Chapter 5 Dad

My heart stopped.

"Dad, breakfast!"

Sienna's voice.

Bright. Cheerful. Normal.

Right outside the door.

The word hit me harder than anything.

Dad.

Dad?

My body went cold.

I sat up too fast, the blanket sliding off me. Roman's shirt hung loose on my skin. His scent clung to me. Warm. Dangerous. Familiar.

Dad.

My brain refused to connect it.

Then it did.

And everything crashed at once.

The door handle moved.

I panicked.

Roman stepped in front of me instantly.

Blocking me.

Shielding me.

Like he already knew what I was thinking.

"Don't open it," he said slowly.

"I wasn't going to," I whispered.

My voice shook.

Not from fear.

From shock.

Sienna knocked lightly.

"Dad? Are you awake?"

Dad.

Again.

Each time felt like a slap.

Roman didn't answer her.

He kept his eyes on me.

Watch me carefully.

Too carefully.

Like I might run.

Like I might break.

"Say something," I whispered.

His jaw tightened. "In a minute."

"She called you Dad."

"I know."

"She called you Dad."

"I heard her, Elena."

My chest felt tight.

My throat burned.

"Sienna is my best friend," I said slowly. "My only friend."

He said nothing.

The silence told me everything.

"You're her father?" I asked.

He nodded once.

That was it.

Just one small nod.

Like it wasn't a bomb.

Like it wasn't ruining my entire world.

I laughed.

A small, broken sound.

"You're joking."

"I'm not."

"This is a mistake."

"It isn't."

"No," I said, shaking my head. "No. No. No. This can't be real. I work for her family. I slept over at her house. I tell her everything. Everything. And you"

My voice cracked.

"And you're her father?"

He stepped closer.

"Lower your voice."

"Don't tell me what to do."

"She'll hear you."

"I don't care!"

I did care.

But I was too hurt to admit it.

Memories hit me all at once.

Sienna laughing with me in the kitchen.

Sienna talking about her strict father.

Sienna says, He never smiles. He's scary. But he loves me.

My stomach twisted.

Roman.

She meant Roman.

All this time.

"You knew," I said quietly.

He didn't answer.

"You knew who I was the whole time."

"I suspected."

"Don't lie."

His eyes flickered.

That was enough.

"You knew," I repeated.

"Yes."

The word was heavy.

Honest.

And it hurt more than a lie.

"Since when?" I asked.

"The moment I smelled you at the gala."

"Smelled me?"

"My wolf recognized you."

I swallowed.

"And then?"

"And then I checked the staff list."

My chest tightened.

"So you investigated me."

"Yes."

"Like I'm some threat?"

"No," he said sharply. "Like you're something precious."

I stared at him.

Anger. Confusion. Heat.

Too many emotions at once.

"You should have told me," I said.

"I couldn't."

"Why?"

"Because the second you knew who I was, you would've run."

He wasn't wrong.

And that made me angrier.

"So what?" I asked. "You thought sleeping with me first would make it easier?"

His face darkened.

"Don't say it like that."

"Like what? Like the truth?"

"Last night wasn't manipulation."

"It feels like it."

He flinched.

Actually flinched.

Like I had stabbed him.

His voice dropped.

"Last night was the first time in years I wasn't alone."

That stopped me.

"You think this is easy for me?" he continued. "You think I planned to want you? You think I planned for my daughter's best friend to be my mate?"

Mate.

That word again.

It twisted my heart.

"I hate it," he said quietly. "I hate how complicated this is. I hate how dangerous it is. But I don't hate you."

Silence.

Soft. Painful.

"I can't," he added. "I tried."

My anger cracked a little.

Just a little.

Because his voice wasn't cold.

It was tiring.

Lonely.

Real.

"I feel stupid," I admitted.

"For what?"

"For trusting you so fast."

"That wasn't stupidity," he said. "That was instinct."

"Or weakness."

"No." His voice hardened. "Don't call yourself weak."

"You don't know me."

"I know enough."

He stepped closer.

Too close.

My heart reacted instantly.

Traitor.

"I know you stayed calm when those men grabbed you," he said. "I know you fought even when you were drugged. I know you still worried about your friend while you were scared."

His eyes softened.

"You're stronger than half my pack."

My throat tightened.

No one had ever said something like that to me before.

But the problem was still there.

Huge.

Unavoidable.

"Sienna," I whispered. "She trusts me."

"So do I."

"This will hurt her."

"I know."

"Then what are we doing?"

He didn't answer.

Because neither of us knew.

A knock again.

Louder this time.

"Dad? Are you okay?"

I froze.

Roman closed his eyes briefly.

Then he spoke through the door.

"I'll be down soon."

"Okay! Don't skip breakfast again!"

Her footsteps faded.

The silence afterward felt heavier.

I wrapped my arms around myself.

"I should go," I said.

"No."

The word came fast.

Sharp.

Possessive.

I blinked. "What?"

"You're not leaving."

"I can't stay here."

"You can't leave either."

"That's not your choice."

"It is."

My anger came back. "You don't own me."

"I'm trying to protect you."

"From what?"

"From my enemies."

My stomach dropped.

"What enemies?"

He stared at me.

Measuring.

Then he said quietly, "Last night wasn't random."

"What do you mean?"

"The men who drugged you? They weren't drunk idiots."

My heart pounded.

"They were sent."

"Sent by who?"

"Rival packs."

My mouth went dry.

"Why me?"

His eyes darkened.

"Because you're connected to me."

"But they didn't know that," I said.

"They suspected."

"How?"

"Because someone told them."

The words hung heavy.

Betrayal.

Inside job.

My chest tightened.

"Someone in your pack?" I whispered.

He nodded.

"Yes."

Twist.

Another one.

Nothing felt safe anymore.

Not the house.

Not the people.

Not even my friend's family.

"So if I walk out that door..." I said slowly.

"They'll take you," he finished.

"Use you against me."

My hands trembled.

"I didn't ask for this."

"I know."

"I just wanted a job. A normal life."

"I know."

"But now I'm in some war because of you."

His voice broke.

"I'm sorry."

He rarely apologized.

I could tell.

The word sounded foreign in his mouth.

Heavy.

Real.

And that made it worse.

Because I believed him.

"I need time," I whispered.

"You don't have time."

"Don't say that."

"They're moving fast."

"So what? I just stay locked in your room forever?"

"If that's what keeps you safe, yes."

I stared at him.

"You really would cage me."

"I'd burn the world first."

My heart betrayed me again.

Because part of me liked that.

Liked how fiercely he cared.

Even if it scared me.

"I don't know what we are," I said softly.

His answer came without hesitation.

"Mine."

My breath caught.

Then he added quietly, "If you'll have me."

Before I could reply

Knock.

Soft.

Then the door handle turned.

My blood ran cold.

Sienna's voice floated in, confused and curious.

"Dad? Why is the door locked?"

My heart slammed.

Roman and I locked eyes.

Too close.

Too guilty.

Too late.

The handle moved again.

And she said

"... Elena? Are you in there?"