Cruel Alpha Daddy (Silver Meadows Wolves #4)

Chapter 20 - Fiona

I open my eyes, but I still can’t see. There is nothing but darkness.

I don’t know where I am.

Pain rolls through me in sickening waves. My head is aching so badly, it’s as if my skull is cracked open. I blink furiously, afraid that I’ve gone blind. When I try to move and feel the tight bonds on my wrists and ankles, I realize I’m tied up.

I lift my head, still trying to see. A dull light flickers over my face, and the faint humming and feeling of motion all come together at once. I suddenly understand where I am.

In the trunk of a car!

There is a sharp thump, and I’m tossed across the hard floor right onto my face. I try to swallow, and I can’t—there’s a filthy rag stuffed in my mouth.

I struggle a bit, managing to turn myself over so I’m not suffocating. The ropes are tight enough to cut into my skin, and all my joints feel like they are being pulled apart by the pressure.

What the fuck happened?

My head aches with a dull throb in the back of my skull and a fierce, searing pain stabbing into my temples. Waves of nausea threaten me, but I hold it in—if I barf with the rag in my face, I’ll drown in my own vomit.

What a way to go.

I can’t remember anything. Not since Rider got up from his nap and went to the hall.

I was going to follow him. I was just waiting to see if Jen would come back—

Then I remember. Tobias, storming in through the back door and grabbing me. The memory comes in tiny flashes, impossible to follow.

Pain throbs through my skull, and I give up on trying to remember. It doesn’t really matter how I got here. All that matters is getting out.

A sudden movement from the vehicle throws me against the side of the trunk. The engine revs a bit, then dies. I hear the door slam shut, and I don’t know if I should be relieved that someone is about to open the trunk or terrified of what’s about to happen.

Let’s go with both.

The lid opens above me, and I see Tobias leering down at me. A scattering of stars behind his head gives just enough light for me to see the predatory smile on his face.

“Well, well, sleeping beauty. You’re awake.”

I try and tell him to fuck off, but choke on the rag in my mouth. He laughs, leaning over to pull it out.

“There you go, honey. Let’s hear that sweet voice of yours.”

“Fuck you!” I yell, regretting it immediately as a new wave of sickening pain splits my skull.

“I’d love to,” he says, leaning down to grab my breast. I try to wriggle away, but he pins me, smiling as he has a good feel.

“Gone quiet, have you, honey?” he asks. “I really prefer my girls to make a bit of noise. Don’t make me get rough with you.”

My throat burns as I draw in harsh gasps of air. The pain in my head is unimaginable, and fear has robbed me of my senses. All I can do is shiver in the ropes, paralyzed by terror.

“Hey!” a voice calls. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

The shock of hearing another voice crackles through me like a lightning strike. I try to scream, but nothing comes out. Tobias leans over and grabs the ropes, lifting me out as if I’m nothing but a suitcase.

“I know I’m not who you were expecting, Bae,” Tobias says. “But hopefully, you’ll appreciate my company. And the little gift I’ve brought for you.”

Bae? Bailey’s here?

“I don’t even know who you are,” Bae says.

I hang in the ropes as Tobias carries me, trying to look around to see where we are. It looks like one of the higher campgrounds somewhere between Silver Meadows and Sawpit.

Tobias throws me down, making me cry out. He immediately puts his foot on top of me and keeps me pressed against the ground.

“Fiona?” Bae yells. “Let her go, asshole!”

“In a minute,” Tobias says casually. I’ve managed to swing my head around far enough that I can see Bailey, Jack, and Kyle standing not far away.

They came for me!

“There are three of us,” Bae says, his voice low and dangerous. “And one of you.”

“And I can snap her neck with my boot before you take a step,” Tobias hisses. “And I don’t give a fuck if you kill me after that, so let’s talk.”

Bailey shrugs. “Okay. Talk, then. Who the fuck are you, and what are you doing here?”

“My name is Tobias, and I’m the rightful alpha of the Sawpit Pack.”

Kyle scoffs slightly, and Tobias shoots him a look. The two of them glare at each other until Bae snaps his fingers.

“Back on task, boys. I’m sure you have personal matters to attend to, but right now my only concern is Fiona. She is under my protection, and she’s been missing for over a week now. I got a message that she’s alive and well, so I plan this meetup with her, only to arrive and find an oversized pup with an attitude problem holding my she-wolf hostage.”

Tobias growls, and Bae growls right back.

“Your death will take a long time if you kill her,” Bae swears.

“Don’t trust him,” Kyle warns. “I know him.”

“Well and good, Kyle,” Bae snaps. “I appreciate your input, but I’m in charge here, you got it?”

Kyle nods, stepping back.

Tobias makes a fluttery motion with his hand. “Yeah. Get back, traitorous pup.”

