That meant his biological father was a match. That meant Dean knew. And he wouldn’t stop until he took
Nicholas from me. So I made a decision.
I found Nathan sitting on the couch when we got back to the apartment. Nicholas was asleep in the next room, exhausted from the discharge process. I sat beside him, my hands trembling. “We have to leave,” I whispered. “We
can’t stay here anymore, Nathan.”
Nathan’s jaw tightened. He had been thinking the same thing. Without a word, he pulled a plane ticket from his
jacket pocket and handed it to me. One–way. Another country. A new life.
I let out a shaky breath. “You already knew.”
He nodded. “I bought them the day Nicholas was admitted. I knew it would come to this.”
Tears burned my eyes. Nathan always knew.
I clutched the ticket, my heart hammering. “We leave tonight.”
By afternoon, we were at the airport. The weight of our luggage matched the heaviness in my chest. Nathan held
Nicholas’s hand as we moved toward the check–in counter. I kept my head low, scanning for anything suspicious.
We were so close.
Until a firm hand gripped my shoulder.
“Ma’am, you need to come with us.”
I turned, my heart stopping. A police officer. His expression unreadable, cold.
Nathan stepped forward. “What’s going on?”
The officer didn’t hesitate. “Hannah Gilbert, you’re under arrest for attempting to abduct a minor.”
The world tilted beneath me.
“What?” My voice came out strangled. “He’s my son!”
The officer didn’t flinch. “You have no legal custody over the child. You’re attempting to take him out of the country without permission from his biological father.”
I felt sick. “That’s a lie! Nathan, do something!”
Nathan reached for me, but another officer grabbed his arm. “You too. You’re under arrest as an accomplice.”
Nicholas’s small voice broke through the chaos. “Mom?” He sounded scared. Confused.
I turned to him, my heart shattering. “It’s okay, baby! Stay with Nathan!”
But then I saw them.
Dean. Standing just a few feet away, his arms crossed, Cecelia beside him, a sick smile on her face.
And Nicholas–my child–was being pulled toward them.
“NO!” I screamed, trying to lunge forward, but the officer yanked me back, twisting my arms behind me. “DON’T
TAKE HIM! HE’S MY SON!”
Nicholas started crying. “Mom! Dad!” He struggled, but Dean held him firm. “I don’t wanna go with them!”
Nathan fought against the officers, rage in his eyes. “You can’t do this! He’s been with us since birth!”
Dean finally spoke, his voice calm, almost mocking. “And that was a mistake, wasn’t it?” He looked down at
Nicholas. “Don’t worry, son. You’ll be safe with me now.”
Nicholas thrashed harder. “No! I don’t wanna go! I want my mom and dad!”
“HE’S NOT YOUR DAD!” I screamed at Dean my body shaking with fury “You don’t deserve him!”
1 Kept the Alpha’s Secret Heit
Nicholas thrashed harder. “No! I don’t wanna go! I want my mom and dad!”
“HE’S NOT YOUR DAD!” I screamed at Dean, my body shaking with fury. “You don’t deserve him!”
Dean’s expression darkened, but he ignored me. Instead, he knelt beside Nicholas, softening his voice. “They lied to you, Nicholas. They kept you from your real family. But I promise, I’ll take care of you now.”
Nicholas sobbed, reaching for me. “Mom!”
My knees nearly gave out as I watched them walk away with him. My baby. My entire world. Taken from me like I was nothing.
I screamed until my throat was raw.
Until I was thrown into the police vehicle.
Until the world faded into a nightmare I couldn’t escape.
The prison cell was cold, suffocating. I didn’t know how many hours had passed, but it didn’t matter. I curled up on the hard bench, my arms wrapped around myself. My mind replayed the moment Nicholas was taken over and
over again.
Nathan was in another cell. I couldn’t see him, but I could hear him yelling, demanding to speak to someone. He
was trying to fix this.
But what if we couldn’t?
Tears blurred my vision. Nicholas was out there, alone, scared. I should be with him. I should be the one holding
him, telling him it would be okay.
But I wasn’t.
And that thought nearly destroyed me.
The sound of footsteps made me sit up. An officer unlocked my cell door.
“Come with me.”
Fear prickled down my spine. Something felt wrong.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked, my voice hoarse.
The officer didn’t answer. I hesitated.
But then rough hands grabbed my arms and pulled me forward.
I struggled, panic setting in. “What are you doing?”
No response. The hallway was dimly lit, the air thick with something sinister. I glanced back at Nathan’s cell, but he wasn’t there. My stomach twisted.
This wasn’t right. They weren’t just moving me.
They were taking me somewhere.
And I had no idea if I’d make it back.
