Charity Rising (Charity Series Book 2) (15 page)

“Your blood’s drawing attention.” Then he was gone in a flash, back into the battle, where he shocked me stil as he fought one vampire after

another.

“In that case, thank you,” I whispered to save my pride, but he probably heard me anyway.

I glanced around, desperate to locate Levi—and then my eyes final y settled on him. He seemed to be getting tired and the big vampire was

relentless, attacking him from al angles. Vampires are strong, but most of al , fast. Werewolves, however, are more massive in size and strength;

their powerful jaws can crush and rip with alarming accuracy and speed. As I stared at the fierce scene before me, I had an undeniable urge to help him, but how? It was then that I had a crazy thought.
Crisis seems to bring that out in me
. I crawled out from under my shield of protection and ran into the fighting frenzy, making my way to Levi, but then I thought
, what if it doesn’t work
? I better try it out, so I ran over to where Hector was fighting and got as close as I dare and yel ed, “Hey!” at the energetic vampire he was fighting. When the bloodsucker glanced at me in bewilderment,

Hector sank his fangs into the vampire’s neck and yanked his head clean off.
Ick, but awesome at the same time
.
And I thought that
only
happened in the movies
. Hector gave me a big drooly snarl, which I assumed was a thank you, and turned to find someone new to fight.

Hey! I can be useful after all.
With renewed excitement, I made my way through the bloody battle scene, stopping at every werewolf I came

to and repeating the action—yep—off came the head—then another—and another, until I final y reached Levi.

I had to plan this strategical y; this was no normal size vampire. I waited until he was in just the right position, jumping out of the way a few

times to avoid being crushed—then yel ed, “Hey!” behind his back. When the giant spun to face me, ready to attack, Levi sank his fangs into his

thick neck and took off that big, ugly head of his. It rol ed to the ground in front of me, and I instantly found myself doubled over and losing my lunch.

After a minute, I stood, wiping my mouth and discovered that Griffin, along with a handful of others, had fled the scene. It was over. With only

a few exceptions, most of my werewolves had survived, bloody and beaten, but alive nonetheless.

Levi and Eli both stood before me, shirtless and bloody. One stretched his arms out to me, but I was confused as to which was beckoning

me.

“Charity, it’s me,” the one said, hands outstretched.

“How do I know it’s you?”

The two of them exchanged looks, and the other smirked at him.

“Okay, if you are Levi, cal to me in my pet name.”

He smiled at the other, wiping blood from his chest just above his heart, the action revealing a smal heart tattoo. “Come to me, kitten.”

I smiled and ran to him, jumping into his arms. He held me tight and kissed the top of my head. “By the way, I could’ve taken that big, ugly

vampire on my own.”

“Oh, you’re welcome.”

He laughed. “O-kay, thanks, Garfield.”

I glared up at him. “Garfield? Real y? Levi, you clearly suck at this game.”

“What? Garfield’s the name of a cat.”

“Yeah, a male cat! You don’t hear me cal ing you Lassie, now do ya?”

“Okay, so I gave it a try and I rot at it. From now on I’l leave the name cal ing to you.”

“Thanks.” I smiled, hugging him again.

As the pack gathered around us, Irena burst onto the scene, making her way through the others, and froze when she reached us. She looked

at Levi and then at Eli. With open arms, she ran to Eli and threw her arms around him.

“Oh, Eli, it is you! I didn’t believe it when I heard, but it’s true!”

How did she identify him so quickly? I wish I could do that
.

“I’m so sorry we had to send you away!” she cried. “It was the only way to keep you both alive. Please forgive us. I’ve missed you every day

since then. Oh, Eli, please forgive me!” She threw her arms around his neck again. After only a short minute, his resolve broke and he pul ed her up into his tight embrace and held her there. Levi glanced at me and strong emotion was in his eyes. I smiled reassuringly.