“Tobias,” Bae says, crossing his arms. “I’m assuming you have an offer for me? You must have intercepted the old lady carrying my message and decided to come along, even though you were uninvited. Can we get to the point?”

“I need your help to kill Rider,” Tobias growls. “He has betrayed the pack over and over again. I’ve tried to take him out, but he’s too strong. The pack is afraid of him. They want me to rule them, I just need help.”

Bae shakes his head. “Why should I help you? I’m not usually in the business of helping wolves that kidnap and brutalize innocent women.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Tobias grumbles, leaning down. I see the flash of a knife in his hand, and terror streaks through me, but all he does is cut the ropes.

“There,” Tobias grunts. “You happy now?”

“Why was she tied up in the first place?” Bae asks.

“The poor girl has been locked up for days. She doesn’t trust any of us,” Tobias answers. “It was the only way to get her here. I want to do the right thing and send her back where she belongs, but I need your help in return.”

I sit up slowly, and Tobias gives me a hard look in warning.

Don’t say a word.

“So, Rider kidnapped her, then?” Bae asks.

“Yes,” Tobias answers. “He’s mad. He took her as his mate, then kept her chained up. But that wasn’t enough for him. He came for all your mates.”

“That fucking bastard,” Bae mutters. “It was him?”

Tobias nods. “It was all a sham. The whole alliance thing was a lie. He just wanted to get you into a place of false security so he could nail you later.”

Even with the lack of light, and the distance between us, I can still see Bae’s eyes glint with anger.

“I didn’t trust him,” Bae swears. “This whole time, I suspected he was behind this.”

Tobias stands up, stepping away from me slowly. “Too many of our wolves just died,” he says solemnly. “And I should have moved against him when he kidnapped this girl. I hope I’ve done enough to earn your trust, and your help.”

Bae nods. “You have it. At this time tomorrow night, we will come to you at Sawpit.”

“In the main town,” Tobias instructs. “Don’t go to the village in the woods; Rider has it well-defended. I’ll lure him into the town, and we can take him out.”

“Agreed,” Bailey says, nodding.

Tobias looks down at me, and I see his teeth glint behind his lips as he snarls just slightly. Then he hurries to the car and drives away.

Suddenly, Bae, Kyle, and Jack are around me, asking if I’m injured, talking all at once. I can’t stop sobbing, shivering, and crying as I cling to them.

“You can’t trust him, Bae,” Kyle says over my head. “I know him. He’s got something planned, and I don’t believe Rider would do this.”

“Your loyalty and faith are admirable,” Bae says. “But I think you need to let this go. Clearly, Rider is a loose cannon. Of course I’m not going to trust Tobias, but defending Rider isn’t going to help anyone.”

“He didn’t do it,” I stammer, forcing my voice out between sobs. “Rider didn’t do it—Tobias did!”

The men go completely silent, and Kyle rubs my back gently.

“Tell us, Fiona,” he says.

“Tobias kidnapped me when I was running in the forest,” I blurt out. “Rider did take me as his mate and keep me locked up, but he was trying to keep me safe.”

“That’s not my definition of ‘safe,’” Jack grumbles.

“It was Tobias who came after your mates!” I cry, grabbing Bae’s arm. “Rider had nothing to do with it, and I can prove it. Rider has men who are loyal to him; they have been fighting against Tobias for a long time. All Rider wants is to protect the pack. He’s devastated by what Tobias has done.”

“I told you,” Kyle says to Bae. “He’s got a good heart. He’s not like Jethro.”

“He’s not exactly a nice guy, either,” Bae points out.

“He looks like fucking Father Christmas next to Tobias!” Kyle snaps. “You can’t keep this deal, Bae.”

“Bailey,” I urge, tugging on the alpha’s arm. “He knows I’ll tell you, and that Kyle will also defend Rider. He’s going to double-cross you, too. He has a plan.”

“I’m well-aware of that,” Bae replies. “But I don’t like the idea of just leaving Rider alive. He did keep you prisoner, and he was involved in the attack on us last time. He should pay for his crimes.”

My chest shakes with sobs so powerful, it feels like my ribs will break. A low moan comes out of my throat as I fight against the words I’ve never said out loud. Ever.

“He’s my son’s father,” I moan helplessly. “He’s Caleb’s father.”

I bury my face in my hands and cry, curled up in hopeless misery. The effort of shedding my secret has taken all the strength from me, and all I can do is weep.

I raise my head slightly, still choking on sobs. “I love Rider,” I whisper. “God fucking help me, I love him so much.”

“We have to help them,” Kyle states. “We have to support Rider and save the Sawpit Pack.”

I look up and see determination in Bae’s face. A tiny sliver of hope begins to glow deep inside my heart.

Maybe everything will be okay.

“We’re going to need reinforcements,” Bae says, his voice hard. “Let’s get moving.”