Where The Ice Gives Way (Charlotte and Blake) novel Chapter 242

Where The Ice Gives Way

Chapter 242 Lovesick Fool

Charlie

She’s here. She’s here. Go to her! Titan urges, pushing so hard against my skin that I have to clench my fists to keep from moving

Not yet.

Go to her.

I try to shove him back into his little box in my head, but he is having none of it. He is pacing, whining, clawing at the inside of me with so much desperate relief that I can barely stand still.

Easy now, brother, Theo links me as he, Emily, and Jess walk slowly across the yard. She’s still pretty shaky about all of this.

I want to glare at him. Hell, I probably do.

Why does he get to drive her to school? He is a big scary wolf guy too, and he’s standing right there beside her like he has any right to be

that close to her.

Bite him, Titan says quietly.

I think about it. I really do.

Then I remind myself Theo has Emily right there beside him. He doesn’t want my… Jess.

Jess isn’t mine. Not unless she wants to be.

By the time they reach me, my whole body feels too tight. Theo, casual as anything, pulls me into a one-handed hug with a firm thump

on the back.

“You’ve got this,” he whispers near my ear.

I swallow hard and thump him back. Then Theo steps away, and there is nothing between Jess and me except cold morning air and every stupid thing I wish I could undo.

I look at her, searching for damage even though I know she is not hurt. Titan and I would never hurt her. Not physically anyway.

But mentally?

Emotionally?

think

h

11:18 Wed, Jul 29

Chapter 242 Lovesick Fool

middle of the school yard and beg until she believes me.

“Hey, Charlie,” Jess says.

Het voice stutters over my name, and she gives me a smile so weak it barely holds.

“Jess.” My throat feels rough. “Hey. How are you?”

She lets out a broken little laugh. “Yeah, uh, been better.”

I nod, because that’s more than fair.

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly.

Her eyes flick up to mine.

“Jessica!”

Annabelle’s voice cracks across the yard so loudly that Jess flinches back from me and her foot slips on the edge of the step.

One moment there is a metre between us. The next, I have her in my arms.

My hand locks around her waist, the other catching her elbow, and my nose drops to her neck before I even understand what I am doing. I inhale deep, too deep, dragging in the scent of cold air, vanilla, fear, and Jess.

Titan goes completely still, melting into a ridiculous puddle in my mind, while Jess freezes against me.

Then Annabelle says, “Oh wow, Charlie. What are you doing there, buddy?”

The words snap through whatever just happened.

Jess jerks upright, her hands pressing quickly against my chest before she steps back. The place where she touched me burns through my shirt, and the second her body leaves mine, everything feels colder.

I have to lock my jaw to keep Titan from turning around and growling straight in Annabelle’s face.

You good, mate? Theo links me, and my eyes snap to his.

His brows lift, but his voice stays light. Looking a little feral there.

It sounds like a joke, but I know it’s not entirely, but I feel a little feral. I don’t know what’s happening to me.

11:18 Wed, Jul 29

Chapter 242 Lovesick Fool

“Hello?” Annabelle says, waving one hand in front of Jess’s face. “Anyone home?”

Jess blinks, then quickly links her arm through Annabelle’s.

130

“Come on,” she says, voice too bright. “We’re going to be late.”

Annabelle looks between us, eyes narrowing with the promise of future interrogation, but Jess tugs her forward before she can ask

anything else.

And me?

Like a lovesick fool, I stand there and watch her go.

Her hair moves over her shoulder. Her fingers tighten around Annabelle’s arm. She doesn’t look back. Doesn’t show any sign she feels the

ache I do.

Titan presses against my ribs, restless and aching.

Go after her.

I can’t.

Please.

I close my eyes for one second, fighting the pull in my bones, fighting the urge to shift right here in the school yard and follow the only

thing in the world my wolf seems to care about.

When I open them again, Jess is disappearing through the doors.

And I am still standing there, trying desperately not to shift.

“What was that?”

Blake’s voice comes from my left, low enough that no one else in the yard turns around.

11:18 Wed, Jul 29

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