Chapter Three: An Empty Stomach

The scent of sizzling sausages filled the kitchen, mixing with the warm aroma of freshly cooked eggs and buttered toast. Charlie was working frantically, her hands moving with practiced speed as she poured pancake batter onto the griddles spread out across the massive island counter. The stacks of toast were neatly arranged in baskets beside her, the sausages were still cooking on the stove, and two large bowls of fresh fruit sat at the edge of the counter, waiting to be served.

Her nerves were frayed, but she forced herself to focus. It was already fifteen minutes past seven, and she could feel the weight of time bearing down on her. She hadn’t been able to keep up with the massive breakfast she was tasked with preparing, and the pressure was suffocating.

Sweat dotted her brow as she flipped the pancakes, her stomach clenching painfully with hunger. But there was no time to think about herself. The pack was waiting, and she couldn’t afford to mess up again.

Just as she reached for the platter for the pancakes, the door to the kitchen flew open with a deafening crash. The sound startled her so badly that she nearly dropped the spatula in her hand. She jumped, her heart pounding in her chest, and a soft whimper escaped her lips before she could stop it.

Alpha Greg stormed into the room, his eyes blazing with fury. His presence filled the kitchen, dark and menacing, and Charlie shrank back instinctively, her back pressed against the counter, leaving her with nowhere else to go. The force of his anger seemed to suck the air out of the room, and Charlie’s breath came in short, shallow gasps.

“I told you to have this ready by seven on the dot!” Alpha Greg’s voice boomed, his tone so harsh that it felt like a physical blow. His words were laced with venom, and the disdain in his eyes cut through her like a blade.

Charlie’s hands trembled as she stood there, unable to find her voice. She could feel the blood rushing to her face, her cheeks burning with shame. The pack had always called her useless, and in moments like these, it was hard not to believe them.

Alpha Greg took a menacing step toward her, his massive frame casting a long shadow over her. “You useless Omega!” he roared, his voice echoing in the Large space.

Charlie flinched as his words hit her like a slap, but she couldn’t even find the strength to respond. Her entire body was tense, bracing for the inevitable punishment.

The Alpha sneered down at her, disgust etched into his features. He reached out and knocked one of the bowls of fruit off of the counter with a single swipe of his hand, sending its contents flying across the kitchen. Apples, berries, and grapes scattered across the floor in a chaotic mess, rolling under the counters and across the tiles.

“Think about how to manage your time better while you have an empty stomach,” Greg snarled. “Maybe next time you’ll follow orders and get it right.”

Charlie’s eyes widened in fear as Greg took another step toward her, his hand raised. She could feel the tension radiating off of him. She attempted to back away instinctively, but she had nowhere to go. Her body trembled with dread. She knew what was coming. The bruises on her arm still ached from the last time, a cruel reminder of how little mercy he showed her.

But before Greg could take another step, a low, dangerous growl rumbled from the doorway.

Liam stood there, his tall frame rigid and tense, his eyes glowing with the unmistakable golden hue of his wolf. His gaze was fixed on his father, and the power in his stance was palpable. For a brief moment, the room seemed to freeze, the air thick with the rising tension between father and son.

“Back off,” Liam growled, his voice low and deadly.

Greg stopped mid-step, his head snapping around to face his son. Surprise flickered in his eyes for a brief moment, but it was quickly masked by the usual hardness. His mouth twisted into a sneer as he sized up his son.

“What did you say?” Greg’s voice was icy, his eyes narrowing dangerously. His wolf was close to the surface, clear for Charlie to see by the way his body vibrated.

Liam didn’t flinch. His golden eyes remained locked on his father, and there was a quiet fury simmering just beneath the surface. His wolf was close, too close. Charlie could feel the raw energy rolling off of him, and she took an involuntary step back, her heart pounding in her chest.

“You heard me,” Liam said, his voice steady despite the growl still lingering in his throat. “Back. Off.”

Greg’s eyes narrowed, a muscle in his jaw twitching as he studied his son. For a moment, it seemed like he might challenge Liam. But then, as quickly as the tension had risen, Greg let out a sharp huff of air and lowered his hand.

“Watch your tone,” Greg warned, his voice laced with barely controlled anger. “You may be my son, but that doesn’t give you the right to interfere.”

Liam’s eyes flashed dangerously, but he didn’t respond. He stood his ground, his wolf still bristling just beneath the surface. Charlie could see the effort it took him to keep his wolf in check, the restraint written across his tense features.

Greg glared at him for a long moment before turning his attention back to Charlie. His expression twisted into a cruel smirk. “Finish this mess quickly,” he ordered. “And remember, no food for you until everything is perfect.”

With that, Greg turned on his heel and stormed out of the kitchen, but not before casting one final glance at Liam. The tension between them was thick, heavy with unspoken conflict.

As soon as Greg was gone, Liam let out a long, shaky breath. His shoulders relaxed slightly, but the fire in his eyes hadn’t fully dimmed. He turned to Charlie, his gaze softening as it landed on her.

Charlie stood frozen in place, still reeling from the encounter. She could feel her legs shaking beneath her, her whole body trembling with a mixture of fear and exhaustion. She had been so close—so close to being hurt again. But Liam had stopped it, had intervened when no one else ever did.

Liam’s gaze shifted to the mess on the floor—the spilled fruit, the scattered debris from the Alpha’s outburst. His jaw clenched slightly as he looked back at her. For a moment, he seemed like he wanted to say something, but then he just shook his head.

“I’ll deal with him,” Liam muttered, more to himself than to Charlie. He turned toward the door, but before he left, he glanced back at her one last time. His golden eyes softened for just a fraction of a second, and Charlie felt a strange flutter in her chest.

Then, without another word, he disappeared into the hallway, leaving Charlie alone in the kitchen once again.

She stood there for a moment, still shaken, her mind racing with everything that had just happened. The room felt eerily quiet after the chaos of Greg’s outburst, and for a brief second, Charlie allowed herself to breathe, to feel the relief that came with knowing Liam had protected her.

But the moment was fleeting. She quickly snapped back into action, knowing that she had little time to waste. The pack would be expecting breakfast, and she couldn’t afford another mistake. With trembling hands, she began cleaning up the mess on the floor, her mind still lingering on the look in Liam’s eyes—the golden flash that both scared her and, for a reason she couldn’t explain, comforted her.

As she finished picking up the last of the fruit, Charlie’s stomach growled loudly, reminding her of Greg’s cruel command. There would be no food for her today.