Where The Ice Gives Way novel Chapter 78

Chapter 78 I’m Done Running

Charlotte

I fold into Blake without thinking. My face presses into his chest. My fingers knot in the back of his shirt. The fabric is warm under my hands, and so is he. Blake’s arms tighten around me when my breathing starts to turn choppy from crying. “Lotty.” I shake my head against him. I don’t even know what I am shaking it for. I just know that the ground under my feet doesn’t feel solid right now. I can feel tears sliding down

my face, and I hate that I’m crying. I hate that my father got that from me, too. Blake pulls back just enough to look at me. His hand comes up

to my face, thumb brus

one eye and catching the tear there before it falls further. “No,” he says. I look at him through blurred

fixed on mine. “Charlotte,” he says, quieter now, but no less sure. “You are not cursed.” My mouth

what he thinks.”

lashes. His jaw is

trembles bo

”

feel like my father just reached into the middle of me, found the oldest bruise and decided to punch it just for

ler than I want it to when I finally find it in

my chin to look back at him. His thumb res

“Do you think my Mum was cursed?” His hand doesn’t gainst my skin, while he searches my eyes. “No,” he says

was hunted because of what she was, just

means you’re special, and some people c

o has been pacing hot and offended bene ou are have never been the same thing. Bel way from Blake just enough to stand pro

eyes soften as he gives me a small smile. “Hunted doesn’t

her voice slides through me, calm and clear. What he fears and loudly in the sitting room, and voices rise before they drop again. I hough his hand stays at my waist. “I don’t want him here,” I whisper.

OW.”

on’t want him looking at

e won’t get to do it ppears around the

Lotty.” I straigh

onestly, I de

nts, we won’t allow it.” Before I can answer, footsteps hit the hallway fast. Charlie with anger. He takes one look at me, and I can see the way he breaks a little at my pain. nder my eyes. It does nothing, but I do it anyway. “I’m fine.” Charlie doesn’t buy it, and

is arms as he steps in close, and I feel Blake’s hand leave my waist just as my brother pulls as he rubs my back. “Gareth told him he wasn’t allowed to stay here and upset you, and then so fast he barely got the chance to breathe.” Charlie lets out a weak laugh as he holds me a little oned by the people they think are monsters.”

soak into his shirt. “He told them the hunter network has been hearing about a white wolf for the last urs and sightings. He says rogues are being drawn in from all directions.” I hear Lex’s low growl through tore turning me back around. He gives me a nudge forward, and Blake doesn’t hesitate to tuck me back into de of us, pushing my hair behind my ear and looking right into my eyes. “He’s wrong, Lotty, I need you to about you and Mum is bullshit. He’s just a weak, old man who couldn’t protect you both well enough.” My rs threaten to fall again. Charlie’s hand lands on my back, and he smiles at me. “Mum wasn’t cursed,” he says. “And n go ahead and get those silly thoughts out of your head.” My eyes sting again, and my chest aches because Charlie ed him to be right more than I know how to say out loud. All I can manage to do is nod once because my voice is no

ing room, Gareth’s voice carrie

or it. The hallway feels like

me back in, please.” No one moves straight away,

n at me. “You don’t have to. I know he

001 am P PPP.

Chapter 78 I’m Done Running

would let me walk upstairs and that the door and stay there if that’s what I asked for. But as Shanti lifts her head in me, silently standing

me, I feel something else. Under all the pain, I feel this urge to prove my father wrong. I look from Blake to Charlie, then toward the room. I

pull back from both of their hands, and I wipe my face one more time. I lift my chin and swallow the piece of me that wants to hide. “No,” i

say with all certainty. “I’m done running” Charlie’s mouth curves, fierce and proud all at once and Blake’s hand slides into mine as he smiles

down at me, checking my face for any sign that I might not be ready. Then the three of us turn and head back toward the room together. I’m

done feeling small.

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Where The Ice Gives Way