“Oh, good morning, Mom.”
“Don’t give me that. What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Charity, are you pregnant?”
I laughed nervously. “Why on earth would you think that?”
“Oh, Charity!” She bounded over to me and hugged me until I turned red from lack of oxygen.
“Irena.”
“It’s okay, dear, I won’t tell anyone. I’ll let you and Levi do that. I’m so happy right now! I’m going to be a grandmother! I can’t wait! How are you feeling? How’s your fa—” She froze.
“Irena, what’s wrong?”
“Charity, your face.”
“What’s wrong with it? Cripes, does it look that bad?” I walked into the bathroom, turned on the light, and gasped. “Irena, could you go get Levi right away, please.”
“Of course, dear.”
Levi bounded through the door only minutes later with Irena, Joseph, Eli, Hector, and Doc right behind him.
When he was close enough to see me he froze in shock. “Charity, your face.”
“I know,” I cried. “What does it mean?”
He took me in his arms and held me reassuringly. “It’s all right, baby. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation. Doc?!!”
Doc approached me, took my face in his hands, and turned it this way and that. “Hmm, I’ve never seen a human heal so fast in my entire life—or heard of it. I’m not sure what it means, but I’m sure it’s a good thing. I’ll do some research and get back to you. In the meantime, enjoy your beautiful face, Charity. This can only be good, okay?”
“Great! I’m a freak!”
“Hey!” all the Wookies said in unison.
“Sorry, but it’s natural for you guys to heal quickly. You’ve always been freaks, but for me it means something’s wrong.”
Levi turned me toward him. “Are you sure you haven’t been drinking Grandmammy’s moonshine again? That would explain the healing.”
“That’s not funny.” I pouted.
He snickered. “You’re right. I’m sorry. But this could be a good thing, like Doc said. Let’s not start worrying yet. He’ll find out what this means.” He smiled, wiping my tears from my face. “Are you ready to tell them?”
I nodded.
We turned to face the crowd, each face but Irena’s brimming with curiosity. “Guys, Charity and I are going to have a baby!”
I cringed at the noise as each slapped Levi on the shoulder and congratulated us with heartfelt tenderness. Levi turned to me and said, “Well, it looks like we can go see your mom today after all.”
Just as I suspected, Mom’s initial reaction was to assume we were pregnant. We assured her that wasn’t the case, praying the entire time that God would forgive us for lying. We explained that we’re in love and eager to begin our life together. She seemed to relax a bit, even becoming excited about the idea.
“I don’t want anything fancy so it shouldn’t take too long to plan. Irena’s making my dress and they’re paying for everything, so all you have to do is get a dress and show up looking beautiful.”
“Oh, honey, that sounds lovely. I’m happy for you. The two of you will be very happy together. I just know it.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Hansen. Your approval means a lot to me.”
“Levi, please call me Mom.”
“Yes ma’am—I mean Mom.”
She and I both laughed. If he weren’t so adorable I’d sometimes think he was a dork.
Once we left Mom’s, I dropped Levi off and headed to tell Ashley our good news. We threatened Josh with pain of death if he told her before I got to her. I was fairly confident she’d be surprised.
“Charity—your face!” she greeted me. “How’d it heal so fast? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“Yes, actually, there is something.” I was beaming.
“Charity, are you pregnant?”
Geez, is it written all over my face or something?
“Yes, I am!”
“Oh, Charity!” She ran to me and jumped into my arms. “I’m so happy! When’s the due date?”
“I have no idea. It’s too early to know yet.”
“If it’s too early then how do you know?”
“Raven told us.”
“I’m confused.”
“Okay—well at the graduation dinner I did something really stupid—I let Raven feed on me. I know—I know. I guess I was curious. I don’t really remember, but somehow he knew I was pregnant through my blood. I must just be a few weeks along because I haven’t even missed my period yet.”
