Where The Ice Gives Way novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54 The Moment I Moved

Charlotte

I wake slowly, like I’m dragging myself up through deep water. For a second, I don’t know where I am. The ceiling above me is unfamiliar, the sheets softer than mine, the air warmer than it should be, and then it all clicks into place, piece by piece. The pack house. Blake’s room. The lake. The blood. The pain. My eyes flick toward the curtains. Light glows through them in a dull gold wash. It must be late afternoon, maybe even evening. Heat creeps up my neck. I slept the whole day away. I push myself upright carefully, wincing out of habit more than anything. and swing my legs over the side of the bed. My feet touch the floorboards, and cool timber presses under my skin. I sit there for a second, steadying myself, and then I blink down at my leg. It doesn’t hurt the way it should. I move it a little to test. The sharp, biting pain from before is gone. There’s still soro

better. I stare at it, then let

before. Shanti shifts sle

almost non-existent

Blake stands

shirt sligh

realise

like

e, a pull through the muscle, a deep ache tucked under the skin, but it’s better. Way better. Too much

e

er the spot that had been screaming at me earlier. The healing has gone faster than it ever has and smug. I unwrap the bandage and look down to see that the swelling is minimal, the bruising and ease some weight onto it. The floorboard creaks, and the door flies open so fast I jump.

his

de, chest rising and falling like he sprinted here the second he felt me move. His hair is a mess, second, all I can do is stare at him. Shanti gives this pleased little purr inside my chest. I don’t even hole face changes. His expression softens. The tension in his shoulders eases. He steps toward me slowly, ou doing, Lotty?” he asks. His voice is low and rough, and it slides straight through me. I swallow. “My… my ront of me without hesitation, big hands gentle as they hover near my calf before carefully inspecting and lis fingers brush just above my ankle, and my breath catches stupidly hard. “It does look better,” he murmurs.

g the side of my leg, then he lifts his eyes to mine. “But not perfect. No walking on it yet.” The purring gets my God. Blake’s mouth twitches. Then he chuck

and warm, and I want the floor to open up and swallow me shut like that will somehow help. It does

ly having the best time of her life. “Do you need

there, still too close, still looking at me

in my head and finds all of them en

all. “I need to use the restroom.”

st humiliating thing possible,

under my knees, the othe

automatically. “You can

ing to be embarr

nsides, but it

arry me

impossible to think straight. It’s as if he can see every

1. Close it. Open it again. “I, uh…” My voice comes out

my entire body goes hot. Blake just nods once, like I haven’t

in close before I can protest properly, and then I’m suddenly off

ole body tucked against his chest. I let out a startled noise and grab

ke, I can do it.”

He doesn’t even break stride. “Not with me.” That should not do whatever ady strength, and the stupidest part is how easy it feels to be held by him.

on my good leg, one hand still at my waist, until he knows I’m balanced. I catch He waits just long enough to make sure I’m not going to fall, then gives me another ling the door shut behind him. The second he’s gone, I hobble to the sink and turn the as fast as my dignity will allow over to the toilet. I might not know much about wolves, nd Blake is absolutely not listening to that. By the time I’m done, my face is still burning.

h a bit of water over my cheeks, then stare at myself in the mirror. I look rough. My hair is a still a faint drain to my skin from blood loss and pain and whatever else my body has been trying cheeks now, a little more life than before, and my leg really does look better. That should probably be obble back to the door and pull it open. Then I freeze. The room is full. A whole lot of people are were not there a minute ago. My brother. Blake. His parents. Theo. Another man I don’t know. All of God I turned the tap on.

1/2

59 am pppp.

Where Is Loe Gian