Page 89 of Break The Ice

“So…” he swallows hard. “How?”

“Well, there’s the sense of being following. His scent of rotten potatoes. The feel that something is off, things are moved. My camera disappeared.”

Wren jolts. “He’s been in our house? And you didn’t say anything?”

I ignore him. “He was here. A few minutes before Uncle rocked up, singing that song outside the hotel door.”

Uncle and Wren surge up at the same time.

“Get me security now!” Wren snarls into his phone, while Uncle Pat rushes out of the room, looking up and down the hallway like he’ll be able to see him.

“Someone’s hunting you,” Callan whispers.

“I’m tired of running, Callan. I don’t want to run anymore, and I think, this time, I’m going to fight.”

Uncle turns around. He must have heard me. His expression turns soft and sad. “Break the ice?”

I smile despite the situation because I haven’t heard that saying in forever. “I forgot Dad used to say that.”

“What is it?”

“Every time dad wanted us to fight on or off the ice, he’d say ‘it’s time to fight, it’s time to break the ice.’”

“Break the ice,” Callan says with a small smile. “I like it.”

“Shit, your dad would have kicked my ass for the poor job I’ve done looking after you.” My uncle runs a stressed hand through his thinning hair.

“Dad would have known you’d done your best, Uncle. Don’t take this on yourself. None of us could have predicted what would have happened.”

Security rocks up, and Wren speaks with them tersely. Raider and Kit arrive in a rush, pale and panicked.

“What’s going on?”

“He was here!” Wren hisses.

The three of them crowd around security, who appear to be getting really cowed by three pissed off alphas.

I refocus on my uncle, who is pacing back and forth in the small space.

He glances with suspicion at security and shakes his head to stop any conversation.

“Right, I’m going to go with Raider and see who was messing with your door. You lot stay right here until we get back.”

I watch him leave and find myself alone in the room with Kit, Wren, and Callan.

I can see they are still absorbing the blows that my words have thrown at them. I sit in silence, trying to push the memories that keep surging against my mind.

Kit crouches in front of me and reaches out to touch my knee.

I smile at him. “I’m okay.”

“I know you are. I just want you to know that we are here for you.”

The words hit deep. All those people in my neighborhood that knew about the stalker. That knew what we were going through and turned their backs on me. My aunt who had whispered arguments and then screaming fits over the danger I brought to her house.

And here is this alpha, this amazing, talented alpha that I have very strong feelings for offering me all the things my lonely heart needed to hear.

I reach out slowly, sliding my fingers over his. He tangles our hands together, stands up, and pulls me into his arms, wrapping me in a hug that smells of him, fabric, and fruit gum.

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