Page 120 of Ice Rebel

And my personal favorite.

Can Chelsea Black Handle the Beast?

“So the fuck what?” I threw out, trying to hand him back the phone. “You dealt with worse. We’re adults and we did egg them on. Kinda fun if you ask me.”

“Keep looking, little brother. You were upset last night about the sale of the mill and maybe the house. My house is affected too, you know. If the company has their way, they’ll force every family of shifters out of North Bend. Dad wasn’t telling you everything. He was trying to protect you. To protect all of us.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“There’s legislation being worked on under the table, laws being written to help with data centers. Since so many are being built in rural areas where shifters have made their homes, they’ve come up with a crazy way of terminating ownership. I don’t know all the details, but it’s legit and unless everyone within the purchase area agrees to sell, evidently all the land including the properties surrounding the proposed site will be taken.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Yeah, well. You fucking forget we’re still considered second class citizens.” His tone was bitter, full of rage.

How could I blame him? Forget fighting for our ability to play sports. The fight was more about our entire lives, our pasts, and the futures. About being able to make choices for ourselves, something my father had fought for.

“What does this have to do with Chelsea?” I finally asked.

His sigh was deep, rattled, and full of pain. For me. “Keep scrolling.”

So I did.

When I’d read two different articles, both damning, I realized I no longer felt anything. How could she do this? How could she pretend to care? I lifted my head, haunted by the emptiness.

Ford nodded. “I’m sorry, man.”

“What does this mean?” The question was pointless. I knew what it meant. Everything we’d grown up with, all the incredible experiences in so many incredible places would become nothing but memories.

“The company is merciless,” he continued. “They couldn’t care less about the people working at the companies they absorb. There are hints of corruption all over the place, but the owner has too many connections, powerful friends willing to do whatever to protect him.”

When the reality of what was really going on settled in, the fury was instant, but also cooled immediately as every emotion vanished. Every desire. Every thought about the future. Every need.

Gone.

He waited for my reaction and when I simply handed him back the phone, he squinted. “Are you okay?”

“Fine. Just… fine. I need to take care of something. Is there any way you can arrange for a ride for Chelsea? I’m going to hang around a little while before heading back.”

“Yeah, I’ll make sure that happens. I’m sorry, Cole. I really am. It was so good to finally see you happy.”

“You know what’s funny?”

“What?”

“She mentioned I should consider buying the mill from Dad. I knew there was no way I could do so alone so I’d contemplated talking to you and Beck about buying it together. Maybe even Samantha if she wanted. Then we’d just hire a couple more people. Mom and Dad could travel like they always wanted. Yeah, we’d need to purchase the other parcels including the rink, but given what was being offered, I thought maybe it was possible. Isn’t that fucking ridiculous?”

He shook his head. “Not ridiculous at all. You were always the glue for the family. You adored the mill even as a little kid.”

“And see where it got me.”

“I get it, bro. You should try and hurry. I’ll hang around in case the press arrives, but I can guarantee someone from the local news will want their fifteen minutes of fame.”

This was the way it would always be. I’d never be able to live a normal life.

There was nothing else to say, no words that would provide any comfort. Just the truth, as ugly as it was.

My reaction was still mixed, every move lethargic and why? Because I’d never felt so betrayed in my life. Not from anyone, including a couple of friends who’d once they’d learned I was a shifter had done everything to try to destroy my career. This cut was far deeper.