under the table, her fingers cold. I squeezed gently, offering what comfort I could. She didn't pull away.
We worked through lunch, existing on coffee and the sandwiches someone brought in. Finn returned with the registration list and personnel files. We started cross referencing, looking for overlap.
"Got something," Sarah said around three in the afternoon. "Commander Brock from your military division. He owns a Range Rover matching this model. And look at his height and build in his personnel file."
She pulled up a photo. Brock was tall, broad shouldered, with the kind of controlled movement that came from decades of military training.
He matched the figure from the gas station footage almost perfectly.
"Where was he the day Golden disappeared?" I asked, my voice dangerously quiet.
Finn pulled up duty rosters. "On leave. Personal time. He logged it two weeks in advance."
"Convenient," Cecelia said coldly.
"Pull his phone records, financial statements, everything," I ordered. "And I want him brought in for questioning
immediately."
"He's not going to come willingly if
he's guilty," Marcus warned.
"I don't care if he comes willingly or in chains. Find him."
Teams dispersed to execute the order. Cecelia and I
remained at the table, the laptop forgotten between us. Our hands were still linked, though neither of us had consciously decided to keep holding on.
"We're getting close," she said quietly.
"Yes."
"I'm scared." The admission
seemed torn from her. "What if we find whoever did this but it's too late? What if Golden is already-"
"Don't." I turned to face her fully, using my free hand to tilt her chin up so she had to meet my eyes. "Don't go there. We have to believe he's alive. We have to keep fighting."
"I'm trying. But the not knowing is killing me."
The bond between us pulsed with her anguish. Without thinking, I pulled her closer, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. She stiffened for a moment, then collapsed
against my chest, her fingers clutching my shirt.
We stayed like that for a long time. The security office disappeared. The investigation faded. There was only us.
Eventually Marcus cleared his throat from the doorway. We
sprang apart, both pretending we hadn't just been wrapped around each other.
"We found Brock," Marcus said. "He's gone. Apartment cleared out, bank accounts emptied yesterday. He ran."
Cecelia's face went pale. I felt rage building in my chest. Brock had my son. He'd been planning this for weeks while I trusted him, while he stood in my military and took my orders
and pretended loyalty.
"Find him," I said, my voice dropping into the Alpha command that made even Marcus flinch. "I don't care what it
takes. Find him and bring him to me."
"There's more," Marcus said reluctantly. "We pulled his
phone records. He made several calls to a number registered to someone in the Brooke Pack."
My blood ran cold. The Brooke Pack bordered my territory to the east. We'd had tensions with them for years, disputes over hunting grounds and trade routes. But I'd never thought
they'd escalate to this.
"Who?" Cecelia demanded.
"We're still working on confirming the identity. But if the Brooke Pack is involved, this is bigger than one rogue soldier. This could be an act of war."
I stood abruptly, my wolf snarling under my skin. "Double the guard on all borders. I want patrols increased and every entry point monitored. No one from the Brooke Pack gets into my territory without my knowledge."
"Zeke," Cecelia said urgently. "If this is political, if another pack is involved, they took Golden to use as leverage. Which means-"
"Which means he's valuable to them alive," I finished. "At least for now. They'll want to negotiate, to use him to force concessions."
"Or to start a war," Marcus added quietly.
"Let them try." My voice came out as a growl. "Whoever did this, whatever pack is behind it, they just signed their death warrant."
Cecelia stood and faced me, her expression fierce despite the fear I could feel through our bond. "I'm going with you. When you find them, when you go to get Golden back, I'm coming with you."
"Absolutely not. If this is a trap-"
"I don't care if it's a trap. He's my son and I'm not staying behind."
We stared at each other, neither willing to back down. I saw her strength, her determination, the mother's love that would drive her into any danger for her child. I saw something else too, something I'd seen years ago before I'd been too blind and stupid to appreciate it.
I saw my mate.
"Fine," I said. "But you stay close to me at all times. And I'm assigning you a personal guard starting immediately."
"I don't need-"
"This isn't up for debate, Cecelia. Whoever took Golden knew exactly who he was. They knew about you,
about me, about our history. Which means they might come for you next." I stepped closer, close enough to smell the lavender in her hair. "I can't protect you every moment of the day. So you're getting a guard whether you like it or not."
"You mean you can't control me every moment of the day,"
she shot back.
"I mean I can't lose you too." The words came out rougher than I intended, weighted with too much emotion. "Golden needs his mother. And I need you to stay alive long
enough for me to fix what I broke between us."
Her breath caught. For a moment we just stood there, inches apart, the bond screaming at us to close the distance. I could feel her heart racing, could smell the mix of fear and something else, something that made my wolf howl with want.
Marcus cleared his throat again. "I'll just go coordinate the border patrols then."
He left quickly. Cecelia and I remained frozen, caught in the pull of something neither of us was
ready to name.
"Who do you want to assign?" she asked finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Drew. He's one of my best. Former special forces, completely loyal, and most importantly, he doesn't take orders from anyone but me."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
She nodded. "You're right. If whoever did this comes for me, I need to be able to defend myself or at least have someone who can."
She paused. "But I meant what I said, Zeke. When we find Golden, I'm going to be there."
"I know." I reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger against her cheek. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you."
The protectiveness in my voice was undeniable. I heard it, she heard it, and from the way her eyes darkened, she understood exactly what it meant.
