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.

to put her down. He finally acquiesces, laughing as he

can land a playful punch on his chest in

shuffles over, slinging his

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a boyish grin. Hey, babe.”

underneath his arm, spinning to face

Chase provides. “Said

Miles ‘ lingering stare traverse my body. Then he leans in, his voice a breathy whisper that tickles the skin of

offering him an appreciative smile.

“Because you always do,” he shrugs, his gaze roaming my body once more, like

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

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shorts, hers paired with a slinky

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

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

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

listen to

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covers by request and have a knack for getting the crowd

band playing a lively cover of a Journey song that has 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 my wristlet, because I doubt I’ll make

offering Chase a respectful nod in recognition

being treated

a royal entourage or something. My

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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

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 I have to get my hair off my

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 to going

group and being treated like

royal entourage or something. My

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that same

of the Norbury pack, and I know

him and his brother. Vienna narrows her eyes in warning and he throws his head back on a laugh, tossing an arm around her shoulders and shoving an unopened can of beer

from tearing 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

wriggling out from under Alec’s arm and whacking Chase’s chest with the back of a hand in admonishment. She’s

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on her

fallen right in with their group like

think about how that could’ve been

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

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

home with you,” Miles challenges, nudging

elbow.

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taking another drink of my own 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

favor of maintaining the lighthearted energy of the evening thus far.

back another swig of his beer and wiping his mouth with a forearm. ” Easy. What’s the prize?”

tab the next time we go out,” Miles shrugs, never shy about tossing

with Miles’, then downs the rest of his beer, turning on a heel and making

to the beer tub for

chuckles to himself

me again, resting a hand on the

of my back.

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not

every touch that isn’t his just feels wrong. Yet another

kinda fell into dating Miles. He was always hanging around the packhouse, always offering a sweet compliment or funny joke to lighten my 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

frustrate him, he never pushes me into doing anything I’m