Chapter Forty-Five: Into the Night

Liam’s footsteps were heavy as he made his way back to the packhouse, his mind preoccupied and his wolf growing increasingly restless. It was late, far later than he had intended to be out, and the only thing keeping him going was the thought of wrapping Charlie in his arms. He hadn’t seen her all day, and the tension building inside him was becoming unbearable.

Things between him, Luther, and Charlie had been going well. After the whirlwind of their bond and everything that had followed, they were finally settling into something that felt right. Charlie was adjusting to her role as their mate and Luna, and even though there were still challenges ahead, Liam felt confident in the future they were building together.

But tonight, something was different. His wolf was agitated, more insistent than usual, urging him to return to their mate as quickly as possible. A sense of unease had settled in Liam’s chest, like a shadow creeping up on him that he couldn’t quite shake. It gnawed at him, growing stronger with every step he took toward the packhouse.

‘Something’s wrong’, his wolf growled in the back of his mind. ‘Get to her. Now.’

Liam clenched his fists, his pace quickening as the packhouse came into view through the trees. The lights were on, casting a warm glow over the front lawn, but the sight did little to calm the storm brewing inside him. He could feel his wolf clawing at the surface, desperate to find Charlie, to ensure that she was safe.

Just as he reached the edge of the packhouse grounds, Luther appeared from the shadows, his face mirroring the same anxious expression that Liam wore. His brother’s steps were hurried, his body tense, and when their eyes met, there was no need for words. They were both feeling it—the gnawing sense that something wasn’t right.

Luther barely acknowledged Liam’s presence before bursting through the front door of the packhouse, his powerful frame bounding up the stairs two at a time. Liam followed close behind, his heart pounding in his chest as he felt the pull of their mate.

When they reached their bedroom, it was empty. The bed hadn’t been touched since morning, the room void of her presence. Liam’s stomach twisted, and his wolf snarled in frustration. Charlie hadn’t been here all day.

“Where is she?” Luther growled, pacing the room with clenched fists. The air between them was thick with worry, and Liam could feel his brother’s agitation rising with each passing second.

Liam forced himself to think clearly, pushing past the panic that was threatening to take hold. “She must still be out,” he said, his voice tight.

Luther didn’t respond, his jaw tight as he stalked toward the door. They needed to find her, now.

They hurried back downstairs and made their way to the kitchen, where they found Carol cleaning up after dinner. The sight of both Alphas storming into the room caused her to pause, her brow furrowing with concern as she took in their anxious expressions.

“Alphas,” Carol greeted them cautiously, setting down the dish she had been washing. “What’s wrong?”

“Have you seen Charlie?” Luther asked, his voice clipped. “She hasn’t been back to our room since this morning.”

Worry flickered across Carol’s face, and she quickly dried her hands on a nearby towel. “She headed to the orphanage early this afternoon,” she replied, her tone steady despite the growing concern. “But she hasn’t come back yet?”

Both Liam and Luther exchanged a look, the unease inside them deepening.

“No,” Liam said, his voice quiet but filled with tension. “She hasn’t.”

Carol’s expression darkened with worry. “That’s odd. She usually returns before sunset.”

Liam’s heart sank further. He and Luther had been so caught up in pack business that they hadn’t even realized how long Charlie had been gone. The thought of her out there alone, especially with the dangers lurking near their borders, made his wolf snarl with anxiety.

“We’ll check the orphanage,” Luther said, his voice low and determined. He didn’t waste any more time, turning on his heel and heading toward the back door. Liam nodded his thanks to Carol before following his brother.

The walk to the orphanage was quick, both men moving with purpose. The sun had long since disappeared below the horizon, and the cool night air did little to calm their nerves. By the time they reached the small, cozy building that housed the pack’s parentless pups, the unease inside them had grown to a near-panic.

Luther was the first to reach the door, his body practically vibrating with tension as he knocked once before pushing it open. Inside, they found Sarah, the Omega who helped run the orphanage, standing near the entrance. She looked up in surprise at the sudden intrusion, but her expression quickly shifted to concern when she saw the looks on their faces.

“Alphas,” she greeted them, her voice soft and careful. “Is everything alright?”

“Where is Charlie?” Luther demanded, his voice rough with worry. “She was supposed to come back hours ago.”

Sarah’s eyes widened slightly. “She left nearly an hour ago,” she said, glancing toward the back of the orphanage. “She usually leaves before the sun sets, but the pups begged her for a little more time. So she stayed later and read them a bedtime story.”

Luther’s face twisted in frustration, his fists clenching at his sides. The rage in his eyes flared as the realization hit him—Charlie had left the orphanage, and she hadn’t made it back to the packhouse.

Luther let out a bellow of rage, the sound so loud and raw that it reverberated through the small orphanage. Sarah flinched, her face paling in fear, and the sound of crying filled the air as the children, startled awake by the noise, began to whimper from their beds.

“Luther!” Liam snapped, grabbing his brother’s arm and pulling him back. “Calm down! You’re scaring them!”

Luther’s chest heaved with the force of his anger, his eyes wild as he stared down at Sarah. But after a tense moment, he finally took a step back, his breathing ragged as he struggled to regain control.

“I’m sorry,” Liam said, turning to Sarah with an apologetic look. “We’re just worried.”

Sarah nodded, still shaken but understanding. “I hope she’s alright,” she murmured softly.

Liam gave her a tight smile before pulling Luther out of the orphanage and back into the night air. The moment they were outside, Liam tried to calm his own racing heart. He knew that panicking wouldn’t help. They needed to think clearly if they were going to find Charlie.

“We’ll find her,” Liam said, his voice firm, though the fear gnawing at his gut made it hard to believe his own words.

As they walked back toward the packhouse, the faintest whiff of a familiar scent hit Liam’s nose—Charlie's scent, tinged with something earthy and wild.

Luther froze, his head snapping up as his wolf took over. “She’s in the woods,” he growled, his voice barely human.

Without another word, Luther shifted into his wolf, his massive form charging into the woods with a speed that sent leaves flying into the air. Liam shifted as well, following close behind, their shared urgency driving them deeper into the dark forest.

The scent of Charlie grew stronger as they ran, the sharp, distinct smell of blood mixed with the fresh scent of pine and earth. Panic rose in Liam’s throat as he followed the trail, his heart pounding in his chest.

They ran through the trees, moving faster than they ever had before, until the dense woods gave way to a small clearing.

And then they saw her.

Charlie stood at the center of the clearing, her chest heaving with rapid, shallow breaths. Her clothes were soaked with blood, her skin pale in the moonlight. Liam’s heart nearly stopped when he saw the fear in her wide eyes, her hands trembling as she stood over a body lying at her feet.

The sickly scent of blood filled the clearing, suffocating Liam as he came to a halt beside Luther. His wolf howled in distress, the sight of their mate covered in blood sending a wave of panic through him.

Luther took a step forward, his hands raised as if to comfort her, but the moment he moved, Charlie scrambled backward, her hands held up in the air, her entire body trembling with fear.

“Stay back!” she screamed, her voice hoarse and filled with terror.

Liam’s heart shattered at the sound of her voice, his wolf recoiling in pain as he watched the fear etched across her face. She wasn’t just scared—she was terrified.

“Charlie…” Luther whispered, his voice breaking as he stopped in his tracks.

But she didn’t move closer. Instead, she shook her head frantically, her eyes darting between them and the body at her feet. The fear in her gaze was enough to tear Liam apart.

“Stay back,” she whispered again, her voice cracking.

Liam felt like the world had stopped, his breath catching in his throat as he looked into Charlie’s terrified eyes.

Something terrible had happened.