Where The Ice Gives Way Chapter 150

**Blake**

Charlotte is glowing when we leave the rink. There’s no other word for it. Her cheeks are flushed from the cold, her hair is messy from skating, and she keeps beaming at the skates in her hands. Charlie walks beside her with her bag over his shoulder, pretending he isn’t watching every step she takes. I open the truck door for Charlotte, and she slides into the back with a tired little sigh.

“You have fun?” I ask.

She nods, leaning her head back against the seat with a sleepy smile. “That was amazing.”

Her eyes are bright, but I can see the exhaustion underneath them—Lex paces inside of me, eager to care for her. Charlie climbs in beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her in to his chest. “You were so good, Lotty.”

Charlotte looks up at him. “You sound surprised.”

“I’m always surprised when it comes to you.”

She laughs, then leans into him as I close the door.

I watch Charlotte’s eyes drift shut through the rearview as I drive. Charlie nudges her lightly, probably because he thinks it’s too early for her to sleep.

“I’m awake,” she mumbles.

“No, you’re not.” He laughs, but when her head slides back onto his shoulder, he smooths her hair back and lets her go. He looks at me in the mirror and gives a small smile.

When we pull into the driveway, Charlotte is half asleep. She wakes when I open the door, blinking at me in confusion for a second before she remembers where she is.

“We’re home,” I say.

She nods and reaches for my hand, and I help her out slowly, keeping one arm ready in case her knees decide they’ve done enough for the day. Charlie carries her skates, I carry her bag, and she looks between us with sleepy suspicion. “I can carry things.”

“You can,” Charlie says, already walking toward the house. “But I’m carrying them better.”

Charlotte looks at me as I walk backwards to face her and lift both hands. “He has a point.”

She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling as we follow him inside.

Mum meets us in the hallway before we even get our coats off. “How was it?”

Charlotte’s face lights again. “Good. Oh, Mara, the whole day was amazing!”

Mum’s whole face softens as she helps her with her coat. Dad comes in behind her, phone in hand, eyes moving over Charlotte first before landing on me. There’s something in his expression that tells me I’m not going to be happy, but he tucks it away when Charlotte looks at him.

“Skating went well?” he asks.

“It was great! Like I never left,” Charlotte says proudly.

Charlie snorts. “Blake nearly fell on his face, though.”

I point at Charlie. “You’re sleeping outside.”

Charlotte laughs as we walk into the living room. She leans onto the back of the lounge with a yawn. Mum ushers her around the seat and grabs a blanket and the remote for her. “Rest. Dinner will be soon, okay?”

“I’m okay, really.”

“Wonderful. Relax anyway.” She says, already moving back to the kitchen. I hide my smile as I sit down with her, and she sinks into my side as she scrolls through the channels. 

Throughout dinner, Charlotte fades a little more with every minute. She eats what Mum puts in front of her, answers questions about school and the rink, and smiles when Jessica texts her something that makes her cheeks go pink. But her blinks get longer, and her hand that rests against mine under the table slowly stops moving. By the time she finishes half her plate, her cheek is almost in her palm. I lean closer, whispering in her ear, “Bed?”

She shakes her head, even though her eyes are closed. “I’m eating.”

“I think you’re done,” I say, helping her up from the chair. Her fingers curl into my hoodie as soon as she stands, and she leans into me while I guide her toward the stairs. Halfway up, she murmurs, “I really liked today.”

My throat tightens as I look down at her. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Her voice is soft against my shoulder. “I felt… normal.”

I stop on the step for a second, pressing a kiss to her hair. “I’m glad you had fun.”

She’s almost asleep by the time we reach my room. I help her out of her jumper, hand her one of my shirts, and turn away while she changes because even now, even with the bond, even with everything we’ve been through, I don’t take what she hasn’t offered. When she climbs into bed, she goes straight to my side, and Lex purrs for her. I pull the covers up over her and sit beside her, brushing hair back from her face.

“Are you staying?” she asks, eyes barely open.

“For a bit.” I run a hand through her hair. “You sleep, I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“Okay.” She whispers.

I sit with her and wait while her breathing slows, and then Dad’s voice drifts through the link. The first transport is nearly here.

I sigh as I look down at Charlotte sleeping, one hand still curled in the blanket, her face turned toward my pillow. I don’t want to leave this room, but I know I have responsibilities to tend to. So I lean down and press my lips to her forehead. “I’ll be close by, pretty girl”, I whisper. Then I stand slowly, letting her fingers slip from mine, and head for the door.

I step into the hallway and close the door quietly behind me. Downstairs, Dad is already waiting by the back door, ready to go. “The transport’s ten out,” he says quietly.

I follow him outside where floodlights throw long beams across the acre behind us. They light up the churned mud, machinery, stacked fencing and the underground structure that’s been thrown together in record time.

We walk past workers still welding supports into place and people carrying supplies between buildings. There’s still so much more to do, and the transition housing further back is still mostly framework. But the main part, the cells themselves, they’re done. We walk through the strong steel doors, and I look through the observation windows that are thick enough to withstand a wolf trying to tear through them. Every room has drains, restraints if needed, heating, reinforced vents, beds and steel toilets. Overall, it’s safe, secure, and built to hold wolves that most packs would have put down. I run a hand through my hair and try not to stress about the inevitable. Rogues will start filling this place soon, and hopefully, Charlotte will be ready to bring them back.