Page 101 of Break The Ice

“We might fail, Callan. We’re making him angry, and we might fail to protect her. Then what happens? What will happen to her?”

I swallow hard, hearing the same fears I’ve been feeling. The one time things have felt like this was with Kit, and it destroyed all three of us.

“You think we should ask, then?”

“I think it has to be on the table, and it needs to be a backup. I don’t want to trust her life with Kelly, but I know my brother, and,” Raider catches his breath and pauses, “he wouldn’t have left without a really good reason. He wouldn’t have done that to the family. Kelly would protect her with his life and all the power he wields.”

“You have your own power, Raider.”

Raider gives me a tiny smile, but it doesn’t take the misery away. “Not enough. Kelly is the Raines in this family. I’m just a hockey player.”

“You’re not just an anything, Raider. You’re everything.”

Raider stands up and ushers for me to follow him. He leads me down to the locker room. I watch as he peels off his clothes and jumps in the shower.

I keep my eyes locked on him, scared that if I look away for even a second, he might vanish. This defeat is not like him.

When he’s dressed, Raider goes to his locker and looks at me with pain-filled eyes. My stomach jolts violently. I want to tell him not to say anything. To hold the words back.

But, to my surprise, he doesn’t say anything.

He just hands me an envelope.

When I open it, there’s a photo of Ryann sitting in the stands, cheering and wearing a Greene Demons jumper. My heart jumps and settles in my throat. I feel sick. It’s the Python game.

My hand shakes as I turn it over and look at the elegant and looping script.

“She’s mine.”

“It’s a warning,” Raider says unnecessarily. “He knows my locker, he knows she’s here, and now he’s claimed her.” Raiders’ cold eyes bore into mine. “Do you still want to keep her here?”

I stare down ather. She’s sleeping so peacefully in Wren’s arms that I almost hate to disturb her. I think of that message left in Raider’s locker, and my hands shake. I kneel beside the bed and gently stroke her face.

It doesn’t take very long before she wakes up.

“Call?”

I smile at her sleepy nickname. “I got you a present.”

She lifts her head, smiling. “You did?”

“I did.”

I lift her hand and gently slide the ring onto her index finger. It’s a delicate ring of twisted metals. There are five distinct colours, gold, bronze, silver, rose, and black.

“It’s so pretty, Callan.” She admires it for a second, and then pulls my face to hers, kissing me lightly. “Come and cuddle me, Alpha.”

I climb in beside her. Wren’s eyes are open, and when I wrap myself around her, his arms enclose us.

Ryann falls asleep quickly, but Wren continues to stroke my arm.

“You’re a good alpha, Callan.”

I stare at him, wondering what he’d think if he knew there was a tracking chip implanted in the ring.

Wren smiles and turns his head away. “Go to sleep, Callan, and stop thinking so hard. It will be okay.”

I try, but my mind won’t stop turning. The ring is peace of mind. But will it be enough?

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