Page 27 of Break The Ice

Callan sits down heavily and tangles his fingers together. “It’s not so much as just stand there, he’s a cop. He could make things hard.”

I scowl. “We teach people how to treat us.”

I turn to the other two. “What’s your excuses?”

Raider blinks. “What did he say?”

Is he this obtuse all the time or is it new? I turn away from him in disgust and look at Wren.

“Well?”

“It’s not my place-”

“Bullshit! You know what, fine. That’s just fine. It’s none of my business. If you want to hurt each other, go ahead. I’m just a beta who is your prisoner. What the hell would I know?”

With that, I storm up to my bedroom and close the door. I need to think.

If they won’t protect their own pack, what good is being here? One thing is clear. It’s not safe here.

Chapter seven

Kit

I’m embarrassed, and Ialways am after days like these. I just can’t quite leave the past in the past where it belongs. It always wells up when I least expect it and poisons me all over again. It strips all the armour away. The past comes back and leaves me uncertain and scared like a kid all over again.

Worse still is the way the pack always gets.

Callan is walking around with huge, big, apologetic eyes while Raider is sitting quietly, being unusually introspective. Ryann is missing, though, and when I’d asked, they said she was in her bedroom but didn’t elaborate.

It’s all my fault.

It’s a strange occurrence that Callan and Raider get up at the same time and leave the room, and I realise it must be arranged. I look at the table and run my hand over the hardwood, feeling worse. Wren leans back. I can feel his gaze on me, and I’m not ready to face it. Okay, so maybe this was orchestrated.

I am a coward.

I get this sinking feeling, this pit of doom and despair. He’s going to be disgusted with me. When I first met him, I’d felt this need to hide who I am, and I never quite got out of that mindset. Wren is too perfect, the opposite of what I am. Everything I’ve spent my life being told I should be.

I’m aware that he has no idea what happened today, but I’m not sure if I want to tell him. It’s not fair to him, though.

If he asks, I’ll be honest, that’s all I can do.

Wren looks me dead in the eyes, and I see nothing but compassion and curiosity.

“Who was that alpha today, Kit?”

I suck in air. I knew he was going to ask, but still it hurts more than I expected.

Of course, I react how I always do. I lower my eyes, submitting to the stronger alpha. I wish I’d been born a beta. This wouldn’t be an issue. Instead, I barely have the dominance of an alpha, and I don’t have the appearance of one. I like nice things, and I love clothes. I like makeup and looking good, but I love hockey and football. I’m who I am, I just don’t want to have to hide any parts of me.

What’s wrong with that?

He’s going to hate me. I’m going to be the deal breaker that ruins Callan and Raider’s pack.

“Kit, stop. Just talk to me.” Wren’s voice is low and full of compassion.

I smooth my hand over the wood, getting rid of the dust and flecks of debris to buy myself some time.

“When I was a kid, I was much like I am now, and I had a couple of bullies. It wasn’t okay to be like me, to be different.”

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