Where The Ice Gives Way Chapter 155

**Charlotte**

Emily stays tucked against me for a while. The concrete floor is cold beneath my knees, and Blake’s hoodie is damp where she has cried into it, but I don’t move. I keep one arm around her shoulders and my other hand in her tangled hair, smoothing it back from her face in slow strokes. I glance toward Gareth. Where will she stay now? I ask through the link, carefully reaching for him the way Shanti has been teaching me. Gareth’s eyes move to mine. We’ve got a temporary building set up beside the rehabilitation house. It isn’t much yet, but it’s warm and secure. We’ll just need to put supplies in there.

I look down at Emily. She is listening to every sound around her, every movement, every breath. Maybe don’t have Theo put those supplies in there.

Gareth’s expression softens with understanding. Agreed. Then he steps forward and speaks out loud softly.

“Emily, we’re going to step out for a moment and give you some privacy to get dressed.”

Emily’s hands tighten in the blanket again. “You don’t have to rush,” he continues. “Take your time. Charlotte will be right outside the door.”

Her eyes flick to me, and I nod with a smile. “I’m not going far.”

I can hear how hard she swallows as she looks up at Gareth. He lowers himself into a crouch so he’s not towering over us anymore. “You’re in the Wellington pack,” he says. “My name is Gareth Atlas. I’m the Alpha here.”

Emily goes still at the word Alpha, and I’m sure Gareth sees it because he pauses. “You are safe here,” he says. “And you are welcome here. We’re building this place because we don’t believe every rogue should be put down when there may still be a person trapped underneath. Some will be too far gone or too dangerous, but if there is a chance to bring someone back like you, we want to try.”

Emily looks at the blanket around her hands, fidgeting with the threads there. “We’ll have doctors check you over. You’ll have food, warmth, somewhere private to sleep, and people who can help you adjust. We’re setting up a rehabilitation building, so anyone who returns has support before they’re asked to step back into pack life.” Gareth smiles at her. “You’ll be the very first one to experience what we’d like to give back to the world.” 

The room goes quiet except for the distant growls behind other doors, and Emily’s voice comes out small. “That’s a very nice thing to do.”

He nods once. “It’s the right thing to do.”

Emily looks like she doesn’t know what to do with that, and I understand the feeling all too well. I squeeze her hand lightly before I let go. My legs ache when I push myself up, but I try not to show it. “We’ll be right outside,” I tell Emily, picking up the bundle of clothes Theo left and handing them to her. The moment the door is between us, Blake turns to me.

“How are you feeling?”

“I won’t lie and say that didn’t take it out of me, but I’m okay.” I give him a small smile, and he comes behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I lean back against him for support, and warmth, and simply because I can.

The cell door opens a few minutes later. Emily stands in oversized clothes, the sleeves falling past her wrists, and the sweatpants rolled several times at the waist. Her hair is still tangled, and her face is pale and blotchy from crying. 

Gareth smiles gently. “Let’s get you out of here and somewhere more comfortable.”

Emily looks at me first, so I hold out my hand, stepping away from Blake. She takes it, and together we walk through the corridors. The growls rise as we pass, but Emily keeps her eyes on the floor and her fingers locked around mine. Every time one of the doors rattles, she flinches and jumps a little. “You’re okay,” I whisper each time. I don’t know if she believes me, but she keeps walking.

Emily clutches my fingers harder as we cross the yard. We head towards the rehabilitation building that stands half-finished under tarps and scaffolding. We veer off to the side of it, where I see a smaller temporary building with warm light glowing through the windows. I also see Theo near the tree line. He stands far enough away that I’m sure Emily won’t see him as anyone other than a patrol member, but I bet she can feel him through that bond. Emily’s hand tightens around mine, and I watch as Theo lowers his gaze and turns his body away.

Inside the building, there is a small kitchenette with a little fridge, a kettle, a sink, and two cupboards. A bed sits along one wall, with plain blankets folded at the foot, and a small table with two chairs. I check the bathroom and find a basket of basic things on the bench, including towels, soap, a toothbrush, and a hairbrush still in its packet. It is simple but warm with the heater on, and it has everything anyone would need to start rebuilding their life. “I know it’s not much,” I say, closing the door behind us while Blake and Gareth remain outside. “We weren’t exactly ready to start bringing rogues back.” I give her a small smile. “You’re actually the first one I’ve brought back since I lost my memory.”

Her brown eyes flick to mine with interest. “You lost your memory?”

“Most of the recent stuff, yeah.”

Her brows draw together, and I lean back against the counter. I point at myself. “Nearly died. Forgot my mate. Found out I’m some rare white wolf who can apparently call people back from insanity.” Then I point gently at her. “Rejected by a future Alpha. Cast out. Survived as a rogue. Found your way here because of a howl you heard through the dark.” Emily stares at me, and I lift one shoulder. “You want to trade trauma stories?”

She lets out a broken half laugh, and I smile. I think we’re going to get along just fine.

I find hot chocolate in one of the cupboards and a packet of marshmallows tucked behind it. My hands shake a little from the exhaustion as I fill the kettle, but Emily doesn’t comment. She sits on the edge of the bed with the blanket tucked around her, watching me cautiously. I make two mugs, carry them over and sit beside her on the bed—just two girls with missing pieces sharing a warm drink. Emily looks down at the marshmallows melting into the chocolate.

“I don’t know where to start,” she whispers.

I take a sip, letting the heat move through me. “Neither do I,” I say. “So we can start anywhere.”