Page 60 of Break The Ice

“Kit is special,” Wren says slowly.

“Kit is incredible. He’s my soulmate, my savior. He’s the reason I get up every morning. But, for a long time, I was the only one who could see that. And what kids see as different, they see as weakness.”

“They hurt him?”

“They bashed him up, called him names, took his books, vandalized his belongings, stripped him naked, and humiliated him. And there was nothing I could do. I tried, fuck, I tried so hard. But I was one against so many.”

“They hurt you, too,” Wren murmurs.

It’s not a question, so I don’t answer it. I swallow hard, trying to push the memories away, my fingers curling around the steering wheel until my knuckles are white.

“Freddy was the worst. He led the charge. They’d lock me in a locker, and I would be in there, screaming, banging my fists until they ended up bloody, listening to Kit scream. Every time it happened, I would wonder if today was the day that I’d come out and find him dead on the floor. It was horrific, and it never seemed to end.”

“Callan,” Wren whispers. He reaches across and puts a hand on my thigh.

“Raider came along, and he was bigger, an alpha, a sports guy, and incredibly handsome. Besides, no one wanted to mess with Raider because, if you messed with Raider, you had to face Kelly, and Kelly was terrifying. He’s older and sophisticated, but the alpha in him has a deadly aura, especially before he learned how to hide it. Most of everyone backed off, but not Freddy. He just would not give up. ”

“Kelly? His name keeps coming up. What’s the story there?”

“Kelly…is a story for another day, but Freddy, he is a nightmare that won’t end. The bullying didn’t stop, but Raider turned the tides, and he evened it. There is nothing quite so terrifying as Raider when he’s full of fury. I saw him charge into a group and take down half of them before the teachers appeared to stop it. They would try to punish him, but if Kelly was scary, having Wayne and Charles rock up to the school was something else. So, mostly, they ignored it.” I chuckle darkly at the memory of Raider’s rage.

“I see why you three are so close now. It makes sense. Who wouldn’t be close? It was you three against the world.”

Wren sighs, and his long fingers massage my thigh. I reach down, putting my hand over his, tentatively holding his hand.

“This town and this place, the whole damn town, is full of horrible memories, people who don’t accept us. Our blood, sweat, and tears are evidence of the torture that happened here. We fought so hard to get out and to go together. We made it. Even so, we keep getting dragged back here. Freddy was investigated for breaking Kit’s arm, one of the kids had talked to his parents over it. While they were searching, they discovered hewas selling drugs, so he ended up in prison. It was a huge thing, and it happened right before we graduated. Just as Raider signed with the Demons.”

My words are bitter, but Wren undoes his seatbelt, leans across, and touches our lips together.

“Let me be the reminder that you got out. I won’t let anyone hurt you, Callan. Not ever again.”

His words make my heart expand.

“It’s that helpless inability to protect Kit that kills me,” I spit out. A woman walks past, and I recognise her from the local shop. Mrs Tammal. She used to turn a blind eye. I’ve got stories about all of them. “I feel I should warn you about what my father is like. He is loud, obnoxious, and has these backwards ideas of what alphas should look like. To him, Kit isn’t a person, he’s less than a person.”

“Firstly, we’re going to protect Kit together now. Second, I don’t give a shit about your father.” Wren pauses. “What is it about Kit that upsets them so much?”

I bark out a bitter laugh.

“Because he’s an alpha who doesn’t act or look like an alpha. That’s enough for my dad and Freddy. Actually, I’m not sure about Freddy, his fixation bordered on psychotic, and it never made much sense.”

Wren growls, his fingers clenching on my thighs. He leans back and sighs, removing his hand. “My father wasn’t in my life. Mum was knocked up and found her pack. So the men who raised me aren’t my biological fathers, and they are loud and very inclusive and sometimes really embarrassing, but I’m really grateful to them right now. They are going to love Kit…and you.”

That sounds really nice, but there’s some hesitation in his voice.

“Haven’t you spoken to them recently?”

Wren clenches his jaw and shakes his head. “No.”

“Why?”

He closes his eyes. “A year ago, I was in a relationship with an omega.” He sucks in air through his teeth. “She didn’t want me. She was trying to get to one of my dads.”

My eyes widen, and I frantically try to think of something to say.

“It wasn’t serious, but it was just a series of situations where I…”

He trails off, pulling a face.

---