Chapter 16 Frost
Frost
I drown out my sorrows at the bar, numbing my mind with beer as I turn away every woman who tries to pull the moves on me.
And I truly mean "try," because I am not interested at all.
Because none of them are Noelle Hale—the beautiful Omega who recently came back into my life like the perfect storm she is.
Fuck Robin. For going against his own code and kissing her, anyway, especially after he lectured us about keeping our distance.
Everything blurs: the music, the people, every snippet of conversation. I think it’s time I headed back to the lodge.
No doubt I will be the talk of the town once again. They call me the problem child. The deadbeat Wynter brother.
A shame—I was supposed to perform live on stage at this shitty dive bar, but I’m so fucking wasted, it’s for the best.
So, I push my way through the sweaty, drunken crowd until I make it to the street outside. I give the doorman a bro-fist, since we’re pretty tight, then slip my hands into my pockets as I swagger away.
It's only when I pass by a stinking alleyway that I stop, hacking up my goddamn lunch, and it’s going to take a miracle for me to get home at this rate.
So, I recline against the stained brick wall that smells suspiciously of piss, falling onto my ass as I try not to sit in my own puke.
Shit, I really am wasted. The alley is spinning. But it’s just enough for me to forget about her.
Yes. A momentary reprieve from the noise in my head… So, I close my eyes, leaning my head back against the wall as I gaze up at the swirling stars.
Snowflakes pepper my cheeks. I just hope I have enough alcohol in my system to stop me from dying from hyperthermia.
An engine rumbles, and I look up just as a car pulls along the sidewalk. When the window moves down, a familiar face greets me.
Well, well, well, what do you know… It’s Joel, Noelle’s dad. He’s best buds with my own dad.
They go fishing together.
“Frost?” he says, concerned.
I wipe the vomit grease from my mouth, grinning up at the older Alpha like an idiot. “Everythin’ fine here, M-Mr. Hale... D-don’t you worry about me.”
I don’t know why he’s so worried about me, anyway. I broke his daughter’s heart at the tender age of seventeen. If I were capable of such cruelty even at that age, then who knows what I’m capable of now?
He should hate my guts.
Instead of driving away, though, Noelle’s old man gets out of the car, helping me stand straight as he somehow manages to get me to my feet.
When he drags me to his car, he settles me down onto the backseat, placing my guitar down gently beside me.
“Don’t… don’t tell my dad…” I mutter, closing my eyes as I press my cheek against the upholstery of his nice, warm seat.
Damn. I really hope I don’t throw up in his car. Hopefully, I got most of it out in the alleyway.
Joel sighs, getting in the front seat. “I won’t, but this needs to stop, Frost. You can’t keep drinking like this. You’re a mess.”
I groan, throwing my hand over my face. “Fuucck.”
The Alpha pulls away from the sidewalk. Thank God, I’m glad to see the back of that alleyway.
“So, does the reason why you’re hacking up your organs in an alleyway have anything to do with my daughter?”
I peer up at the Alpha from under my tattooed hand. Noelle never did find out which of her dads’ balls she came from, but if I had to guess… I would have to put my finger on Joel.
Because from this angle, I see her—the same judgmental look in his soulful brown eyes.
Shit, I’m so pathetic. Now, I am seeing Noelle in her own dad.
“Look,” I start to say. “It was Robin who kissed her. Shepard and I—”
Joel sighs. “It’s fine, Frost. You don’t have to explain. Just… promise me one thing. Don’t break her heart again, okay? While I can vouch for myself, I can’t for her two other fathers.”
Oh, shit. He’s right. They really will beat me up. Joel the baker is the placid one. But Richard the lawyer and Bernard the accountant will tear me limb from limb.
“Yes, sir,” I mumble, closing my eyes again.
I don’t know what happens next. I think Shepard appears at one point as he and Noelle’s dad help me out of the backseat of the car as they drag me across the snow toward my cabin.
I think Robin was there too, but he’s the last person I want to see right now.
Robin can kiss my ass.
“Now sleep,” Joel says from somewhere.
I reach up, patting the Alpha’s face. “You’re a good man, Joel… Any Alpha would be lucky to have you as their father-in-law.”
I think I hear Shepard groaning in the background, but screw him, too. Out of us all, I have been on my best behavior.
I’m not sure what Joel says next. He mutters something to Shepard, and then he’s gone. Now it's just my brother and me.
I hear him sighing grittily, moving toward the door of my cabin. “Try not to choke on your own vomit, okay?”
Even though my eyes are screwed shut, I flip him the middle finger, the one with my skull medallion ring. Shepard sighs once again, then leaves as he shuts my door behind him, and now it’s just me and the sound of my blood rushing through my head.
Oh, look, Noelle’s here, too. On the bed right next to me.
My dick hardens as she straddles my hips, leaning down to kiss me, and a smile takes over my face.
I’m going to have pleasant, drunken dreams indeed.