“Well, that’s good. If we can get you guys married fast, no one will know you were pregnant first. I know that’s always bothered you. But about this healing thing, what could that be about?”
“We’re not sure yet, Doc is looking into it. But I should probably be getting back. I have a lot to do.”
Later, back at the Drake House, Levi was relieved to see I’d made it back in one piece. Did he think I was gonna pass out at the wheel? By the look on his face—probably.
“Was Ashley excited?”
“Yes. She can’t wait to be a godmother. I was thinking that maybe she and Josh could be the godparents. What do you think?”
“Hmm, that sounds like a great idea.”
I strutted past him on my way to the kitchen, stopping to kiss him and shoving a piece of paper at his chest. “Oh husband, by the way, can you take care of this for me?”
He looked down and groaned. “Charity! Ease up on the lead foot!”
“Hey, it’s not my fault you bought me the coolest, sexiest, fastest car on the planet.”
“What happened? Didn’t your sexy charm work as well on this guy as on the first one? Or was the officer a female?”
I looked at him in shock.
“Yes, I know about the last one. You can’t keep as much from me as you think. The officer happens to be a pack member who lives in town.”
“Great,” I grimaced. “Actually, my charms were working just fine until he read your name on the registration. This officer happens to be an east pack member, and seeing your name insured me a ticket, so you should take care of it. And just so you know the females like me too.”
“I don’t doubt that. I’ll take care of this, but please slow it down, or I’m trading your new, cool, sexy, fast car in for a Buick Electra.”
I gasped. “You wouldn’t.”
He smirked. “Try me.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Considering the fact that I was so early in the pregnancy, I’d been suffering from some very odd side effects. Ashley bought me the book, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” but it didn’t say anything about the side effects I’d been experiencing. For one thing I was full of energy most of the time then hit a wall and almost crumble from exhaustion. Second, I seemed to be stronger. Why just the other day I was helping Chef Barney in the kitchen, okay—well he didn’t see it as helping, when I tripped and almost fell, with Barney catching me before I smashed to the floor. I held onto him so hard he actually cried out in pain. I thought it was nothing until he showed me the bruises before they healed. And I felt stronger too. Also, during my workouts I’d normally struggle to go fifteen minutes on the treadmill but was suddenly going for thirty without breaking a sweat. Levi said it was the pregnancy, but all the women I’d talked to said they never experienced anything like what I described. For another thing they all said they weren’t even interested in lovemaking during their pregnancy, but that was all I could seem to think about. It was a good thing we were married or I’d feel like a skank.
It was almost lunchtime and I’d been thinking about Levi all morning, so instead of fighting it any longer I headed to our bedroom in full plan-mode. I pulled open my lingerie drawer and withdrew my sexiest piece, put it on, and appraised myself in the mirror. Hmm, not bad. I brushed out my long, dark hair and added some lipstick. I then put on Levi’s robe and headed out the door. N
o one even noticed me as I darted around corners and in and out of doors like a secret agent man, while chuckling mischievously the entire time. I decided to surprise Levi and ambush him with a memorable, intimate encounter. I hid behind the door of the library, peeking out every time there was a passerby. Levi always came this way on his way to the dining hall. I waited patiently. Finally I spotted him. As he passed, I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the library, slamming the door shut behind me. I pushed him onto the sofa, ripped off my robe, and climbed into his lap. Once his initial shock wore off, his response surprised me.
“Holy….” He threw his hands over his eyes, covering them tightly—too tightly. “Bell, it’s me, Eli!”
I gasped, and jumped off him so fast I tripped over the coffee table, knocked over a stack of books, and landed on my back.
In a flash he was to his feet, helping me up, while covering me with the robe all in one fluid movement.
“I-I’m sorry, Eli. My mistake.”
He started laughing. “No problem, really. I’m going to go find my brother and remind him of what a lucky man he is.”
