Where The Ice Gives Way Chapter 33

**Blake**

On the drive to the rink this morning, I mind-linked Dad and told him what happened near Nanna’s. Dad went very quiet for a while after, and then he told me the one thing I needed to hear. *Stick by Charlotte. We’ll figure this out.* When the rotten scent walked right into our rink, my first thought wasn’t panic. It was rage. The second it hit my nose, I opened the link to Theo. *Track him.* Theo’s response was immediate and hungry. *On it.* I watched Theo move without hesitation, slipping out of the stands like he was going to the bathroom, blending into the crowd. I stayed because leaving Charlotte’s side isn’t an option anymore. Not when rogues are bold enough to step into public places and sniff around this close to my pack, my people, and my mate.

“Alright,” I call out. “That’s it. Practice is over.” A chorus of complaints answers me immediately. “What?” Joey yells. “We’ve got ten minutes!” Coach’s whistle cuts through the noise, sharp and final, and he glides to the boards with a frown like he wants to argue. “Done?” he asks. “We’re not done yet.” I keep my voice low as I lean closer, letting only him hear the edge underneath it. “Something came up. Pack thing. Call it.” Coach’s eyes narrow for a beat, then he nods once, accepting it and trusting me. He doesn’t ask questions; he knows the tone I’m using. He turns back to the ice and blows his whistle again. “Off. Now. Hit the showers.” The boys groan and chirp each other anyway, but they skate toward the tunnel, sticks tapping, shoulders bumping, still laughing like nothing is wrong. Charlie glides over to me, helmet off, breath fogging, cheeks flushed from the drill. “What’s going on?” he asks. “Nothing you need to worry about right now,” I say carefully. “Just need to wrap early.” His gaze flicks up to the stands, to where Charlotte sits, and his jaw tightens. I know he doesn’t like being left out of what I’m not saying. I hate it too, but I’m not even sure what this is about yet, and I can’t go causing panic without a good reason. I jerk my chin toward the benches. “Can you sit with your sister for a sec? Just make sure she’s alright while I go shower.” Charlie blinks at me like I’ve asked him to babysit a stranger. Then he scoffs defensively. “I mean, yeah. That’s my sister. Of course I will.”

“I know,” I say, keeping my tone steady. “I was just asking because I don’t want her alone.” His expression softens a fraction, then he nods once and heads up. I watch him sit beside her and watch Charlotte turn her head slightly and say something. Charlie’s shoulders relax a bit, and then I force myself to move. I need a shower and fresh clothes before school starts—human standards on human timing.

The change rooms are loud with the boys talking and lockers slamming. I move through it fast, stripping off gear. I scrub the rink sweat off and try to scrub the rot scent out of my nose. When I come out, I pull on my uniform quickly and shove my books into my bag. Then I head back out, trying my best not to sprint, to find Charlie still sitting on the bench next to Charlotte. “A shower’s free if you want it,” I tell him. He looks over to Charlotte and she smiles at him, a smile I really wish she would give to me. “I’ll wait for you. We can walk into school together.” He stands and runs off, and I climb the steps toward Charlotte. Finally… a moment alone. She looks up as I approach, and the mate bond tugs hard. It’s been waiting for me to close the distance again. I notice her eyes still hold that guarded edge, like she’s ready to bolt if the wrong thing happens. *Be gentle.* Lex tells me, and I mentally roll my eyes at him. *Of course, I’ll be gentle.*

I stop beside her, and suddenly I don’t know what to do with my hands. I’ve been ready for this, dying for this. Ever since she said mine, everything inside me locked into place. I’ve replayed a hundred different conversations in my head, all of them starting strong, all of them ending with her understanding, with her smiling, with her leaning in instead of leaning away. Now I’m here, and my mouth is empty, my chest is too tight, and my palms are sweating. “Hey,” I say. *Smooth,* Lex mocks in my mind. I shoot him a mental glare that does nothing. He purrs anyway, pleased with himself. Charlotte blinks up at me, cheeks a little pink from the cold. “Hi,” she says softly. I sit beside her, leaving some space between us. My knee bounces once before I force it still. I keep my gaze forward on the ice so I don’t stare at her like a starving animal. Words. I need words. I could tell her about the rogues, but that will scare her. I could tell her about the pack watching the halls, but that will make her feel trapped. I could tell her I stayed outside her house last night, but that sounds insane. Lex rumbles under my ribs, urging me on. “So,” she says, voice quiet, eyes flicking to my face and then away again. “Your wolf’s name is Lex?” The question catches me off guard, and relief washes through my chest so hard I almost laugh. “Yeah,” I say. “Yeah, it is.” Charlotte’s fingers curl around the strap of her bag. “Do you know yours yet?” I ask, carefully, unsure she’ll answer. Her eyes widen a fraction, then she nods once. “Yeah.” My breath catches. “Yeah?”

“She’s spoken to me a little today,” Charlotte admits quietly, like it’s a secret just between us. “Her name is Shanti.”

“Shanti,” I repeat, and I feel my expression soften. “That means peace,” I say, and I see the surprise flicker in her eyes again. “Does it?” she asks, like she doesn’t know whether to believe me. “Yeah,” I tell her. “It’s a Sanskrit term. It means peace.” I swallow, then add, quieter, “It’s beautiful.” Charlotte’s gaze drops to her hands. Her thumb rubs over her knuckle, and I get the impression that no one has ever called anything about her beautiful. Not without wanting something in return. I can see her trying to work out where the catch is. “There’s a lot I don’t know,” she says after a moment of silence. “I know,” I reply. “And I don’t… I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with any of it.”

“You don’t have to do anything right now,” I say quickly, and then I slow myself down. “You don’t have to choose anything. You don’t have to… become a pack person overnight.” Her mouth twitches into a smile she tries to hide. “Pack person.”

“I’m doing great,” I mutter, and Lex makes an amused sound in my mind. I force myself to breathe through it and try to recover.