Chapter 29
Zeke's POV
"What's your favorite meal?" I asked while guiding Cecelia away from the vehicle and back toward the pack house.
She looked at me like I'd spoken in a foreign language while her brow furrowed in confusion. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Just answer the question." I kept my hand on the small of her back while steering her through the entrance and down the hallway toward the private wing where my quarters were located. "Your favorite meal, what is it?"
I saw the exhausted and confused look on her face.
"Marcus needs three hours to set up proper surveillance and you need to eat something since you haven't had a real meal since you arrived. If you don't take care of yourself you won't be any good to Golden when we do find him." I pushed open the door to my private quarters and ushered her inside before she could protest. "So I'm asking again, what's your favorite meal?"
She stood in the middle of my living room looking lost. Her eyes darted around taking in the space that used to be hers too before everything fell apart. "Mushroom risotto," she finally said so quietly, I almost didn't hear her. "With garlic bread and that specific way you used to make the sauce with white wine and parmesan."
Something warm bloomed in my chest because she remembered that I used to cook for her during the early days of our marriage. "Sit down," I told her while pointing to the couch. "I'll make it for you."
"You don't have to do that." She twisted her hands nervously. "I'm not even hungry."
"Your body needs fuel whether you feel hungry or not because stress suppresses appetite and depletes energy faster than normal activity." I moved toward the kitchen area while pulling out my phone to check what ingredients I had available. "Besides, cooking will give me something to do with my hands for the next three hours instead of pacing to and fro."
Cecelia watched me for a moment longer before finally sinking onto the couch. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them while staring at nothing in particular.
I moved through the kitchen gathering what I needed while keeping one eye on her through the open archway that connected the spaces. The bond between us pulsed with her exhaustion and fear while I started chopping mushrooms with more force than necessary.
"When did you learn to cook?" she asked suddenly while her voice drifted from the living room. "You could barely boil water when we first got married."
"I had a lot of time on my hands after you left," I said while sweeping the chopped mushrooms into a bowl. "Cooking gave me something to focus on that wasn't thinking about how badly I'd messed everything up."
She didn't respond to that but I felt something shift through the bond, a flicker of surprise mixed with something I couldn't quite identify. I started the risotto base with butter and onions while the familiar motions helped settle some of the restless energy thrumming through my system.
The kitchen filled with the smell of cooking onions and garlic while I added the rice and let it toast before starting to add the stock one ladle at a time. This had always been the meditative part, the constant stirring and gradual addition of liquid that required just enough attention to quiet an overactive mind.
"I used to dream about this," Cecelia said after several minutes of silence. "Not the risotto specifically but just having you cook for me again like you did during those first few months before everything went wrong."
My hand stilled on the spoon while her words hit harder than they should have. "I'm sorry," I said without turning around because if I looked at her right now I might say something we weren't ready for yet. "I'm sorry I stopped doing the small things that made you ."
"You were fucking Layla," she said flatly though I could hear the old hurt beneath the words.
I added another ladle of stock while my throat went tight because she wasn't wrong about any of it. "I was an idiot. " I said while focusing on stirring so I didn't have to see her face. "...but what we have..."
"Past tense," Cecelia said quietly. "What we had, not what we have."
"Is it past tense?" I finally turned to look at her while the risotto bubbled gently behind me. "Because from where I'm standing it feels very present tense with how the bond keeps pulling us together. We try to pretend that it does not exist but it's there Cecelia."
She uncurled from her position on the couch and stood up while moving toward the kitchen with an expression I couldn't read. "The bond might be there but that doesn't erase three years of pain or change the fact that you chose someone else over me even after we were married."
"I know that." I turned back to the risotto and added the mushrooms . "I know I can't undo what I did or take back the words I said when I ended things but I need you to understand that letting you go was the biggest mistake I ever made."
"You keep saying that but what does it actually mean?" She leaned against the counter beside the stove while close enough that I could feel her body heat. "Are you saying you want to try again or are you just feeling guilty because of Golden?"
