Where The Ice Gives Way Chapter 55

**Charlotte**

Blake is moving before I even finish the internal spiral I’m having. Charlie reaches me from the other side at almost the same time, both of them closing in around me. “You alright?” Charlie asks quietly. I nod, even though my face still feels hot. “Yeah.” Blake’s hand hovers near my waist, careful, waiting for permission more than taking it, and when I shift my weight wrong, he steps closer instantly. Charlie takes my hand and helps guide me back toward the bed while Blake stays on my other side. By the time I’m sitting again, my pulse has steadied a little. A little. Gareth stands near the foot of the bed, broad shoulders filling the room in that calm, solid way he has. Beside him is the man I don’t know, older than Blake and Theo, with dark hair touched with grey and sharp eyes that take everything in without looking unfriendly about it. “Charlotte,” Gareth says, his voice even. “This is John. My Beta.” John gives me a small nod. “It’s good to meet you, Charlotte.”

“Hello,” I say, awkward and too quiet. Then Charlie turns toward me fully. “Lotty,” he says, holding my hand a little tighter. “We need to join the pack now.” I blink at him. Charlie keeps going before I can say anything. “I’ve come to realise it’s for the best. We need the safety they’re willing to provide us.” I glance at Gareth, then Mara, then Blake, standing beside me. My throat moves when I swallow and nod once. Mara’s whole face brightens, warm and immediate, like she’s been waiting for exactly that. “It’ll be nice and quick,” she says. “And then we’re hosting a pack dinner in the backyard. We have everyone coming to meet you both.” I turn to Blake first without meaning to, because apparently my body has decided that’s what it does now, but then I look back at Charlie. My expression must say everything because he squeezes my hand and lets out a half-scoff, half-laugh. “I know,” he says. “People.” That gets the tiniest breath of a smile out of me. “You’ll be alright,” he adds. “It will be good for us.”

Blake crouches a little so he’s more in my line of sight. “I won’t leave your side for a second if you’re uncomfortable with the crowd,” he says. His voice is low again and steady enough to hold onto. I look at him for a second longer than I mean to. Then I nod. “Okay.” It feels like a small word for something this big, but it’s the one I have. Gareth folds his arms loosely across his chest. “Once you’re part of the pack and everyone knows who they’re protecting, you can start working with Mara in your free time to learn how to use your gift.” My eyes lift to his. “Gift?” He smiles warmly. “What your wolf can do.” Ah right. That thing. Gareth continues before I can get stuck in that too long. “Both you and Charlie will also train your wolves with John. That way, even if one of us isn’t around and you’re in trouble, you should be able to defend yourselves.” John inclines his head once. “We’ll start with the basics and build from there.”

“Okay,” I say again, softer this time.

Mara claps her hands together suddenly, snapping the tension clean in half. “Right,” she says brightly. “Everyone out. I need to help Charlotte get ready.” Theo is the first to grin. Blake lingers. Of course, he lingers. Mara points at the door. “That includes you.” Blake’s mouth twitches, but he straightens. His hand brushes mine once before he steps back. “I’ll be outside,” he says. Like I’d somehow forget. Then the boys file out, Gareth and John with them, and the room finally feels like it can breathe again. Mara slips out for a second too, and I think maybe she’s gone to grab a brush or something simple. Then she comes back carrying bags. A lot of bags. I stare as she shuts the door behind her and sets them down all over the bed and chair, like this is the most ordinary thing in the world. “What...” I start. “I didn’t know what colours you liked,” she says, already pulling things free, “so I got a few different things.” My mouth falls open. There are coats. Thick warm ones. Boots with soft lining inside. Pants. Jumpers. Shirts folded neatly. A scarf still wrapped in paper. Then she reaches into another bag and pulls out what looks very much like a school uniform and a school bag. I stare… The room blurs before I even realise why. My chest tightens hard and fast, and the tears hit so suddenly they don’t even feel real at first. Then one slips over and everything in me caves all at once. A sound tears out of my throat that’s half sob, half choke and Mara freezes. “Oh, sweetheart,” she says at once, dropping the clothes beside her. “What’s wrong?” I shake my head, but that only makes it worse. My breath catches and breaks, and suddenly I can’t stop it. “This...” I try again, my voice wrecked. “This is too much.” Mara’s face softens instantly. “No one has ever...” The words tangle up on me, and I swipe angrily at my cheeks, only making more tears fall. “I can’t accept all of this.” She sits down beside me and pulls me straight into her arms. I fold without meaning to. Her hug is warm, firm, and real. “Oh, love,” she murmurs. “Come here.” The words crack me open wider. I cry harder, face pressed into her shoulder, embarrassed and overwhelmed and too full of things I don’t know how to hold. Her hand rubs slowly up and down my back. “You’re going to have to learn how to be loved properly, okay?” she says softly. I let out another broken little sound. “Because there’s no way in this life or the next I’m going to stop.” I clutch at her without thinking, and she only holds me tighter. I miss my Mum… so much.

Mara keeps one arm around me and leans back enough to look at my face, brushing tears away with her thumb. “We’re going to get you dressed,” she says gently. “Then we’re going downstairs together. Nice and easy, and if any of it gets too much, you tell me. Alright?” I swallow hard and nod, and she smiles at me like I haven’t just cried all over her shoulder. “Good girl.” Then she picks up a soft knit jumper in a pale colour and holds it against me, tilting her head. “This one will bring out your eyes,” she says, like we’re simply two girls getting ready for dinner. Somehow, with her saying it like that, I almost believe I can do this.