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.

be able to sneak into small spaces and listen in on

me a suspicious glance, his eyes

bastard by shoving my

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

keep the conversation going so I can

of Miles’ stupid game makes my skin prickle in irritation, effectively un-doing all the progress I made on de- stressing by cutting up

nearly enough to keep my particular

I grind out, eyes still focused on

stupid enough to take you on.Especially after

in my chest and I

know that if

only thing that seems to work is

rage, channel it into something productive by setting me on enforcement tasks

so after

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

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

takers.I guess that’s the downside

trying," I grumble, barely concealing

my pocket for

waves me off like it’s

"Yeah, yeah.I will."

as he navigates the curves of the forest road.I don’t

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

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

hot, and beyond all logic,

man," I reply, swiping my hand

clearly not

to me? He knows I like her.""Do you like her, or

gaze on

"What’s the difference?"

what’s 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

"Asshole," he mutters.

be at Serena’s birthday

friends with a few

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

the steering wheel again, his

if she shows, I’m gonna make my move.Maybe you can be my wingman, help me get Vienna and I'll help you get on that

eyes roll so far back in my head that I practically see my skull.As if I'd need

that fight and I'll consider it,"

into a grin and he shoots me a side-eyed glance,

if all else fails, you can always

"Right," I snort.

finding me someone who can actually throw

waving

"I’m on it."

fucking fight.I'm so on edge by Saturday night that I feel like I’m about to crawl out of my skin, and the last place I should probably be is out at a packed bar

turned out for Serena’s birthday celebration, and if one more person inadvertently bumps into

around and kill someone,

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 myself to leave, either, because I know Nessa plans on coming, and I’ll be damned if Miles is gonna get