Where The Ice Gives Way (Charlotte and Blake) novel Chapter 191

12:31 pm PTNM

Where The Ice Gives Way

Chapter 191–Revenge–Adjacent Breakfast

Emily

I wake up warm and content. I stay exactly where I am, curled on my side with Theo wrapped around me from behind. His arm is heavy over my waist, and his chest is pressed to my back while he breathes to my neck. The fire has burned low, leaving behind a faint orange glow and the smell of woodsmoke in

the cabin. Outside, morning light peeks through the curtains turning the room grey and gold.

Theo snores a little, making me laugh. At some point in the night, we must have moved closer. Sasha is quiet inside me. Quiet, but awake and happy. Safe,

she whispers.

I close my eyes. Yes. Safe.

Last night, after Charlotte left and Theo held me through the quiet, something changed. Somewhere between Mate Island and Theo’s hand moving through my hair, I began to ponder what Charlotte had said. I have a choice. People make choices every day without thinking. We decide what to eat, where to sit, whether to stay or leave, though in Munroe, I never really had choices.

I had rules and expectations. There were places I was allowed to stand, and people I was allowed to speak to. I had a house with a sunflower patch that the future Alpha’s son could destroy because no one important lived there, apparently. I had a mate bond I thought would finally give me something good, only for it to be ripped apart in front of everyone while my parents stood silent and the pack watched. They all made choices for me. Marcus chose to reject me. Thomas chose to exile me. My parents chose to lower their eyes. The guards chose to walk me to the border and tell me I would die if I came back.

And then, for a long time, Sasha and I had nothing left to choose except whether we survived another day. But Charlotte is giving me a choice, a big one. And somewhere in the warm, dark cabin, while terrible people on television cried beside a pool, I decided. I do not want to go home yet, because I have

choices to make in Munroe.

I turn carefully in Theo’s arms, and he grumbles in his sleep as his arm slides over the blanket. His hair is a complete disaster, light brown strands sticking up in every direction. His mouth is slightly open, and a little drool is gathered on his pillow. I smile at the sight of him like this. It’s ridiculous, and gorgeous. Mine, Sasha hums and my cheeks heat.

I lift one hand and gently push a piece of hair away from his forehead, but it falls straight back over his eye. I try again and get the same result, except this time a little moan slips from his lips, making me giggle. Theo’s eyes snap open. He startles and jerks backward, almost taking the blanket with him. “Shit,” he breathes, blinking at me. “Morning.”

I bite my lip, trying not to laugh again, and his eyes narrow slowly. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?” I smile wider.

Theo props himself up on one elbow, hair falling into his eyes again, and points at me with grave suspicion. “Okay, petal. What’s with the dangerous smile?”

I roll onto my back and stretch my arms above my head, the blanket slipping down to my waist. The cabin is cool outside the warmth of the bed, but I feel awake in a way I haven’t in a long time. “Oh, nothing,” I say. “I was just thinking about what a good day it is this morning.”

Theo watches me closely, one eyebrow raised, making me laugh outright. Theo’s mouth curves with me, but his eyes stay curious. Then he reaches over and brushes the backs of his fingers against my sleeve. “Come on, Em. You have to let me in, I’m dying here. What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours”

I sit up slowly, pulling the blanket around my shoulders. “I have a few ideas,” I say, and Sasha perks up inside me, already reading and loving every thought

that I’ve been having since last night.

Theo grins. “Lay them on me.”

12:31 pm PTNM

Chapter 191 Revenge–Adjacent Breakfast

Talance toward the window, where snow clings to the sill in a soft white line. Somewhere beyond the trees, Munroe is waking up behind its stupid gates and

polished windows. And somewhere in that pack, people will be whispering about Emily. The lowly wolf who came back with Wellington. The rogue girl. Marcus’s rejected mate. The one who should have stayed gone. They can whisper all they want. Today, I am going to make sure they have plenty to talk

about.

“Okay. So here’s what I’m thinking,” I grin as I begin to tell Theo every little thing that’s been running through my head. His face goes through several stages of shock, interest, and delight so bright I have to press my lips together to keep from laughing. When I finish, he sits there in silence for two whole seconds. Then he says, “I did not realise you had this little gean streak in you.”

I roll my eyes. “Come on. It’s well deserved.”

“Oh, absolutely.” He sits up properly now, the blanket falling around his waist as he leans closer, eyes bright. “Completely deserved. Honestly, I respect the

vision.”

“There’s a vision?”

“There is now.” He winks, ” And I have notes.”

“I’m suddenly worried,” I say, but I can’t hide the excitement in my voice.

“You should be.” Theo reaches for the little room service menu on the bedside table and flicks it open with far too much confidence for a man whose hair is still trying to leave his head. “Scheming requires breakfast.”

“Does it?”

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