Chapter Sixty-Eight: A Wolf’s Defiance
Charlie wiped down the last section of the counter, enjoying the sense of normalcy that came with working in the kitchen. The maids still seemed unsure about how to act around her, but at least they no longer objected to her presence. In fact, they had begun giving her small tasks to complete, which felt like a small victory of sorts.
She wasn’t a pack slave anymore, but she wasn’t just their Luna either.
She wanted to belong and find her new place within the pack.
She smiled softly to herself as she set the rag aside, enjoying the warmth of contentment settling in her chest. But just as she was about to excuse herself for the night, the sound of hurried footsteps reached her ears, followed by the distinct scent of her mate.
Liam.
Charlie turned just as he entered the kitchen, his eyes scanning the room—searching for her with a franticness that instantly set her on edge.
The moment his gaze found hers, a sense of unease slithered through their bond. His face was carefully neutral, but she wasn’t fooled. His emotions were a turbulent mess just beneath the surface.
Something was wrong.
Still, Liam forced a smile as he crossed the room. "I’m glad I didn’t miss my chance to walk you to bed." His voice was light, casual. But there was something forced about it.
Charlie narrowed her eyes. "I was actually thinking of taking a walk around the packhouse before heading up for the night. Will you join me?"
For a brief second, fear flashed in Liam’s eyes, the scent of it permeating the room slightly with its acrid scent.
It happened so quickly that she almost thought she imagined it.
But it was there.
Liam let out a fake yawn, stretching his arms lazily. "I’m actually really tired tonight. Could we skip the walk?"
Her wolf growled in irritation.
Liam never turned down a chance to be with her.
Charlie pressed her lips together, debating whether or not to push back, but she already knew it wouldn’t do any good. The set of his shoulders, the clipped tone of his voice—this wasn’t a negotiation.
Something was happening, and he didn’t want her to know.
But why?
With a resigned nod, she placed the rag down and walked past him toward the stairs, feeling his presence at her side as they ascended together. The silence between them was thick and uncomfortable.
When they reached the bedroom door, Charlie pushed it open and stepped aside to let Liam in. But he didn’t move. Instead, he lingered in the hallway, his eyes shifting slightly as if debating something.
"I have something to handle real quick," he said carefully. "Why don’t you enjoy a bath? I’ll be back before you know it."
Charlie frowned, but before she could ask any questions, Liam pressed a kiss to her forehead and strode down the hall, disappearing before she could respond.
Frustration curled in her stomach as she closed the door behind her.
Liam was hiding something.
Her wolf stirred beneath her skin, restless and agitated.
Charlie ignored the feeling and headed to the bathroom, turning on the bathwater. The sound of water filling the tub did little to soothe her frayed nerves. She turned back toward the bedroom to grab clean clothes, but the moment she reached for them, her wolf slammed her will into her.
Charlie gasped, stumbling forward as a sudden need to run consumed her.
‘Stop it!’ she hissed internally.
Her wolf growled in response, pacing in the back of her mind. ‘We need to get out of here. I’m tired of being trapped inside this house like a caged animal.’
‘Liam said he was too tired for a walk. Do you really think he’ll let us go for a run?’ Charlie argued.
‘I don’t care what he thinks.’
Charlie squeezed her eyes shut, gripping the dresser tightly. ‘Not now.’
But her wolf wasn’t listening. Her body moved without her consent, feet carrying her toward the window as a surge of energy coursed through her veins.
‘Stop!’
She tried to fight against the shift in control, tried to force her wolf back down, but it was useless. Before she could fully register what was happening, she was already jumping out of the third-story window.
The rush of wind whipped against her skin, but her body landed gracefully on the ground, her knees bending effortlessly to absorb the impact.
Her wolf purred with satisfaction.
‘Damn it!’ Charlie barely had time to curse her wolf before she felt her legs start to move again, stripping off her clothes as she ran toward the tree line.
‘Where are we going?’
Her wolf didn’t respond. Instead, she pushed forward with a single-minded purpose.
Charlie’s breath hitched as realization dawned.
Luther.
Her wolf was running toward Luther.
‘We need to go back!’ Charlie yelled in her mind.
‘We need our mate,’ her wolf growled. ‘He will let us run.’
‘No, he won’t! He is the one that wants us to stay safe in the packhouse, not wander around the woods at night.’
Charlie fought desperately to reclaim control, but her wolf was too strong. The moment her bare feet hit the soft earth of the woods, her body shifted. Bones cracked and reformed, muscles stretched, and thick fur covered her body as she landed on all fours.
And then—
She ran.
The night air was crisp against her fur, the wind rushing past her ears as she sprinted through the trees, her paws barely making a sound against the dirt. It had been too long since she had been able to shift freely, and despite her anger, Charlie couldn’t deny how good it felt.
But that didn’t mean she was happy about it. She was pissed at her wolf for shoving her out and taking over control.
The forest blurred past her as she picked up speed, her body naturally guiding her toward him. Luther’s scent was intoxicating, a mix of pine, musk, and something distinctly him. It drew her in like a siren song, her wolf practically purring with anticipation.
As she neared the clearing where his scent was strongest, she slowed her approach, her paws pressing lightly into the earth as she crept forward.
She could hear voices.
A lot of them.
Charlie slunk behind a thick tree, peering through the dense foliage. Luther stood in the center of a large group of wolves—thin, ragged-looking wolves who reeked of desperation and hunger.
Charlie’s heart pounded as she took in the scene.
Luther stood tall and imposing, his bare chest streaked with dirt and sweat from battle. The wolves surrounding him looked terrified, some bowing their heads in submission, others standing stiff with defiance.
‘What is he doing?’ Charlie wondered.
She knew she shouldn’t be here. She knew she should turn around and run back before she was seen.
But she stayed.
Luther hadn’t noticed her yet. And she had a sinking feeling that whatever was happening here… It was something she wasn’t supposed to see.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
