Page 28 of Claimed By Daddy

My chest tightens with anxiety.

"Talk to me, little angel," I plead softly, afraid I've taken too much, pushed too far. I'm supposed to be taking care of her, not scarring her for life.

"I'm okay," she sniffles, her voice small, lost. "I didn't mean to… I just wanted to get your axe before it got dark. I'm sorry." Her apology cuts deeper than any blade ever could.

"Look at me," I coax, lifting her chin so those green eyes meet mine. "You didn't do anything wrong, pretty baby. Do you understand me?" I press a kiss to her forehead, offering her the comfort she craves, the protection she deserves. "You have every right to be out here. He had no right to approach you or try to touch you."

"You had to hit him," she says, her eyes drifting from mine.

"Did it scare you?"

She shakes her head. "It made me sad for you."

I groan, pressing my forehead to hers. "I will always protect you, Lena. You think it's a hardship to be responsible for you? It's not. Being your daddy is an honor, little girl."

"Okay," she whispers, her trust in me unwavering despite what just happened.

But when she falls silent again, I can't shake the fear gnawing at me. She's everything to me. I have to be more careful with her because losing her isn't an option, not to my darkness, not to inattention and carelessness, not because I didn't protect her well enough, not for any reason. Not now, not ever.

"Come on, pretty baby," I murmur, scooping her up into my arms to carry her back to the cabin. She curls into me, her face pressed to my throat, her arms around my neck.

I stop long enough to grab her phone and the axe but leave the prick in the dirt where he fell, stepping over his unconscious body. I'll call the Sheriff to haul him out of here.

"Carver?" Her voice is thick against my skin, a sleepy murmur tugging at my heart.

"Yeah, little angel?"

"Thank you for coming for me," she whispers, nestling closer.

I brush my lips against her temple. "Daddy's got you, little girl. Always."

She sighs softly, her body molding to mine as she drifts off in my arms. I feel her heart beating against my side, hear the soft stirring of her breath against my ear. But not even that erases the echo of her scream from my mind.

It's going to be a long fucking time before I forget the sound of that scream.

When we reach the cabin, she stirs in my arms, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt. "Stay with me," she mumbles.

"Always, pretty baby. Always." It's a promise carved deep into my soul; one I'll keep until my last breath. I'm not going anywhere.

Chapter Seven

Lena

"Carver?" I reach out for him as early morning light spills across my face, my entire body still humming from the way he claimed me last night. Every inch of me feels sore and used in the best way possible. But I don't find his big body nestled against mine, his broad chest rising and falling steadily. Instead, I find cool sheets.

I blink my eyes open, confirming that he's no longer in the bed.

"Carver?" I call and then pause to listen for his response, but the cabin is too still, too quiet. He's already up and about for the day.

Or maybe he left you, a little voice of doubt whispers, but I shove it down, refusing to hear it. He wouldn't do that…would he?

No, of course not. Not even after…

I shy away from thoughts of what happened last night, refusing to think about the man we left unconscious in the clearing. The one who came out of nowhere.

I feel so stupid for letting myself get caught like that, but I didn't think anyone was out there. I thought I'd go get Carver's axe, and he'd find out and punish me for leaving the porch.

I naively let myself believe that I was completely safe here, able to play any game. That I was untouchable because he was here, too.

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