After their embrace was broken, Levi approached Eli, stopping just inches from him. He looked at him for a short moment—then punched

him in the nose. Eli went to the ground. “That’s for touching my wife.” Levi took hold of his shirt and pul ed him to his feet. He smiled but then

punched him again. “And that’s for starting that fight and almost getting me suspended.” He grabbed Eli again but this time pul ed him into a

brotherly embrace, of which Eli eagerly returned. Everyone began laughing and clapping. It was then that I realized I’d been holding my breath.

So it was settled. Eli was official y one of us. And I, for one, was glad for it. At least this way he couldn’t cause any more trouble. And he had

saved my life, after al , or at least saved me from weeks of recovery.

What I didn’t expect was what came next.

Levi approached Raven, standing just inches from his face.

“Levi, no!” I cal ed, “he saved my life, even kil ing vampires! You know what that means for him! He can never return to his kind! And most

likely they wil kil him if they find him!”

Levi peered over at me and nodded. He did something then that floored me. He extended his hand and offered Raven a place in the pack.

I know—that’s what I thought
!

Raven looked over at me and then, with a smile, accepted his hand.

After we returned to the Drake House, Levi held a meeting, al owing me to attend.

Eli proceeded in tel ing us al about Wesley’s underhanded plans to dethrone Levi.

“Wesley explained your heart connection,” Eli began, “and said the easiest way to get rid of Levi was to get rid of Charity. Wesley set up the

whole trip to Virginia. He got a pack member, who worked with Frank, to offer free use of his cabin in the Virginia Mountains. Wesley sent me

ahead of him to Virginia to find four werewolves who didn’t belong to a pack, and offer them money to meet with him. We ambushed them, wrapped

them in chains, and injected them with smal doses of silver nitrate. Wesley said smal doses would temporarily drive them to be wild and confused, but wouldn’t kil them. We then released them and directed them to the cabin where Charity was staying. I understood he just wanted to scare her. I had no idea they would try to kil her, not with Levi’s scent on her.”

Eli confessed he had reservations after meeting me at the Prom but didn’t listen to his instincts.

“Prom?” Levi asked, shooting me a stern look of warning.

Uh oh
. “I’l explain later,” I mouthed, smiling nervously.

Eli continued by saying he didn’t see me as one to take abuse from Levi and started to have his suspicions. He was relieved that I hadn’t

died in the attack and that me and my mother were fine. He decided then to do some investigating of his own without further assistance from

Wesley. Wesley was angry, but what was he gonna do? He admitted that in impersonating Levi he was able to discover that not only did I love him,

but he seemed to love me too, which meant he’d been lied to. Once he knew for sure, he decided to come clean with me, and the clearing was as

good a place as any.

After he finished spil ing his guts, he asked for everyone’s forgiveness. They eagerly accepted.

But I also had something
I
needed to say. “Now, every one of you, except for Joseph, owes
me
an apology. I was not unfaithful to Levi and I never wil be.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’l start accepting those now.”

Levi laughed but was the first to kneel at my feet and beg my forgiveness. One by one the others fol owed. I knew, in a smal way, they were

mocking me, but to tel you the truth, I liked it anyway.
What do I have to do to get respect around here anyway? I keep saving their canine butts,
after all.

“
So, Levi,” I asked, looking also to Raven, “do you think we wil see Griffin again, or has he given up?”

“Wel ,” Levi said, “he wil be hard-pressed to recruit others to his cause once news of today’s defeat reaches their ears.”

“This is true.” Raven said, “I think it is safe to say that this battle is over. At least for now. It could take years for them to regain their strength in numbers. But Griffin is not one to give up easily. I daresay you wil most likely see him again someday.”

This gave me a lot to think about. Although I was thril ed that the uprising was squashed, I hated the idea that it wasn’t over. We would have

to always be watchful, and that alone was a bad feeling.

Two of our pack members had died in the clearing during the fight. I didn’t know them that wel , and they were older members, but they were

loved. Levi declared a period of mourning that would last for five days. But first a celebration would take place.

That night we had a bonfire, first burning our dead, fol owed by a ceremony performed by our Pastor Frazier. Then the celebration began.

