CHAPTER 5
1350 Words
The first thing Piper saw when she woke up was him
Sebastian Blackwood.
The infamous Alpha. The ruthless businessman. The father of the little girl sleeping soundly in her arms.
And he was crouched way too close.
His dark eyes bore into hers, intense and unreadable.
The dim office lighting did nothing to soften his sharp features, his chiseled jaw, the slight stubble lining it, the powerful tension in his broad shoulders.
His scent was overpowering—earthy, musky, mixed with something distinctly Alpha.
Piper’s heart gave an involuntary lurch.
But she refused to show weakness.
Instead, she exhaled slowly, shifting in her seat, careful not to wake Brianna.
“Well,” she murmured, voice husky from sleep. “This is unexpected.”
Sebastian didn’t move. “You were asleep.”
“No s**t,” she muttered. “That happens when people are tired.”
Matthias snorted quietly from the corner, clearly enjoying the exchange.
Piper ignored him and adjusted Brianna, who let out a tiny whimper before settling deeper against her.
Sebastian’s gaze flickered to his daughter.
The tension in his shoulders eased just slightly.
Piper caught it immediately.
So, the big bad Alpha does have a weakness.
She raised a brow. “I assume you’re here to take her?”
Sebastian’s eyes snapped back to hers, and for a moment, Piper swore she saw a flash of something hesitation?
It was gone just as quickly.
“Yes,” he said simply.
Piper fought the ridiculous urge to tighten her hold on Brianna.
Instead, she carefully peeled the sleeping girl off her chest, murmuring softly as she handed her over.
Brianna stirred, letting out a sleepy hum as her tiny hands clung to Piper’s blazer.
But when she finally opened her eyes and saw Sebastian, her face lit up.
“Daddy,” she mumbled, still half-asleep.
Sebastian’s entire demeanor softened.
It was subtle, so subtle that anyone else might’ve missed it.
But Piper saw it.
She saw the way his eyes gentled, the way his arms wrapped around Brianna with such quiet, protective strength.
Something about it made her chest tighten.
Not that she’d ever admit it.
Sebastian stood up, cradling Brianna effortlessly in one arm.
He turned to leave without another word.
But just before he reached the door, he paused.
Then, without looking back he said,
“I'll see you again”
And with that, he was gone.
Piper exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair.
Matthias, still standing by the desk, smirked. “Well, that was something”
Piper groaned. “Shut up.”
But even as she said it, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was right.
This, whatever this was, was far from over.
___
The midday sun cast a golden glow over the beach, reflecting off the crystal-clear waters.
The gentle waves kissed the shoreline, the sound mixing with the chatter of tourists enjoying the paradise Piper had built.
She sat near the large glass window of her beachfront café, sipping an iced espresso.
Dressed in a deep red bikini that hugged her curves perfectly, she exuded effortless confidence.
A soft white cardigan draped loosely over her shoulders, just enough to provide some coverage, but not enough to hide the sheer power of her presence.
The empire she had fought tooth and nail for stretched out before her, the luxurious resort, the elegant villas, the thriving businesses.
She should have been relaxing
Instead, she was still thinking about him
I'll see you again
Sebastian’s words echoed in her mind, his intense gaze still burned into her thoughts.
Piper scoffed to herself, swirling the ice in her glass.
Like hell it isn’t
A sudden knock on the glass startled her out of her thoughts.
She turned, expecting to see one of her employees, only to find a familiar little face beaming at her.
Brianna.
The six-year-old was pressed against the glass, grinning wildly, her excitement impossible to contain.
Before Piper could react, Brianna let out a delighted squeal and dashed inside the café, her tiny feet barely making a sound against the polished floors.
Piper blinked, stunned.
What the—
In an instant, Brianna was in front of her, bouncing on her heels.
“Mama!” she chirped happily.
Piper nearly choked on her coffee.
“Brianna—”
But the little girl wasn’t listening. She climbed onto the seat next to Piper, her small hands grabbing onto her arm like they belonged there.
Piper could feel every pair of eyes in the café turning toward them.
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Kid,” she said, lowering her voice, “I told you, I’m not your—”
Before she could finish, a dark shadow loomed over their table.
The air shifted.
The scent of pine and dominance filled the space.
Piper didn’t even have to look up to know exactly who it was.
Sebastian.
And he was not happy.
The moment Piper felt his presence, a slow smirk tugged at her lips.
She lifted her gaze, locking eyes with Sebastian.
He stood there, towering over the table, his expression a mix of exasperation and something else, something dark, possessive.
He was dressed in a crisp black button-down, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, veins prominent as his hands clenched at his sides.
His posture was rigid, muscles taut with restrained frustration.
Brianna, however, was completely oblivious.
“Daddy!” she squealed happily, bouncing in her seat. “Look! I found Mama again!”
Piper almost snorted at the look on Sebastian’s face.
His jaw ticked. His nostrils flared slightly.
And his sharp golden eyes—ones that could command an entire pack with just a look—were now locked onto her.
Like she was the only thing in the damn room.
Piper leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs just enough for the slit of her bikini wrap to shift, exposing more of her toned thigh.
She pretended not to notice the way his eyes flickered down for the briefest second before snapping back up.
She arched a brow, sipping her iced espresso. “Something wrong, Alpha?"
Sebastian exhaled sharply through his nose, dragging a hand down his face before glaring at his daughter.
“Brianna,” his voice was low, controlled, “what did I tell you about running off?”
Brianna blinked up at him innocently. “But I missed her, Daddy.”
Piper nearly choked on her drink. Missed her?
Oh, this was getting interesting.
Sebastian sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. He was struggling—torn between scolding his daughter and acknowledging whatever the hell this was between them.
Piper decided to make it worse.
She turned to Brianna, smirking. “See, kid? Your dad’s no fun.”
Brianna giggled. “I know!”
Sebastian shot her a glare, but Piper just sipped her drink, completely unbothered.
Then, suddenly, he leaned in.
Too close.
Close enough that she could smell the warmth of his cologne, the wild scent of pine and earth that clung to him.
His voice dropped to something dangerous.
“You,” he murmured, “are a problem”
Piper’s smirk widened.
“Good,” she whispered back. “I love being a problem.”
For a split second, his eyes darkened, the tension crackling between them like a live wire.
Then, before Piper could react, Sebastian straightened, scooping Brianna up into his arms with effortless strength.
“We’re leaving,” he said firmly, turning on his heel.
Brianna pouted but didn’t fight him. Instead, she waved over his shoulder. “Bye, Mama! I’ll find you again!”
Piper chuckled, raising her glass. “Looking forward to it, pup.”
Sebastian didn’t stop, didn’t look back.
But as he walked away, Piper caught the subtle shift in his shoulders, the way his grip on Brianna tightened.
And for the first time since meeting him, she realized something.
Sebastian Blackwood might be an Alpha. He might be powerful, rich, and dangerous.
But when it came to her?
He had absolutely no control.
- Writer
