Page 3 of Breaking the Surface
He knew he was lucky, definitely luckier than most.He might not have a partner, but he had a good job that he mostly enjoyed and that earned him quite a bit of money.His business was successful, and he had friends who cared about him.Now that he was doing meaningful work with the pack, he liked his life and his work even more.He might feel like there was something missing in his life, but was it indispensable?He’d been alone for a long time.He could continue being alone for a while longer, or even forever.It wouldn’t be his preference, but he’d survive it.
Remi didn’t answer, which probably meant he was distracted by Pembroke.That was okay.Braden still had work to do before he could go home, and he groaned when he saw the time.He wasn’t going to get a lot of sleep tonight.Maybe tomorrow, if he was lucky.He was pretty sure that Remi would know that he wasn’t taking care of himself as soon as they were in the same room, and he’d have something to say about it.He’d become even more protective of the people he cared about since he’d met Pembroke, which wasn’t a bad thing, but it could be a lot considering that Braden was an adult man who hadn’t been told to go to bed early since he was twelve.He’d probably resist if Remi said it, but Pembroke?No one could say no to that man.No onewantedto say no to that man.
Maybe Braden would stay in Rosewood for a few days.It wouldn’t be a vacation, but it would give him a few more hours of sleep.Just like he didn’t need to go there to make the point of the situation, he also didn’t need to be here at the office to do most of his work.Cell phones were a great invention, and he never hesitated to use them.
Braden straightened in his chair and squared his shoulders.If he wanted to stay with the pack for a few more days than he’d initially planned to, he really needed to finish his work.He also needed to do a few more things so that he wouldn’t have his secretary calling him in a panic because something was off.He’d need to suffer for a few more hours tonight, but it would be worth it if he could relax for a few more days after that.
Sleep?Who needed sleep?
* * * *
PETER DIDN’T KNOW HOWlong he lay there.Minutes?Hours?Eventually, the pain dulled enough that he could think past it.He pushed himself up carefully, gasping at the pain that shot through his ribs.They might be broken, or at least cracked.
He had to move.
Stumbling to the bedroom, Peter grabbed his duffel bag from the closet and started shoving things inside.Clothes.His phone charger.A few pictures.His hands shook so badly he dropped things twice.
In the bathroom, he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror and froze.His left eye was already swelling shut, and his cheek was turning purple.Blood was crusted at the corner of his mouth.His shirt was torn, exposing skin.
Peter knew that if he stayed, Lou would eventually hurt him so badly that he wouldn’t heal from it.He might be sturdier than humans since he was a shifter, but there was only so much damage he could take before something in him broke.He didn’t want that to happen.He didn’t want Lou to hurt him more than he already had, to become a permanent part of his life through the scars he’d leave.If he allowed that to happen, he’d always remember Lou, and that wasn’t something he wanted.
He grabbed his toiletries and went back to the bedroom.He needed his keys and his wallet.The apartment felt different.It didn’t feel like home.Maybe it hadn’t since Lou had walked into his life.
Peter hauled his bag on his shoulder.Pain tore through his body, but he could move.
He paused at the door, looking back at the wilting roses.He thought of Vincent, safe and happy with Ronan.He thought of the Rosewood pack, which welcomed rare shifters.
Maybe they’d welcome one more.
Peter opened the door and stepped into the hallway.Every step hurt, but he kept moving.He had to.
He was going to Vincent.He was going to tell him everything.
And maybe he’d finally be free.It didn’t feel real.After Lou had revealed himself for who he was, Peter had believed he’d never be free of him.Some days, when things were particularly bad, he thought that the only way to be free of Lou was to die, and he’d yearned for that.He hated that Lou could make him feel that way.He hated what he’d let happen for way too long.
That was over, wasn’t it?Peter was finally leaving.
He knew it wouldn’t be as easy as walking out the door.When Lou found out, he was going to be pissed.He would make sure that Peter knew, and if he got his hands on him, he would hurt him.There was nothing Peter could do to stop that.Hopefully, leaving would show Lou that Peter didn’t want anything to do with him anymore, but Lou viewed Peter as his.He’d been clear about that.He wasn’t going to let something he felt he possessed leave him.
But Peter still had to try.He still had to hope that he’d be safe in Rosewood.He wasn’t sure what he’d do if he wasn’t, but it wasn’t something he could focus on right now.He couldn’t afford to.
He was careful as he left the building, just in case Lou was hanging around, waiting for him to do just that.It wouldn’t be the first time it happened, and if Lou was there and saw Peter leave, Peter might not survive the night.He didn’t think that Lou wanted to kill him—in fact, he was pretty sure that Lou didn’t want that.He’d lose Peter if he killed him, and he wouldn’t have anyone left to manipulate and hurt.No, that wasn’t what Lou wanted.He wanted Peter terrified because he enjoyed it.He wanted control, and he would have none of that without Peter.
That didn’t mean he wouldn’t hurt Peter.Hell, he already had, and Peter could feel it every time he moved.It really was time for him to leave.He didn’t think he would survive the next beating.Lou had even stopped apologizing like he did earlier in their relationship when he hurt him.He’d always mentioned that he hadn’t meant to do it and that, really, it was Peter’s fault for making him angry.Peter had known it was bullshit, but he’d been too afraid to stand up to Lou because he’d known he would get hurt even worse if he did.
But Lou was nowhere to be seen when Peter left the building.Peter made his way to his car, looking around and expecting Lou to jump out from behind a car, but he didn’t.Peter was able to unlock his car and slide into it, then lock the doors again.He felt a little safer once he was inside, and he allowed himself to breathe.He couldn’t waste time, though, and he didn’t want to breathe too deeply because it hurt, so he turned on his car after putting on his seatbelt and slowly drove away from his apartment building.
He wasn’t sure he’d see it again.He was leaving most of his stuff there, and he wanted it back, but Lou had a key.There was no doubt that he’d come around tomorrow morning, and he’d be pissed when he didn’t find Peter waiting for him.He might destroy everything Peter owned, and Peter’s heart squeezed at the thought, but what choice did he have?He couldn’t stay, and he didn’t have enough time to pack up his life.He also didn’t have the strength to do it, not when every movement hurt.
He wanted to cry at the unfairness of it all, and even though he told himself not to do it, he could feel his eyes were warm and prickly.The first tears fell as he left the city, and they continued falling as he drove toward Rosewood.By the time he got there and stopped the car to talk to the guards at the edge of pack territory, he felt drained.He didn’t have any more tears in him.The only thing he had was pain, and he was pretty sure that he alarmed the guard when she leaned closer to the window as he opened it to peek inside the car.
“Peter, right?”she asked.
Peter nodded, then winced because even that hurt.“Yeah, that’s me.Vincent isn’t expecting me, but I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.”
“Of course not.You’re his best friend.I’m sure he’ll welcome you with open arms even if he’s not expecting you.”
She didn’t say that anyone would probably do that, considering the state Peter was in, but she didn’t have to.There was a crease in her forehead, and she was visibly worried.Peter could only imagine what he looked like now.He’d cried for almost the entire drive, and his face hurt.