The question hung between us while I added wine to the risotto and watched it sizzle. "I'm saying I never stopped loving you even when I was too stupid to admit it to myself," I said. "I'm saying these past three years without you have been the worst of my life and having you back here even under these circumstances has made me realize how empty everything was before."
"That's not fair." Her voice shook while she wrapped her arms around herself. "You can't say things like that when I'm barely holding myself together worrying about our son."
"I know the timing is terrible but I can't keep pretending I don't feel what I feel." I added the final ladle of stock while the risotto reached that perfect creamy consistency. "You asked what it means and I'm trying to be honest instead of hiding behind duty or obligation or any of the other excuses I used three years ago."
She was quiet while I stirred in the parmesan and butter to finish the dish before turning off the heat. The silence stretched between us heavy with everything unsaid while I plated the risotto and pulled the garlic bread from where it had been warming in the oven.
"Come eat," I said while carrying the plates to the small dining table near the window.
Cecelia followed slowly while sitting down across from me with her eyes fixed on the food like she couldn't quite believe I'd actually made it. She picked up her fork and took a small bite while her eyes closed briefly.
"It tastes exactly like I remembered," she said after swallowing. "How did you manage that?"
"I might have made it a few dozen times over the past three years trying to get it right." I took a bite of my own food while watching her face for reactions. "It was the only way I could feel close to you when everything else reminded me you were gone."
She set down her fork while staring at me with an expression of disbelief. "Why are you telling me all this now?"
"I almost lost you permanently. I thought you were dead. It made me realize I can't waste any more time being too proud or too scared to admit how I feel." I reached across the table and covered her hand with mine while the bond flared hot between us. "I love you Cecelia and I never stopped loving you."
Chapter 30
Layla's POV
I stood outside Zeke's office three years ago, pounding on the door until my knuckles turned red while tears streamed down my face in what I hoped looked like genuine grief. "Zeke, please," I called through the wood while making my voice shake just right. "We need to grieve together, please let me in."
No response came from inside, though I could hear him moving around in there, which meant he was alive at least. Part of me had worried he might actually hurt himself over Cecelia's death, which would ruin everything I'd worked so hard to accomplish.
"Alpha, please," I tried again while pressing my forehead against the door. "I need you right now, we both loved her, and we need each other to get through this."
Still nothing, while I felt my patience wearing thin because playing the concerned friend was exhausting when what I really wanted to do was celebrate. Cecelia was finally gone, which meant Zeke was free, and I could have what should have been mine from the beginning.
I heard footsteps approaching from down the hallway, so I made sure to look appropriately devastated when Marcus appeared with a crowbar in his hands. "He won't answer?" Marcus asked while his face showed real concern, unlike my fake version.
"He hasn't said a word in two days," I said while wiping at my tears. "I'm worried about him, Marcus. What if he does something we can't fix?"
Marcus moved past me to examine the door while testing the lock. "Step back," he ordered before wedging the crowbar into the frame. The wood splintered with a loud crack while the door swung open to reveal Zeke sitting behind his desk, looking like he hadn't slept or eaten since hearing the news.
I started to move forward, but Zeke's voice stopped me cold. "Get out, Layla."
"What?" I froze in the doorway while genuine shock replaced my fake tears. "Zeke, I just want to help you through this."
"I said get out." His voice came out flat and dead while he stared at his desk instead of looking at me. "I can't stand to look at you right now, knowing that choosing you over her drove Cecelia away in the first place."
The words hit me like a physical blow while Marcus shifted uncomfortably beside the broken door. "Alpha, maybe you should reconsider because Layla cares about you, and shutting people out won't help anyone."
"I don't care what will help," Zeke said while finally looking up at us with eyes that looked completely empty. "I want to be alone, and I want Layla to leave because seeing her face reminds me of every mistake I made that led to Cecelia being dead."
I opened my mouth to argue, but Marcus grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the hallway. "Give him space," he said quietly while guiding me away from the office. "He's not thinking clearly right now, and pushing him will only make things worse."
I let Marcus lead me down the hall while my mind raced because this wasn't how things were supposed to go. Zeke was supposed to turn to me for comfort while we grieved together, and that grief would eventually turn into something else that would finally make us official mates like we should have been all along.
