Cruel Alpha Daddy (Silver Meadows Wolves #4)

Chapter 3 - Rider

It takes an act of extreme will to keep myself still as Tobias hurls the woman at my feet. Part of me still doesn’t believe it, and my heart wavers in my chest like a tiny bird fluttering in a harsh gust of wind as I catch her scent.

I can struggle all I want, it won’t make any difference. I’ll still get swept away.

When I look down and see her bright blue eyes staring up at me, I suppress a shiver, forcing myself not to react. When I see a brief flash of recognition on her face, I shake my head slightly.

If they find out we know each other, this will go badly.

I look up at Tobias very slowly. I keep my face frozen and my voice calm.

“What have you brought me?” I’m relieved to hear my tone is disinterested, maybe even bored.

“Isn’t she a fine prize?” Tobias reaches down and grabs Fiona by the arm, yanking her to her feet. I hold myself back, clenching my fists slightly as I think about tearing Tobias to shreds.

I lean back a little, yawning. “Tobias, it’s early. Where did you get this woman, and why? I have better things to do than inspect some homeless wench you picked up.”

“Oh, she’s not homeless,” Russ puts in. Wherever Tobias goes, Russ is never far behind.

“She’s from Silver Meadows,” Tobias announces. “Bailey’s pack. We’re going to make an example of her, show Bailey we aren’t weak.”

“You went into Silver Meadows territory?” I hiss, threat creeping into my voice. “After I forbid you to go, after I negotiated so hard for a treaty, you just fucking broke it?”

Tobias glares at me. “Some of us don’t agree with peace, and you know it. When did you get fucking soft, Rider?”

I glare at him, and he shakes Fiona roughly. Her beautiful blond hair shimmers in the sun, a golden fall of silk that reaches to her waist. She glances up at me, and the deep blue of her eyes enchants me. Drags me down into old memories that I thought I’d buried good and deep.

Six years should be more than enough time to forget…

I’d been drifting, homeless, wandering. Slowly, my wolf was driving me out into the wilderness, further and further from civilization. I’d ended up in Delta, and I was contemplating shutting the door on my human side for good.

My eyes were locked on the far-off mountains, and I was imagining shedding my human shape and disappearing into those isolated peaks forever. The ache of my trauma within me was too heavy and sharp to bear. I just wanted to let it go.

I was about to leave, when I heard someone crying. Curious, I followed the sound. As I got close to it, I became immersed in an incredibly sweet scent of vanilla and honey. My wolf stirred within me, forgetting its urge to roam as deeper needs surfaced and begged to be satisfied.

I followed the scent and sound to a small clearing. At first, I thought I’d wandered into a dream.

She was kneeling in the center of the clearing, her head bowed as she wept. Sunlight flooded down from above, lighting her blond hair a pure, shining gold. I approached her slowly, barely even aware that I was moving. When she finally noticed my presence, her head snapped up, and I saw the incredible deep blue of her eyes.

As if the sky had been purified, distilled and poured into her so it shone from the windows to her soul.

Even though I was dirty and dressed in ragged clothes, she was not afraid of me. She was crying, but I immediately saw fresh sympathy dawn on her face when she looked at me.

“Please, let me help you,” she said, her voice as sweet as maple syrup and just as soothing. “You look so thin and cold. Let me buy you a meal and some decent clothes.”

I shook my head. “I came here because I heard you crying. I want to know if you’re alright… if there’s anything I can do for you.”

She smiled then, a small, endearing curve of her lips that chased the misery from her eyes.

We sat and talked for a while. I found out her aunt was in the hospital and most likely would never leave. She was dying, and Fiona was already destroyed by grief.

I opened up a little, too. I told her I was homeless, wandering. That I seemed to attract bad luck like manure does flies. She kept her promise to buy me dinner and clothes, which made me feel grateful, humble, and fiercely inadequate.

In the coming days, we grew close, and I ended up staying in her hotel room. We lived like a married couple for a month, and it was the only safe place I’d ever had.

Until her aunt finally died and she invited me to return to Silver Meadows with her.

Pain lances through me then, and the memories of my harsh words and her tears are too much for me to bear. I have to look away, and I almost forget where I am. I don’t want to look at Fiona and remember the last thing I said to her.

I will never survive the shame of this. I can’t bear it.

In the few moments it’s taken me to immerse in the past and yank myself back to the present, a large crowd has gathered. Most of the pack has surrounded us. Some of them are closing in on Fiona and supporting Tobias while others are demanding he let her go.

“We can’t just let her go,” Tobias snaps. “We went to some effort to catch this little bitch, and now we want to send her back to Alpha Bailey in pieces to show him we mean business.”

Tobias glares at me, daring me to challenge him. I’m very aware of the reactions in the crowd around us. If I disagree with Tobias, his followers will start a riot right here and now.

