Chapter Twenty-Four: Brotherhood and Tension

Luther's wolf had finally quieted after the run through the woods, the adrenaline fading, but the burning frustration in his chest still lingered. His thoughts were a blur of conflicting emotions—anger at Leah, guilt over leaving Charlie, and the primal need to protect his mate. As he neared the packhouse, the sight of Liam sitting on the large porch, arms crossed, waiting for him, only intensified his tension.

Liam’s eyes tracked his every movement, and before Luther could even make it up the steps, a pair of shorts sailed through the air toward him. Luther caught them with ease and slid them on as he climbed the last step. But as soon as he was close enough, Liam’s voice cut through the night like a blade.

“You smell like that bitch, Leah,” Liam growled, his wolf barely contained beneath the surface. His eyes darkened with anger, his fists clenching at his sides. “I had to stop her from going to Charlie, smelling like you.”

Luther paused for a second, taking in the accusation. His muscles tensed as his wolf stirred again, but this time, it was for a different reason. Leah. His mind flashed back to her unwanted touch, the way she had slithered her hands around him in the woods. He had already been furious with her, but now that she had tried to involve Charlie, to taunt her by carrying his scent? That crossed a line.

Luther’s jaw clenched, but he brushed off Liam’s words, ready to deal with the situation himself. Without a word, he turned on his heel, heading toward the front door with one goal in mind: finding Leah and making sure she never even thought about going near Charlie again.

But before he could push the door open, Liam was in front of him, grabbing hold of his arm and yanking him back. The growl that escaped from his brother’s throat was full of warning, and Luther spun around, anger rippling through him.

“Let me go,” Luther snarled, his voice dropping low, the heat of his wolf rising beneath his skin. His muscles flexed with the familiar sensation of his wolf pushing forward, his body itching for a fight.

Liam didn’t flinch, his stance growing more rigid as he stood up straighter, his chest puffing out as he squared off with his brother. His own wolf was close to the surface, and Luther could see the challenge in his brother’s eyes.

“How could you walk out on Charlie and go be with your slut?” Liam’s voice was sharp, cutting straight to the core of Luther’s guilt. “Charlie was worried that you were upset with her, and I told her not to worry. But maybe she was right to be.”

Luther’s gut twisted at Liam’s words. Guilt hit him like a punch to the stomach, the shame from leaving Charlie in that vulnerable moment settling deep inside him. He hadn’t walked away from her because he was angry—he’d left because he was trying to protect her, to keep his wolf in check. But now, hearing how Charlie had felt, how his actions had caused her to worry, the weight of his decision pressed down on him harder than before.

“I didn’t go looking for Leah,” Luther said through gritted teeth, his voice thick with frustration. “I wasn’t with her.”

“That’s not how it smells,” Liam snapped, his own anger flashing in his eyes. His hands balled into fists at his sides, his wolf clearly on edge. “How could you walk out on her like that, Luther? I thought you cared about her.”

“I do care about her!” Luther snarled, taking a step forward, his presence towering over Liam as the tension between them grew. His voice softened slightly, the guilt almost choking him. “I care about her more than anything, which is why I had to leave. I didn’t want to push her. I didn’t want to scare her.”

Liam didn’t back down, his eyes still locked on Luther’s. “You walked out, and she thought you were upset. That you didn’t want her.”

Luther’s heart sank at those words, the idea that Charlie thought he didn’t want her—couldn’t be further from the truth. His wolf howled in frustration, the bond he shared with her pulling at his very core. He had made the wrong choice, and now the guilt settled deeper, knowing he had left her feeling insecure, when all he wanted was to be there for her.

Luther turned again, ready to march inside and find Charlie, to reassure her that he wasn’t upset with her, that she meant everything to him. But before he could take another step, Liam’s hand was on his shoulder, stopping him once again.

“Don’t go to her smelling like another woman,” Liam said, his voice low but firm. “Go shower first.”

Luther paused, realizing that Liam was right. The scent of Leah still clung to him, and the last thing Charlie needed was to smell another woman on him. The very thought made his chest tighten with disgust. His wolf bristled at the idea of how Charlie would react if she caught Leah’s scent on him, especially in her already fragile state.

Luther let out a heavy sigh, his anger fading slightly as the reality of the situation set in. He turned to face Liam, nodding in agreement. “I’ll shower,” he muttered, his voice softer now. “But after that, I’m going to her.”

Liam’s eyes softened slightly, and he released his grip on Luther’s arm, stepping aside to let him pass. “Good,” he said quietly, the tension between them easing just a little. “She needs to hear it from you.”

Without another word, Luther headed into the packhouse, his thoughts a whirlwind of guilt, frustration, and the overwhelming need to make things right with Charlie. He made his way upstairs to the bathroom, his steps heavy as the weight of his actions pressed down on him.

Once inside the bathroom, Luther stripped off his shorts and stepped into the shower, turning the water as hot as he could stand it. The steam filled the room, but it did little to ease the tension in his chest. As the water cascaded over his skin, he scrubbed at himself, desperate to wash away every trace of Leah, every reminder of the moment he had let his body betray him.

He couldn’t let that happen again. Charlie deserved better.

As he rinsed off, Luther’s thoughts kept circling back to Charlie. The fear that she might truly believe he didn’t want her gnawed at him, pushing him to move faster. He finished up quickly, stepping out of the shower and drying off before throwing on a fresh pair of shorts.

Luther took a deep breath, steadying himself before he made his way toward his room. He knew he had a lot to make up for. But he was determined to show Charlie that he was here for her, that she was the only one he wanted.

And this time, he wouldn’t walk away.