Instead, he'd looked at me like I was the cause of all his problems, which technically I was, but he wasn't supposed to realize that part.
I went back to my quarters while slamming the door hard enough to make the frame shake. My reflection in the mirror showed tear-streaked makeup and red eyes that came from actual frustration instead of fake sadness. Three years of waiting for Cecelia to be gone, and now that she finally was, Zeke wanted nothing to do with me.
My hand moved to my stomach, which had just started showing the smallest bump beneath my loose shirt. The pregnancy test I'd taken two weeks ago had shown positive, which should have been perfect timing except for one major problem that made my blood run cold every time I thought about it.
The baby wasn't Zeke's.
I sank onto my bed while panic clawed at my throat because I'd been so careful about timing everything perfectly. The night I'd slept with Zeke had been planned down to the minute while I'd made sure we were both drunk enough that he wouldn't question it later. But that had been three months ago, and I'd gotten my period two weeks after, which meant the pregnancy couldn't be from him.
The real father was Derek, one of the guards who worked night shifts and had caught me in a weak moment four weeks ago when I'd been frustrated about Zeke still refusing to see me as more than a friend. We'd hooked up once in a storage room, and I'd thought nothing of it because I was careful about protection, except apparently not careful enough.
Derek had fled the territory two days after I'd told him about the pregnancy while taking nothing but a backpack and whatever cash he had saved. Smart man, while I wished I could run away from this mess too, but I was stuck here trying to figure out how to convince everyone, including Zeke, that this baby was his.
A sharp pain stabbed through my lower abdomen while I doubled over on the bed, gasping. Something felt wrong while warmth spread between my legs that shouldn't be there. I managed to stumble to the bathroom before looking down to see blood soaking through my pants.
"No, no, no," I whispered while more pain ripped through me. The baby couldn't survive if I was bleeding this much, which meant all my careful planning had been for nothing.
I don't know how long I sat on the bathroom floor bleeding while the reality of what was happening slowly sank in. The baby was gone, which solved my paternity problem but created a whole new issue because I'd already started telling people I was pregnant, and now I'd have to explain why I wasn't anymore.
The pack doctor found me there an hour later after I'd finally called for help. She took one look at the situation and called for assistance while her face stayed carefully neutral. "How far along were you?" she asked while helping me onto a stretcher.
"About six weeks," I lied while knowing it was actually closer to four. "Is the baby okay?"
Her expression told me everything I needed to know before she even spoke. "I'm sorry, Layla, but you've had a complete miscarriage, and there's nothing we can do to save the pregnancy at this stage."
I let tears fall while these ones were actually real because even though the baby had been a problem, it had also been my ticket to having Zeke permanently. Now that ticket was gone, and I was back to square one with an Alpha who couldn't even stand to look at me.
Chapter 31
Layla's POV
The pack doctor sedated me while I drifted in and out of consciousness for the next day. When I finally woke up properly, the doctor was there with a clipboard checking my vitals. "How are you feeling?" she asked while her tone stayed professional.
"Empty," I said honestly while one hand moved to my now flat stomach. "Did anyone tell Zeke?"
"He knows you're in the medical wing, but he hasn't come to visit yet," she said carefully while avoiding my eyes. "He's still processing Cecelia's death and probably doesn't have the emotional capacity to deal with anything else right now."
Translation: he didn't care enough about me or the baby to even check if I was okay. The knowledge burned worse than the physical pain while I turned my face toward the wall so the doctor wouldn't see how much that hurt.
"The father," the doctor said quietly while moving closer to my bed. "Derek, I assume, based on the timeline and some things the other guards mentioned about you two."
My blood went cold while I turned back to look at her. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Layla, I'm not stupid, and I'm not blind," she said while setting down her clipboard. "The timeline doesn't match up with when you could have conceived with Zeke, and Derek disappeared right after you found out you were pregnant, which tells me everything I need to know."
"You can't tell anyone," I said while panic made my voice sharp. "If Zeke finds out the baby wasn't his, it will ruin everything."
"The baby is gone, so there's nothing to tell," she pointed out while her expression stayed neutral. "But if you get pregnant again, I strongly suggest you be honest about paternity because lying about something like that never ends well."
