HIS to CLAIM ALPHA ZEKE

CECELIAS POV The list sat between us on Zeke's desk like an accusation. Seven names. That was all I could come up with. Seven people in Seacreek who knew Golden existed and that Zeke was his father. "That's it?" Zeke asked, scanning the paper. "Seacreek is a small pack. I kept to myself mostly." I pointed at the names. "Fatima and her three children, though they're too young to really understand. My neighbor Elena who watched Golden sometimes when I had to work late. Marcus at the market where I worked. And Sarah, Golden's preschool teacher." Zeke made notes next to each name. "What about medical records? Did you take Golden to a healer?" "The pack healer, yes. But I never mentioned who his father was. I just said he wasn't in the picture." "The healer would have seen his eyes." Zeke tapped his pen against the desk. "Those eyes are distinctive. Anyone who's seen me would make the connection." I hadn't thought of that. "Doctor Chen is a good man. He wouldn't gossip about his patients." "People talk, Cecelia. Even good people." Zeke added the healer's name to the list. "What about Fatima's husband? Other family members?" "Fatima's a widow. Her husband died in a fishing accident before I arrived." I pulled the list closer, studying the names like they might suddenly reveal themselves as traitors. "Her children are six, eight, and nine. They knew Golden's father wasn't around but I don't think they understood the significance." "Kids repeat things they overhear." Zeke stood, moving to the window. Morning light cut across his face at sharp angles. "Their friends, their teachers, other parents at school. Information spreads." The thought made my chest tight. I'd been so careful. I'd never spoken Zeke's name in Seacreek, never mentioned the Brooke Pack, never told anyone where I came from But Golden's eyes had been a billboard announcement to anyone who looked close enough. "I'll have investigators interview everyone on this list," Zeke said. "Quietly. We don't want to spook whoever might be involved." "They're not involved." The words came out more defensive than I intended. "These people are my friends. They helped me when I had nothing." "One of them talked to the wrong person." His voice was gentle but firm. "Whether they meant to or not, someone gave information that led to Golden being taken." Before I could respond, a knock interrupted us. One of Zeke's guards entered, looking uncomfortable. "Alpha, there's a woman here from Seacreek Pack. She says she's a friend of Miss Mayers and insists on seeing her. We've detained her at the gate but she's quite persistent." My heart jumped. "Fatima. That has to be Fatima." Zeke nodded to the guard. "Bring her to the main parlor. We'll meet her there." The main parlor was one of the formal receiving rooms, all dark wood and heavy furniture that screamed old money and Alpha authority. I'd always hated this room during my brief time as Luna. It felt like a stage set, designed to intimidate rather than welcome. Fatima rushed in the moment the doors opened, her arms full of bags and her face creased with worry. She took one look at me and dropped everything, pulling me into a fierce hug. "Thank the goddess you're alright," she breathed against my hair. "I've been worried sick. Your phone kept going to voicemail and I didn't know if something had happened." I hugged her back, feeling tears prick my eyes. This woman had saved my life, had taken me in when I had nothing, had loved Golden like he was her own grandson. Whatever the investigation revealed, I knew in my bones Fatima would never hurt us. "I'm fine," I said, pulling back. "Just exhausted. Everything's been so chaotic." Fatima's eyes moved past me to where Zeke stood watching us. Her expression shifted, becoming more guarded. "You must be Alpha Zeke." "Mrs. Fatima." Zeke inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you for coming. And for everything you've done for Cecelia and Golden." "I didn't do anything special." Fatima bent to gather the bags she'd dropped. "Just what any decent person would do when they find someone in need." She handed the bags to me. "I brought some of Golden's things. His favorite blanket, some clothes, toys. I thought they might help with the search." My throat closed up as I looked through the bags. Golden's stuffed whale that he'd had since he was a baby. The blue blanket he couldn't sleep without. A stack of his drawings from preschool. Each item was a punch to the chest, a reminder of my son's absence. "Thank you," I managed. "This is perfect." Zeke took one of