It will be a bloodbath… and then what will happen to our innocents?

“It would indeed be a waste to just release her,” I agree, glaring at Tobias. “You’re right; it would make us look painfully weak. However, I can think of something even better to do with a tasty little she-wolf like this.”

Tobias leers over Fiona’s shoulder, practically drooling. His hands tighten on her shoulders, and she whimpers a little. It takes all my strength to keep from rushing over there and tearing Tobias apart.

“What could be better,” Tobias mutters, “than pleasuring every single male in this pack until there is nothing left of her? Then we drop her scarred corpse back in Bailey’s territory to warn him of what will happen to all his bitches if he dares to come after us.”

I walk forward very slowly, keeping my breathing steady. “Far better is that she should be a prize for me.”

Confusion flickers in Tobias’s eyes. I grin at him, letting my wolf rise so the next words come out as a threat.

“I think she’ll make a fine mate for me, and luna to the pack. It will stop Bailey from attacking us if we have one of his own, and keeping her is the greatest strength we could possibly show him.”

Tobias glares at me as furious mutterings explode around the circle. A lot of them are disappointed they won’t get to taste Fiona. But on the other side of the circle, quite a few males are showing obvious signs of relief.

Some distance away, the women are watching curiously. A wave of rage surges in me that Tobias intended to perform this vile act right in front of them.

I take another step towards Tobias, glaring at him. “She’s mine!” I snap. “Let her go, right now. I want to perform the mating ceremony immediately. All of you back the fuck off!”

I see fear and confusion in Fiona’s eyes, and all I can do is pray she stays silent.

Tobias growls, his eyes shimmering with a predatory glow. I answer his challenge, letting my wolf shine through me as I hold his gaze.

The world seems to fall quiet around us as we glare at each other. I will avoid a fight if I can, but if Tobias doesn’t let her go, I will tear him apart.

Finally, Tobias shoves Fiona at me, and she falls against my chest. I wrap my arms around her, relief rushing through me so powerfully, I feel weak at the knees.

Fiona looks up at me, her big blue eyes welling with tears. She clings to me as I start dragging her towards the camp, and I have no idea how she’s feeling. I can’t wait to talk to her. Maybe even explain why I had to do what I did all those years ago.

As we enter the first line of tents, a few of the women are there to greet us. Lilah appraises us with narrowed eyes, glaring at the rougher members of the pack but still too afraid of them to speak up.

“What is this?” she asks, gesturing to Fiona.

“This is my mate. Our new luna!” I announce it with as much enthusiasm as I can. “Tobias and his friends were extremely generous, thinking of me and the good of the pack. I could not have chosen better myself.”

Ain’t that the truth.

“A luna?” Lilah asks hopefully. The other women begin to talk excitedly amongst themselves, pointing at Fiona and waving.

“When will we conduct the ceremony?” Lilah asks.

“Now,” I answer firmly. “Immediately after, Tobias and his chosen hunters will go out and bring something back for our wedding feast… won’t you boys?”

“We will indeed, Alpha,” Tobias mutters.

Fiona trembles in my arms, her chest heaving as she bites her lip. I tighten my grip on her and give her a little shake, putting on a show for the others. She shoots me a glare, and I almost smile back at her, remembering how we used to tease each other when we were together.

The women have hurried off to find a robe for Fiona, a simple garment in a shade of light blue that enhances the golden sheen of her hair and the deep blue of her eyes. We all walk up to the top of the camp, and the pack forms a big circle around us.

Our oldest she-wolf and only elder, Jen, comes forward to speak the ritual words that bind us together. I grab Fiona’s hand and link our fingers together so Jen can plait a colored ribbon around our wrists.

“By witness of earth and sky, I bind thee, Alpha Rider, and Luna—”

Jen looks up, and I bite my tongue hard to stop myself from revealing that I know my bride’s name.

“What’s your name, honey?” Jen asks Fiona.

“Fiona.” Her voice comes out soft and cracked, as if she can barely speak.

Jen smiles and gives Fiona a soft rub on the shoulder. “There, there, dear girl. These old-fashioned mountain weddings are often rough but well worth it. The pack will take good care of you, and having a luna will make us all stronger.”

Jen places her hand over our bound wrists and tilts her head back, closing her eyes. “By witness of earth and sky, I bind thee, Alpha Rider and Luna Fiona. May the mountains always welcome you, and the old spirits protect you. From this day forward, you are no longer two but one, joined in the sacred bond of marriage.”

Jen looks at us again, a big smile on her face. I turn to look at Fiona, and my heart is practically bursting out of my chest with joy. I thought I was doing this to protect her. That the only way I could stop Tobias and the others from taking her was to claim her as my own.

But maybe I only did it because now that she’s back in my life, I can’t stand to ever let her go again.