Page 33 of Cruel Alpha Daddy

As Fiona’s breathing settles into a deep, slow rhythm, I think about all the things I could do to make her more comfortable. No matter how many times I turn things over in my mind, the biggest issue is Tobias.

I have to get rid of him. He’s a huge threat, and Fiona won’t feel comfortable until I’ve dealt with him.

I slip out of bed, making sure I don’t wake Fiona as I leave. I contemplate locking the door but eventually decide that would be an act of poor faith after what we just shared.

In the main hall, there’s a lot of noise. People are talking happily, and all the kids are laughing, chasing each other, and playing games as they wait for dinner. After just a few days, they are gaining confidence that life is going to get better.

And it’s my responsibility to keep it that way. With Fiona by my side, we can turn this into a beautiful town. A place where our pack can thrive.

As I go through the doorway, I see Ryan and Luke by the back table, setting out stakes of plates and utensils. I wave to Ryan, and he heads over to me.

“Any word on Tobias?” I ask.

“No,” he answers. “I’ve put out some feelers, trying to be discreet. So far, I have no idea where they are getting their new gear from.”

“It has to be connected to the bar. Have you asked around there yet?”

He shakes his head. “That’s next on my list.”

“I still want you to investigate, but I need to confront Tobias now.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? It will just make him even more secretive.”

“I want to see how he reacts. The situation between me and Fiona is still volatile, and I think it would help a lot to find out his intentions.”

Ryan nods. “Okay, then. I’ll head out and spread the word that we’re having a meeting.”

“Good,” I reply. “Get everyone in here as soon as you can.”

As Ryan leaves, I turn to the main tables to let the women know what’s going on. A couple of them seem nervous, and I realize just how deeply Tobias is wounding the pack.

No one trusts him. And that means they don’t trust me to keep them safe.

I go to the front of the room and wait. People start filing in from the main doors, and the hall fills up quickly.

Eighty people, all counting on me to lift them out of a life of pain. I can’t do that while nearly half of them are determined to stay in hell and drag the rest of us down with them.

Tobias and his ring of goons are the last to enter. I’m disappointed to see a fairly large group of young men around him watching me with obvious hostility.

“Thank you for coming,” I say, raising my voice so it echoes around the hall. “I want to have an open discussion with the whole pack about our recent changes and what we are hoping for in the future.”

Low whispers ripple around the room. It doesn’t show, but I’m pretty nervous standing up in front of all these people. Not so long ago, I was a scared kid who only knew how to do one thing.

Run.

But now, I want to stand still and fight for what I believe in.

Thoughts of Fiona drift through my mind, and I know I should have had the strength to stop running years ago while I still had her by my side.

“We’re happy, Alpha. Very happy,” Lilah’s voice rises above the crowd. “Already, we are far more comfortable than we have ever been. Everyone standing here now joined this pack to leave the world behind—to run from reality. We’re ready to stand and fight for a better life now. We know we deserve it.”

Her words are so close to my own thoughts, it sends a shiver down my spine. “You do deserve it,” I reply. “All of us do. As it stands, there seems to be only one threat to our way of life.”

I’ve been watching Tobias closely out of the corner of my eye, and so far, he hasn’t reacted. He’s leaning on the wall, watching me with a confident smile on his ugly face.

Silence falls across the hall. Not even a baby cries. I know the time is ripe, and if it comes to it, I’m ready to fight Tobias right here and now.

Make it like one of Jethro’s death rings, I don’t care. I’ll keep beating them, one by one, until they are all dead and the pack is safe.

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