Charity Rising (Charity Series Book 2)

by Kinney, DeAnna

  Suddenly I stopped, frozen by the loving gaze in his eyes. I could make it out clearly even from our distance, and it stopped my heart. I felt warmth spread throughout my entire body causing my face to flush. I thought I saw a flash of yellow in his eyes, but I could’ve been mistaken. As I stood in the cool surf, frozen by the intensity of his piercing gaze, I felt a strange force pulling me forward. One by one, my feet began to move—one step, then two as I inched out of the surf and toward the shore. Did Levi understand what was happening? It only took a few moments to realize that Levi was the draw. There was a magnetic force coming from him—drawing me in like a fish on a line. And there was no fighting it—nor did I want to. It was a moment so powerful it was hard to neither deny— nor forget. There was such an energy surging through me as I stopped in front of him, gazing down at him in awe. He is the magnet now, and I am the steel. In a flash I was on my back, laying in the sand, with Levi towering over me, his lips doing amazing things to mine. I was at peace knowing we were alone on the beach and that Levi could hear long before anyone approached. He made love to me on the beach that morning and from that moment on I never quite felt the same. It was as if unknowingly he passed something to me—a power—an authority, something I didn’t possess before then. It was a defining moment in my new life as wife, mother-to-be, and alpha female.

  During our meals we got to know the owners of the B & B fairly well, a lovely couple in their fifties. They said we were the most charming and in love couple they’d ever encountered before, even saying we reminded them of a fairytale couple. Boy, if they only knew how close they were on that one, Levi being a fairytale creature and all. Me—I was just a helpless victim who fell into the right arms at the right time. Or is that the right arms at the wrong time? Or is that the wrong arms at the wrong time? Either way I was completely and incandescently happy. Nothing could extinguish my joy at that very moment in time……nothing.

  “Are you all packed and ready to go?”

  Except that.

  I sighed. “Yes, but can’t we stay just a few more days, please?”

  “Charity, I’ve already told you. We have to get back. With Josh on his honeymoon too, I can’t leave Eli in charge for very long. What if something happened?”

  “What can happen? Besides, Joseph is with him.”

  “I’m sorry, baby. I want to stay too. It’s been the best experience of my life being here with you, but I feel a calling to get back. I just can’t ignore it.”

  I smirked mischievously, patting the bed for him to join me. “Not even for a few more hours?”

  He dropped his suitcase with a loud thud and smiled. “Oh, I suppose they can manage without me for a few more hours.”

  Everything was just as we left it at the Drake House, but everyone was acting like we’d been gone a year instead of a week. And as soon as we were in the door, Joseph, Irena, Doc, Tara, Eli, and even Raven surrounded us, each one bombarding us with problems that had occurred while we were away, pulling us off into the dining room. But once we stepped inside, at least thirty people jumped out of hiding, and yelled, “Welcome back!” The room was decorated to the hilt, with food everywhere. One thing about werewolves—they’d make any excuse to celebrate.

  Levi was more relieved than happy to be back. It was in his nature as alpha to want to protect his pack. That relief was evident on his beautifully rested face. I spotted Fang curled up in the corner of the room. I wondered why he hadn’t greeted us. That was so unlike him. Then it dawned on me that most likely Raven had silenced him. So far, the only thing Fang barked at was Raven. He couldn’t even enter a room without setting the dog off. Raven often used his Jedi Mind Trick to silence him.

  Ashley and Josh were returning from the Outer Banks later in the week. I couldn’t wait to hear how their trip went. Of course, if I knew how to text I would’ve already known, but oh well.

  Regardless of the fact that Ashley was moving into the Drake House once they returned, we were still keeping our awesome apartment. It was the perfect refuge to disappear to on the nights of the full moon. We also decided to get together there, just the two of us, for a new tradition—weekly girl time.

  My phone rang. I looked down and recognized my mom’s number. “Hey, Mom. Yeah, we just arrived. Oh, you’re coming over?” I shot Levi a panic look. “Of course it’s okay. I can’t wait to see you. Okay—I’ll see you in about thirty minutes. I love you too.”

  Levi grabbed our bags. “We better get going if we’re going to beat her there.”

  I nodded as we left the room, and all our friends who’d gathered there, and headed back to the garage.

  “Wow, Levi! This is a wonderful house,” my mom said in her sweet but curious voice. “How did you say you came by it again?”

  “My parents gave it to me as a wedding gift. They have a house a few blocks away. This house has been in our family for a long time. It belonged to my grandparents, once upon a time.”

  “That’s lovely. It must be very special to you then?”

