Page 34 of Daddy of the Mountain

"Not sure I’ve got it in me to chase rabbits today," I joked, though it came out weaker than I meant it to. My gaze dropped to the path ahead, watching our footsteps blend together in the churned snow.

We kept walking. The forest around us was quiet except for the occasional rustle of branches overhead. Every so often, Silas would point out a bird or a tree scarred by old lightning. Simple things. But each word felt deliberate, like he was grounding me here, one observation at a time. Keeping me tethered to this place, to him, even as we moved further down the mountain.

The trail curved, revealing the edge of Snowview below. My breath caught when I saw the rooftops laid out like pieces on a game board, their chimneys trailing thin ribbons of smoke into the crisp sky. It was beautiful, sure, but it didn’t feel the same as before.

"Almost there," Silas said, his voice pulling me back to the moment.

"Yeah," I mumbled, though my thoughts were already drifting. Each step took us closer to my rented cottage, closer to whatever came next.

When we reached the door, I stopped for a moment. The cabin looked exactly the same as when I left it—small, neat, unassuming. But I didn’t feel the same. Not even close.

"Well," I breathed. My hand hovered over the lock for a second, memories flashing behind my eyes. The panic. The tears. The desperate need to escape. All of it felt so far away now, like it happened to someone else entirely.

"Something wrong?" Silas asked, his voice quiet but firm.

"Just... thinking," I said, turning the key until the latch clicked. The door creaked open, revealing the untouched interior.Everything was just as I’d left it. I’d barely spent any time in here.

“Well,” I said. “I guess I need to say thank you.”

“Don’t mention it."

I paused for a moment.

“Are we seriously not going to talk about what happened last night?

He sighed.

“I’m sorry,” he said, sighing deeply.

“You’ve turned my life upside down, Silas. You rescue me. Nurture me. Get me to call you Daddy. The we have thebest sex of my lifeand the next day I’m just meant to—”

"Alana," Silas said. His eyes locked on mine, steady as a stone in a rushing river. “I love you.”

Three words. They hit so hard my knees almost buckled. I blinked fast, but it didn’t stop the sting in my eyes. It wasn’t news—I think I’d known for a while now—but hearing it out loud made something inside me crack wide open. Relief poured through me like water breaching a dam, followed by a wild, aching joy.

"Excuse me?" My throat clogged up, useless. My lips trembled around the shape of words I couldn’t seem to find.

He stepped closer, his boots scraping against the wooden floor. His hand brushed my arm, firm and grounding, before falling away again. He drew in a breath, like he was steadying himself, then let it out slow. “I don’t want you to go back,” he said, his voice even but thick with meaning. “Not to your old life. Not to all that noise and rush. I know it’s selfish. I’ve been trying desperately not to say it.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to rob you of your life. Your future. It’s no life for a beautiful, vibrant young woman up here. I don’t want that.”

“Stop telling me what you don’t want. Tell me what youdowant.”

My heart thudded hard, each beat louder than the last.

“I want you here, with me,” he continued, gaze never leaving mine. “I want to be your Daddy, always. To make this mountainourhome. For both of us. I’ll protect you, guide you . . .” His jaw tightened like he was forcing himself to keep his voice calm. “Give you what you found up there. Whatwefound.”

The air between us buzzed, charged and heavy. My chest rose and fell too quickly, trying to pull in enough oxygen to keep from sinking under the weight of his words. Every part of him, from the way he stood so solidly to the raw conviction in his tone, told me he meant every syllable. This wasn’t some passing whim. This was Silas—grounded, unshakable, offering me everything.

I stared at him, my fingers twitching against the seam of my jeans. My breath hitched. God help me, I trembled like a damn leaf in the wind, no matter how hard I tried to stand steady. His words were still ringing in my ears, echoing louder than they should’ve been, filling up all the empty parts inside me. The mountain. Him. Us.

And then there it was—the city, pushing back into my mind like an unwelcome guest. Emails, meetings, deals that felt like victories but always left me drained. Bills stacked on my kitchen counter. A fridge with nothing but cold takeout and half-drunk wine.

I imagined what it might be like to leave all that behind. Slow mornings and coffee that tasted like pine smoke. The weight of his hand on the small of my back when I needed grounding. Littlespace. That safe, warm bubble where I didn’t have to be anything more than just . . . me.

My chin lifted before I even realized what I was doing. I looked at him—really looked—and found nothing but patience waiting for me. No pressure, no demands, just that endless, unshakabletenderness shining in his eyes. He was offering me everything without asking for a damn thing in return.

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