Chapter Sixteen: A Moment of Independence

The silence between Liam and Charlie as they finished their meal was comfortable, yet tinged with the tension that had been brewing since Charlie had woken up. Every glance, every quiet moment between them was thick with unspoken words, with emotions that neither of them knew how to express. When they had both finished eating, Liam collected the dirty dishes onto the tray, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he was reluctant to leave.

“I’ll be back in a little bit to check on you,” Liam said gently, standing up with the tray in his hands. His eyes lingered on her for a moment, as though he was silently asking if she would be okay in his absence. Charlie gave him a small nod, her lips curving into a faint smile despite the ache still lingering in her body.

After he left, Charlie’s mind immediately wandered back to her desire to bathe. The blood, grime, and remnants of her injuries made her skin itch, and she longed for the warm comfort of a bath. Determination surged through her, even though her body still felt too weak to comply with her will. She couldn’t stay in this state any longer—she needed to feel clean, to reclaim some sense of control over herself.

She pushed the blanket aside and carefully swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Her muscles protested the movement, but she forced herself to stand, ignoring the soreness that radiated through her body. She took one tentative step, then another, her focus entirely on reaching the bathroom.

But her legs, still weak and unsteady from her injuries, gave out after only three steps. She fell to the floor with a loud crash, pain shooting through her already aching body as she landed awkwardly on her hands and knees.

For a moment, she stayed there, trying to catch her breath and gather her strength. But before she could even think of pulling herself back up, the door burst open with a deafening splintering sound, the force of it startling her so badly that her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.

Charlie’s wide eyes darted toward the doorway, her pulse quickening with fear, but what she saw there made her freeze.

Luther stood in the doorway, his chest heaving with the effort of throwing the door open. His eyes were wild and dark, scanning the room for a threat, his wolf close to the surface. His gaze swept across the room, searching for whatever had caused the crash, but when his eyes finally landed on Charlie, lying sprawled on the floor, his expression shifted from alarm to confusion.

For a moment, Luther’s eyes glazed over, the telltale sign that he was using the pack link to communicate with someone—likely Liam, informing him of the situation. Then, with a deep breath, he closed the broken door behind him as best as he could and made his way over to her.

His eyes softened as he crouched beside her, his hands hovering near her as if he was unsure whether to touch her or wait for her permission. “Charlie,” he said gently, his voice low and filled with concern. “What happened?”

When he moved to scoop her up into his arms to carry her back to bed, Charlie quickly threw her hands up between them, stopping him in his tracks. Luther’s eyes widened slightly, and for a brief moment, a flash of hurt crossed his face—hurt that she didn’t want him close, that she had pushed him away.

“I-I was just trying to get to the bathroom,” Charlie stammered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She hated how small and weak she felt, hated that she couldn’t even manage something as simple as walking without falling to the floor like a child.

Luther’s body visibly relaxed at her words, the tension easing from his shoulders. His lips curved into a soft, teasing smile, the hurt in his eyes melting away as he realized she wasn’t rejecting him—she was simply trying to regain some independence. “You should have asked for help,” he said gently, his tone light but with an underlying concern. “That’s what we’re here for.”

Without waiting for her response, Luther slid his arms beneath her and lifted her up effortlessly, cradling her against his chest as though she weighed nothing. The warmth of his body seeped into her, making her heart race as she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck for support.

Luther carried her into the bathroom and set her down near the toilet, his hands lingering on her waist for a moment as he made sure she was steady. Charlie’s heart pounded in her chest, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment and frustration. She hated being so helpless, so dependent on them for everything.

But as Luther stepped back, giving her space, Charlie quickly placed her hand on his chest to stop him. “I… I was hoping to take a bath,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Luther’s expression shifted at her words, the teasing glint in his eyes fading as something darker, more intense, flickered there. His amber eyes darkened as his wolf surged closer to the surface, and for a moment, Charlie saw the heat in his gaze, the desire that simmered just beneath the surface.

But he quickly nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line as he fought to regain control of his emotions. Without a word, he moved toward the bathtub and began running the water, adjusting the temperature until it was just right. The sound of the water filling the tub was soothing, and Charlie found herself relaxing slightly, her heart rate slowing as the steam filled the air.

Once the tub was full, Luther turned back to her, his eyes softening again. He hesitated for a moment, as if unsure whether to leave her alone or stay and help. “I’ll be in the room,” he said after a moment, his voice low. “Call for me if you need anything.”

Charlie nodded, relief flooding her chest at his words. The thought of bathing in privacy—without anyone watching—was a comfort she hadn’t expected to crave so desperately. She watched as Luther left the bathroom, closing the door gently behind him. The sound of the latch clicking into place brought a wave of calm over her.

Finally alone, Charlie let out a long breath, her body relaxing as she slowly undressed and slipped into the warm water. The heat surrounded her, soothing her aching muscles and washing away the remnants of blood and grime that clung to her skin. She sank deeper into the water, letting it envelop her completely, her mind momentarily at peace.

She didn’t think about the twins or the bond that now connected them. She didn’t think about the attack or the pain that still lingered in her body. For the first time in days, Charlie allowed herself to simply exist—to be free of the weight of everything that had happened.