HIS to CLAIM ALPHA ZEKE

LIAS

tracks?"

ns." Ryder looked apologetic. "But we did interview witnesses. Three separate pack members

g traffic footage from the main roads leading out of Seacreek,

ormation. "What about the preschool st

itated. "But there is something odd. One of the teachers mentioned

d up. "What kin

the picture." Ryder consulted his notes. "The teacher thought it was stran

e woman?" Zeke's v

. The teacher said she seemed profession

r the pack s

e with Zeke.Seacree

ol s

all. Everyone

e it was suspicious

questions." Ryder looked gr

tinue investigating. When we were alone again,

g you a de

our database and neighboring packs." He paused, list

at me. "We should get you bac

rs had passed in meetings and reports and I hadn't even noticed. Time fe

ays. Most of the palace had gone to sleep.

"For taking this seriously

ia. Of course I'm t

led for the key but Zeke's

the door frame, the lock, the space under

spent three years in Seacreek feeling safe, feeling like I could breathe.

and checked inside be

in the middle of my temporary quarters looking out of

d sharp edges. He didn't fit

he said suddenly. "What

me off guard. "Why d

He moved to the window, that same restless energy I remembered. "You vani

understand what happen

g at my bones. "What do you want me to say? Tha

. "Three months in a coma, then waking up pregnant

picked at a loose th

rsed me back to health. When I woke up with no memory,

our memory

to meet his eyes. "I remembered that you chose her over me. That you never l

w worked.

dn't come back. Why would I? You'd made it clear I was expenda

me," he s

e. You stood in your office and told me you wanted to be free

urgent. "Everything that happened, everything I said

do this now. Not when Golden is missing. Not w

d through. "When are we going to t

ybe some things are better left

o pretend the last three

rts. "I'm not the girl you married, Zeke. That Cecelia died on those cliffs. The

ace. Pain, maybe. Or regret. "Yo

rs and your connections and your mone

d him to hurt the way I'd hurt when he told me he loved Layla, when he

h those unreadable eyes. "Tell me about Golden

hat, softened the sharp edges inside me. "He's perfect. Smart and funny an

e look

h, covered in sand. Golden helping Fatima with her nets. Golden's first day of preschool, his little backpack a

tently, his expression hun

es

ice went rough. "I missed three years of my son's life becaus

something in his voice stopped me. He sounded

I said softly. "None of us can

this is over, when we find Golden and bring him hom

ay no immediately, to shut down any hope before it cou

to be held by him, to fall asleep next to him, to believ

dmitted. "I honestl