Chapter Fifty-Four: A Sacrifice of Blood
Luther stood by the window, his eyes still trained on the distance, on the direction where he knew Charlie was staying. The tension in the room had thickened after Dorian's revelation about the infected warrior, but it wasn't just that. There was something else—something the doctor was holding back. Luther could feel it in the way Dorian shifted in his seat, the subtle glance he kept casting toward Liam, as though waiting for the right moment to speak.
Luther’s patience was already wearing thin. The constant fear of losing Charlie, of not knowing whether the disease would claim her, gnawed at him. Rex, his wolf, had been on edge since the moment Charlie had been exposed, and every day that passed without answers only heightened the tension in his body.
Finally, he couldn't take it any longer.
"Spit it out," Luther growled, his voice low and dangerous. The sound echoed through the room, his irritation clear. Dorian flinched at the tone, his body stiffening, but he quickly straightened up in his seat. The scent of fear coming off the doctor was almost palpable, thickening the air.
Dorian took a deep breath before speaking. "I would like to draw some blood from Charlie," he said cautiously, his gaze darting between Luther and Liam. "If we run some tests, we can determine whether she wasn’t infected at all, or if she’s immune to the disease that’s spreading."
The moment the words left Dorian’s mouth, both Luther and Liam’s wolves surged to the surface, their growls filling the room. Luther’s growl was low and primal, Rex reacting fiercely to the mere suggestion of taking something from their mate. Her blood. The thought of someone extracting even a drop from Charlie made Luther's body tense with protective fury.
The doctor paled visibly, his eyes wide as he faced the combined aggression of both alphas. The fear radiating from him was sharp, and his throat bobbed as he swallowed thickly.
"It’s the only way to know for sure," Dorian continued quickly, his voice unsteady but determined. "We need to find out if she’s immune, or if she’s somehow fighting the infection. It could be the key to understanding how to protect the rest of the pack—"
Liam was the first to regain control of his wolf. He took a steadying breath, his body still coiled with tension, but his growl faded as he forced himself to think rationally. Dorian was right. They needed answers. If Charlie was immune—or if there was something in her blood that could help protect the pack—they needed to know.
Luther, on the other hand, was still struggling to calm Rex. His wolf was fiercely protective, the very idea of anyone taking something from Charlie—whether it be her blood or anything else—was enough to push him to the brink. His hands clenched into fists, his body rigid as he fought for control.
It took longer than he wanted, but eventually, Luther managed to push Rex back, his growl fading into the tense silence that had settled over the room.
Dorian’s nervous gaze flickered between the twins, clearly unsettled by the barely-contained aggression in the room. He shifted again in his seat, choosing his next words carefully. "I know it’s a lot to ask, but this could be the breakthrough we need. If Charlie is immune, we need to understand why."
Luther turned away from the window, his eyes hard as he looked at the doctor. It made sense—of course it did. If Charlie’s blood held the key to fighting the disease, then they had to know. But the thought of Dorian, or anyone else, putting Charlie through more pain, taking something from her, made his insides churn with rage.
Still, Luther knew they needed answers. For Charlie. For the pack.
“I will ask her what she wants to do,” Luther said finally, his voice rough, each word feeling like gravel in his throat.
Dorian opened his mouth to argue, clearly wanting to press the urgency of the situation, but Luther cut him off with a low growl, his eyes flashing amber as Rex pushed closer to the surface once again. "She’s been through enough. I’m not forcing her to do anything. This is her decision."
Liam, who had been silent up until now, nodded in agreement. “We’ll talk to her,” he said quietly, his tone more level than Luther’s but just as firm. “If she agrees, then we’ll do it. But you won’t take anything without her consent.”
Dorian pressed his lips together, clearly frustrated, but he knew better than to argue with two alphas, especially when their mate was involved. He gave a small nod, though the tension in his posture suggested he wasn’t happy with the decision.
Luther’s eyes flicked back to the window. Charlie was out there, unaware of the conversation taking place—unaware that her blood might hold the only key to saving their pack. He hated that it had come to this, hated that she was being dragged deeper into this nightmare. But if her immunity could help, if it meant preventing others from suffering the same fate as Leah… then it was worth asking her.
Even if the idea of her being poked and prodded made his blood boil.
Liam stood from his chair, pacing behind the desk. His frustration was palpable, the weight of their responsibilities pressing down on him from all sides. The pack was in danger, the disease was at their doorstep, and their mate—the one person they both needed to protect—was at the center of it all.
“We’re running out of time,” Liam said quietly, his voice strained. “The neighboring packs are getting more aggressive. If we don’t resume trade soon, they’ll start coming after us.”
Luther nodded stiffly, his thoughts still focused on Charlie. They needed to keep her safe.
Dorian rose from his seat, clearly sensing the conversation was over. "I’ll be at the infirmary when you're ready," he said, glancing between the twins before walking toward the door. He paused for a moment, looking back at them with a serious expression. "If you want to protect the pack… we have to start somewhere."
With that, Dorian left the room, leaving Luther and Liam in the heavy silence of the office.
Luther’s fists tightened at his sides as he tried to steady his breathing. He knew what needed to be done, but it didn’t make it any easier. He didn’t want Charlie to have to go through this. She had been through enough—more than enough.
But if her blood could save lives, if it could save their pack from being torn apart by this disease…
“We’ll ask her,” Luther said quietly, his voice filled with determination. “And we’ll protect her.”
Liam nodded, though the tension in his face remained. “We will. We have to.”
The two brothers shared a look, the weight of their decisions pressing down on them both. They would ask Charlie. They would give her the choice. But no matter what she decided, they would stand by her, protecting her with everything they had.
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