  “Yes. I have very fond memories playing here as a child. I’m afraid we don’t have anything to offer you to drink since we just arrived back. I apologize.”

  “Nonsense. I was hoping I could treat the two of you to dinner tonight.”

  “That would be nice. Don’t you think so, Charity?”

  “Um, yes. That’ll be great. I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too, and I want to hear all about Charleston.”

  “Your mom seems suspicious. Are you sure she doesn’t know you’re pregnant? If I didn’t know better I’d say she was waiting for us to confess or something.”

  “I think you’re right. She did seem suspicious. I’m not totally sure if she knows. I think it’s possible, but I’m afraid to tell her. I don’t want her to be disappointed in me. She’ll think we were having sex before we were married.”

  “Well, why don’t we just wait and see what happens. In another month or so we’ll tell her. Having triplets is a good excuse for you to start showing sooner.”

  “That’s true. But how will she know we’re having triplets?”

  “We’ll have Doc do an ultrasound. He’ll hear three heartbeats. And he can print off a picture to show her. We shouldn’t have to explain anything. She’ll be thrilled.”

  “Yes, she will. This will be just the thing she needs in her life right now. Hey! I’ll race you to our new bedroom!” I took off running before I even finished the sentence. He was on my heels, though just barely.

  We enjoyed our time in our town home so much that we began making regular trips there. We even spent nights together decorating the nursery, using rich colors of blue and green. Levi painted a scene on the wall of a busy forest with all sorts of animals. He said it would be peaceful for the babies. He was already a good father and didn’t even know it.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  In the few months since the wedding I’d been feeling great. My ridiculous nightmares had subsided, and at a little over three months along, I’d finally begun to show. My mom was insanely happy when we told her the news, after her initial shock that is. She was so ready to be a grandmother, and at only forty-three.

  She and Doc’s relationship had progressed since the wedding. I felt it wouldn’t be long before he revealed the pack, and our secret, to her. I was beginning to long for it. It would be great to share all of my life with her without any more secrets. By the way, have I said how much I hate keeping secrets from her? It was something I felt like I’d been doing my whole life, and it sucked.

  Ashley took the entrance exam at Windrake Community College and passed and had begun her classes. I decided to forgo my dreams of being a nurse and take care of my own family instead. It was a noble sacrifice, I think. With three new babies in the spring, how would I have time for anything else? Levi said the pack helped raise the children, and I was counting on it.

  All my weird side effects had seemed to subside as well. I was eating good food, and therefore, acting s
ane. I still had moments when I experienced extra strength, but it seemed to be only at certain times. I hadn’t quite figured it out, but I would. My spidey-sense was also getting stronger. I remember a time when I wanted to be able to sense Levi’s presence like he could mine, but I sucked at it. Well, not anymore. I could tell when he was close even if I couldn’t see him yet. It was totally awesome. I got to experience how it felt to be a werewolf without getting all hairy and scary. How many females could say that? None—that’s how many.

  I could also sense that Eli was lonely, which bothered me. His family still hadn’t arrived. He said they needed more time to wrap things up back home. He’d been prowling around town, and I think he was looking for a mate. Often I caught him watching Levi and I fondly. I introduced him to Missy at the wedding, hoping they’d hit it off. She thought he was divine, of course, but he wasn’t interested. I hoped once his family arrived he’d be too preoccupied with them to be lonely. I was a little surprised to find that he and Raven had hit it off. The matching seemed odd at first, but they began hanging out quite a bit. Considering they were both lonely, I guess it made some sense. At least they had each other.

  It was two weeks before Christmas, and the facility was in a frenzy decorating while Levi was busy in his office. I was craving butter pecan ice cream, for the tenth time, so I eluded Hector—again—wrapped warmly, and headed out the door and down to Happy’s Ice Cream Parlor located just outside of town in Happy, N.C. It was the only ice cream parlor that remained open all winter. Thank the Maker. And surprisingly it stayed busy.

  Fang accompanied me, as he often did.

  The parking lot was torn up due to reconstruction, so I had to park around back.

  I had just exited my car, locking Fang safely inside, when my spidey-senses started tingling. I looked around but saw nothing. I shook it off and turned the corner.

  “Oh, excuse me,” I said as I bumped into someone—then gasped as I recognized the face. Wesley!

  “Long time no see, beautiful. How’s that husband of yours? Still enjoying breaking you in?”

  I reached for my phone but he intercepted me.

  “Don’t do that. I just want to talk.”

  “You’d better move out of my way right now, or you’ll be sorry.”

  He laughed. “Haven’t changed a bit, have you? Still think you can beat up a werewolf. Well keep dreaming, little female.”