She left while I stared at the ceiling trying to figure out my next move. The doctor was right that the miscarriage had eliminated my immediate problem, but it also meant I'd lost my best chance at securing my place with Zeke permanently.
One year later, I found myself in almost the exact same situation, except this time I was smarter about it. The father was a pack member named Robert, who I'd been seeing casually for a few months while making sure Zeke never found out. When the pregnancy test came back positive, I'd already worked out my entire story.
I would tell everyone the baby came early, even though he was actually right on time, which would make the timeline work for Zeke being the father. Robert had already agreed to keep quiet in exchange for a generous payment and a transfer to a territory three states away where no one would ask questions.
Cameron was born healthy and screaming while I held him and felt actual love for the first time in years. He had dark hair like me and Zeke, which made the lie easier, while his eyes were blue like Robert's, but babies' eyes changed color all the time, so no one questioned it.
"He's beautiful," the pack doctor said while the same woman who'd delivered my miscarriage news helped clean up the baby. Her eyes met mine over Cameron's head with a look that said she knew exactly what I was doing but wouldn't say anything.
"Thank you," I said while holding my son closer. "Does Zeke know?"
"He's waiting outside," she confirmed while wrapping Cameron in a soft blanket. "He wanted to be here for the birth, but you said you preferred privacy."
Which was true because I couldn't risk Zeke noticing that Cameron came out looking way too developed for a supposedly premature baby. "Send him in now," I said while arranging myself to look appropriately exhausted.
Zeke entered slowly while his face showed concern but not the joy I'd hoped to see. He looked at Cameron with interest but not the overwhelming love a father should feel for his newborn son, which told me he suspected something even if he couldn't prove it.
"He's healthy?" Zeke asked while staying near the door instead of coming closer.
"Perfectly healthy, despite coming early," I said while the lie tasted bitter. "Don't you want to hold him?"
Zeke moved forward reluctantly while taking Cameron from my arms with the careful grip of someone who had no idea what to do with babies. He studied Cameron's face for a long moment while I held my breath, waiting for him to say something about how the baby didn't look premature, or how the features didn't match, or anything that would expose my lie.
"He's beautiful," Zeke finally said while handing Cameron back to me quickly. "I'm glad you're both okay, but I should let you rest."
He left before I could respond while the door closed behind him with a soft click. I looked down at Cameron, who was already starting to fuss while tears burned in my eyes because this wasn't how it was supposed to be either.
Three years later, in present day, I sat in my quarters reviewing medical files I'd stolen from the pack doctor's office. The records from Cameron's birth showed his actual gestational age, which proved he hadn't been premature at all. If anyone compared these records with the timeline of when I'd supposedly gotten pregnant with Zeke, it would be obvious the baby couldn't be his.
I pulled out my lighter while holding the papers over my trash can. The flame caught quickly while I watched years of evidence turn to ash. The pack doctor who delivered Cameron had retired six months ago, which was convenient timing, while I'd already paid her generously to forget anything suspicious about that birth.
My phone buzzed with a text from Marcus saying Zeke wanted everyone at the pack house for dinner tonight, including Cameron. I stared at the message while dread settled in my stomach because family dinners always made me nervous with how closely Zeke watched Cameron, looking for similarities that didn't exist.
I dressed carefully that evening while making sure Cameron looked presentable in clean clothes with his hair combed neatly. He bounced excitedly beside me on the walk to the main dining room because he loved these dinners even though they made me want to throw up from stress.
Zeke was already there when we arrived, along with Marcus and several other high-ranking pack members. Cecelia sat beside Zeke, which made my jaw clench because she was supposed to be dead, but instead she was here taking my place like she'd never left.
"Layla, Cameron, glad you could make it," Zeke said while gesturing to empty seats across from him. His tone was polite but cold, while there was none of the warmth he used to have when looking at me years ago.
We sat down while Cameron immediately started chattering about his day at school. I tried to follow the conversation while keeping one eye on Zeke's face, watching for any signs that he suspected the truth about Cameron's paternity.
