Cruel Alpha Daddy (Silver Meadows Wolves #4)

Chapter 6 - Fiona

When I wake the next morning, I realize that Rider never came back. I expected another confrontation, but after our fight, it looks like he left me alone.

I’m curled up on the floor in the cushions, where I cried myself to sleep. My throat closes, and my chest feels frozen as I watch the light creep into the cabin.

I’ve been gone a whole day and night. Oh, Caleb, my baby. I’m so sorry.

Images of him crying and asking where I am haunt me. I can’t get them out of my mind. The feeling energizes me, and I get up to take a quick look around through the tent.

Rider really isn’t here.

I peek out the tent flaps and see him sitting nearby, slumped against a cut tree stump. Trying not to make any noise, I step slowly backwards, then run to the back of the tent. I can’t tear the canvas or pull it up, but the screened windows are easy to zip open.

My heart pounds frantically as I shove the netting out of the way and climb through. It’s still extremely early, and the camp is quiet. I stand still for a few seconds, listening for any activity. When there is none, I hurry forward into the thick trees ahead.

The robe I’m in isn’t a great choice for hiking or running, but I’m reluctant to take it off and shift into my other form. I want to get away from the camp a bit before I let my wolf out.

Hiking up into the mountains, I take a long, steep track. I have to get around the camp before circling back to head in the direction of Silver Meadows. With every step, I look around eagerly, hoping to see signs of my own pack looking for me.

I’m just about to shift when I hear the howling.

Fear freezes me in place. It’s no use to try and run—these guys caught me easily enough before. The sounds come at me from every direction, and I spin around, trying to see where they are.

Maybe it’s not those biker guys. Maybe—

There is a fierce growl from the underbrush ahead of me, and my eyes lock toward the sound. Through the shadows of the leaves, I see Tobias’s pale blue eyes. He stalks me slowly, letting my fear build as he gets closer and closer.

Someone grabs me from behind, and my scream rings through the forest. Instinctively, I bolt forward and run straight into Tobias, who has now shifted back to his human shape. He grabs my arms and tosses me backwards, and I’m caught by one of the others.

Like before, there are five of them, standing in a close circle around me. They shove me back and forth between them, laughing as they watch me stumble and fall. Every time one of them grabs me, they feel me up, squeezing my breasts or slapping my ass, before shoving me towards one of the others.

Finally, I fall against Tobias, and he grabs my upper arms and presses himself against my back. I feel his hot breath on my skin as he nuzzles my neck.

“Got you, pretty she-wolf. You’re mine now.”

I’m so scared, I can’t speak. My breaths are short and shallow, making my head spin. I struggle a little, but he laughs and tightens his grip.

“Yes, little lady,” he whispers in my ear. “Wriggle around, just like that.”

He thrusts his hips, and I can feel his cock pressing against me. A cry of fear bursts through my throat, and he laughs, reaching around to grab my breasts.

“I-I’m your luna!” I stammer, trying to catch my breath. “Let me go, now!”

Laughter rings around the circle, and the others close in. Tobias holds me against his body while the others take turns groping me.

“The entire pack can turn on you for hurting the luna!” I shriek desperately. “Even if you don’t respect your alpha, you should fear the rest of your pack!”

“You really should respect your alpha, you know,” a clear, firm voice cuts through their laughter.

All of them fall silent.

When they turn to face the sound, I see Rider standing casually on the track a short distance away. The relief that floods through me makes me weak at the knees, and when I sag against Tobias’s grip, he immediately lets me go. I fall to the forest floor, barely catching myself on my hands. I can hear the others yelling at each other, but I don’t know what they are saying. There are other wolves surrounding us, pack members loyal to Rider.

After a few minutes, the others all leave, and Rider kneels down in front of me.

“Are you alright?” he asks. I shake my head violently and sit up, wrapping my arms around myself.

“You cannot do this again, Fiona,” he says. “This was too close. If I hadn’t noticed you were gone and called out a search, they could have killed you.”

I glare at him, tears starting to pour down my cheeks. My lip is trembling so hard, I know I won’t be able to speak.

Rider stares at me for a while, then his face hardens as he appears to settle something in his mind.

“The tent isn’t good enough,” he says. “I need solid walls and a door I can lock. There is an abandoned mining town nearby that I was thinking of moving into. We’ll go there immediately. It will be more comfortable for the rest of the pack, and secure for you.”

He grabs my hand and stands up, pulling me along with him. When I stumble, he puts an arm around me, looking me over with concern.

“Are you sure you’re not injured?”

I nod. “I’m okay. Just bruised.”

“Good. Then you can walk. We’ve got a bit of distance to cover.”

“Don’t you have to go back to camp?” I ask. “To get your stuff and tell the others?”

“I will tell them,” he answers. “And the rest of the pack will move tonight. My biggest concern, though, is you. And getting you to a safe location.”

“You could just let me go,” I cry, tugging on his hand.

“Fiona!” Rider snaps, turning to me. “Do you want an immediate repeat of what just happened? Do you have any idea what they would have done if I hadn’t found you when I did?”

I look at the ground, crying softly. I know exactly what would have happened.

I can’t just take off into the woods. I need a better plan.

“Are you ready to come with me and do as you’re told?” Rider asks, exasperated.

I nod, keeping my eyes down. He tightens his grip on my hand and doesn’t let go as we walk through the forest.

The day warms up as we head up the mountain, and every step soon becomes agony. My body is aching, sore from all the recent punishment. I ate a little last night, but not much, and now I’m fiercely hungry and absolutely parched with thirst.

Even Rider is breathing hard when we crest the peak of a low, steep hill. Down below, I see a small cluster of old buildings at the end of a narrow dirt road.

“These hills are riddled with abandoned mines and small towns,” Rider says. “Some of them have become tourist attractions, but there are a lot that nobody knows about.”

I don’t bother to answer. My chest is heaving as I try to get my breath back, and I’m drenched in sweat. At the moment, the only thing I care about is that we are going downhill and our destination has shade and basic amenities.

By the time we reach the valley floor, I’ve gotten my breath back and I’m actually interested in the small town. There are only about ten buildings, most of them close to the old, overgrown road. A couple further back look like private cabins, and Rider leads me to one of them.

“There must be a mine nearby,” he says as he heads up the steps leading to the low porch of a cabin. “This was just a halfway point to the nearest town, I’d say.”

I just nod, not caring. He could be leading me into a five-star hotel, and I wouldn’t give a damn.

I have to get back to my son!

When Rider shoves the door open and drags me inside, a sigh of pleasure eases through my lips as the temperature drops. The cabin is dark and shadowed, well-built without cracks between the planks of wood on the walls and roof.

“Hit the jackpot,” Rider says, grinning. “It’s nicely insulated.”

He takes a step away and almost lets go of my hand, then turns back to face me with suspicion in his eyes. “If I let you go, you’re going to run again, aren’t you?”

“No promises,” I answer.

Rider rolls his eyes. “For fuck’s sake. After everything that just happened to you, you still can’t just behave. Why are you so desperate to get back?”

I just shake my head, glaring at him. Rider reaches out and grabs my shoulders, making me look into his eyes.

“I want to protect you,” he whispers. “I didn’t ask for this situation, but now I have to keep you safe. It’s the only thing that matters.”

There is an urgency in his voice that affects me deeply. His clear green eyes are intense and focused, full of an emotion I can’t identify.

“Fiona,” he whispers, and I feel his breath against my lips.

Something inside me breaks, and the atmosphere in the room changes abruptly. I’m keenly aware of all the feelings I’ve been holding back, the attraction and lust I can’t bear to let myself acknowledge.

Yes, I’m afraid, and I want to get back to my son. But being so close to Rider and not touching him is a torture unto itself.

The moment draws out, and the intensity builds. I can’t help it—I’m pulled towards him like an asteroid is to a star.

Our lips touch. A shudder runs through me, so powerful it shakes me to the bone. I wrap my arms around Rider and kiss him deeply, feeling his strong arms going around me as he leans into the kiss.

I run my hands up his back and press my body up against his, short cries slipping out of my mouth around our frantic kisses. A floodgate has opened inside me, and behind it is the desperation of hundreds of hopeless nights.

Rider’s hands slip around my waist, and he pulls me against his body. He strokes me gently across my lower back and hips, not squeezing me too hard or trying to grope me.

I wish he would.

Gripping his shoulders with both hands, I writhe against him, kneading his lips with mine as I slip my tongue into his mouth. He groans, leaning against me and tightening his hold on my hips.

Yes, yes!

I cling to him, rubbing my body against his as I kiss him harder. He responds, grabbing my ass and grinding back against me. I run my fingers up the back of his neck, teasing as I rock my hips towards him.

I love you.

The words are in my heart, almost on my lips. I push him away, and I stagger backwards. I barely stay on my feet as I cover my mouth with both hands.

“Fiona?” he asks.

I shake my head and run towards the nearest doorway. The room is small and dark, with no windows. An old bed is pushed into a corner, a dusty dresser and trunk the only other furniture.

I hear Rider’s footsteps and turn around. I want to tell him to leave me alone, but I’m also hoping he’ll throw me on the bed and finish what we started.

I missed you, Rider. I missed you so much.

He pokes his head in the doorway and glances around. “This will do fine,” he says, nodding with satisfaction. Then he takes a step back, slamming the door shut. A few seconds later, I hear the clinking of metal as he secures it with a chain.

Now, I truly am his prisoner. And from here, I can never get back to my son.