Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 223

"Fine," I say. "But whenever I'm with her, you're gonna be there. And if she tries to kill me, we're both gonna die."

"I didn't agree to that," he says.

I leave him to his grumbling.

I prepare for bed the usual way. Brush my teeth, take a shower, wash my face. I grab a glass of water and put it on my bedside table. But once I'm snuggled up in bed, I feel anything but cozy.

The window's locked. I know that for sure, but this is the fifth time I've gotten up to check it. I look at the water then at the window in a cycle that never ends. One sip. Two. Three. Four. Five. Ten, until it's all gone and all that's left is the window. I pull the curtains together to hide it, then I pull them apart because it's even scarier to not see what's there. Eventually I sit up, just holding myself and watching it.

The window.

I'm tired of thinking about it, but I can't stop. It makes my heart beat faster. It makes my chest clench. I feel like I'm paranoid. I turn away and I look back again just to turn away again and look back again and turn away again and look back again and again and again and... I guess I need more water.

Down the stairs.

Up the stairs.

Down the stairs.

Up the stairs.

Now I need to pee. Dammit. Sitting on the toilet, I stare at all of the walls and marvel at the fact that this room doesn't have any windows at all. I consider moving my pillow in here and crashing on the floor until I realize that sounds crazy.

Is there something wrong with me?

It starts to dawn on me that this might be becoming a problem. I consider talking to my mom about it, but I don't want to worry her. Michael's done all he can. I can't keep him up another night. He's got a test coming up. An important one.

I finish in the bathroom and head back to bed. I watch the water and consider who else I could turn to.

I couldn't burden my other siblings with this. God forbid I make them afraid of windows too, or the dark. I could talk to my dad, but he'd just tell my mom. Bri and Krys are out of the questions. They'd just ask me to move into the pack house. Mission accomplished. And they can finally get some sleep.

Onai probably wouldn't get it. Ethel would tattle.

Axel's out of the question too. I don't want him to think that his handiwork didn't make me feel safe enough.