Where The Ice Gives Way (Charlotte and Blake) novel Chapter 197

Chapter 197–Doing My Best

Theo

Almost all of the rogues have been brought back now. The prison is still bloody awful. Still damp and grey and too full of lingering stench, but we’re getting there, making a difference. Emily moves between the newly recovered, with soft hands and a pretty voice. She has been incredible in helping everyone

despite all the reasons she should run from here. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Marcus’s wolf snarls through him as I pass his cage, and I roll my eyes. There is still the matter of that bastard. I will support Em no matter what choice she makes. If she wants Charlotte to try to help him, I will stand beside her. If she wants to walk out and leave him to chew on his own consequences, I will

carry her bag and applaud. If she wants to never say his name again, I will pretend he was merely a weird stain on the wall.

But deep down, in the honest little cave where my worst and most loyal thoughts live, I really wish she would look at me and say, Oh my big, strong Theo, please would you kill him for me? And I would take her hand, bow with great dignity, and say, Yes, my dear, sweet petal. It would be an honour to serve you.

Yelen gives a pleased rumble. We would do it well.

Obviously, we would do it well.

“Theo.” I blink. “Theo,” Blake snaps again.

I turn and find him standing in the open doorway of a cell, one arm under the shoulder of a very large, very naked, very dirty man who is doing absolutely nothing to help himself stay upright. “What are you doing?” Blake grunts. “Come help me.”

“Yep. Coming.”

I jog over, duck into the cell, and get the man’s other arm over my shoulder. He sure is heavy, and the smell hits me so hard my eyes water. Holy shit. I clamp my mouth shut. It’s not his fault. The man has probably been trapped in wolf form for months, maybe even years. He probably doesn’t even remember

what a shower is, let alone the dignity of deodorant. Still, my nose may never forgive me. Blake’s eyes flick to mine. Do not say it, he warns through the

bond.

I widen my eyes innocently. I wasn’t.

Blake grunts as he shifts his grip. “Step.”

The man’s feet drag over the concrete between us. His head hangs forward, dark hair falling across his face. Dr Hale points us toward the cot nearest the wall, and Bennett hurries over with a blanket. Emily looks up from where she is sitting with Lacey and the silent boy from earlier. She gives me a small

thankful smile. You good? I mouth. She nods, then turns back to Lacey, brushing a strand of hair away from the woman’s face before handing her another

cup of water. I am so proud of her.

She has faced so many demons today. Her old pack. Her parents. Thomas. Marcus. This building. These cages. Every dark corner that could have swallowed

her again. And yet she is still here. Still helping. Still wearing those fuck you boots like Munroe built the street just so she could walk it.

Blake turns me back around by grabbing the back of my shirt. “Come on. Just a few more and we can get the hell out of dodge.”

“Bossy,” I mutter and step back, rubbing my shoulder.

Marcus watches it all from his cage, his grimy little head pressed against the bars. He looks worse than he did this morning, like an addict who hasn’t had his fix. Every time Emily moves, his gaze follows. Every time she laughs quietly, he looks like someone has stabbed him. I will admit, today has been highly amusing, maybe not for him, but definitely for me.

12:31 pm PTNM

Chapter 197 Doing My Best

Alpha Thomas–is pretty comical too, standing near the wall with his arms crossed, vibrating with rage so hard I’m surprised his pants haven’t fallen down.

He has been watching one person after another choose anything but Munroe. I stroll past him and pause.

“You good, Alpha?” His eyes cut to me and a growl rumbles in his chest. I nod thoughtfully. “Great chat.”

“Theo,” Blake mutters.

I roll my eyes and head back behind Charlotte as she makes her way to another cell that is very pointedly not Marcus’s. The Munroe guards open it under

Blake’s supervision, and the wolf inside backs into the far corner, teeth bared, body shaking under patchy black fur.

Charlotte looks exhausted. Her face is pale, and her hands tremble when she lowers herself to the floor. Blake crouches beside her, one hand settling at the

back of her neck for a second before he lets go. She leans into him just enough that I notice, then straightens.

“Last few,” Blake murmurs, and Charlotte nods.

Emily watches me from just down the corridor near the cots, her expression tightening with worry. “She needs a break,” I say quietly to her, but Blake turns

his head to me. “She won’t take one.”

Blake has learned when to stop her and when to stand with her while she burns herself down doing what she believes is right. I don’t envy him. I would be a

complete menace if Emily looked even slightly tired. I would wrap her in a blanket and start biting anyone who argued. Yelen huffs approvingly. Good plan.

The black wolf growls, the sound wavering at the end as Shanti begins to howl to him. Marcus whimpers, and Thomas’s hands curl tighter. I tuck both of

those things away with great pleasure. The wolf collapses onto its side, and Charlotte’s shoulders shake with the strain. Blake’s hand goes back to her neck,

thumb moving against her skin. The wolf twists, fur pulling back in rough patches, limbs cracking and folding until a younger man lies curled on the

concrete, gasping.

I reach for a blanket and a bottle of water and make my way inside. The man is younger than I expected. Maybe early twenties or younger. Hard to tell under the dirt and the hollow cheeks. His hair is dark, matted to one side, and there is an old scar cutting through one eyebrow. I kneel beside him and hold the

blanket out where he can see it. “Hey. Welcome back.” His eyes dart to me. “You ready to see what life is like when people give a shit?” Charlotte elbows me

in the ribs. “Ow.” She gives me a look. “What?” I whisper. “I’m not as good at this as you, okay? You said you didn’t want me out there with the ones who

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