Where The Ice Gives Way novel Chapter 75

Chapter 75 ur Wolf Friends

Charlotte

Sunday

even

ste

ver the house in a way that feels almost normal. Not my normal, but someone’s normal. The kitchen is full before 1 Mara is at the stove with her hair twisted up, moving between pans and plates while The leans against the counter, Charlie is already at the table, half awake with a mug in his hands and his curls still a mess from sleep. Blake sirs accou

rm hooked over the back of his chair, and Gareth and John are at the far end of the table talking quietly over coffee. For

with the smell of toast and eggs and coffee in the air and everyone moving around each other like this in ordinary, I’ve stepped into someone else’s life. A warmer one. One that is safe. Mara points at the seat beside Charlie the mo Eat.” I do, because I’ve learned quickly that arguing with Mara about anything is pointless.

a plate in front of me a second later, then one in front of Blake, and turns back to the stove before Theo can swipe anything else hums around me, low voices and clinking cutlery and the soft scrape of chairs over the timber floor. Is it possible that every morning be like this? John sets his mug down, and his eyes move to me, then Charlie. “We’d like to get your wolves out training today.” Clar es up from his plate. “Today?” Gareth nods once from beside him. “It’ll be good for both of you.” I still for a second with my fort my mouth as John folds his arms over his chest. “Basic control first. Getting them out. Getting them to listen. Learning where your lim fore something pushes you into finding out the hard way.” Beside me, Charlie straitens in his chair. “And if our wolves don’t want to play nice?” Theo huffs a laugh into his coffee, John doesn’t smile. “They’ll play nice if I tell them to.” Blake glances sideways around Charise it e “You okay with that?” I look at him, then at Gareth and John, then back down at the food on my plate. I don’t know if I’m okay with 409 3 this. I do know that I’m tired of feeling like things are happening to me while I stand there trying to catch up. So I nod. “Yeah,” 1 day think so.” Charlie looks at me for a second, grinning. “We can finally show everyone who’s faster.” I roll my eyes and laugh while elbow into his ribs. “Yeah, me.”

Then a loud series of banging echoes through the house, and everyone freezes. It’s hard enough to rattle through the front bailey something low in my chest. Mara wipes her hands on a tea towel and starts toward the doorway. “I’ll get it.” Gareth’s hand cutches ter shoulder before she can pass. “I will.” His voice lowers, and the air around him seems a little harder to breathe in. I see Blake stranges chair, and Theo pushes off the counter. John is already half rising from his chair before Gareth is even fully on his feet. The king camera again. Gareth crosses the house in long, even strides, and the sound of the front door unlocking carries through the vience. I hear the soure before I see the face, and my heart drops so hard it feels like I’ve missed a step. “Are my children here?” Shit. My father. Every things head stops at once. Charlie looks at me. I look at him. He pushes back from the table and stands first. “That would depenst Gareth sayi haat the front hall, his voice carrying through the house. “Who are your children? I am already on my feet before i reale. I we too Charlie into the hall. Blake and Theo are behind us a second later. I don’t have to look to know it. I can feel them the

the doorway like a wall, and behind him is my father.

His coat is buttoned

houses I spent

experts him

Mays. Chur

hurry, but his oves are clear the smells the unter die wer

His gade catches un Cheats first, this seer, the Jae- den bow how many people I had to ask to find a dog fo

real apology in “We are just hanging at aut cup face at –

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9:01 am

ppp.