Where The Ice Gives Way (Charlotte and Blake) novel Chapter 255

Chapter 255 Of Course That’s Okay

Charlie

The words are barely out of my mouth before something inside me settles and panics at the same time.

Because of course it is okay. Of course she can stay with me.

She can take my room, my bed, my clothes, my whole bloody life if it means she feels safer for even one second.

But the second I say yes, I understand that this is bigger than the warm, selfish part of me that wants fer close. Bigger than Titan pressing against my ribs

like he might roll over and show his belly if she looks at him for too long.

Jess is asking me to be there when this starts.

I’m no longer some boy with a stupid crush, or a wolf with a mate.

She’s asking me to be the person she trusts to stay steady when her entire world changes.

That thought lands hard enough that I almost forget how to breathe.

Her parents look at me, and for a second I feel every inch of it. The weight of their fear. Their guilt. Their hope. Callum’s eyes stay on mine a little longer

than Elena’s, measuring me in that quiet dad way that makes my spine straighten without being told.

Jess moves a little closer to me, and her shoulder brushes my arm.

That is all it takes.

I look back at her instead of them.

“I mean it,” I say, because she needs to hear that more than anyone else does. “If being near me helps, then I’m here.”

Mara appears beside us like she has been waiting for the exact second permission lands. “Oh, I think that’s a lovely idea,” she says, calm and already moving. “Do you want to stay in the guest room beside Charlie’s, or would you rather be doser for tonight?”

Jess glances at me, and her cheeks go faintly pink, and mine probably do too because I am suddenly very aware of the fact that her garents are sitting right

there.

“I don’t know,” she says. “Closer, I think. Just… not alone.”

“Closer is fine,” Mara says, not making it weird, because Mara could probably organise a house fire into a warm family bonding moment. “Welt ere the

guest room ready as well, so you can change your mind.”

Elena wipes under her eyes with careful fingers. “I can go home and pack her a bag. Thank you, Mara, for making space for her

The rest of breakfast moves around us after that, though less doesn’t wander far from my side. She drinks another coffee, eats basta pe Mara gives hee a look that somehow has Luna power and mum power braided into one terrifying force, and lets a few note people weak to hit a set

careful voices.

By late afternoon, the pack starts thinning. Cars pull away. Kids gel bundled into coats. Someone hours ahead taking Infimer Amitate » Utd |

abi

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Chapter 255-0f Course That’s Okay

sameln-recruited Emily to distract people while he sneaks off with them first.

Jess laughs at that, soft and tired, leaning into my side like she does not even realise she is doing it.

Callum watches her from a few metres

Then he looks at me. “Charlie.”

I straighten. “Yeah?”

“Can I have a word?”

Jess glances between us.

way.

“It’s alright,” I tell her, even though my stomach twists a little.

She nods and lets Elena draw her toward Mara near the back door, but she looks back twice before she goes inside.

Callum waits until we are alone near the edge of the marquee. He doesn’t do anything dramatic like square up or throw around threats. He looks like a dad

who really cares about his daughter.

“I’m not asking you to be perfect,” he says quietly. “I know you’re both young and this is bigger than any of us planned for.” His gaze flicks toward the house, where Jess disappeared. “But if something changes, if she gets worse, if the shift starts, if she asks for us…”

“I’ll call,” I say immediately.

His eyes come back to mine.

“I’ll call,” I repeat. “I won’t keep anything from you.”

He nods slowly with a thankful expression.

“Can you promise me something?” he asks before he runs a hand through his hair. “If there comes a day when you two fight or aren’t happy together, please

don’t hurt her… just bring her back to me. Okay? Can you promise me that?”

My chest tightens, and Titan goes still inside me, because even he understands what Cailum is really asking.

He wants to make sure that his daughter is loved properly, completely, always.

“I can promise you that,” I say quietly.

Callum’s eyes shine a little, but he blinks it back fast before he holds out his hand, and I take it.

His grip is firm and warm, and it feels nothing like a challenge. It feels like trust being handed over carefully, with both hands and a warning no

“Thank you,” he says.

I nod once, because i don’t know what else to do with that.

By the time evening sotties, Mara has somehow transformed the guest top beside mine inte vething add and warm. These are a

the end of the bed, a las glowing low on the bedside table, and a stack of besh towelt in the bathroom led besight pink a her i

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Chapter 255 0f Course That’s Okay

inside it to prove she packed through tears.

Jess stands in the doorway for a while, staring at the room.

“It’s nice,” she says.

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