the bags from me, pulling out Golden's blanket and holding it carefully. "This will help the trackers. Fresh scent markers are invaluable." "Have you found anything?" Fatima asked. "Any leads?" "Some." Zeke gestured to the seating area. "Please, sit. We have some questions for you." Fatima's eyes narrowed slightly but she sat. I took the seat next to her, offering silent support. Zeke remained standing, his Alpha presence filling the room. "You told my investigators about a woman who came to your house asking questions," Zeke began. "Can you walk me through that conversation again? Every detail you remember." Fatima nodded slowly. "It was about a month ago, maybe a little longer. She knocked on my door in the afternoon, carrying a clipboard and wearing professional clothes. She said she was doing a census for the pack, updating records." "Did she show identification?" "She had a badge on a lanyard around her neck. It looked official enough that I didn't question it." Fatima's face tightened with guilt. "I should have been more careful." "What did she ask about?" I prompted gently. "General things at first. How many people lived in the house, their ages, occupations." Fatima met my eyes. "Then she started asking more specific questions about you and Golden. Whether you had family in the area, if Golden's father was involved in his life, where he went to school." "And you told her?" Zeke's tone wasn't accusatory but Fatima flinched anyway. "I saw no reason not to. It seemed like standard census information." She twisted her hands in her lap. "I told her you lived with me, that you worked at the market, that Golden attended the local preschool. I mentioned his father wasn't in the picture but didn't elaborate." "Did you mention his eyes?" Zeke asked. "Their unusual color?" Fatima thought for a moment. "She asked about distinguishing features for all the children. I might have mentioned that Golden had striking gold eyes. I don't remember exactly." Zeke and I exchanged glances. That would have been enough. Anyone familiar with the Brooke Pack would recognize those eyes as Alpha bloodline. "Can you describe this woman?" Zeke pulled out his phone, presumably to take notes. "Thirties, I'd guess. Dark hair pulled back in a bun. Average height and build. She had a professional air about her, spoke with confidence." Fatima paused. "There was something else. She had a small scar above her left eyebrow. Just a thin line, but noticeable once you saw it." Zeke typed rapidly on his phone. "Anything else? Accent? Unusual mannerisms?" "She had a slight accent. I couldn't place it but it wasn't local to Seacreek." Fatima looked at me apologetically. "I'm sorry I didn't think this was important before. If I'd known-" "You couldn't have known," I interrupted. "None of us could have." A staff member entered with tea service, setting it on the low table between us. The interruption gave us all a moment to breathe. I poured for Fatima and myself, my hands steadier than I expected. "Mrs. Fatima," Zeke said once the staff member had left. "I need to ask you something directly. Did you tell anyone else about Golden's father? Even in passing, even casually?" Fatima's eyes widened. "You think I'm involved in this?" "I think information leaked from somewhere." Zeke's voice was careful. "I'm trying to trace how." "I never told anyone about Golden's parentage because Cecelia never told me." Fatima's voice went hard. "She showed up on my beach half dead. When she woke up, she had no memory at first. By the time she remembered, she'd made it clear she wanted to leave her past behind. I respected that." "But people must have asked questions," Zeke pressed. "A woman shows up pregnant with no history, no pack ties. That would generate talk." "Of course people talked." Fatima set down her teacup with more force than necessary. "But I shut down gossip when I heard it. As far as Seacreek knew, Cecelia was a widow who'd lost her mate in a tragedy. No one pushed for details because we respect privacy." I watched Zeke process this, saw him weighing Fatima's words against his need to find Golden. The Alpha in him wanted to press harder, to interrogate until he was satisfied. But something held him back. "I believe you," he said finally. "But someone in Seacreek talked to that woman. Someone gave her enough information to target Golden specifically." "Then we need to find out who." Fatima looked at me. "What can I do to help?" "Tell me about the people on this list." Zeke showed her the paper. "Everyone who might have known or suspected Golden's true parentage."