Broken Bond by C.J. Primer

23

VANESSA

** Four Months Later **

“Let’s go, Ness!” Vienna calls out, her voice echoing down the hallway of the guest wing of the packhouse.

“Just a minute!” I yell back. I’ve been searching for my little gold clutch for the past ten minutes in vain; it’s like it

somehow grew legs and walked away. I’m almost certain that I packed it when I moved into the Norbury packhouse a few months ago at Vienna’s invitation, but for some reason, it’s not where it should be among my other purses in the closet.

I blow out a frustrated breath, spinning around and strutting over to the dresser to pull open the top drawer. I rummage through the random assortment of things I’ve shoved in there in search of the clutch, hoping I might’ve tossed it in here after the bar one night or something. As I push

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through the mess of hair accessories and odds and ends, a piece of paper falls out, fluttering to the floor and landing at my feet. I bend to pick it up with an annoyed groan, straightening with the paper clutched in my hands and freezing when I realize what it is.

My heart squeezes painfully in my chest when I read the words scrawled on the page; four little words that sent my world crumbling down when I woke up alone in that cabin several months ago.

I’m setting you free. -C

I stare at the paper, my eyes mapping the shape of the letters scrawled out in Callum’s handwriting. I looked at it so many times in that first month that I’ve memorized every loop and curve of the words, and looking at it now, that same feeling of devastation and despair grips in my chest.

“What’s the holdup?” Vienna asks from the doorway, and I startle, dropping the paper into the open drawer and slamming it shut. I whip around to face her, blinking.

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“I, uh… I can’t find my gold clutch,” I breathe, shaking my head to banish the intrusive thoughts associated with that damn note.

(C

Vee’s lips stretch into a mischievous grin. You mean this clutch?” she asks sweetly, holding it up and wiggling it back and forth.

“You little thief!” I laugh, crossing the room to her and lunging forward to snatch it from her grasp.

She pulls it back before I can grab ahold of it, tucking it under her arm. “C’mon, it totally goes with my outfit,” she whines. “Can’t you use a different one?”

I roll my eyes, giving in easily. Rather than arguing with the most stubborn girl on the planet, I head back over to my closet and fish out my black wristlet instead, returning to the dresser to stuff my phone and cash inside it. “You could’ve saved me like ten minutes if you’d just asked to borrow it,” I chastise, smoothing my hair back as I spin around to face her and slip my hand through

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23

the loop of the wristlet.

“You were in the shower,” Vee shrugs innocently. “I didn’t think you’d mind.”

“I don’t,” I concede. Crossing the room to my friend, I slide an arm around her narrow shoulders, pulling her with me out the door. “C’mon, let’s go. I’m sure the boys are getting antsy.”

Vienna’s heels click against the hardwood floor as we make our way down the hallway toward the main part of the packhouse. Even though I’m not part of the Norbury pack, I’ve become quite comfortable here after moving in a few months ago. I completely fell apart after Cal took off, and although I love my family, having them breathing down my neck trying to ‘fix’ me was the last thing I needed. Vienna offered me a welcome change of scenery and helped to slowly put me back together. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be the same girl I was before he left, but I’m seeing more and more of her resurface every day. There’s something to that whole ‘time heals all wounds’ adage.

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Mostly, I just try to avoid thinking about

him. I suppose it was a kindness for him to leave the territory to go off on a mission

with the squad, because without him here, I can shove all thoughts of Callum out of my mind and try to move forward. I’m not sure how well I’m doing, but at least I’m trying.

“About time,” Chase huffs as Vienna and I stride from the hallway into the living room.

“Shut it,” Vee warns, pointing a finger in his direction and narrowing her eyes.

A goofy grin spreads across Chase’s face and he pushes up from the couch, crossing the room in a few long strides and scooping Vienna up, tossing her over his shoulder. ” Watch it, little devil,” he growls, delivering a sharp swat to her ass.

He

land a playful

shuffles over, slinging his around my

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and flashing me a boyish

his arm, spinning to face him and

already,” Chase provides. “Said they’d

body. Then he leans in, his voice a breathy whisper that tickles the skin of my neck. “You

meet his hazel eyes, offering him an appreciative smile. “You always say that,” I tease.

you always do,” he shrugs, his gaze roaming my body once

both opted to go for a more casual look tonight since the Stillwater Tap is throwing a party in the parking lot

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jean shorts, hers paired

this top was when Callum and I took that trip to Breckenridge- the one that ended in disaster, then our first time together. I suppose it was all a disaster looking back at it now. I haven’t been able to bring myself to wear this shirt since then, but I consciously made the decision to put it on tonight as a way of reclaiming

if a pipsqueak like her could move the colossus of a man. He chuckles at her efforts, yanking her in and tucking her under

on a bright smile and nodding in agreement, taking Miles’ hand when he offers it. The four of us head out, piling into Chase’s big pickup truck and

We listen to music and chat

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somethings from Norbury who play covers by request and have a knack for getting the crowd riled up. I’m glad I opted for the

audience singing along. Even though the sun has gone down, the air is still heavy, sticky with the oppressive summer heat. I hope I remembered to slip a hair tie into

way for us as we walk into the fray, several of them offering Chase a respectful nod in recognition of his Alpha position even though this isn’t his home territory. I’ll never get used

group and being treated like

entourage or

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Stillwater Tap a few weeks ago- they’re a group of twenty- somethings from Norbury who play covers by request and have a knack for getting the crowd riled up. I’m glad

the oppressive summer heat. I hope I remembered to slip a hair tie into my wristlet, because I doubt I’ll make it long before

into the fray, several of them offering Chase a respectful nod in recognition of his Alpha position even though this isn’t his home territory.

group and being treated like

entourage

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friend commands that same

the Norbury pack, and I know she’s still uncomfortable with the attention her new status draws.

and he throws his head back on a laugh, tossing an arm around her shoulders and shoving an unopened can of beer

it off,” Chase growls, eyeing Alec with a devious glint in his eye and a smirk on his lips. I can’t tell if he’s joking around or if there’s a hint of a real threat in his

back of a

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and eager to wait on her hand and foot like she’s their

fallen right in with their

about how that could’ve

starts passing them out to the rest of us. I crack the tab on the can and take an eager sip, welcoming the refreshing

me,” Levi declares confidently, glancing back over his shoulder at the waitress working the beer tub. She blushes under his attention and he tosses her a wink, grinning as he turns back to our group. “See? Wonder how many free beers I can get tonight.” He waggles

to come home with

elbow.

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beer. These boys and their stupid bets. I’ve come to learn that it’s like an addiction for Miles- he’s always making wagers with the other guys over trivial crap. I want to point

the lighthearted energy

swig of his beer and wiping his mouth with a forearm. ” Easy. What’s

go out,” Miles shrugs,

“You’re on.” He taps his can with Miles’, then downs the rest of his beer, turning on a heel and making his way

to the beer tub for

chuckles to himself and slides

me again, resting a hand on the

of my back.

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not to

him, it’s me- ever since Cal, every touch that isn’t his just feels wrong. Yet another thing I’ve been trying

mood in those first couple months after Callum left. I came to appreciate his companionship, and after a while, he started actively pursuing me. He asked me out no fewer than ten times before I finally gave in, and even though I’ve told him that I’m not ready for a full-blown relationship,

he never pushes me