Broken Bond

Chapter 5

CALLUM

The Cedar Ridge ski resort is a winter tourist trap that sits just outside the edge of the six-pack’s territory, owned and operated by the six shifter packs that reside within.

Since we generally keep to ourselves, the ski resort was built as an income stream to keep our towns afloat, as well as the Cedar Ridge brewery just down the road.

The ski resort is shuttered in the summer months, but the brewery is open all year round so we have consistent revenue.

It’s a smart setup, but it also tempts us into wandering off-territory more than we probably should.

My boys and I spend a lot of time at the ski resort in the winter, though we generally stay away from the human tourists as best we can since one of the fundamental rules of shifter culture is to keep our existence a secret.

We’ve all been snowboarding for years, and we take full advantage of the fact that we've got a full-service ski resort right in our backyards.

The runs here are second to none, and while the guests staying at the resort pay hundreds of dollars a day for lift tickets and equipment rental, the six of us just show up whenever we want to board, free of charge.

It’s a pretty sweet setup, one that I never take for granted.

There’s a big lodge at the heart of the ski resort where the guests stay, complete with a restaurant and bar.

We’ve typically steered clear of the lodge in the past to avoid tangling with the human population, but ever since Chase discovered that Vienna works there, it has become a regular stop- off after we come down from the mountain.

I’ve been less against it since learning that Nessa works there, too, but I’ve yet to catch her on a shift.

Ever since the potential rogue sighting the other night, our packs have been on high alert.

Chase, ever the opportunist, somehow manipulated that into getting Vienna to give him a ride home at the end of her shift today under the guise of protection, so it’s just Levi and I in his truck as we depart the ski resort, Miles and Dare hopping in to ride with Alec like they usually do.

Right as we’re about to pull out of the parking lot, my phone vibrates with an incoming call, the name ‘Fuckface’ appearing on the screen.

He’s persistent, I’ll give him that.

I mash the red button to ignore the call, tossing my phone into the cupholder in the center console of Levi’s truck

"Troy again?" Levi asks, shooting me a side- eyed glance as he pulls out onto the forest road to head back to Norbury.

I grunt in confirmation and scrub a hand over my face.

I know I can’t avoid my stepdad forever- it’s only a matter of time before he gets sick of me dicking his calls and shows up at my door to ruin my fucking day in person- but for now, I don’t have the energy to listen to his bullshit.

It’s quiet in the cab of Levi’s truck, so I flick the button to turn on the radio, scrolling through the stations to find something worth listening to.

I finally land on one when my phone vibrates loudly against the cupholder and I bristle, glancing down at what’s visible of the screen.

It isn’t Fuckface calling twice in a row, though - it’s an incoming text.

I pick it up to get a better look, snorting when I read the message.

Vanessa: Would you rather be 11 feet tall or 9 inches tall?

Shaking my head with a chuckle, I open it up and start typing out a response.

Callum: Definitely 11 feet.

Chicks dig tall dudes.

You? Vanessa: Nine inches.

able to sneak into small spaces and listen

on a laugh and Levi darts me a suspicious glance, his eyes dropping to my phone screen

by shoving my phone in

been texting on and off since the night of the bonfire, mostly silly would -you-rather hypotheticals

conversation going so I can win this bet,

the thought of Miles’ stupid game makes my skin prickle in irritation, effectively un-doing all the

it isn’t nearly enough to keep my particular

for me yet?" I grind out, eyes still focused on the

to take you on.Especially after the

rumbles in my chest and I scrub my hand over

like it always does, and I know that if I can’t find a way

thing that seems

channel it into something productive by

though, so after he died, those opportunities died with

some drunken asshole challenged me to a fight one night, and I achieved that same catharsis from beating his face

they found me another opponent the next week and encouraged me to do it again,

until they couldn’t find any more takers.I guess that’s the

grumble, barely concealing

into my pocket for one but come

off like

"Yeah, yeah.I will."

in his seat, his jaw twitching as he navigates the curves of the forest road.I don’t miss how tense his shoulders are and the way

bothering him, and I’ve got a pretty good idea as to

think he’s into her?"

heave a sigh, flopping my head backwards against the headrest.I don’t have the patience for this kind of trivial shit right now, and for the life of me I still can’t figure out why Chase and Levi are

all logic, neither

I reply, swiping my hand

Levi grunts, clearly not liking my

he said anything to me? He knows I like her.""Do

swinging my gaze on

"What’s the difference?"

just wanna fuck her, then what’s the problem if he’s interested, too? Don’t act like you’re

a jab to my bicep.I don’t even

"Asshole," he mutters.

after a beat, "You think she’ll be at Serena’s birthday thing

with a few of

do you know?" Because I fucking pay

the steering

you can be my wingman, help me get Vienna and

head that I practically see my skull.As if I'd need

that fight and I'll consider it,"

grin and he shoots me a side-eyed glance, waggling his

hey, if all else fails, you can

"Right," I snort.

someone who can actually throw a

waving me

"I’m on it."

crawl out of my skin, and the last place I should probably be is out at a packed bar full of

Tap is busier than I’ve ever seen it with the crowd that turned out for Serena’s birthday celebration, and if one more person inadvertently bumps into me as they pass

that.I might fuck around and kill someone, and Alpha Vaughn isn’t around anymore to

since Vienna showed up here tonight on the arm of some other dude, and his agitation is rubbing off on me, only further fueling my own.I shouldn’t stay here.I know it, but I can’t bring