Chapter Twenty-Eight: Stepping Out

The warm water had long since stopped flowing, but the memory of Luther’s gentle hands moving over Charlie’s body lingered in her mind. Each touch had been deliberate, slow, and thorough, as though he was committing every inch of her skin to memory. The intimacy of the moment had left her feeling cherished, wrapped in the safety of his care. Now, as they emerged from the bathroom, Charlie’s skin still tingled, not just from the water, but from the tenderness with which Luther had cleaned every part of her.

Her steps faltered, however, when her eyes landed on Liam, lounging casually on the bed, his back propped against the pillows, and a playful smirk resting on his face. He had clearly been waiting for them. The moment their eyes met, a blush spread rapidly across Charlie’s cheeks, her pulse quickening. She felt exposed, despite the oversized towel wrapped securely around her.

Liam’s smirk deepened at her reaction, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “How did I never notice how adorable you are when you blush like that?” he teased, his voice filled with affection. The sound of his chuckle washed over her, sending a ripple of warmth through her, but it didn’t do much to ease the nervous fluttering in her stomach.

Before she could muster a response, Luther leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his touch grounding her. “I’ll grab us some clothes,” he murmured softly, stepping away toward the closet.

Charlie stood frozen for a moment, watching Luther’s broad back as he disappeared behind the closet door. Her heart raced, not because of their recent intimacy or even Liam’s teasing, but because of the heavy weight of the thoughts swirling in her mind. She had spent over a week in this room, tucked away in the protective cocoon that Luther and Liam had created for her. They had taken care of her, kept her safe, and made sure she didn’t have to face the world outside these walls until she was ready.

But now, Charlie felt like it was time. She couldn’t ignore the restlessness inside her, the need to do something—to regain some semblance of normalcy in her life. Cooking and cleaning were all she knew, the only things she had been allowed to do for so long. And while she didn’t want to return to the pack as their slave, she longed for the simplicity of helping in the kitchen again, of working with her hands and feeling useful.

But how could she explain that to them? To her overprotective mates, who only wanted to shield her from the very world that had hurt her?

Nervousness coursed through her veins as she stood there, unsure of how to say what needed to be said. Her hands fidgeted with the edge of the towel, and she bit her bottom lip, glancing back at Liam. He was watching her carefully now, his smirk fading into something softer, more understanding.

“Charlie?” Liam’s voice was gentle, coaxing her from her thoughts. “What’s going on in that gorgeous head of yours?”

She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. “I… I think I’m ready,” she started, her voice trembling slightly. She couldn’t quite meet his eyes, so instead, she focused on a spot on the floor. “I’m ready to leave the room. To… face the pack.”

Liam’s brow furrowed slightly, a look of concern passing over his features, but he didn’t interrupt her.

“I’ve been hiding in here for so long,” Charlie continued, her voice growing steadier as the words tumbled out. “And I’m grateful for everything you and Luther have done for me. You’ve both kept me safe. But I… I feel useless. I don’t know how to do anything but cook and clean. That’s been my whole life. And the longer I stay cooped up in this room, the more I feel like I’m losing myself.”

She hesitated, glancing toward the closet where Luther was still rummaging through clothes. “I’m not saying I want to be the pack’s slave again. I’ll never go back to that. But maybe I could help in the kitchen? With the other Omegas?”

Liam’s eyes softened as he listened, and he swung his legs off the bed, sitting up fully to give her his complete attention. His expression was calm, understanding, but also tinged with worry.

“Charlie,” he began slowly, carefully choosing his words, “you don’t have to prove anything. You don’t owe the pack anything, especially after everything they’ve put you through.”

“I know,” Charlie said quickly, nodding. “But it’s not about them. It’s about me. I just… I need to feel like I’m contributing to something again. Like I have a purpose.”

Liam didn’t speak right away, clearly mulling over her words, but his blue eyes remained locked on hers, silently reassuring her. Before he could respond, Luther stepped back into the room, a pair of clean clothes in hand. He paused, sensing the tension in the air.

“What’s going on?” Luther asked, his gaze bouncing between Charlie and Liam.

Charlie inhaled deeply, gathering her courage. “I was just telling Liam that I want to go back to the kitchen. To help the Omegas cook and clean. I’m ready to leave the room.”

Luther’s face tightened slightly, his jaw clenching as he processed her words. “Charlie,” he began, his voice cautious. “You don’t have to go back to that life. You’re not the pack’s Omega anymore.”

“I know I’m not,” Charlie said, her voice firm. “But I don’t want to sit in this room forever, either. I need to do something. And cooking... it’s the one thing I’ve always been good at. The one thing that made me feel like I had some control, even when everything else was out of my hands.”

Luther’s expression softened as he listened, the tension in his body easing slightly. He crossed the room and stood in front of her, his large hands resting gently on her shoulders. “We just don’t want you to go back to a place where you’ll feel... trapped,” he said, his voice low but filled with concern.

“I won’t be,” Charlie reassured him, her eyes searching his for understanding. “I’m not asking to be their slave again. I just want to help in the kitchen. It’s different now. I’m different now.”

Luther exhaled slowly, his eyes softening as he took in her resolve. He glanced over at Liam, who gave him a small nod, as if silently agreeing that Charlie was ready to take this step.

“If this is what you want,” Luther said quietly, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin, “then we’ll support you. But I don’t want you to think you have to do this just to feel useful. You’re more than enough, Charlie. Always.”

His words sent a warmth through her that made her chest tighten, and she smiled up at him, feeling lighter than she had in days. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Luther leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment. When he pulled back, there was a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Just... promise me you won’t overdo it,” he added, his tone slightly teasing but filled with genuine concern.

“I won’t,” Charlie promised, her heart swelling with affection for both of her mates.

Liam stood up from the bed, crossing the room to stand beside Luther. “Well, if you’re going back to the kitchen, I guess we’ll have to come by and taste-test everything,” he teased, the playful smirk returning to his lips.

Charlie laughed softly, feeling a weight lift from her chest. For the first time in what felt like forever, she was beginning to feel like herself again—stronger, more sure of who she was and what she wanted.