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.

small spaces and listen in on everyone’s private conversations

I choke on a laugh and Levi darts me a suspicious glance,

by shoving my

the night of the bonfire, mostly silly would -you-rather hypotheticals that I can’t even

keep the conversation going so I can win this bet, right?

prickle in irritation, effectively un-doing all the progress I made on de- stressing by

isn’t nearly enough

up for me yet?" I grind

enough to take you on.Especially

my chest and I scrub my hand over

that dark, ugly thing building inside of me like it always does, and I know that if I can’t find a way to let it out

that seems to work

it into something productive

public knowledge, though, so after he died, those opportunities died

losing my shit, but then some drunken asshole challenged me to a fight one night, and I achieved that same catharsis from beating

boys to watch, so they found me another opponent the next week and encouraged me to do it

more takers.I guess that’s the downside of people being

grumble, barely concealing

a joint.I dig into my pocket for one but come up

off

"Yeah, yeah.I will."

his jaw twitching as he navigates the curves of the forest road.I don’t miss how tense his

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

he’s into

headrest.I don’t have the patience for this kind of trivial shit right now, and

beyond all logic, neither of them

reply, swiping

Levi grunts, clearly not liking

I like her.""Do you like her,

my gaze on him.He furrows

"What’s the difference?"

the problem if he’s interested, too? Don’t act like you’re

wheel, balling his fist and swinging his arm sideways to deliver a jab to my bicep.I don’t even flinch; I absorb the

"Asshole," he mutters.

she’ll be at Serena’s

a few of

you know?" Because I fucking pay attention.I just shrug

fists around the steering

she shows, I’m gonna make my move.Maybe you can be my wingman, help me get

back in my head that I

fight and I'll

he

all else fails, you can always

"Right," I snort.

me someone who can actually throw a punch,

sighs, waving me off

"I’m on it."

that I feel like I’m about to crawl out of my skin,

Serena’s birthday celebration, and if one more person inadvertently bumps into me as

nobody wants to see that.I might fuck around and kill someone, and Alpha Vaughn isn’t around

agitation is rubbing off on me, only further fueling my own.I shouldn’t stay here.I know it, but I can’t bring myself to leave, either, because I know Nessa plans on coming, and