Where The Ice Gives Way (Charlotte and Blake) novel Chapter 174

Charlotte

Blake is already awake when I open my eyes. He lies on his side facing me, one arm under his pillow, the other resting across my waist. I blink at him through the dark, and his thumb starts moving slowly over my hip: “How long have you been awake?”

“A while.”

I sigh and roll closer until my forehead touches his chest. He smells like cedar and smoke and home, and the second I breathe him in, Shanti settles inside

me with a soft, sleepy hum.

“Talk to me,” I say, because he can try all he wants, but I can feel the anxiousness through the bond. He exhales through his nose, pulling me closer, as both his arms wrap around me. “I don’t like taking you there. I don’t like Thomas. I don’t like the way he talks about you. I don’t like leaving Charlie here when he wants to be with you. I don’t like any of it.”

I press my hand flat to his chest, over the steady beat beneath my palm. “But you’re still coming with me.”

“Always.”

“Then we will be okay. You and me against the world, yeah?”

He leans back enough to tilt my chin and kiss me. It is a soft, gentle press in the dark, then his hand comes up to cradle the side of my face, and it deepens. The same fire inside of me from last night reignites. Just as I slide my hands to his hips, he grabs my wrists, pinning them above me. “We need to get up.” he murmurs and nips at my lips once more.

“Rude.”

He smiles against my mouth. “Very.”

Reluctantly, we get up, get ready and head downstairs. Mara is already in the kitchen, preparing to feed everyone before dawn. The lights are low, and the windows are still black, but the room smells like toast, bacon, coffee, and the cinnamon rolls she insisted were for the road, even though half of them are

already sitting on plates.

Gareth stands near the counter with a mug in one hand and his phone in the other, speaking quietly through the pack link, his eyes distant. Joba is at the table with a map spread in front of him, and Charlie sits beside him with his arms crossed, staring at the paper like he can hate the road enough to change the plan. He looks up the second I walk in, and his face softens before it tightens again. I leave Blake’s side and go straight to him.

Charlie pushes his chair back before I reach him, and then he is standing, arms wrapping around me so hard my teet nearly leave the floor.

“You call me if anything goes wrong, okay? I love you,” he mutters into my hair.

I close my eyes and hold him back just as hard. “I love you too.”

He pulls back enough to look at me, both hands on my shoulders. “You call me if anything feels off–anything, Lorty, I don’t care if you think it’s stupid er small or if Blake’s already handling it. You call me.”

“I will.”

His eyes search mine, and I know he wants to ask me to stay, but I also know he won’t.

10:34 am PPPM.

Chapter 174 Bring Yourself Home First

“Thate this,” he says quietly.

My throat tightens. “Me too.”

He nods once, then brushes his knuckles lightly under my chin the way he used to when we were little, and I was trying not to cry.

“Take care of her.” Charlie says over my shoulder, and Blake’s hand lands on my shoulder as he says, “With everything I have.”

The front door opens then, letting in a rush of cold air and Theo’s voice quietly telling someone to watch the step. Emily appears in the hallway beside him, and honestly, I’m only a little shocked that she’s come with him. She looks nervous, yet beautiful for this cold, early morning. Her hair is soft around her face from the salon yesterday, her cream hoodie tucked under a warm coat, and the little white sunflower bag hangs at her shoulder. She scans the room. then finds me, breathes out, and I give her a good–morning smile.

The next half hour becomes bags, coats, instructions, food, and too many people pretending they are less worried than they are. Gareth goes over check–in times with John. Dr Hale arrives with two medical bags and a cooler full of supplies. Patrol members load equipment into the first vehicle. Blake checks the back of his truck twice, then a third time, because he is Blake and worry has apparently become a full–time occupation. When we’re finally ready to go, Mara smothers me in the warmest hug. When she pulls back, both of her hands come to my face. “Listen to Blake, listen to Gareth, and listen to yourself.”

“I will.”

Her eyes shine, but her voice stays firm. “I’m serious. Bring yourself home first. Everyone else second.”

“That sounds selfish,” I whisper.

“It’s not,” she says, brushing my hair back from my cheek. “You can’t fill anyone’s cup if yours is empty.” Then she turns to Emily and pulls her into a hug. too. Emily freezes for one tiny second before her arms come up and slowly wrap around Mara’s waist. Mara presses a kiss to the side of her head. “You take care of yourself and come home too, sweetheart.”

I have to look away because I know how much that simple gesture means to girls like us. It’s making me all sorts of emotional.

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