Page 71 of Break The Ice

I didn’t see him.

If I hadn't gone out with the camera, I wouldn’t have even known he was there.

This isn’t a them issue.

This is my issue.

I’ve brought him down on them.

I close my eyes, wondering just what I’m going to do.

Run or fight?

Fight or run?

I need to decide, and I need to do it soon.

I stand in theshadows of the office door and watch the pack interact. Raider and Wren are home, and they are sitting on the couch. Wren has Callan beside him, and they are talking quietly while Raider teases Kit.

I’ll have to leave.

Not yet.

It’s not enough proof.

It could have been a neighbour.

It could have been anyone. One blurry photo of a person in the woods doesn’t mean anything.

I want these alphas, though. Can I have them? What if I get feelings? I’ll have to leave. God, I keep saying the words to myself over and over. I need to leave. But I’m still here.

I can’t leave them.

I haven’t had anything like this since I was a kid. I’m not ready to never see them again. Not yet. Just a few more nights. A few more memories.

I walk forward, comfortable and confident in my decision. Settled. I’m staying.

“Hey, guys.”

“Ah, the triumphant photographer returns,” Kit says with a wink and straddles Raider so he can grin at me.

I watch them for a moment with a growing smile. How do I ask for what I want?

An idea blooms into my mind, and I say it without thinking it through.

“Raider, can you teach me how to tie someone up securely?”

The whole room goes still.

Raider sits up, staring at me, and slides Kit off his lap and onto the lounge. “You want me to teach you how to tie someone up?”

“Yes.”

“So you want to watch?” Raider clarifies with a twist of a smile.

I pretend to think about it. “No, I want to see you tie me up again first so I can pay attention to how you do it on me.”

Kit scrambles backwards off the couch, standing up, looking at Callan in concern.

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