Charity Rising (Charity Series Book 2) (18 page)

“Hey, Bel , I’m gonna have to tel your husband you’re flirting.”

I shrieked. “Eli?!”

He laughed but kept going.

“Dang it!”

Ashley was rummaging through the boxes in the kitchen. “Guys,” Ashley cal ed, “you
are
going to join us for supper before you leave, aren’t you?”

“I have an idea,” I interrupted, “what if I cook us something?”

“No!” they al blurted out in unison.

“Hold the phone, Wookies! My cooking has greatly improved.”

Levi shook his head at them.

I turned just in time to see him. “Hey, Scooby, I saw that!” I snapped, pointing my finger at him. “Your nights in the doghouse are accumulating

—you want to add another one?”

He grimaced.

We ordered pizza. The delivery girl said we could keep the tip. Seeing six gorgeous guys shirtless was tip enough.

“Charity, where do you want these last boxes?” Jared asked as he and Jordan brought the last ones up.

“Oh, in the bedroom please.”

A few minutes later, I walked into the bedroom only to find Jared and Jordan laughing, standing over one of my boxes. “What are you turkeys

doing?”

Jared laughed. He was holding two tampons, one in each ear, like he was cleaning his ears out. “Hey, Charity, what big Q-tips you have.”

“Very mature. You guys need to get yourself some girlfriends to pester. Now get!”

They darted from the room in record speed. I turned to find Levi standing behind me—no wonder.

“Are those twerps bothering you?” he asked, taking me in his arms.

“Yes,” I pouted. “Can you decapitate them for me?”

“In one swipe,” he was fighting laughter.

“You’re laughing, but I’m serious.”

“Yes, I know.” With one hand he shut the door, at the same time his lips pressed firmly to mine. He pul ed me tightly against him, so close in

fact I could feel his heart beating wildly against me. “I love you so much, Charity. The longer we’re married the harder it gets to be away from you.”

“I know what you mean. My heart is already aching knowing we won’t be together tonight.”

“Wel , I hate to say this but we better get going. It’l be getting dark soon,” he said, kissing me passionately once more. “I’l miss you so much

tonight. Sure you two wil be okay?”

“Are you kidding? We’re gonna turn this place into a romantic paradise then spend the night talking about you. It’l be great. Go have fun, get

al furry, and run around making howling noises and peeing on things. Don’t worry about us.”

“I can send Raven over here if it’d make you feel better.”

“Oh stop! I’m stil mad at him anyway.”

He jerked to attention. “What for? What did he do?”

“Wel , I stil can’t seem to remember, but when I do you’l be the first werewolf I tel .”

“What would my life be without you?”

“Bor-ing.”

He laughed. “I love you, and I’l see you in the morning, okay?”

“Okay. I love you too. Now go. Chase a herd of caribou for me.”

He kissed me one last time and then left the room. Josh kissed Ashley goodbye and then they were gone.

It was a ful moon and our werewolves turn furry, run through the forest, and do crazy things I don’t want to know about. You couldn’t pay me

enough money to get near the forest on a ful moon. I always make sure I’m far away.

This was the first ful moon Eli would spend with his pack. I was kind of excited for him. He’d missed a lot in eighteen years, but fortunately he

was getting to make up for it. He was living at the Drake House ful time now that he had graduated. Levi was taking him under his wing and

teaching him how to run the pack should anything happen to him. He was also teaching him to fight. Every day they would go out and practice. Levi

said he was definitely improving.

Ashley and I spent most of the night unpacking and getting settled. Final y, around eleven o’clock we were at a stopping point. As we sat

Indian-style on the sofa, drinking a coke, I broke open the Godiva truffles Levi left as a house warming gift, took a mouth ful , and thought it might be a good time to bring up the eating thing.

“Um, Ash, there’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.”

“Okay, shoot.”

“Wel , I’m not sure how to go about this, but I need you to tel me about your eating problem.”

She looked alarmed. She immediately stood and began pacing about the room. “I’ve been meaning to tel you about that. At first I just

wanted to lose a few pounds, but when I did, it felt so good. And the more control I gained over my eating, the more I wanted. It’s weird, I know. I don’t expect you to understand, you’re so perfect.”

