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."
