Page 61 of Break The Ice

“Where people just kind of forget about you? Use you?”

Wren’s expression collapses in relief. “Yes. Exactly. My parents put my sisters first, and that’s to be expected, but I didn’t have many friends growing up. My best friend is married to the eldest of my sisters. Even my coach traded me for a rookie. My girlfriend was trying to fuck my dad. It’s just a lot. I wanted to be first and important to someone, to anyone.”

“That’s why you keep everyone at arm’s length,” I murmur. “You are important to me.”

Wren holds my eyes for a long moment and then looks away.

“People can’t disappoint you if you don’t expect anything from them.”

“Wren, you can trust us. It’s the four of us against the world.” I don’t include Ryann, even though everything in me wants to.

“How would that even work? You guys have known each other for years, and I, well, I-”

I silence him with a kiss. He tangles his fingers in my hair and drags me closer. We break apart, panting.

“Us four against the world,” I reiterate. “You’re going to stay with us.”

“Yes. I don’t think I have a choice.” Wren heaves a sigh, his touch gentling as he looks between my eyes. He strokes my bottom lip with his thumb.

“You’re my scent matches. I can’t even get you out of my thoughts, and I don’t know how I’d get you out of my head.”

He inches towards me. I watch the deep grey colour in his eyes soften and turn into something warmer.

When our lips finally meet again, this time, in a heart-wrenchingly soft kiss, I remember the first time I met him, at Raider’s practice. He was on the ice, and I was walking down the stairs. I’d stopped, he’d stopped, and we’d just stared at each other.

Instant.

I catch his bottom lip, sucking lightly before letting go and pulling back.

“Let’s go see my dad so we can go home.”

Wren flashes that smile that melts my insides. For some reason, it hadn’t occurred to me that he’d be into me, too. I assumed I was harboring a one-sided crush.

I drive to my dad’s and try to summon the rage I’d felt coming down here. He meets us on the porch, scowling at me. He’s got a stained white singlet on with a checkered flannel shirt and dirty jeans. My dad is a freaking mess, but he’s my dad.

“What are you wearing?”

I look down at the cardigan and slacks. “Clothes.”

“You look like a damn omega.”

I glance at Wren, whose expression starts slowly darkening.

“We need to talk!” I snarl at my father before he can attack Wren.

“And what’s this about you dating the omega boy? It’s in all the papers. I thought I told you to keep that shit to yourself.”

I stumble as I take a step forward. “What?”

“Don’t call-”

I grip Wren’s forearm hard. “What did you say, Dad?”

He holds out his phone. “It’s on the news everywhere. You and Raider are dating that brat! I knew there was something wrong there. I should never have let you move.”

I ignore him, instead using his distractedness to snatch his phone out of his hands. I’m deaf to his shouts as I scan article after article.

“Oh, no,” I breathe.

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