Page 133 of Broken Dreams

I can’t help the giggle that slips out of my mouth, a sound I rarely make. My mom sighs happily, looking me over.

“I don’t believe I could have done any better,” she says. “Your father has been very grumbly in my head, so I’m going to bring my headphones today. The asshole isn’t ruining my day.”

“I think that’s the best way to ruin his, though,” Linus says.

He was very skeptical about my mom leaving my father for good, but he’s definitely warmed up in the past week that she’s been living with us. My mom is adamant that she’s never going back to him. She filed paperwork to divorce him, even though the bond will remain until he dies.

I really am worried about what will happen then. No matter how quick I make his death, my mom could still suffer or even be dragged down with him. Fuck, it makes every smile she has mean so much more now.

We head downstairs to where my alphas are waiting for me. They have a picnic basket at their feet, a duffle bag and a gun case, as well as a backpack.

“Are we packing for a bear?”I ask them in my mind.

Duncan snorts, shrugging. “Not quite a bear, sweet girl. We are going to do some target practice, though. There’s a lake with great hiking we want to take you to.”

My mom has a secret smile on her face as if she knows I’ve been speaking to my alphas through our bond, and my cheeks heat. There are so many things I’ve missed out on. I fucking hate that my father chose his own greed over my childhood.

Pushing the thought out of my head because I don’t want Duncan and Callum to worry, I follow them out the door to theSUV. So many little details that show how much they love me. Callum carefully helps my mom into the vehicle while Duncan holds my hand as I climb to sit in the middle seat. He places my mini tablet in my lap with a wink, moving away so Linus can get in next to me.

The drive to where they’re taking us is about half an hour, and I listen to the chatter around me while my mother firmly puts in her earphones. This is the best way she could tell my father to take a flying leap off a cliff. He hates to be ignored.

Dad must be losing his damn mind, because he’s not getting his way, not in the way he imagined he would. While the party plans are being set into motion to happen in three weeks time, the Kelly brothers are not taking his calls. My mother isn’t responding to him, she’s not coming home, and the mafia community at large can sense there’s something amiss between them.

Gossip runs rampant through the families. I should know. I was practically an urban legend parents told their children of what happens when teenagers don’t do what they’re supposed to. Nothing of the sort is actually true, but everyone has heard of my disappearance.

This party is going to be a great reminder of what it’s like to live in a fish bowl, as everyone is going to gawk at me. I can’t wait.

My eyes light up as Duncan takes us off roading down to a gorgeous lake that laps at the sand’s edge.

“Here we are,” he says, turning off the car and getting out.

Doors open, and we all follow him outside, where I take a deep breath of fresh air. I’ll never, ever get used to being able to go outside whenever I want, or enjoying my surroundings without someone shoving a gun in my side to tell me to stop dawdling.

The beauty of the water, trees, and the cliffside surrounding us may give me a permanent smile on my face. I can’t get over how blue the sky is either, and I find myself walking closer to the lake as I let myself just be.

Duncan sets out the picnic on a huge blue blanket, and I have to tear myself away as I walk back to eat. Even then, I pick up a piece of cheese or fruit to chew slowly before I lose myself again to the view.

“Open,” Callum says, sounding absolutely amused. My mouth opens immediately, and he places a bite sized piece of sandwich into my mouth. “Now go back to your happy place and enjoy.”

Glancing at him as I chew, I can see his eyes sparkling with mischief, and even my mom is snickering under her breath. The earphones are set to the side, she appears relaxed, and enjoying herself. I guess my father finally decided to cut her some slack.

I manage to eat while still getting lost in how pretty everything is. When we’re finished, Callum puts everything away in the picnic basket, and then places it in the trunk of the SUV in a bottom compartment so it’ll stay cool. They’ve really managed to think of everything.

“Hike?” Duncan asks, and my mom looks at the water with a small sigh. “You can stay here, Ayla. It’s completely safe, and no one really comes out here.”

“It’s finally quiet,” she laments. God, my father is a rat bastard for torturing her like this.

“Then you should enjoy it,” Callum says firmly. “Here’s a pillow, a blanket if it gets cool, did you bring your e-reader?”

My mom looks a little overwhelmed as she nods, looking toward the vehicle. My alpha gets her all situated before nodding. There’s even a wide brimmed hat for Ayla in case she needs it. They thought of everything.

“Here’s the radio since the signal is funky for cell towers. If you’re worried or want to check on us, we’ll have the other one, Ayla,” Duncan adds, handing it to her. He makes sure she knows how to use it, and I can see my mom settle on the blanket to read.

I wave at her and she grins back at me.

“Your pack is the stuff dreams are made of, baby,” she says as we start off on our walk.

You’re not wrong, mom. There’s a missing piece that I can feel, but he hasn’t earned his spot with us. It feels as if there’s an entire community who is vetting Christian to see if he’s good enough for me. It’s funny because when you’re a kind of legend in the families, they also pull hard for your happily ever after.

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