Page 62 of Break The Ice

Whoever revealed the truth was someone who was close. They’ve got most of the details right. They’ve got interviews with our school bullies. Aw, fuck, they even approached Raider’s family, my dad is quoted here as saying ‘no son of his would be with a sissy omega boy like Kit.’ I let out a hysterical laugh as I read about Raider’s lies and Kit’s failed career. And then I read the next bit.

They include Wren.

How do they know? I frantically read all the information, but I can’t see anything that would indicate who has betrayed us.

“We need to get back!” I say absently, handing back the phone.

“What did you come here for? And we ain’t finished!”

I turn on my dad, and the huge man I spent most of my life in fear of is suddenly just a small, old, scared man who has nothing and no one else.

“If you want me to stay in your life, you need to accept Kit. No more name calling, no more snide comments, you need to treat him nicely. I’m serious this time, Dad, I’ve had enough.”

“I will never-”

“Or you will be alone forever because I won’t come back.”

My dad pauses, his eyes are washed out blue and bloodshot, his skin weathered. Our home is small, but I lived there all my life, and my dad grew up in that house, too. My mother’s presence was a light that was there and gone too fast. Her touch and influence left an impression, but the pain of losing her destroyed my father’s ability to be happy. I can understand why he is the person he is. But understanding doesn’t mean acceptance.

Is that why I’ve been so tolerant of his vileness? Because of my mother?

But understanding and allowing him to behave like this isn’t right, and I have had enough. This has been a long time coming, and I should have done it a long time ago.

“Think about it, Dad. Mum would have been so ashamed right now. Let me know when you’re ready to apologise to Kit, Dad, and we can speak. Until then,” I really look at him, the grey hair, the weight he carries on his belly, and I see a stranger, and I regret so much, but not this, “don’t ring me, and lose Kit’s number.”

I turn away from the lost look in his eyes and get back in the car. Wren has barely got his seatbelt on before I’m driving back to Greene.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Someone outed us. We didn’t tell anyone because Raider was so famous, and Kit was so insecure. It was all supposed to be kept quiet. We need to get back before they realise there is something going on. Shit! Kit is going to lose it. Who the hell told?”

“Who knows?”

“Basically, no one.”

“Look, it doesn’t matter who spilled it, what matters is making sure that Kit’s okay.” Wren pauses.

“And Raider,” I say with numb lips.

“And Raider.”

Neither of us mention Ryann, but I’m sure she’s on his mind as strongly as she’s on mine. She’s a question mark. An enigma that isn’t certain yet, but I want her to be.

The drive seems to take four times longer to get home than it did to get here, and I think I see even less than I did the first time.

The panic I feel has me imagining the worst.

Wren thankfully sits fairly quietly, but he keeps his hand on my thigh, a solid comfort.

I park the car and rush into the house, only to find the three of them passed out on the couch. I sag against the wall, just watching them.

“They don’t know yet.”

Wren grabs my wrist and tugs me insistently. I turn, a questioning look on him, but he tilts his head towards the kitchen.

I follow him and gasp when he spins me so I’m pressed up against the counter. I look up at him and gape as he slowly drops to his knees.

“You’re far too stressed, Alpha.”

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