Chapter Thirty-Nine: Reassurances

Luther slipped into the bathroom, the door closing softly behind him. Charlie could hear the water turn on, the steady rush of the shower filling the silence of the room. She sat on the edge of the bed, the warmth from Liam’s body still lingering around her, but the moment felt heavy. The image of Luther’s bloodied hands, the scent of Leah still faintly clinging to the air—it all hung over her like a dark cloud.

Liam lingered near the door, his eyes flicking between her and the closed bathroom. She could see the worry etched into his features, his brow furrowed with tension. He had been trying to shield her from everything, from the ugliness that came with pack responsibilities, from the burden of Luther’s past with Leah. And now, as he stood there, his body rigid with concern, Charlie could sense that something else was weighing on him.

“Liam, what is it?” she asked softly, her voice breaking the quiet.

He hesitated, his hand gripping the door frame for a moment before he finally spoke. “Doctor Dorian just contacted me. A group of teens crossed the border earlier… they found a body.”

Charlie’s stomach dropped at the words, a chill creeping up her spine. “A body?”

Liam nodded, his eyes dark and serious. “The doctor fears it might be connected to the werewolf disease that’s been spreading. We don’t know for sure, but… he wants me to go check it out with him.”

The news hit her hard, the weight of the disease threatening to encroach upon their pack. Charlie had heard whispers about the sickness—about how it ravaged werewolves, stripping them of their strength, leaving them vulnerable to even the smallest infection. It had been spreading in neighboring packs, a shadow creeping closer with every passing day.

“You should go,” Charlie said softly, her voice steady despite the unease that gripped her.

Liam looked conflicted, his gaze flickering to the bathroom door where Luther was still washing away the blood from earlier. “I don’t want to leave you alone,” he said, his tone filled with uncertainty. “Not after everything that’s happened.”

Charlie smiled gently, though her heart still felt heavy. “I’ll be fine, Liam. Luther’s just beyond the door. He’ll be with me once he’s out of the shower.”

Liam still hesitated, his eyes searching hers for any sign of doubt. He was always so protective, always wanting to keep her safe, especially now that the bond between them had started to deepen. But Charlie wasn’t the fragile girl she used to be. She could handle being alone for a little while, especially now that Leah was gone.

“I mean it,” she reassured him, her voice soft but firm. “Go. The pack needs you. Doctor Dorian needs you. I’ll be okay.”

Liam let out a slow breath, clearly still torn, but he finally nodded. “If anything happens, if you need me for any reason, have someone call for me through the link. I’ll come back immediately.”

Charlie nodded, offering him a small smile. “I will.”

With one last lingering look, Liam pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before turning and leaving the room. The sound of the door closing behind him echoed in the quiet, and Charlie felt the tension in her shoulders ease slightly.

She let herself sink back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling as she listened to the steady rhythm of the shower in the bathroom. Her mind wandered back to the events of the day, to Leah’s cruel words and the doubts they had planted in her mind. But now, with Leah banished and Luther’s reassurances still fresh in her memory, Charlie felt a sense of calm slowly begin to settle over her.

The sound of the shower stopped, and moments later, Luther emerged from the bathroom. His dark hair was damp, droplets of water clinging to his skin as he toweled off. But what caught Charlie’s attention was the tension etched into his face, and the way his shoulders were stiff, his jaw clenched tight.

She didn’t need the completed bond to know what was bothering him.

Luther’s eyes found hers almost immediately, and she could see the conflict swirling in his gaze. He didn’t say anything at first, but the way he lingered by the bathroom door, the subtle shift of his weight, told her everything she needed to know.

“You want to go too, don’t you?” Charlie asked quietly, sitting up on the bed.

Luther’s expression tightened slightly, his eyes flickering with something like guilt. “I should be out there. With Liam. This disease is… it’s spreading faster than we thought, and I don’t want it coming anywhere near you.”

Charlie’s heart clenched at his words. She knew how much the pack meant to him, how deeply he cared for the safety of his people. And now, with this threat looming closer, it made sense that he would want to be out there, doing everything he could to protect them.

But she also knew that Luther was hesitating—because of her.

“I’ll be fine, Luther,” she said softly, offering him a reassuring smile. “I’m not going anywhere. And Leah… well, she’s gone. There’s nothing to worry about anymore.”

Luther’s eyes darkened, a flicker of something dangerous crossing his features at the mention of Leah, but he quickly pushed it down. He took a step closer to her, his hand running through his damp hair in frustration.

“I don’t want to leave you alone,” he admitted, his voice low. “Especially after what happened earlier. I can’t shake the feeling that something might go wrong.”

Charlie stood up from the bed, crossing the small space between them until she was standing right in front of him. She reached out, placing a gentle hand on his chest. His heart was beating fast beneath her palm, and she could feel the tension radiating off him.

“I’ll be fine,” she repeated, her voice steady. “Really. I was actually thinking… I’d like to try making those brownies again.”

Luther’s lips twitched, the hint of a smile breaking through his otherwise serious expression. “The brownies?”

Charlie nodded, a soft laugh escaping her. “They got ruined earlier, and after everything that’s happened, I think we could all use something sweet.”

Luther’s reluctance was still written all over his face, but she could see the moment his resolve started to weaken. He didn’t want to leave her, but with Leah banished and the immediate threat gone, there was no reason for him to stay behind while Liam and the doctor investigated.

“I don’t like the idea of you being alone in the kitchen,” Luther said after a moment, his voice gruff. “Not after earlier.”

Charlie’s heart warmed at his concern, but she shook her head. “Luther, I’ll be okay. I need this. I need to feel like I can still do something normal.”

He hesitated, his eyes searching hers, but the love and trust he had for her was clear. Slowly, he let out a breath, his shoulders finally relaxing as he nodded.

“Alright,” he said softly, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. “But if anything happens, you call me immediately.”

“I will,” Charlie promised, her smile widening. “Now go. Help Liam. I’ll be here when you get back.”

Luther gave her one last lingering look before heading toward the door. His steps were slow, reluctant, but the sense of duty was strong in him, and Charlie knew he wouldn’t leave if he didn’t trust that she was truly safe.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Charlie let out a slow breath, a strange mix of relief and sadness settling over her. She missed them already, but there was a comfort in the silence, a chance to catch her breath after the emotional storm of the past few days.

With a soft smile, she made her way toward the kitchen, ready to take on the small comfort of baking once again.