“Ashley, you know me better than that. How can you say that?”

“I mean that you’re the perfect size. You can eat anything you want and not gain weight. I don’t expect you to understand how good it feels to

lose weight.”

Feeling guilty, I swal owed hard and slid the chocolates out of reach. “Ash, I might not understand about weight gain, but I understand about

control. I’ve been living in an abusive home for years remember? Trust me, I do understand. But we’re like sisters. You can talk to me about this. I care about you, and I want you to start eating again. You’re getting too thin. It’s not too late to get control over this, but I’m afraid if you don’t do it now it might be.”

She sighed. “I know you’re right. Josh has been complaining too. I’l try, I promise.”

I stood and went to her. “I’l do al I can to help you. Let’s pray about it, okay?”

She smiled. “Okay.”

We prayed, hugged, sniffled a little, and got back to work. And just for fun, I made her eat a truffle.

It was hard to believe it had already been a week since graduation. Ashley was situated nicely in our apartment, I’d moved in with Levi, and

Ashley and I were preparing to take the entrance exam at Windrake Community Col ege so we can take nursing classes. And on top of that, she

was eating again—not a lot but it was improvement.

Everything seemed to be moving along nicely, and I was real y happy. This was exactly the place I’d been waiting to get to, and it hadn’t been

a disappointment. Al would be complete once I found my stupid cat. She was stil lost and running around the facility somewhere. Occasional y

she’d cause an uproar, but no one had been able to get their hands on her. So odd—I didn’t have any trouble the night I found her by the road. Then again I wasn’t trying to eat her either.

I was also getting to know the pack better, and I’d made some new friends. My routine was pretty awesome too. I’d wake up in Levi’s arms,

we’d shower and have breakfast together, and then he would head out to take care of pack business and train with Eli, while I spent time with Irena and Joseph. Then I’d go visit with Tosha and little Jeremy, go to the gym in the Recreation Wing and pretend to exercise, shower again and have

lunch with Levi and the guys, and on most days, talk Levi into an extended lunch in our bedroom. Then I’d cal my mom and listen to her blab about

Doc and spend about an hour pestering Chef Barney in his kitchen while trying to learn something. As if on cue, he’d yel something in Italian and

swing pans in the air, and I’d run from the room with a renewed determination to find out what he was yel ing, only to forget by the time I reached my room. Ashley would usual y come over and talk to me while I did laundry, then we’d head over to the dining hal and wait for our men to wander in, al the while trying to pretend not to notice Hector fol owing me around everywhere I went.
It’s not like he’s easy to miss
.

After supper we’d usual y hang out in the Recreation Wing and watch episodes of
Drake and Josh
on the flat screen
,
or play pool or Xbox, or head to our living quarters where we spend time alone. Al in al , a pretty nice time, I’d say.

Raven had his own separate living quarters, like Levi and I, away from the others. I didn’t think he was ful y comfortable with us yet.

Something was missing for him. I could only guess what it was. The truth is I felt kind of bad for him. It must be hard being separated from his family, never to see them again. I wondered if he’d had any contact with them. I thought perhaps it was time that he and I talked.

I didn’t see Raven al day so I final y decided to go to his room. Levi wouldn’t like it but I’d find a way to make him forgive me.

I knocked.

When he opened the door he looked surprised. “Charity, how nice to see you. Would you like to come in?”

“Can you be trusted?”

“Of course, please,” he gestured me in.

I stepped in, taking in the view of his beautiful y decorated space. “Wow, Raven, your place is nice. No wonder you don’t come out much.” I

sat down on his black, leather sofa. “Speaking of that, are you happy here?”

“Hmm, wel I miss home, I wil not lie, but yes I think I am happy here. However, I like my privacy too.”

“Have you had any contact with them at al ? You know—your family?”

“No.”

“I’m sorry, Raven. It’s my fault. If you hadn’t saved me they would stil accept you.”

“No, Charity, I had to save you. I know you cannot understand, but you wil just have to trust me.”

“Speaking of trust, what is it that I can’t remember? Why am I mad at you?”

He laughed. “And why would I want to tel you that?”

