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For the first time, my wolf is also not happy.
Deceit.
It senses deceit, and it's hurt.
He must have been planning to take Riya away, or was he going to use my daughter as a hostage to get me to stay with him, to see him flaunt Tina in front of me while I was the bedwarmer?
He pulls up in front of my apartment building. I don't question why he's brought us back here. I get out first and pick up a sleeping Riya in my arms. I want my baby's scent to be ingrained in my every cell so that once I part from her, I will never forget it.
I hold her close to me, the anger fading from my heart and replaced by a deep, gut-wrenching misery. She was supposed to be mine. I was supposed to raise her in love and affection and see her grow up to be a wonderful woman. And now I'm going to lose her.
I hesitate at the entrance, my heart screaming at me to take her and just run. I want to keep running until we are away from all these people who have hurt and manipulated me.
"Come on," Adam says. He's wise enough not to touch me.
I unlock the apartment door and take Riya to her room. She doesn't stir. I take off her shoes and pull the blanket over her little body. For a moment, I linger by her bedside, soaking in the sight of her.
"My precious baby," I whisper, my heart cracking. "You will always be loved wherever you go. Even if I leave, I'll always love you."
I press my lips against her forehead, stroking back her hair.
I stay like that for a long time, my fingers combing through her hair, my eyes on her face, her little hands.
It takes every ounce of willpower to get to my feet and head to the living room where Adam is waiting. He's looking at the pictures of me and Riya on the bookcase when I walk in. I don't say anything.
He must have sensed my presence because he quietly says, "Tony only sent me one picture of Riya from when she was born, and you were holding her in your arms. I never dared to keep another picture around. I was always afraid someone would find it."
"Didn't want your dirty little secret revealed to the pack?" I say coldly, walking over to the kitchen to make myself a coffee. My insides are jittery, and I need to do something with my hands.
"It must be easy to villainize me," Adam says, and this time I hear a trace of hurt in his voice.
"You make it quite easy, yes," I agree.
He's quiet for a moment, and I put the kettle on the stove, keeping my back to him. I don't want to see him.
"I don't plan to separate you and Riya," Adam says suddenly. "You're her mother."
"Then leave us alone."
"She's my daughter, Cynthia!" Adam raises his voice, frustrated. "You can't keep me away from her. Both of you belong next to me, by my side."
My hand tightens on the spoon I've just picked up. "Are you sure there is room for me and Riya there, what with your fiancée still standing by your side? Or is Tina your wife now?"
Adam's silence speaks volumes.
I close my eyes briefly, struggling to get my wayward emotions under control. "When I found out about your engagement to Tina, I was still foolish. I was foolish enough to think that you would be able to explain the truth to me. I didn't realize that you intended to chain me to your side."
"That is not what I intended to do," Adam says furiously. "If you'd just listen."
I whirl around, glaring at him. "Listen to what, Adam? How you isolated me under the pretense of giving two shits about me and then you went and got engaged to Tina? When were you going to tell me about you and her? After the marriage? After you made sure the control of the blood debt fell into your hands so that even if I protested, your fucking slave couldn't leave your side?"
"You're going too far," Adam snarls.
"Oh," I cover my mouth, "I'm going too far? I'm not the one who just torpedoed my entire fucking life in one week! Did you and Tony have fun laughing behind my back while you manipulated me? Or was this some sort of sick attempt at trying to tell me how stupid I am?"
"I was trying to protect you," Adam roars. "You're my mate! I––"
"I don't want to be your mate," I shout back, tears in my eyes. "I don't want to have anything to do with you! I want to be left alone, with my daughter."
