Page 47 of Break The Ice

He opens his mouth, but I step into his chest and wrap my arms around him.

“Callan?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t ask me what’s wrong. Don’t say you can help me. Don’t be nice.”

He lifts his arms and holds me to him, his hands gently moving in slow, warm circles on my back. “If that’s what you need?”

“That’s what I need.”

When Callan hugs you like this, you feel like the entire world can burn around you, and you’ll be safe in these arms. He envelopes you, pulling you into him. His scent, the feel, all of it around me, taking over my senses, and this yearning for him, to stay here with him always, just like this, awakens in me.

I don’t even try to stop it. I just surrender to this alpha.

“Wren! Someone left flowers on the porch for you!” Kit shouts.

“I don’t like flowers. Throw them in the bin!” Wren hollers back.

I snort a laugh into Callan’s chest.

“Yeah, the house is bedlam at the best of days, but you’re welcome to stay for as long as you want. We told you this, but, you know, if it ends up being longer, that’s okay, too.”

I still. “You can’t offer me that.”

“On the banned list?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, I withdraw the offer.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

I rest my cheek on his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heartbeats. It’s one of my favourite sounds.

“Callan!”

Kit stops, and I hear the squeak of the floorboards as he shifts his weight but doesn’t leave.

“What’s up, Kit?”

“Uh, it’s just, Raider’s family are back.”

Callan sighs heavily, and then, to my utter consternation, he ghosts his lips over my hair before he pulls himself free. I stand there glaring at the floor, reliving those seconds over and over.

So familiar and so different. Different scent, feel, person, but the gesture is one my mother did a million times.

I blink back tears and turn, seeing the Raines clan push into the house. I really am starting to dislike these people.

Charles Raines was once the heir to Alpha Labels, a massive recording studio that picks out artists and creates superstars. His pack is August, who is a beta, Sol, who is an ex-musician, and Wayne who used to be Sol’s bodyguard. Raider told me about them last night. Who they are, what to expect.

While they line up on one side with the extra two adult males, Raiders pack line up across from them.

Bethany makes a sound that pisses me off.

I stalk forward, uncaring of the fact I smell like Raider and Wren, uncaring of the fact I’m wearing Raiders clothes. I don’t care if they think I’m a slut or a whore.

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