Where The Ice Gives Way Chapter 53

**Blake**

Mum ducks her head into the room, her gaze flicks from me to Charlie, then to Charlotte asleep under the blankets. Mum’s expression softens in that way that always makes my chest tighten, because she looks at Charlotte like she’s already family, like she’s already ours to protect. Mum lifts two fingers and curls them toward herself, a quiet signal. “Come on,” she whispers. “She’ll be fine now. Let her rest.” Charlie hesitates, eyes still pinned to his sister like if he looks away she’ll disappear. I watch him swallow hard, then stand anyway, moving slowly and carefully. He leans in and brushes his knuckles lightly against the blanket near her hand. Then he turns and follows me out. Mum closes the door behind us, and we head downstairs. Mum leads us past the living room and into the dining area, where the table is full. Dad sits at the head, shoulders squared, eyes focused and locked into that calm command mode he carries when things go wrong. Theo is slouched in a chair to his right, trying to look relaxed, but his knee is bouncing, and his knuckles are still scraped. Across from him sits John, Dad’s Beta. He looks up as we enter, gaze scanning Charlie first, then me. Dad gestures to the empty chairs. “Sit.”

Charlie sits, stiff as a board, hands on his knees. I take the chair beside him, and Mum sits at the other side of the table. Dad nods toward John. “Charlie, this is John. My Beta.” John’s tone is warm but steady when he speaks. “Good to meet you, son.” Charlie nods once. “Yeah. You too.” John’s gaze holds his for a beat longer, then he looks toward Dad, waiting. Dad exhales slowly and rests his forearms on the table. “Alright,” he says. “Logistics.” I’m sure that word makes Charlie bristle slightly, because Charlie has spent his whole life living in chaos. Logistics is a luxury he hasn’t had. He’ll eventually come to understand its safety. “We have a white wolf joining our pack,” Dad says. Charlie’s eyes flick toward the stairs like he can see Charlotte through the ceiling. Dad continues, voice measured. “Even more important, if she and Blake complete their bond, she will be our future Luna.” My chest tightens with pride, but also with the weight of it. Fate keeps stacking things on top of Charlotte like she hasn’t already been carrying enough. Charlie’s head snaps toward me, and his jaw clenches. I keep my face neutral, even though Lex surges at the silent challenge there. I know we’re working our shit out… I also understand it’s a lot for Charlie to accept. Dad doesn’t soften the truth. “Charlotte’s wolf is a rarity we have not seen before. Legends talk about it, but what was witnessed today confirms the core of it. Her howl can pull rogues back to their humanity.” Charlie’s throat works as he swallows. “That’s… what happened behind the diner?” John nods once. “Theo told me about it. We’ve never seen rogues drop like that.” Theo mutters, “It was insane,” then shuts his mouth when Dad gives him a look. Dad keeps going. “The rogues have clearly spotted her, and they know she’s here.”

Charlie’s hands curl into fists on his knees as Dad says, “and now she will be hunted,” Dad’s voice dropping lower. “Just like the ones before her.” Charlie’s eyes widen a fraction. “There were others?” Mum reaches across the table and places her hand over Charlie’s. Charlie looks at it like he doesn’t know what to do with tenderness in the middle of fear. Dad’s gaze stays on Charlie. “As soon as Charlotte wakes, we need to join you both into the pack for your safety.” John leans forward slightly, voice calm. “Once you’re inducted, the pack network is open to you. It will help all of us to help both of you.” Dad nods. “And we’ll need a formal pack meeting. The pack needs to see you, know you and understand exactly who they’re protecting.” Charlie sits back a fraction, overwhelmed. “What about school?” he asks, voice rough. “What about hockey? Am I still going to be able to go? Play? Or is my whole life just… done now?” Dad’s expression changes, and for the first time since we sat down, there’s something like reassurance in his eyes. “Of course you will,” Dad says simply. “You’ll go to school. You’ll play hockey. You’ll live your life.” Charlie’s shoulders ease by half an inch. “You’ll just do it with a few extra eyes on you,” Dad adds. Theo gives a short snort like he’s about to make a joke, then thinks better of it and keeps quiet.

Charlie’s gaze drops, then lifts again, braver now. “How long is this likely to go on for?” The question lands heavily in the room, because it’s the question underneath every other question. How long until we can breathe? I watch as mum’s mouth tightens, and she gives Charlie a smile that hurts to look at, because it’s gentle and apologetic at the same time. “Oh, sweetheart,” Mum says, squeezing his hand lightly. “Your sister is the only known white wolf.” Charlie’s face goes pale. “Every rogue that hears of her,” Mum continues quietly, “will want her dead.” The silence that follows is thick. Charlie blinks hard, eyes shining, and then he asks the only thing he can grab onto. “How many rogues are there?” Dad’s eyes go dark. “Far too many to ever be able to put a number on.” Charlie exhales shakily, like the air has turned to glass in his lungs and he’s slowly suffocating. Mum strokes the back of his hand once, comforting without coddling. “But with your sister,” she says softly, “there will be less and less every day once she knows how to use her power.” Charlie’s gaze flicks toward the stairs again, and I see it in him, the protective instinct twisting into fear. He’s spent his whole life trying to keep her safe from one man. Now the threat has a thousand faces. I reach out and set my hand on his shoulder, firm and steady. “No one will harm her,” I tell him, voice low and absolute. “We will make sure of that.” Charlie swallows, eyes burning. “It’s our turn to look after her for a change,” I add quietly, and I mean it with everything in me.