"And then my special uncle brought me candy," Cameron said excitedly while reaching for his juice. "He always brings the best treats when he visits."
The entire table went silent while Zeke's expression shifted from polite interest to sharp focus. "What uncle?" he asked while his voice dropped into that Alpha tone that demanded answers.
My heart stopped while my hand froze halfway to my water glass. Cameron looked confused by the sudden attention while glancing between Zeke and me like he didn't understand what he'd said wrong.
"Cameron, sweetie, why don't you tell everyone about your art project," I said quickly while trying to redirect the conversation away from dangerous territory.
"No, I want to hear about this uncle," Zeke said while his eyes never left Cameron's face. "What's his name, buddy?"
Cameron squirmed in his seat.
Chapter 32
LAYLA'S POV
Cameron squirmed in his seat while looking to me for guidance, but I couldn't help him without making things worse. "Uncle Robert," he finally said, his voice getting quieter. "He said it's a secret though, and I'm not supposed to tell."
The name hit me like a freight train, and I felt all the blood drain from my face. Robert was supposed to be three states away keeping his mouth shut, but apparently he'd been visiting my son behind my back, which meant everything was about to fall apart.
Zeke's eyes moved from Cameron to me while his expression promised consequences I couldn't even imagine. "Layla," he said quietly while everyone else at the table pretended to be very interested in their food. "Who is Robert?"
My mouth opened, but no sound came out because what could I possibly say that wouldn't expose everything? Robert was Cameron's biological father, who I'd paid to disappear, but instead he'd been sneaking around seeing our son, which meant he'd broken our agreement and now I was trapped.
"Just a friend," I managed to say, my voice coming out too high and too fast. "An old pack member who moved away but sometimes visits when he's in the area."
"And this old pack member brings my son candy behind my back?" Zeke's tone stayed calm, but I could see the Alpha rising in his eyes. "What else does Uncle Robert do when he visits?"
Cameron looked between us while confusion spread across his little face because he didn't understand why everyone suddenly seemed angry. "He just talks to me and asks about school and stuff," Cameron said while shrinking down in his chair. "Did I do something bad?"
"No, buddy, you didn't do anything bad," Zeke said, his voice gentling for Cameron even though his eyes stayed hard when they flicked back to me. "But I need to talk to your mom alone for a minute, so why don't you go play in the other room with Marcus."
Marcus stood immediately and held out his hand to Cameron. "Come on, little man, let's go see if we can find those new toys your dad ordered." They left quickly while Marcus threw me a look that said I was in serious trouble.
The moment the door closed behind them, Zeke's entire demeanor changed from patient father to furious Alpha. "You have exactly ten seconds to tell me who Robert really is before I have my trackers hunt him down and drag him here myself."
I forced myself to take a breath while smoothing down my dress to buy time to think. "He's exactly who I said he is," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "Robert Davies. He worked in the eastern patrol unit about four years ago before transferring to another territory for better opportunities."
"Robert Davies," Zeke repeated while pulling out his phone. "Marcus, pull up the records for anyone named Robert Davies who worked eastern patrol four years ago." He kept his eyes on me while waiting for the response.
My heart hammered because there actually had been a Robert Davies in eastern patrol, which was why I'd chosen that name when setting up the fake identity. The real Robert Davies had died in a training accident two years ago, which made him perfect for my purposes since dead men couldn't contradict my story.
"Found him," Marcus said from the other room where he must have stepped away to search. "Robert Davies, transferred out three and a half years ago to the Clearwater Pack, died in a training accident eighteen months later."
Zeke's eyes narrowed while he processed this information. "So you're telling me a dead man has been visiting Cameron and bringing him candy?"
"No, of course not," I said quickly while acting confused. "That can't be the same Robert because the man I know is very much alive. Maybe there were two pack members with that name, or maybe I'm remembering his last name wrong since we only dated briefly."
"Convenient that you can't remember his full name," Cecelia said from her seat, her tone dripping with suspicion. "Almost like you're making this up as you go."
"I'm not making anything up," I snapped while turning to face her. "You've been gone for three years, so you don't get to sit there and judge my life or who I choose to have around my son."