“Yeah you do that!” I snapped. “And afterwards send him in here, will ya? And get a haircut, or color a red streak in it!” I yelled out to him, but he was already out the door. I could hear his laughter all the way down the hall.
When Levi arrived, only minutes later, he too was smiling, anticipating what was coming, no doubt.
“You wouldn’t be laughing if you knew what he saw.”
That got him. He stopped dead in his tracks, all traces of humor gone. “And what was that?”
“Come here and let me show you.”
“You’re not gonna hurt me, are you?” But he was smiling again.
“With every bit of strength I possess.”
Later at dinner everyone was amused as they talked about how I had mistaken Eli for Levi. Everyone in this place needs to get a serious life. I seemed to be the only one struggling to tell the two apart. Maybe it’s because my nose worked like it was supposed to instead of being able to smell something one hundred miles away. But then I smiled as Eli entered the dining hall. He had a long, red streak in his beautiful, wavy, brown hair. Finally, someone who listens to me. I won’t be mistaking him for my Levi again.
Levi brought me a plate of food and sat down beside me. Ashley was joining us for dinner and Josh had requested a special meal. Something told me tonight would be a little different than other nights. Our tables were in a separate, more intimate setting than the others, and when Josh stood and asked for our attention. I was beaming, as was Ashley.
“I would like to have everyone’s attention please,” he began, “as you all already know, Ashley and I’ve been dating for a little while now, and I think she’s the best, most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. She has honored me by accepting my proposal of marriage.” A man of few words.
I jumped up and ran to her, took her in my arms, and hugged her senseless. “Since when are you good at keeping secrets from me?”
“Oh, Charity, it’s been killing me. Josh asked me to wait until this dinner to say anything. I’m so glad you know.”
“And just how long has it been?”
“Only a few days.”
“In that case, I forgive you.” I smiled. “I’m so happy for you. I knew it wouldn’t be much longer. Hey! Maybe we can have a double wedding!”
“Charity, do you think we could?”
“Levi?” I looked at him with the sweetest look I could come up with on such short notice. He bought it.
“I live only to make you happy, my kitten.” He smiled.
I ran to him and threw my arms around his neck and squeezed. “Thank you.”
It was then that I went limp as a dishrag as a daze swept over me, taking my equilibrium with it.
Levi sensed it immediately. “Charity, baby, are you all right?”
I couldn’t answer. Then, without warning, I became sick, grabbing a nearby bowl and vomiting in it. The table, and everything on it, was saved. Sadly, I can’t say the same for the bowl of salad.
Levi picked me up and took me to Doc, taking the bowl with us.
“I’m puzzled by this,” Levi said, “she hasn’t been sick at all until tonight. She’s actually felt great.”
“What did you eat tonight, Charity?” Doc asked.
“A salad—before I puked in it, that is. I’m trying to be conscious of what I’m eating.”
“Hmm. I wonder if that had anything to do with you getting sick.”
“What do you mean, Doc?”
“Well, with the other human pack members, they can usually eat whatever they want.” He turned to address Levi. “Some get sick—some don’t. But Charity is the first human alpha female in history, aside from Mia. All of her children were female, and we have no record of how her pregnancies went. What if Charity is pregnant with a male child? That would explain why she’s acting so unusual. She’d be the first human ever to carry an alpha male child. We have no idea what to expect in that case.”
“Do you think that’s what it is, Doc?” I asked, excited at the idea.
“There’s really no way to know this early. You have to be about four months along before we can see that.”
I had an idea. It would probably anger Levi but I had to try. “What about Raven? He was able to know through my blood that I was pregnant, before any of you even. Maybe he could tell if I was carrying a male child.”
“Absolutely not!” Levi snapped.
“Why not?”
“One feeding is all he’s gonna get from you!”
“Levi, this is no time to get jealous, this is important.”
“It wasn’t that long ago that he fed off you. It’s not good for him to do it again so soon. Besides, it won’t make any difference in your situation to know the sex of the baby.”
