Broken Bond

Chapter 4

VANESSA

Here’s the thing- I don’t give out my phone number to guys.

Ever.So imagine my surprise when I was stocking the coolers at work this morning and my phone vibrated against the bar top with an incoming text message from Callum Conway.

His number wasn’t saved in my phone, but I immediately knew the message was from him, and it didn’t take long for me to figure out how he got ahold of my digits.

The sneaky devil must’ve sent himself a text from my phone when he was checking out my music last night.

If it were anybody else, I’d probably be annoyed with the underhanded way he went about getting my number, but instead I found myself smiling down at my phone, heart pounding as I considered how to respond.

Exchanging messages is harmless, right? At least that’s what I kept telling myself as we texted back and forth all morning while I smiled down at my phone like a fool.

I might’ve gotten away with it, too, if I wasn’t working the same shift as my best friend.

Vienna knows I don’t give my number out, so she was baffled by the fact that I was so caught up in texting with Callum, and honestly, same.

All of this is so foreign to me, but there’s just something about Cal.

He’s bold without being sleazy.

Clever without being cliché.

And for the first time, I'm...curious.

A lot of girls my age date around, Vienna included, but I never have.

She thinks I’m crazy, and she’s said as much when I’ve turned down dates or refuted advances from good-looking, smooth -talking guys that other girls would jump at the chance to go out with.

Call me a hopeless romantic, but I’ve never seen the point of dating or getting close to someone when I have a fated mate out there somewhere waiting for me.

Humans talk about soulmates, but in shifter culture, finding that person is a very real possibility.

Once we turn eighteen, every full moon presents a chance for us to find them.

Our packs shift and run together under the light of the moon, and if you’re lucky enough to be in the proximity of your fated mate on one of those nights, you’ll feel it- the pull.

My parents say it’s like an irresistible force that draws you to your mate, and once you lay eyes on one another, BAM! The bond snaps into place.

Even though all of us have a fated mate out there, not everyone is lucky enough to find theirs.

Statistically, less than half of us will actually find them and get to experience that magical fated mate bond, but I’m an optimist.

My parents are fated mates, and I’ve seen how deep that connection goes.

They really are two halves of a whole.

I want that for myself, and I’ll hold out as long as I have to in order to find my other half.

Which is why it’s so out of character for me to be acting the way I am right now, carefully applying my makeup and straightening my hair, changing my clothes five times before settling on an outfit that screams casual, yet sexy.

I’m nervous.I don’t get nervous around guys.

What the hell has gotten into me?

"It’s not too late to back out, you know,"

Vienna sighs from the doorway of my bedroom, and I’m not sure if it’s due to her own apprehension or if she’s sensing mine.

I know she’s just as anxious about seeing Chase tonight, but she’s gone the opposite way of me, putting minimal effort into her hair, makeup, and attire.

She's trying to send the message that she doesn’t care enough to dress up for him, but I think she looks even more beautiful when she goes casual and lets her natural beauty shine through.

If the Alpha has designs on playing it aloof with her again tonight, he doesn’t stand a chance.I shake my head as I cross the room to Vienna.

"Nice try,"

I laugh, snatching her by the arm and threading mine through the crook of her elbow.

"We’re doing this."

"But it's like ten degrees outside," she grumbles as I pull her toward the staircase.

"Let it go, Vee.The cold never bothered me anyway."

She stops in her tracks, hitting me with a dubious stare and raising a brow at my Disney reference.

"Frozen? Really, Ness?" I giggle, starting down the stairs and yanking her with me.

"It’s Mia’s favorite right now."

Her lips pull into a smile at the mention of my four-year-old sister.

only child, while I’m the oldest of seven.She’s over here often enough that she’s basically a

obsession?" she

with the wave of a hand,

it’ll be something else.You know how she is." I bound down the rest of the stairs, stepping

"I’m heading out!"

calls back instantly, her voice carrying

she doesn’t give me the third degree or question where I’m going.She knows I'll be responsible and come home at a decent hour, because that’s what I’ve always done.Plus, I’m nineteen, so I’m technically an adult now.I just haven’t moved out because I

want to head to the

as we make our way toward her car at the curb, snow crunching underneath

I laugh, giving her

trying to get out

open and drop into the seat, rattling with a hollow,

hunk of junk, but I'l] never say that out loud because I know how proud

butt off to buy it with her own money, so even if it feels like a rolling death trap, I’ll act like we’re riding in luxury every

away from the curb, heading out of town and toward

own territory of Riverton, so the drive

degree about Callum once again when my

still coming?

just don’t

shaking her

mean, Cal? Out

a casual shrug of my shoulders.I resist the urge to pick up my phone and text him back, knowing that Vee will see

don’t even know the

you suddenly texting him like it’s

a thing.You’re the only

burning a hole in the thigh of my black jeans, my fingers itching to reach for it.Vienna

here

fun," I say

a moment, but I can practically hear the gears turning in her head before she finally mumbles, "he just

out a laugh, swatting at Vee’s arm

him either, Vee.You can’t judge

you should, if the cover gives

to pick up my phone and

the

if she won’t admit it, there's a palpable tension between her and Chase, and I think she’s nervous about seeing him again

upstairs with some girl, and Vee practically dragged me out of the packhouse like it was on fire immediately after, like she couldn’t bear to be under the same

I don’t

side of a forest road deep in Norbury’s territory, climbing out and

off Vienna in waves, making me second guess whether it was the right decision to drag

was for her, to bust her out of the funk she’s been in lately,

big wooden chair, his long legs spread and his dark hoodie slung up over

handsome features are partially shadowed by his hood, giving his grin this eerie, ominous

my back, a shiver

"Ladies,"

my temporary trance when he reappears with a bottle

as I take it, curling my fingers around the cold neck of

brings my attention back to Cal, and I snap my gaze back to him

being whistled at, but I find myself blindly following his command, reaching for Vee’s hand to drag her with me over to the

knot of anxiety to form in my gut.It’s silly that I’m nervous- he invited me tonight, after all.He clearly wanted me to come, but it’s the question

"You made it,"

inside me

look at him and his eyes are already on me, focused and

breath gets caught somewhere in my throat when he suddenly reaches out to take the bottle of beer from my hand, his fingers

the bottle.I’m not much of a beer drinker, but right now,

I ask once I swallow it down and notice that he’s empty

Callum shrugs.

big drinker." I

night. Straight

anomaly," he murmurs, his gaze sliding from me and lingering on the fire, the reflection

needed it.Most of the time,

that Chase passes him a joint.He

saying about keeping a clear head?" I tease, eyeing the joint and watching the cherry

he coughs out the

edge off," he explains,

the cushion of my lower lip, giving a

dip to my mouth, then travel back up to Meet my own,

that deep, rumbling voice of his, and my heart

my eyes trained on

if I

softly to himself and takes another hit

to get a read on you." He exhales the smoke toward the fire,

as I

guess, you’re a

back to meet mine and he grins menacingly,

"The worst, babe."

not one for pet names, but surprisingly, I don’t hate the way it sounds rolling

like he’s daring me to