"Our son," Zeke corrected, his voice going dangerously quiet. "Cameron is my son, which means I absolutely get to judge who you're allowing around him, especially when it's someone you can't even properly identify."
I bit back the automatic response that Cameron wasn't actually his son because that would destroy everything. "You're right, I'm sorry," I said while forcing my voice to sound apologetic. "I should have told you Robert was visiting, but honestly it's been so innocent that I didn't think it mattered. He just stops by maybe once every few months when he's passing through for work."
"What kind of work?" Zeke demanded.
"Sales, I think? Or maybe logistics?" I waved my hand vaguely. "We don't really talk about his job. He mostly just plays with Cameron for an hour, then leaves."
"You let a man whose job you don't even know spend unsupervised time with my three-year-old son?" The disbelief in Zeke's voice was clear. "What exactly were you thinking, Layla?"
"I was thinking that Cameron doesn't have many positive male role models in his life since you're always so busy with pack business," I shot back while letting some real frustration bleed into my tone. "Robert is kind to him, and Cameron lights up when he visits, so I didn't see the harm in letting them spend time together."
Zeke's jaw clenched while I could see him fighting to keep his temper under control. "That ends now," he said flatly. "No more visits from Robert or anyone else unless I've personally vetted them and approved the contact. Do you understand?"
"You can't just dictate who I allow around my son," I protested while knowing I was on thin ice but needing to push back enough that my surrender would seem reluctant instead of suspicious.
"Yes, I can, because he's my son too and his safety is my responsibility." Zeke moved around the table toward me. "If this Robert contacts you again, I want to know immediately so I can meet him myself and verify he is who you say he is."
"Fine," I agreed, crossing my arms. "But you're overreacting. Robert is harmless."
"Then he won't mind coming here and introducing himself properly," Zeke countered. "In fact, I want his full name, current location, and contact information by tomorrow morning, or I'm having my trackers find him the hard way."
Panic clawed at my throat while I scrambled for a response. "I don't have his contact information anymore," I said, making it sound annoyed. "He just shows up sometimes. I never know when he's coming."
"How convenient," Cecelia muttered while Zeke's expression showed he didn't believe me either.
"It's the truth," I insisted while looking between them. "Robert values his privacy and didn't want to give out his number. He said he'd just stop by when he was in the area, and that was fine with me."
"So a man with no phone number and a job you can't identify just randomly appears at your house to see a child who isn't his, and you saw nothing wrong with this arrangement?" Zeke's tone made it clear how ridiculous he found my story.
"When you say it like that it sounds bad, but it wasn't like that at all," I said while trying to inject sincerity into my voice. "Robert is a good person who cares about Cameron. There's nothing sinister going on."
"Then prove it," Zeke challenged. "Next time he visits, you call me immediately, and we'll all have a nice chat about his intentions."
"I will," I lied while knowing Robert would never risk showing his face here now that Zeke was looking for him. "But I think you're going to feel silly when you meet him and realize he's exactly what I said he was."
Chapter 33
LAYLA'S POV
Zeke studied my face for a long moment while I forced myself to hold his gaze without flinching. Finally he stepped back while running a hand through his hair. "This conversation isn't over," he said while pulling out his phone again. "Marcus, I want a full background check on every Robert who's worked for any neighboring pack in the last five years. Also, pull security footage from Layla's residence for the past six months."
"You're going to spy on me now?" I demanded while actual anger flared because security footage would show Robert's visits. "That's a complete invasion of privacy."
"You lost your right to privacy when you started letting strangers around my son," Zeke said coldly. "Either you're telling the truth and the footage will prove it, or you're lying and we're going to have a much bigger problem."
My mind raced while trying to remember if Robert's face would be clear on any of the cameras. He usually wore a baseball cap and kept his head down, which might work in my favor if the footage was grainy enough. "Fine, check the footage," I said while lifting my chin. "You won't find anything suspicious."
"We'll see about that," Zeke replied while turning to address the other pack members who'd been sitting silently through this whole exchange. "Dinner is over. Everyone can leave except Layla."
The room cleared quickly while Cecelia hesitated before standing. "Do you want me to stay?" she asked Zeke while her hand touched his arm.