“It’ll matter to me. Do you have any idea the pressure that’s on me to have a male child? It would relieve a lot of stress just to know.”
He sighed. “I know, Charity, but I’m not at all open to that idea. We can wait four months.”
“Maybe you can, but I don’t want to wait.”
Doc interjected. “Levi, maybe it would be worth at least talking to Raven just to see if it can even be done.”
“Levi, please.” I begged.
“Let me think about it.”
“Thanks, babe.”
“I didn’t say yes. I said let me think about it.”
“Oh I know,” I said, rolling my eyes behind his back.
“So,” he said, “is the brain as amazing as they say?”
“Huh?” I asked, dumbfounded.
“Well, the way you were rolling your eyes I figured you could see it.”
I slapped his arm. “Har, har. You’re creepy, you know that?”
“In the meantime, Charity,” Doc interrupted, “try eating a lot of protein in your meals. That might be what the baby needs. He’s taking a lot from you and it’ll get worse as the baby grows. Let’s keep an eye on what you’re eating and see if that has any connection as to how you’re feeling.”
“Okay, Doc. Whatever you say.”
Once Levi and I were alone in our room, he sat down beside me and shared his concerns about Raven. “There’s something you don’t know. Mostly I trust Raven. I mean, he saved your life, and he fought his own kind and helped us win the battle, but what I don’t understand is why? We’re keeping a tight watch on him in the small chance that he’s spying on us.”
“What? How can you even think that after what he’s given up for us?”
“That’s just it. Why did he do that? It would be so easy for him to give our location to the vampires. They could come in here while we’re sleeping and slaughter all of us.”
“He wouldn’t do that.”
“Do you know that for sure?”
“Yes I do.”
“Would you be willing to stake all of our lives on it?”
I couldn’t answer yes to that
because I couldn’t and wouldn’t risk the pack’s lives on anything that I wasn’t totally certain of. I needed to talk to Raven, and that’s just what I planned to do.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I was restless as I tossed and turned. Levi was sleeping like a rock beside me, a slight snore slipping from his lovely lips. I felt the air shift around me and glanced up to see a dark figure standing over the bed. Someone grabbed me and covered my mouth as I tried to scream. I struggled and fought but was unable to make any ground. Whoever had a hold of me was very strong. As my eyes adjusted to the dark I realized they were vampires, their pale skin almost glowing in the dark. More than one grabbed Levi and started beating him relentlessly. He never had a chance to recover. As I watched in horror, powerless to stop it—they killed him. I screamed as his head fell to the floor beside me. I didn’t even have a chance to respond—someone began biting me across the neck. It was very painful and I cried out in protest but was ignored as the biting intensified—then my mouth was pried open and a warm liquid began gushing down my throat causing me to gasp and cough right before my world went cold and dark.
When I woke, I sat up gasping and immediately reached for my teeth and drew in a sharp breath—my canines were long and pointy—I was a vampire!!
I panicked and glanced around at all the blood covering the bed. I didn’t want to look, but I had to know. Reluctantly I let my eyes scan the floor beside me—Levi’s head lay there looking up at me, his eyes glowing yellow.
“Noooo!!!” I woke screaming and covered in sweat.
“Charity!” Levi called to me. “It’s all right. I’m right here.” I continued to scream as he took me in his arms and held me, rocking back and forth. “It was just a nightmare. I’m here. It’s okay—I’m here.”
I finally began to calm slightly and held onto him as if my life would end if I ever let go.
“Do you want to tell me about it?”
I barely managed to get the words out, stuttering between sobs. “The vampires ssslaughtered all of us in our sssleep, except I watched them kkill you, then, instead of kkilling me, they-they changed me.”
He held me tighter. “That will never happen. I’m so sorry. It’s my fault. I should never have told you what I did. Forget I said anything about that. I will never let them get their hands on you again. I promise.”
Charity Rising (Charity Series Book 2) Page 15
