Page 27 of Cruel Alpha Daddy

Then, he catches my eye. He grins and makes a little kissy motion with his lips. I look away quickly and stare hard at the tabletop. He scares me, and it looks like I have good reason to be frightened.

Chapter 11 - Rider

Over the next few days, I’m relieved to see Fiona settling in. I don’t want to keep her locked up in the cabin like a prisoner. And if she becomes invested in the pack, I won’t have to.

We sleep in the same bed, and even though we don’t touch each other, there is a feeling of intimacy I can’t deny. As first light brightens the window, I roll over and watch her. I love to see her eyes open first thing in the morning. She always has such a beautiful smile when she wakes up and sees me.

Pure joy—that is immediately replaced with anxiety. If she loves me, why is she still so eager to get away?

Deep down, I know that my attachment issues are severely stirred up, because I want her to stay with me.

I want her to need me. To choose me and want to be my partner for life.

She murmurs in her sleep, and her fingers twitch. I watch her eyelids flutter and wonder what she is dreaming about. If she would just stay with me, everything would be alright. I’d keep her safe from the bikers, and we could tell Bailey she was here by her own choice.

The thought of Tobias ruins my good mood. I roll onto my back and glare at the ceiling. After the ass-kicking I gave him, I didn’t really expect him to come back. Now, he and his little group of goons have set up in a cabin at the other end of town, where they hold parties that attract quite a few young men from the pack.

Why has he come back? Does he really want the whole pack to follow him?

It might be a matter of pride for him now that beating me isn’t good enough. He has to win over the hearts of the other wolves before he takes me out.

Fiona mumbles, and I turn back over to look at her. She opens her eyes, and again, I’m struck by that deep blue, darker than sapphires but shining with the same delicate beauty. She smiles, and the joy on her face is undeniable.

I smile back, and she reaches out with one hand to stroke my cheek. The moment is perfect. It feels like my world is finally complete.

Then, the contentment on her face is shattered by a look of pure panic. Her lips tighten, and her eyes go wide. She sits up suddenly and looks around as if she’s searching for something. Her shoulders slump as she wraps her arms around her knees and lowers her head defeatedly. A sigh that sounds more like a sob escapes her lips.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “I’m fine.”

It’s the same pattern every morning. I wish I knew what was wrong, that she could just tell me. I can’t stand to have secrets between us.

I opened up to her, but she is still hiding something from me.

“Do you want to go and get some breakfast?” I suggest.

“Sure,” she answers without enthusiasm.

I hop out of bed and get dressed, heading for the bathroom. If today is like any other day, she’ll come out to the hall with me, smiling and happy. I truly don’t know if it’s an act or not, and it disturbs me.

Over the last couple of days, Fiona has cleaned the cabin from top to bottom. It looks almost brand new. The other guys and myself have installed the plumbing and connected generators so we have power. There are still a lot of repairs to be done, but the place is almost looking like a proper town.

What should we call it? Getting away from the name “Sawpit” sounds like a great idea to me.

As I leave the bathroom, Fiona brushes past me, barely looking at me. A memory of our time together in Delta rises in my mind—the two of us playfully fighting over the toothpaste, giggling as we wrestle back and forth until the tube pops and sprays us both with minty goo.

I should never have run from her.

These memories keep haunting me, dragging me down into the past. I have to accept that even if Fiona and I can have a relationship again, that warmth might be gone forever.

“Ready?” she asks, coming out of the bathroom.

“Yes,” I answer, reaching out to her. She eyes me warily, then takes my hand.

As we walk over to the hall, lots of people wave and call out to us. Fiona waves back, looking happy and comfortable like she usually does. Instead of reassuring me, I find the sight unnerving.

It would be very cruel of her to lead these people on, whatever her reasons are. They are depending on her.

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