Chapter Thirty-Four: An Unexpected Comfort

Charlie had been lying in Luther’s bed for what felt like hours, her body wrapped up in the warm blankets as the fading light of the day cast soft shadows across the room. She hadn’t moved much since waking, content to let the quiet stillness of the space soothe her racing thoughts. But as peaceful as the moment was, her stomach had other ideas.

With a low, rumbling growl that echoed embarrassingly loud in the empty room, Charlie sighed and rubbed her belly. She hadn’t eaten much today, too overwhelmed by her emotions and exhaustion to even think about food until now. But now, the hunger was undeniable, gnawing at her insides with an urgency she could no longer ignore.

She let out another heavy sigh and reluctantly sat up, the soft comfort of Luther’s bed clinging to her like a safe cocoon. ‘I can’t hide up here forever’, she reminded herself, even though the idea of staying in bed for the rest of the day was tempting. At least in here, she didn’t have to face the rest of the pack. She didn’t have to deal with their judgmental stares or their whispered comments. And she certainly didn’t have to face Luther—not yet.

Another loud growl from her stomach jolted her from her thoughts, forcing her to shuffle her feet toward the door with a resigned sigh. As much as she wanted to avoid the world outside, she needed food. This was one of those times where she wished she were an actual member of the pack. If she could mindlink like the others, she could have asked Carol or one of the other Omegas to bring her something to eat, but she wasn’t a part of that inner circle.

Her hand reached for the door handle, and just as she was about to open it, her stomach let out one last, mighty roar. ‘Great’, she thought, embarrassed by the noise her body was making. With a deep breath, she pulled the door open—only to find herself face to face with Liam.

Liam stood there, his hands occupied with a tray laden with food that smelled utterly divine. The moment the scent hit her, her stomach growled again, louder than ever, and Charlie flushed with embarrassment.

Liam chuckled softly, his eyes filled with warmth as he stepped past her into the room. “I figured you might be hungry,” he said, his voice low and gentle. He carried the tray over to the writing desk in the corner, setting it down carefully before turning back to her.

Charlie’s heart fluttered at the sight of him, the way he moved with such ease, always knowing exactly what she needed without her having to ask. But as much as she appreciated his presence, the wave of guilt washed over her again. ‘He’s been worrying about me all day. Babysitting me’, she thought bitterly, unable to shake the self-doubt.

Liam hesitated for a moment after setting the tray down, his eyes shifting from her to the food and back again. It didn’t take long for Charlie to understand what he was silently asking. There were two plates on the tray—he had brought enough for both of them.

Charlie swallowed hard, her nerves prickling beneath her skin. She didn’t want to be alone, not really, but the idea of sitting there with him, trying to explain everything that had happened, filled her with a quiet dread. Still, the thought of Liam leaving made her feel even worse.

“Will you…stay?” she asked softly, her voice shy as her eyes avoided his. “And eat with me?”

Liam’s face softened, and he nodded, a small, comforting smile playing on his lips. “Of course.”

He pulled a chair over from the desk and sat down beside her, handing her one of the plates before taking the other for himself. They ate in comfortable silence, the only sound between them the quiet clink of silverware against the plates and the occasional soft hum of approval from Liam when he tasted something he liked.

Charlie couldn’t bring herself to look at him, her gaze focused on her food as she ate. She wasn’t sure what to say, wasn’t sure how to explain everything that had been weighing on her. But for now, the quiet was a welcome reprieve from the storm of emotions that had been swirling inside her all day.

The food was delicious—warm and comforting, filling the emptiness inside her in more ways than one. But even as she ate, the knot of anxiety in her chest refused to loosen completely. She knew that once the food was gone, the inevitable conversation would come. She would have to face what had happened, and she wasn’t sure she was ready for that.

When they finished eating, Liam set his plate aside and leaned back in his chair, his gaze soft as he watched her. Charlie could feel the weight of his eyes on her, and she knew the moment she had been dreading had finally come.

“Charlie,” Liam began, his voice gentle but filled with concern. “What happened?”

Her stomach twisted uncomfortably at the question, and she clenched her hands together in her lap. She knew she couldn’t avoid the truth any longer, but that didn’t make it any easier to speak.

For a moment, she didn’t answer, her mind racing as she tried to find the right words. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she let out a shaky breath and spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

“It was Leah.”

Liam’s jaw tightened at the mention of Leah’s name, and Charlie could see the flicker of anger in his eyes. But he remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

“She came into the kitchen while you were with the doctor,” Charlie said, her voice trembling slightly. “She…she said some things. Things that I—” She paused, her throat tightening with the weight of her confession. “Things that I’ve been thinking myself.”

Liam leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with concern. “What did she say?”

Charlie swallowed hard, the memory of Leah’s cruel words flooding back to her, making her chest ache all over again. She hated repeating it, hated the way it made her feel so small, but she knew Liam deserved the truth.

“She said…she said that I wasn’t special,” Charlie whispered, her voice barely audible. “That most of the women in the pack have been with you and Luther. That I’m just a fling. That eventually, you’ll both get tired of me.”

Liam’s eyes flashed with anger, and a low growl rumbled in his chest. “That’s not true,” he said fiercely. “Charlie, none of that is true.”

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she looked down at her lap, ashamed of how easily she had believed Leah’s words. “I know,” she whispered. “I know you’ve both told me that. But…I can’t help thinking that maybe she’s right. Maybe I’m not enough.”

Liam was on his feet in an instant, his hands cupping her face as he gently tilted her head up to look at him. His eyes were intense, filled with a mixture of anger and frustration, but more than that, they were filled with love.

“Charlie, listen to me,” he said, his voice firm but tender. “Leah said those things because she’s cruel, and she wanted to hurt you. But none of it is true. You’re not a fling, and we will never get tired of you. You’re our mate. We love you.”

Charlie’s breath hitched at his words, the sincerity in his voice wrapping around her like a warm blanket. Her heart clenched, a mixture of relief and fear warring inside her. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to trust that they truly saw her as their equal, as someone worthy of their love.

But the scars of her past ran deep.

“I’m trying,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “But it’s hard.”

Liam’s expression softened, and he leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I know it’s hard,” he murmured. “And we’ll be here with you every step of the way.”

Charlie closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the warmth of his touch, the reassurance of his words. For the first time in what felt like hours, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.