Where The Ice Gives Way (Charlotte and Blake) novel Chapter 213

Chapter 213 Time To Go Home

Emily

He stole the mug for me, but before that, he stole my heart.

I keep thinking about it on the drive back to the cabin, sitting in the dark with my hands wrapped around the old blue mug. Theo keeps glanci then at me, then back to the road with a smug little smile.

“You’re very pleased with yourself,” I say.

“I am, thank you for noticing.” He says with a grin.

I shake my head, but I can’t stop smiling.

The cabin lights are still on when we pull up, glowing warm against the snow. This is our last night here before we return to Wellington in the m thought coming back to Munroe would feel like walking into the past and getting trapped there, but now, as Theo parks beside the cabin and reac take my hand, I realise it feels more like closing a door properly.

Nothing is fixed, not even close to it, but I can at least say that I’ve closed that chapter.

Theo opens my door, and I climb out with the mug tucked carefully against my chest. The night air bites at my cheeks, but his hand is warm when mine and leads me inside.

The cabin smells like us now. Tea, Theo’s soap, leftover pizza, and the faint trace of vanilla from his shirt still thrown over the chair from last night.

He locks the door behind us and starts taking off his boots. “Want a cup of tea, Petal?” he asks, already reaching for the mug.

I lift an eyebrow. “You think you can make tea worthy of the stolen mug?”

He pauses. “I think you should make the tea.”

I laugh softly. “That’s what I thought.”

I rinse it carefully at the sink, then dry it with the edge of a towel. There is a chip in the handle and a little scratch across the blue glaze near the rim. remember that scratch. I made it when I dropped a spoon into it too hard one morning before school.

Theo leans against the counter beside me. “You okay?”

Γ

“I don’t know.” I sigh.

He nods, accepting that for a full answer.

“I’m glad I went,” I say. “I’m glad I know. I’m glad I don’t have to keep imagining the worst thing anymore.”

“But it still hurts.”

“Yes,”

His fingers brush mine. “Then I’ll kiss it all better.”

14

4

I hum and try to sink deeper into the pillow.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No, thank you.”

His lips move lower, finding my mating mark, and every thought in my head scatters like birds from a tree. He kisses it once, then again, and when he suck

gently, I gasp and grab his hair.

“If you do that,” I warn, blinking hard, “we won’t be going anywhere any time soon.”

Blake lifts his head, looking far too pleased with himself as he chuckles. “That’s a risk I am willing to take.”

“We have responsibilities, Blake.” I half-heartedly scold him.

“I was hoping you’d forgotten.” He whispers, placing another kiss along my inark.

“I never forget responsibilities.”

Γ

His smile softens, and he brushes hair away from uy face. “Bennett already came by. Everyone is getting loaded up. The new pack members are on the bus,

and the cars are almost ready.”

I sit up, dragging the blanket with me. “Everyone is ready? What time is it?”

“Early.” He smiles innocently, and I groan and pull myself from the bed.

1 shower quickly, brush my teeth, throw everything back into my bag, and nearly trip over Blake’s boots twice while trying to find my own.

“Why are your feet so large?” I mutter.

2/4

11:29 am P PPP.

Chapter 213 Time To Go Home

Blake leans against the doorframe with his arms crossed. “I’ll try to be smaller.” He laughs and takes my bag before I can zip it properly.

Outside, the snow has hardened overnight, crunching beneath my shoes as Blake and I walk toward the vehicles. The bus waits near the main drivewa its engine running, white exhaust cling into the cold morning air. Bennett stands by the door with a clipboard, talking softly to a woman wrapped i

thick grey blanket.

My heart pulls at the sight of all these people who look human again

Blake’s hand settles at my lower back, and I look up at his handsome face. “You did a really good thing here, Lotty.”

He kisses the top of my head and steers me toward the truck, where, surprisingly, Emily and Theo are, already waiting.

Theo leans against the truck with his back against it, and Emily is tucked comfortably in front of him. His arms are wrapped around her waist, his chir

her shoulder, while he whispers something in her ear.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify