Charity Rising (Charity Series Book 2) (7 page)

Boyardee, frozen pizza, and spaghetti in a box. But my mom can sew, sing, and she makes the best ham and cheese sandwiches on this side of

the Carolinas. I’d stake my life on it.”

“Thanks, Tobe. I guess you’re right. I mean, I do other things good, right?”

The room was silent.

“Right?”

Stil silence.

I rol ed my eyes. “Thanks guys. What would I do without encouraging friends such as yourselves?”

“Wel ,” Missy final y said, “you’re a total y loyal friend.” Al their heads nodded in agreement. “You’re gorgeous. Not everyone can be

gorgeous like you and it not go to their head. You’re funny, artistic, and you’d do anything for the ones you love—even put yourself in danger. I

should know—and thank you.”

“Wow, Missy, thanks.”

She smiled, her face turning a cute shade of pink.

“See—why can’t you guys be more like Missy?”

Toby laughed. “And you’re so good with the compliments too.”

“Yeah, wel back atcha homeboy.”

Needless to say we ordered in pizza again. This cooking thing was much harder than I expected. Maybe I needed a new cookbook, or a new

brain.

Again Ashley took only a few bites of her pizza. I know for a fact that pizza is one of her favorite foods. Only God could help me with this one,

so I said a silent prayer for wisdom.

That night I was deep into a sweet dream about Levi. He and I were wrapped in each other’s arms sharing our dreams about our long future

together, when screaming woke me with a start. I bolted straight up, annoyed that my dream was interrupted. Then I heard it again—a scream. It

was coming from my mom’s room. I jumped out of bed and bounded into the room, quickly spotting Mom screaming and thrashing in her bed. I

rushed to her. “Mom! Mom! It’s me, Charity! I tried to stop her, but when I reached for her she struck me. She wasn’t aware, of course, but it hurt al the same. I ran into my room to retrieve my phone. I cal ed Levi.

He answered on the first ring. “Charity?”

“Levi! Mom is freaking out! I think she’s remembering the night we were attacked! What do I do?! Help me!”

“I’l be right there.”

I went back into her room. She was kicking and screaming. “Charity, run! They’re werewolves! Run! They’re kil ing Frank! Oh, Frank!”

I panicked. I ran back into my room, opened my window, and yel ed, “Raven!” I didn’t know what else to do. I hated seeing her in distress,

and I was desperate.

I darted back into her room. She was stil screaming and there was nothing I could do. I felt total y helpless. Suddenly, there was a hand on

my shoulder. I turned. “Oh, Raven, thank God! Please help her! She’s remembering the night of the attack! Please make her forget al of it, please!”

Without a word he walked graceful y around the bed and sat beside her. He took her face in his hands, ignoring her protests. He forced her

to look at him. She was quiet at once. He spoke softly. “You do not remember anything about the day you were attacked. You do not know who or

what attacked you. You are not afraid. You miss Frank, but you are no longer sad. You are moving on with your life, and now you wil sleep.” He

gently laid her head down on her pil ow, and instantly she was asleep.

I was in total awe
. Talk about your Jedi mind tricks
. And now I was in total debt to him.

He rose graceful y and came and stood by me. My eyes fil ed with tears, despite my attempts to control them. It was one thing for me to

suffer, but seeing my mom was too much. He gathered me to himself and held me there. After a moment he pul ed back and peered into my eyes.

He studied me in silence, and then whispered softly, “You want to kiss me.” It wasn’t a question but a request.

With my eyes stil leaking, I found myself leaning in, inching my lips closer and closer until they were almost touching his.
Did I mention that
vampires can manipulate emotions
?

“Charity?” an alarmed voice cal ed out.

I turned and spotted Levi standing in the doorway, his face ful of shock.

“Levi!”

His face grew angry as he scowled at Raven, then opening his arms for me.

“Oh, Levi, I’m so sorry!” I ran to him, his arms encircling me, and clung for dear life. I wondered what his expression was saying to Raven, but

in that moment I real y didn’t care.

“It’s okay, kitten. It’s not your fault. It’s okay.”

We left Mom’s room, shutting the door behind us, and entered mine. I turned to explain, when suddenly, Raven was on the floor, wiping blood

from his mouth. Levi grabbed him up, holding him by the col ar of his shirt. “You’re gonna pay for that! Just what do you think you were doing in

there?!”

“I was helping Charity’s mother.”

“No, you were taking advantage of Charity’s weakened state.”

“Hey, you cannot blame a guy for trying.”

“Sure I can! If you ever touch her again I’l —”

“Okay, that’s enough!” I snapped. “Levi, let him go!”

After a few moments of torment, Levi reluctantly released him and stepped away.

“Wel , I guess I better be going,” Raven stated, straightening his shirt and stepping toward the window.

I stood. “Raven! Thank you for helping my mom.”

“No, thank you.”

Levi clenched his jaw, making a tight fist.

Raven smirked before disappearing out the window.
I don’t know why he antagonizes Levi like that. Doesn’t he realize how bad he wants to

kill him?

Levi stayed the night, never letting me once out of the warmth and security of his embrace. Actual y, I’ve gotten so use to the feeling of him

that, just like Levi said, I find it difficult to sleep without him. I always feel so safe in his arms, something I never felt before meeting him. In fact, before I met Levi I never trusted any man. It took him quite a while to earn my trust, but I’m glad he never gave up. And his diligence paid off for both of us.

When he first asked me to marry him, explaining that it was vital that he marry and start a family right away in order to insure the future of his

pack, I was scared to death of the idea. But looking back I can’t fathom why. Marrying him had been the most wonderful, and fulfil ing thing I’d ever done, and probably, aside from having his puppies, wil ever do. We married in secret, with only the pack and Ashley present. My mom would’ve

never approved of me marrying while I was stil in high school.
Can’t say that I blame her on that one, I had a problem with that myself.
That’s why I stil lived at home, only spending as many weekends as I could with Levi at the Drake House.

After graduation, Ashley and I had plans to get an apartment together and take nursing classes at Windrake Community Col ege, but in truth,

I’d move in with Levi. I couldn’t wait, only a few more weeks and we could live like real married couples. No more of him sneaking in my window to

stay a few nights a week, and no more having to spend nights apart. Ashley was actual y thinking about moving into the Drake House herself.

Personal y, I didn’t think it would be long before Josh proposed to her. Levi says that werewolves don’t date around. Usual y, they find a girl they like and soon after, marry her.

Werewolf society is so different from ours. In many ways it’s much better. There is very little divorce amongst the pack. They have their rules

and most fol ow them without question. Sometimes there are a few rebels, but Levi says those are few and far between. Most believe solely in their

way of life and do everything to ensure its secrecy and safety.
Sounds good to me
. I know I’d never want to go against the pack. The thing that blessed me the most, however, was how everyone watched out for each other. Everyone genuinely seemed to love one another. And after the last

three years of my life where I couldn’t even trust my own stepfather—it was overwhelmingly refreshing.

When morning arrived, I was awakened by the smel of bacon rising from the kitchen. It tickled my nose like a fragrance from a long forgotten

dream. It took me a few moments to realize that Mom was in the kitchen, cooking breakfast.
I guess Raven’s mind trick worked perfectly
.

“Thank the Maker, she’s cooking again,” Levi said sarcastical y, stretching.

“Hey! Watch it. I’l get better, you’l see.”

“Yeah, I’l believe that the day you give up your lip balm.”

I gasped. “Never. Without it my lips feel naked and alone.”

He laughed, pul ing me into his arms, my back against his chest, and kissed my neck. “Don’t worry, kitten, I’l keep your lips company. Lucky

for you I don’t believe the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. That’s overrated. I much prefer going through the heart.”

I snuggled closer, giggling as he nibbled my ear. “I knew, besides your gorgeousness, there was another reason I loved you.”

It was final y Saturday morning and once breakfast was finished, and Mom was settled on the sofa with a juicy book in hand, I kissed her on

the cheek and headed out to the Drake House to see my man.

I found him in the dining room consorting with his usual crew, Josh, Jared, Jordan, Ian, and Cody.

His eyes brightened and his smile practical y covered his entire face. “There you are. What took you so long to get here?” he asked, pul ing

me into his arms for a passionate kiss.

“Come over here and I’l show you.” I grabbed his arm and pul ed him away from the others. “Levi, look what I found.” I reached into the red

duffle bag I keep in the back seat of my car, and pul ed out a huge gray and white cat. “Isn’t it great? Have you ever seen such a marvelous animal?

I wonder what kind it is. It looks rare. Levi, what’s wrong?”

He was looking down at the cat like he was about to eat it, even licking his lips slightly. He snapped out of it. “Charity! What are you thinking

bringing a cat into a wolf’s den?” he blurted out in disbelief.

Suddenly I understood. “Um—I saw her on the side of the road. I couldn’t just leave her there to get hit by a car. And her sad eyes beckoned

to me. I guess I didn’t think—”

Without warning, Josh, Jared, and Jordan started running toward me, laughing as they ripped their shirts off with shoes flying in the air. The

cat screeched and jumped out of my arms and bolted through the dining room, ducking and dodging under and around tables. The werewolves,

now furry and howling, ran after her in ful force, knocking over anything that got in their way.

“If any of you hurt my cat I’l beat the crazy out of you!” I screamed as I ran after them, hands flying in the air in warning.

I glanced over my shoulder and noted Levi doubled over in laughter. I imagine it did look funny; werewolves in hot pursuit of a big cat, with a

little girl screaming after them.
Somehow they didn’t seem so menacing when they were running away from me.

I was out of breath when I col apsed in the dining room chair next to Levi.

“I’m taking it you didn’t catch them.” His eyes sparkled in amusement as he pul ed me up into his lap.

“No,” I pouted, “they’re too fast. Besides, my cat wil kick their canine butts anyway.” I final y looked up and met his gaze. “They won’t kil her, wil they?”

He laughed. “Probably not. We enjoy the chase more than anything, but I stil can’t believe you brought that thing in here.”

“Yeah—wel , I guess I wasn’t thinking too clearly. If I can find her I’l take her to my home with Mom. She’l love her.”

About that time the guys bounded around the corner in their human forms, laughing and shoving each other.

“Wel I would’ve gotten hold of the thing if you hadn’t gotten in my way,” Jordan said to Josh.

“Sure you would’ve. That thing clawed you up pretty good. You even looked scared at one point.” Josh laughed.

“Oh yeah—wel when it jumped on your back you looked scared too,” he jabbed back.

“Fine.”

They plopped down next to us, shirtless and slightly bloody.

Levi observed them in amusement. “I’m guessing the cat won.”

“That ain’t no cat, that’s a lioness,” Jared offered.

“Where is my cat?! You better not have hurt her,” I warned.

“Us—hurt her? You’ve got to be kidding. That thing ‘bout took our heads off. We don’t know where it is. We lost track of it somewhere around

the A wing.”

“Levi, how are we gonna find her? What if she’s lost and scared?”

Josh intervened. “That cat ain’t scared of nothin’, let me tel you.”

“Don’t worry, Charity, it’l come out when it gets hungry,” Levi encouraged.

“Yeah, and we’l have something for her then,” Jordan teased.

“If any of you hurt that cat I’l claw your eyes out myself. It’s my fault she’s here, not hers. You better heed my warning furbal s.”

“Yes ma’am,” they al agreed in unison.

“That’s more like it.”

I was relieved to have Mom ful y back to normal. Occasional y, I’d catch her drifting into space, and I’d know she was thinking about Frank,

but a strange thing had been happening—Doc’s appearance was becoming more frequent. On the nights I spent in my room studying for exams, I

could hear them downstairs laughing. Although it was nice to hear her laughing again, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the attention she was getting

from him. I mean, he’s a werewolf for Pete’s sake
. I know, I know, I’m married to one, but that’s different. She’s my mother
. Wel , at least Doc is a good man and very wel respected in the community. I guess she could do worse, but it was stil unnerving. It was nice, though, to see her humming

and smiling again. She even went grocery shopping, buying flowers for the dining room table.
Hmm.
On her first day back to work, I went straight to the Drake House after school, something I’d missed doing for fear of leaving her alone too long. I had only been there once since the accident. I

couldn’t wait to hang with Levi and the gang. Once I entered, I noticed right away that the place was a buzz of frenzied excitement. I instinctively found Irena.