Chapter Fifty-Six: Love and Sacrifice
The old house was filled with a tension that only increased as Dorian stepped inside, his medical bag clutched tightly in his hands. Charlie sat in the center of the small living room, flanked by Luther and Liam on either side. Their presence was the only thing grounding her, helping her push through the unease swirling inside her chest. She kept her gaze focused on them, trying to absorb the strength that seemed to radiate from them both.
The truth was, while she had told Luther she wanted to help the pack if she could, her real motivation was far more personal. **Luther and Liam.** The disease was spreading quickly and unpredictably, and they were both at the forefront of the pack’s response. If either of them contracted the disease… she couldn’t bear to think of the possibility. The idea of them falling victim to it, of watching helplessly as they deteriorated, left her feeling desperate to do whatever it took to protect them. Her own fears and memories of the pack’s treatment of her paled in comparison to the thought of losing them.
Dorian’s voice pulled her from her thoughts as he addressed her with a gentle but clinical tone. “Charlie, I’m going to check a few things before we begin. It’s standard procedure—just a quick check of your vitals.”
She nodded, glancing up at Luther and Liam to reassure herself. Their steady gazes met hers, and she took a calming breath, allowing Dorian to proceed. As he measured her pulse, checked her blood pressure, and listened to her heartbeat, she felt the weight of what was happening start to press down on her. She’d convinced herself that she was doing the right thing, but the doubt kept creeping in.
Dorian looked up with a small smile. “Everything looks perfect,” he said, his voice offering a small measure of relief. But then he reached into his bag, pulling out several empty vials. “Alright, Charlie. I’ll be drawing a few samples.”
Charlie tensed involuntarily as he prepared the needle, the sight of it causing her stomach to twist with anxiety. She knew this was important, yet a part of her felt strangely violated. _They’re taking pieces of you_, a small voice whispered in the back of her mind. _After everything they put you through, you owe them nothing_. But the thought of doing this for Luther and Liam silenced the voice, giving her the strength to hold her arm steady.
Dorian’s hand was steady and practiced as he drew the blood, quickly filling one vial, then a second, then a third. Each click of the vial filling added weight to the air, the rhythmic sound sending a chill through her. But she kept her gaze fixed on Luther’s face, his eyes full of fierce protectiveness. His steady presence helped her remain calm, and she barely noticed as Dorian filled a fourth vial.
When he reached for a fifth, she saw Luther’s jaw clench, his gaze hardening. Then, as Dorian went to grab a sixth, Luther growled, his voice low and lethal. “That’s enough.”
Dorian, startled, looked up, his hand hesitating over his bag. He gave a reluctant nod, clearly wanting more samples but too aware of the Alpha’s displeasure to argue. “Of course, Luther. Five vials should be enough for the tests.”
Charlie exhaled slowly, the tension draining from her shoulders. She offered Dorian a small, relieved smile, hoping it conveyed a semblance of gratitude. He nodded back, closing his bag carefully before clearing his throat.
“Until I have the results,” Dorian began, looking between the three of them, “I’d advise that Charlie remain here. It’s best to limit exposure to the pack in case she’s a carrier of the disease.”
Charlie’s heart dropped, and a cold wave of fear washed over her. The thought of being a carrier—of possibly infecting those she loved—sent a surge of horror through her. Her mind went back to a few hours earlier, to when Luther had held her close, ignoring her protests as he wrapped her in his arms. She had let him get close to her, let him hold her in a moment of weakness.
Had she unknowingly put him in danger?
Liam’s voice pulled her back to the present. “Understood. We’ll be cautious,” he said to Dorian, his voice clipped. He didn’t notice the look of horror on her face, nor did Dorian, as the two of them exchanged a few final words before the doctor made his exit, leaving the house with his bag of samples in hand, Liam right behind him.
Charlie forced herself to breathe, trying to ignore the spiral of anxiety tightening around her heart. As Liam and Dorian’s footsteps faded, she felt a shiver pass through her, her gaze darting toward Luther. He had been watching her the whole time, his expression unreadable but his gaze intent.
As soon as they were alone, Luther stepped closer to her, his hand reaching out to comfort her. But she took a sudden step back, raising her hands instinctively to keep him at bay.
“Don’t,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Don’t come any closer.”
Luther paused, his brows knitting in confusion and concern. “Charlie, what’s wrong?”
She took another step back, her hand trembling as she kept it raised between them. “Luther, I… I can’t risk you getting sick. I didn’t realize until now—” Her voice caught in her throat as a flood of emotion washed over her. “Until Dorian said it, I didn’t think about the fact that… that I could be carrying it. And if I am…” She trailed off, her mind filling with all the worst possibilities.
Understanding dawned in Luther’s eyes, and he took a small step back, his face softening as he saw the depth of her fear. “Charlie,” he said gently, his voice a calming balm. “We don’t know that. Dorian said there’s a possibility, but you’ve been fine. No symptoms. If there’s any chance that you’re immune, then I’m already safe.”
She shook her head, the fear and guilt twisting inside her. “But we don’t know for sure. And if I… if I hurt you, I’ll never forgive myself. I can’t do this, Luther.” Her words were barely a whisper as she struggled to hold back the tears threatening to fall.
Luther watched her, his eyes filled with a fierce resolve. “I’m not afraid of you, Charlie. I’m not afraid of whatever you might be carrying.” He paused, his gaze steady. “But if it would make you feel better, I’ll give you space. For now.”
Charlie nodded, though the ache in her heart remained. She knew he was only agreeing to give her distance because of her own fears, but she appreciated it all the same. A few moments of silence stretched between them, filled only by the crackling of the fire that had long since faded to embers.
Finally, Luther spoke, his voice softer than she’d ever heard it. “You’re doing this for us, aren’t you? Not for the pack, but… for me and Liam.”
She looked down, guilt flickering across her face as she struggled to find the words. “Yes,” she admitted, her voice barely audible. “I told myself it was for the pack, but… I couldn’t stand the thought of losing either of you. I would do anything if it meant keeping you safe.”
The weight of her confession seemed to settle around them, and Luther took a deep breath, his gaze filled with a mixture of pride and sadness.
“Charlie,” he murmured, his voice laced with emotion. “You have no idea how much that means to me. To both of us.”
They stood there in silence, the distance between them feeling heavier than ever. And though Luther kept his promise not to cross that distance, the warmth in his gaze reached her all the same, wrapping around her like the embrace she so desperately wanted but couldn’t allow.
As she turned back toward the fire, trying to ignore the ache in her heart, she felt Luther’s gaze linger on her. She knew he wanted nothing more than to close the distance between them, to hold her until all her fears melted away.
But for now, this was how it had to be.
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