Where The Ice Gives Way (Charlotte and Blake) novel Chapter 165

Chapter 165 The First Touch

Theo

By the time I reach the rehabilitation building, the morning has already started moving without me. Not really surprising. It took me a while to roll out of bed. There are pack members everywhere getting ready for today, but I search until my eyes find Emily. She’s inside with Mara. I see her through the glass before she sees me. Her long brown hair is braided and falls forward over her shoulder. Every now and then, Mara says something that makes her mouth curve, and I drink in the image of it. She has the prettiest smile. Yelen stirs under my skin, pacing as he usually does when we watch her. Mate. Mate, Mate. Mate.

I stand outside a little longer than I need to, pretending to check the porch railing while really watching her reflection in the

window. I’m a lovesick idiot with damp boots and no sense of pride every day now, and I couldn’t care less. Charlie appears beside

me then and leans against the railing.

“You know, staring through windows is frowned upon in most civilised places, right?”

I don’t look at him as I say, “I’m checking the woodwork.”

“You’ve been checking the same bit of railing for seven minutes.”

“It’s an important bit.”

Charlie snorts and follows my gaze through the window.

Emily reaches up to place another blanket on the shelf. She has to stretch, and Mara moves to help her, but Emily manages The smile that crosses her face is small and proud. After a second, Charlie says, “She looks better.”

“Yeah.” My voice comes out rougher than I mean it to, but Charlie doesn’t tease me for it. That’s how I know it’s bad.

just fine.

It always does when The back door opens, and Charlotte steps into the yard with Blake behind her. The air feels like it changes. Charlotte is about to do something with Shanti. The rogues feel it before the rest of us. The sound of growling rises beneath the yard, low and muffled through the ground. They know she’s coming for them, and they’re not happy about it. Charlotte stops for half a second, and I watch as Blake’s hand touches the small of her back. He leans down and whispers in her ear something that makes her smile and blush. I used to find it comical the way he soothes her. Now I find myself envious of it.

My whole body cells are loud and

Ibring my attention back in front of me and watch as Emily looks up from inside the building. I see the moment she understands where Charlotte is going. She sets the blanket down and says something to Mara before moving toward the door. tightens. No. I don’t want to tell her what to do. I don’t want to be that kind of mate to her… but the ugly and dark, and she was in one of those rooms not long ago with blood in her fur and fear in her

scared again.

I don’t want her to be

can think too much about it. Mara follows her, concern clear beneath her tight smile. Emily doesn’t seem She steps outside before to have a worry in the world as she walks straight up to Charlotte. “Can I come?”

Charlotte’s mouth was already open, probably to say hello, and it looks like it took her a second to redirect her words. “To the

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Do 26 Thu, Jung

Chapter 165 The First Touch

holding cells?”

Emily nods confidently, though I see her fingers curl into the cuffs of her jumper. “I want to watch. I want to help.”

Blake’s jaw tightens as his eyes lock with mine. Yeah, we’re both thinking the same thing.

Charlotte studies her for a moment, then reaches out and takes both of her hands. “You can come as far as you’re comfortable. If it gets too much, you leave, okay? No pressure.”

I look around for anyone willing to say no right now, and thankfully, Gareth glances up at the same time. “She stays behind the first barrier with Theo and Charlie.” Gareth’s eyes meet mine, and the order is clear. Guard her. As if I needed telling.

“Yes, Alpha.”

Emily’s gaze flicks to me, then away again. Colour rises faintly in her cheeks, and the vanilla note of my own nerves is probably

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