"No, go check on Cameron and make sure he's okay," Zeke said, his voice softening slightly when speaking to her. "I'll handle this."
Cecelia left while throwing me a look that promised this wasn't over. The door closed behind her, leaving me alone with Zeke, who looked angrier than I'd seen him in years.
"I want the truth, Layla," he said while moving closer. "Who is Robert really, and why is he interested in Cameron?"
"I already told you the truth," I said while standing my ground. "Robert is an old friend who cares about Cameron. That's all there is to it."
"An old friend who you can't name properly or contact or explain beyond vague details about sales jobs?" Zeke's voice rose slightly. "Do you hear how insane that sounds?"
"Maybe it sounds insane because you're looking for problems where there aren't any," I countered, my voice also rising. "Not everything is a conspiracy, Zeke. Sometimes people are just kind without ulterior motives."
"People don't risk coming back to pack territory where they could be questioned or detained just to give candy to someone else's kid," Zeke said, his Alpha authority bleeding into his tone. "There's more to this story, and I will find out what it is even if you won't tell me."
"Then waste your time investigating nothing," I said while turning toward the door. "I have nothing to hide, and eventually you'll realize that."
"Layla." Zeke's command froze me in place before I could reach the door. "If I find out you've been lying about this or putting Cameron in any kind of danger, the consequences will be severe. Do you understand?"
"I understand perfectly," I said while forcing myself not to show how terrified I actually was. "But you won't find anything because there's nothing to find."
I left before he could stop me again, my legs shaking so badly I could barely walk straight. Cameron was in the playroom with Marcus, building something with blocks, and he looked up when I entered.
"Is Dad mad at me?" Cameron asked, his little face showing worry.
"No, baby, Dad's not mad at you at all," I said while pulling him into a hug. "He just wants to make sure you're safe."
"Is Uncle Robert bad?" Cameron's voice was muffled against my shoulder.
"No, sweetheart, Uncle Robert isn't bad," I assured him while my mind raced with how to handle this. "But maybe he shouldn't visit anymore because it makes Dad worried."
"Okay," Cameron said while going back to his blocks like the conversation had already been forgotten.
I watched him play while my thoughts spiraled because Zeke had security footage and resources and determination to find the truth. Robert needed to disappear permanently before anyone connected him to Cameron's birth, which meant I had to contact him tonight and make sure he understood how serious this had become.
My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number that made my blood run cold. "We need to talk about Zeke's questions. Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight."
Robert had somehow heard about dinner already, which meant he had eyes on the pack house or someone was feeding him information. Either way, this was spiraling out of control faster than I could manage while everything I'd worked so hard to build threatened to collapse around me.
I deleted the text while making sure Cameron was settled with Marcus before heading back to my quarters. The medical files were already destroyed, but there might be other evidence I'd overlooked, and Zeke's investigation would be thorough and relentless.
My reflection in the mirror showed a woman who looked calm and collected, but inside I was screaming because one slip-up would expose everything. Cameron wasn't Zeke's son—Robert was his biological father—and if that truth came out, I would lose everything, including possibly my life if Zeke decided the deception warranted that level of punishment.
I had to fix this before the investigation found something I couldn't explain away while keeping Robert quiet and Cameron innocent of the whole mess. The warehouse meeting at midnight would give me a chance to make sure Robert understood the stakes while also figuring out if he'd left any evidence behind that could connect him to Cameron.
My phone buzzed again with another message from Zeke. "Security footage is being pulled now. Expect questions tomorrow."
Tomorrow felt too soon, and I didn't have enough time to prepare for what they might find. The footage would show Robert's visits, but hopefully not clearly enough to identify him, which might buy me more time to craft a better story.
I sat on my bed staring at the ceiling, trying to calculate my next moves, because one wrong step would destroy everything I'd built over the past three years. Robert had to disappear permanently, the footage had to be too grainy to help, and I had to convince Zeke that his paranoia was creating problems where none existed.
But most importantly, I had to make sure no one ever discovered that Cameron wasn't Zeke's biological son, because that truth would be the end of everything.
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