Chapter Seventeen: An Unwelcome Fall

Charlie sighed in frustration as she stared down at the grimy water swirling in the tub. No matter how much of the blood and dirt that had been washed away from her skin, the water clung to her like a lingering reminder of everything that had happened. The warm comfort of the bath had faded, leaving her feeling as dirty as before.

With a quick tug on the plug, she watched the water disappear down the drain, carrying the remnants of her trauma with it. As the last of the water swirled away, she braced herself against the side of the tub and leaned forward, turning the water back on. She needed to rinse off the feeling of grime that still clung to her, to truly cleanse herself of what happened to her deep in the woods.

Using the wall as support, Charlie pulled herself up to a standing position, her body still sore but steady enough to keep her upright. She reached for the bar of soap resting on the edge of the tub and began to work it across her skin, lathering herself with determination. She needed this—needed to feel clean again.

She leaned over to set the bar of soap back down, allowing the water to rain over her body, rinsing away the lather. But as she straightened herself, her foot slipped out from under her, and suddenly the world tipped sideways. Her body fell with a thud to the bottom of the tub, her cry of pain echoing in the small space.

Everything became a blur of shock and pain. She barely registered the sound of the bathroom door crashing open, splintering against the wall as it was thrown back with enough force to shake the room. In the next instant, strong arms were around her, lifting her from the bottom of the tub with ease. The warmth of someone’s body pressed against hers startled her out of her daze.

It took her a moment to focus, to realize what had happened. When she looked up, she found herself staring into Luther’s concerned eyes. His brow was furrowed, his jaw tight as he scanned her face, clearly worried. But the reality of the situation—the fact that she was completely naked in his arms—hit her like a wave.

Embarrassment flooded her cheeks, her face heating to a bright crimson as she quickly reached up to cover herself with trembling hands. Her breath hitched in her throat as she instinctively tried to shrink away, but Luther’s hold on her was firm and steady. She felt exposed. Vulnerable in a way that she hadn’t felt since waking up in their bed. The intimacy of the situation made her heart race in a confusing mixture of fear and something else—something she couldn’t quite name.

Luther’s eyes flickered with something dark, something primal, as the heat of the moment registered for him as well. His gaze dropped for a brief moment, taking in the full sight of her bare body, and Charlie could see the change in him almost immediately. His eyes darkened, flashing amber as his wolf stirred beneath the surface, reacting to the sight of his mate naked in his arms.

For a moment, neither of them moved, the air between them charged with an intensity that made Charlie’s pulse quicken. Luther’s breath was shallow, his chest rising and falling with restrained desire. His grip on her tightened slightly, his jaw clenching as he fought to maintain control. The look in his eyes made Charlie’s breath catch in her throat, her mind spinning in a thousand directions.

But then, as quickly as the heat had flared in his eyes, it was gone. Luther blinked, forcing himself to focus. His expression softened, and he looked away, clearly trying to give her some semblance of privacy despite the intimate position they were in.

“I-I’m sorry,” Luther stammered, his voice rough but edged with guilt. He shifted his gaze toward the wall, his jaw tightening again as he struggled to control his wolf’s instincts. “I didn’t mean to… I just… You fell, and I…” His words trailed off, clearly unsure of how to explain himself.

Charlie swallowed hard, her own embarrassment still burning through her. She quickly looked down, trying to cover herself as much as possible while still remaining in his arms. “I-it’s okay,” she whispered, though her voice trembled slightly. “You were just…trying to help.”

Luther nodded stiffly, still keeping his gaze averted from her. The tension between them was palpable, thick and heavy in the steamy air. Charlie could feel the heat radiating from his body, could sense the way his muscles tensed as he held her, but he made no move to set her down.

It was then that Charlie realized just how close they were—how intimate the situation had become. Her pulse quickened as her mind replayed the moment, the way his eyes had darkened with desire, the way her own body had responded to him despite her embarrassment. She hated herself for it—hated that some part of her had liked the way he had looked at her.

Luther finally took a deep breath and pulled his gaze back to her, his eyes softening as they met hers. He didn’t say anything for a moment, but the tension between them seemed to ease slightly as he shifted her in his arms, carefully adjusting her position to make sure she was comfortable.

“Let me get you out of here,” Luther said gently, his voice calm and controlled once again. “I’ll help you get dressed.”

Charlie bit her lip, her heart still racing as she nodded. She could feel the weight of the moment, the unspoken words that lingered between them, but she was too tired—too overwhelmed—to address it now.

Luther moved with care, carrying her out of the bathroom and wrapping her in a towel as he set her down gently on the bed. He lingered for a moment, his eyes locking onto hers as if searching for something—some reassurance that she wasn’t angry with him. When she offered him a small nod, he let out a breath and turned to leave the room.

“I’ll give you a moment,” he said quietly, his voice soft.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Charlie exhaled a long, shaky breath, her body sagging against the bed. The rush of adrenaline from the fall, combined with the overwhelming heat of the encounter, left her feeling drained. She pulled the towel tighter around her body, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

It had been so long since she had allowed herself to feel anything—since she had let herself trust someone enough to let them close. And now, with Luther and Liam, everything was different. The bond between them was undeniable, but it was also terrifying. She wasn’t used to being cared for, to having people who wanted to protect her.

But deep down, despite her fear, there was something else—something that stirred in the back of her mind. She wasn’t sure if it was Raven or just her own instincts, but the bond she felt with the twins was growing stronger. And no matter how much she tried to resist it, to distance herself from them, she couldn’t deny the pull between them.