Eleven vampires had been destroyed and our pack was saved. To me it seemed a little inappropriate to celebrate when some were mourning the

loss of loved ones, but Levi said that’s the way they’ve always done it, and they gave their lives for the safety of the pack. He said it’s what they would want us to do. So that’s what we did.

I couldn’t help but feel bad for Raven. He stood alone watching the fire blaze. My heart went out to him.

Levi watched with mixed emotions as I made my way over to stand by Raven. “I’m sorry for your loss. I know it must be hard for you.”

“It is not so bad. It wil be interesting living with a pack of werewolves.” He turned and smiled at me. It was the first time I’d ever seen a real smile from him, and I liked it. “It is very gracious of Levi to offer me refuge. That must have been hard for him after al I have done to the two of you. It would be an insult to deny his invitation, besides I wil probably be kil ed if I do not.”

“Wel , again I’m sorry, but thank you for saving my life. It means a lot to me.”

“It was my pleasure, my queen.”

I laughed—then curtsied.

That night, after al the dust had settled, Levi and I were final y back in our bedroom, lying in each other’s arms.

“Charity, do you stil love me?”

I sat up and peered at him incredulously. “Did that big, ugly vampire knock something loose in that gorgeous head of yours? Of course I stil

love you.”

“I mean, me and only me?”

I got his meaning instantly. “Levi—you are like the moon and the sun to me—without you my life is total darkness.”

His expression turned amused.

“Okay, I know that sounds sil y and cliché, but it doesn’t make it less true. The only thing I can compare my love for you to is, on some smal

scale, the way God loves us. You’re a part of me—I’m a part of you, and I love you unconditional y, except when you’re acting al stupid. You are the most glorious man—ever! There is no other like you—wel maybe one.”

He grimaced.

“Okay stop! Eli might look like you, and even sort of smel like you, but he’s lacking your kindness—your gentleness—your amazing charm

and charisma. Eli’s more rough and edgy. He hasn’t been raised in a tight-knit family like you—one who looks after your back and meets al your

needs. And he wil never have the experience and knowledge you have to lead this pack. You’re the only one right for us. You are the only one I want and wil ever want. You and only you—forever. Tu sei l'unico. It means—”

“Yes, I know. It means ‘you’re the only one for me’. Charity, have you been learning Italian?”

“Not real y. I found a book in the library. I was trying to find out what Barney was yel ing at me but stopped when I read those words and

memorized them. I never got any further, but I’l discover what he said soon enough.”

He smiled his gentle smile. “I don’t deserve you,” he said, tracing the back of his hand down my cheek and then tucking a strand of hair

behind my ear.

“Tel me something I don’t know.”

He laughed. “Okay. Right now—in this very moment—I feel total y complete.”

I snuggled against him and smiled. It made perfect sense to me.

Charity’s Rising

At school the next morning I was drooling as I watched Levi strut like a runway model across the parking lot toward me
. I never get tired of

watching it—ever
. My blood pressure was rising in an alarming rate.

I started to throw my arms around his neck when he put both arms out to stop me. “Wait! It’s me, Eli.”

Okay, now I feel sick.
I straightened, smoothing my clothing. “Eli, what are you doing here? Where’s Levi?”

“He asked me to impersonate him one last time. He and his elite are meeting with Wesley and his guys today.”

“He’s what?!”

“It’s okay, Charity. They’re meeting in a public place so no one wil be tempted to shift and fight. Levi said they needed to settle this rivalry

once and for al .”

“Why didn’t he tel me this?”

“Because he didn’t want you to miss your exams, for one, and because he knew you’d try to find him. He needs to do this and know you’re

safe. That’s where I come in.” He smiled. It was unnerving how much he looked like Levi, the same dimples and everything, creepy.

“Wel , at least he trusts you now. That’s something, right?”

“Yeah, wel , he threatened me with pain of death if I so much as breathed on you, so I guess he trusts me as much as I could’ve expected.”

We started toward the building. “I hope you’re smart. You’re gonna have to take some exams for him.”

He shrugged. “I can hold my own.”

“By the way, you don’t happen to speak Italian, do you?”