“You’re not gonna tel me, are you?”

“When the time is right. But I wil say this—I now know two secrets about you, my queen.”

“Oooh! Fine. Have it your way.”
Stinking vampires
.

Later, Ashley and I were making our way through the dining hal , and stopped at a table to talk to Sissy and Tara who were in the process of

gorging themselves on a plate of homemade cookies.

“Hey guys. What’s up?” I asked.

“Charity, want a cookie? Chef Barney made them. They’re delicious.”

“Oh yeah. Thanks.” I was reaching for the biggest cookie on the plate when I began to feel odd; kind of like how it feels the moment you step

off a monstrous rol er coaster. You know, rol ing stomach, swimmy head, and muffled voices.

“Charity, are you al right?” Tara asked. “You look pale? Charity? Charity!”

Then I knew I was fal ing.

I woke to masses of people hovering around me and the muffled voices were getting clearer. Irena was dabbing my face with something

cold and wet, and I heard Levi frantical y making his way through the crowd.

“Charity!” He knelt down beside me, moving his mother gently aside, and took my face in his hands. “Charity, honey, are you al right? Talk to

me. What happened?”

Tara answered for me. “She was standing here talking to us and then she turned pale white and fel , hitting her face on the table. No one

could catch her in time. I’m so sorry, Charity,” she cal ed down to me.

Without further hesitation Levi scooped me up in his arms and carried me to the Medical Clinic. Doc was waiting for us there. He laid me

down gently on a table.

“Wel ,” Doc began as he did his ‘thang’, “her face is banged up pretty badly. Her cheek is bruised, and her nose and lips are busted, but it

looks like nothing is broken—that’s good. Charity, how do you feel?”

“Um, don’t take this personal, Doc, but that’s a stupid question.”

He laughed. “I’d say she’l be fine. What we need to find out now is why she passed out in the first place.”

“I can answer that,” Raven said, stepping into view.

What did he know?

“I know what is wrong with Charity. She is with child.”

Levi and I both gasped.

“And how would you know that?” Levi replied, slightly agitated. “I can’t sense it. Her scent hasn’t changed. So how do you know?”

“The night of her graduation she let me feed on her. I knew through her blood.”

He turned to me, his purple eyes smoldering. “Charity, is this true?! Did you let Raven feed on you?!” He was definitely angry.

“To be honest with you I don’t real y remember. But I think I did because I was mad at him for some reason only I couldn’t remember why. So

that must be it. I’m sorry, Levi.”

He looked over at Raven. “Start explaining.”

“I owe you both an apology,” he said, looking first at Levi and then to me. “Charity was curious, and to be honest, so was I. It is over now and

it wil not happen again. I promise.”

I think Levi was satisfied with his explanation, that or, like me, he just couldn’t hold onto the anger after the news, because his face suddenly

changed and became elated. He turned to me. “Charity, you’re pregnant!”

After seeing the joy on his face I too became happy. We’re going to have a baby!

Holy freakshow!!! A baby! Go figure. That explains why I’d been so emotional at times, and woozy, and here I thought it was good-looking

guys running around shirtless. Wel , I guess I was as ready as I’d ever be. On second thought—I could’ve been more ready. On third thought—how

does one get ready anyway? I’d only been a wife for two months for Pete’s sake. Oh wel , it was what it was ready or not.

Levi carried me to our room and laid me on the bed. “Is there anything I can get for you?”

“Good grief, don’t start treating me like a helpless weenie—although, I am hungry. Could you get me something to eat? Maybe some meat of

some kind—oh and some fruit—and something real y sweet—and chocolate.”
Oh well, he asked
.

He laughed. “I’m gonna love taking care of you I can already tel .” If his face wasn’t ful of such felicity, I might’ve thought he was being

sarcastic.

He returned with a tray ful of al kinds of things; beef kabobs, corn on the cob, a salad, an apple, red grapes, a piece of carrot cake, and a

tal glass of chocolate milk.

I sighed. “I love you, Levi Drake. You’re the best man alive, but what took you so long?”

“Wel , everyone wanted to know how you’re doing, and I had to tel them, although I didn’t say anything about the baby. I thought we could tel