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.

she’s basically a member of the family, and my littlest sister Mia has Vee wrapped around her

Mermaid obsession?" she queries as she follows me

the wave of

stepping over to the front door and calling out to my

"I’m heading out!"

back instantly, her voice carrying from the back of

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

head to the bar or something

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

giving

to get out of

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

is a hunk of junk, but I'l] never say that out loud because I

if it feels like a rolling death trap, I’ll act like we’re riding in luxury

starts with a groan and we pull away from the curb, heading

territory of Riverton, so the drive

about Callum once again when my phone lights up with an incoming text

You still coming?

just don’t get

grumbles, shaking her head in

Cal? Out of all

you’re reading into it so much," I reply with a casual shrug of my shoulders.I resist the urge to pick up my phone and text him back, knowing that Vee

don’t even know

suddenly texting him like it’s

thing.You’re the only one making it

in the thigh of my black jeans, my

out here

sounded fun," I say

Mia for the hundredth time."She’s quiet for a moment, but I can practically hear the gears

at Vee’s

ridiculous! You don’t know him either, Vee.You can’t judge a book by its

you should, if the cover gives

finally giving into the urge to pick up my phone and reply to

of the drive, but I think part of that

tension between her and Chase, and I think she’s nervous about seeing

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 roof

that’s not jealousy, I

at the side of a forest road deep in Norbury’s territory, climbing out and trudging through the trees while allowing the sound

I can feel the tension rolling off Vienna in waves, making me second guess whether

funk she’s been in lately, but were my

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

are partially shadowed by his hood, giving his grin this eerie, ominous quality as it forms on his

is hot at my back,

"Ladies,"

reappears with a bottle of beer in each hand, offering

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

Cal, and I snap my gaze back to him as he

his command, reaching for Vee’s hand to drag her with

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 of why that has me

"You made it,"

his voice seeping inside me and unraveling the tightness in the pit

him and his eyes are already on

my throat when he suddenly reaches out to take the bottle of beer from my hand, his fingers brushing mine and sending a zip of electricity running through my body.I barely conceal my flinch, watching as he brings the beer bottle

a beer drinker, but right now, I’d benefit

I ask once I swallow it

Callum shrugs.

a big drinker." I narrow my eyes on

me last night.

his gaze sliding from me and lingering

off and I needed it.Most of the time, I like to keep a clear

passes him a joint.He takes it between his fingers, raising it to his

about keeping a clear head?" I tease, eyeing

slowly as he coughs out

off," he explains, holding it out to me in

want?" I sink my teeth into the cushion of my lower lip, giving a

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

girl, aren’t you?" he asks in that deep, rumbling voice of

keep my eyes trained on

if

another hit of the joint before passing it

a read on you." He exhales the smoke toward the fire, sinking back farther in

into a smirk as I watch him, the

let me guess, you’re a bad boy

and he grins menacingly, running his tongue over

"The worst, babe."

one for pet names, but surprisingly, I don’t

me with his stare, like he’s daring me to