  My face turned blood red as I used all my strength to hold my tongue. I bit down so hard on my lip I wouldn’t be surprised if it was bleeding. I knew if I said what I really wanted to things would turn ugly fast. “What do you want, Wesley?”

  “I want to challenge that alpha of yours to a fight. I’m tired of my pack looking at me like I’m a loser, knowing I lost you to Levi. When I beat him in the challenge I’ll regain my honor.”

  “If they’ve lost respect for you it’s no one’s fault but your own. Maybe if you hadn’t tried to take what was never yours you’d still have you honor intact.”

  He grabbed my wrist and twisted. “You’ve got a big mouth, Charity. How ‘bout I shut it for you.”

  “Let go, flea bag! You’re hurting me!”

  Suddenly a surge of strength shot through me like a bolt of lightning. I jerked out of his grasp and kneed him in the groin with a strength that wasn’t my own. He went down hard.

  I knelt down by his head and whispered, “Gee I must be dreaming ‘cause this little female just kicked your Benji butt—oh wait—it wasn’t your butt. Now listen up! News flash—I’m pregnant with male triplets, so you’d better think twice before you ever threaten me again, or your mutts will be burying your bones in your backyard. Got it? Have a nice day.”

  I turned and walked around the corner, stealing one last glance over my shoulder. He was still down and groaning in pain. I smiled.

  I ordered my ice cream and headed back to my car. Wesley was nowhere in sight, and my spidey-senses were totally back to normal.

  Levi was livid when I told him what happened. And when he saw the bruises on my wrist he almost took the door off.

  “I’m going to kill him!” he raged. “He’ll be sorry he ever touched you!”

  “Levi, please calm down. You can’t accept his challenge.”

  “Of course I can! I’m going to teach him some things he’ll never forget!”

  I stepped in front of him, taking his face in my hands. “No! You have a greater responsibility now! You have your children to think about. And what about me? Don’t you care what will happen to me?”

  That brought him back to reality, his anger subsiding. “Oh, kitten, of course I care about you. You’re the most important thing in the world to me. That’s why I have to take his challenge. Otherwise you’ll never be safe.”

  “Levi, I need you now. I can’t go through this without you. I’m begging you. Please don’t risk it. For me—please.”

  He sighed. “Okay. If it means that much to you, I’ll send a reply, declining his challenge.”

  I stepped into his arms and hugged him fiercely. “Thank you. As alpha, I know it’s especially hard to decline his challenge, but you’ve made me very happy.”

  He squeezed me tight. “Well then it’s all worth it. Making you happy is what I live for.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  It had been days since Levi declined Wesley’s challenge, and not a word. I was actually just beginning to relax about it. I guess Wesley had decided to let it lie. He had always been jealous of Levi, and with good reason. Levi could clean his clock any time of the day. But I still couldn’t risk it. Wesley has been known to cheat. He could beat Levi unfairly just to save his own skin. I wouldn’t put it past him, not after how he treated me. There was too much at stake. Levi seemed to be okay with it now, but I knew it was a hard decision for him to make.

  I had just finished my shower and was lying on our bed reading Redeeming Love when Levi entered. He looked frazzled. Fang jumped on him, both paws on his stomach, in greeting.

  “Hey boy!” he responded, rubbing Fang behind his ears.

  “Levi, is everything all right?”

  “Um, sure. Everything is fine.”

  “You’re lying.”

  He sighed. “Sometimes I really hate your new spidey-senses.”

  “Now you know how I feel, so spill it.”

  “Jake came in this afternoon with a black eye and a bloody lip.”

  “You mean little Jake? Sally and Tim’s son?”

  “Yeah. It’s his first year in high school. He still hasn’t had his growth spurt yet.”

  “What happened to him?”

  “He was ambushed after school by a group of boys from the east pack. They sent a warning saying that it will continue until I accept Wesley’s challenge.”

  “That jerk!” I grabbed my lip balm and saturated my lips generously.

  “Calm down, Charity. I’ll handle everything. There’s no need for you to worry about this.”

  “But he can’t punish the kids like this.”

  “Well, he wants to get to me. The kids are a good way to do it—and of course you.” His facial features suddenly changed and anger replaced concern. “I want you to be very careful from now on, and don’t go anywhere unless absolutely necessary. I’ll notify Hector to be on high alert.”

  “Oh, Levi!” I whined. “He’s already on high alert—ever since my kidnapping. And he’s beating himself up over losing sight of me when Wesley confronted me. Please don’t put him in any higher state of anxiety. He watches every move I make as it is.”

  “Good. