Page 90 of Break The Ice

“We’re not going to leave you, and you’re not going anywhere. We’re going to get through this together now. You’re not alone anymore.”

I shudder in his hold, melting as his words rip apart walls and scars I didn’t know I still had.

“I was scared I wasn’t going to get to say goodbye,” I murmur. My voice cracks embarrassingly at the end, but Kit just squeezes harder, and then another body joins us, covering me from the other side.

Callan’s parchment and tea scent blends perfectly with Kit’s scent, reminding me of home and things that I haven’t had in a long time.

They are safe.

Pomegranates wafts towards us, taking over, stronger and more aggressive with his anger.

Wren grabs my hair and pulls lightly. “Damn it, Ryann, I’m not okay with any of this.”

I blink at him from where my cheek is laying on Kit’s chest. “I’m sorry, Wren.”

“Don’t be sorry. Fuck, no one could blame you for anything or any choices you made. You did what you had to do to survive. That’s all anyone can ask.”

Kit lets go, and Wren takes his place.

“You should always call for help. If you can’t reach us, call the police, call Kelly, call anyone. But you don’t do this alone anymore, you hear me?”

I nod, but he doesn’t wait. He claims my lips in a kiss that makes my toes curl.

Raider stalks in and slams the door open, blasting the room with peppermint. “We’re leaving.”

“What?”

“We’re leaving. This hotel has the shittiest security,” Raider snarls. “Pack now.”

“But-”

“Kit,” Raider says in a voice I’ve never heard him use before. “I’m not asking. They let that person in here. Then he bribed one of the security guys into deleting information. Hotel management is dealing with it, but we,” he levels a glare at his alphas, “are leaving.”

My mind spins, but I spring into action, grabbing my bag, and turning to Kit and Callan.

“My stuff.”

“We’ll get it. We’ll meet you at the entrance.”

I watch them rush off, my hands are clammy. The door opens, and my uncle storms in. He grabs me out of Wren’s arms, ignoring my snarling alpha.

“You go home with the pack. I’ll be there to see you as soon as I can get the team back to Greene. Don’t take any chances. Don’t take risks. Be safe, and stay ahead of this man.”

I hug him back. “I’ve missed you, Uncle.”

“Yeah, kid, I’ve missed you, too. Now, get home where it’s safe, and we can plan when I get there.”

He leaves quickly, but my uncle was never one for ceremony. His emotions are not something he understood or accepted easily.

Raider throws the few things he unpacked back in his pack, issuing orders and reminders. He pulls out his phone and gets on a call.

I pause in the act of putting Wren’s shirts in his duffel. Raider’s eyes meet mine, and, in them, I think I see a desperate fear. It was the same look my father and mother looked at me with. One that shows just how deeply they cared.

I’m frozen. I’m stone.

Raider’s intensity throws me into a chaos ocean and leaves me struggle for solid ground.

But then he’s there, holding me up with a soft smile and the whispered words, “I’ll protect you.”

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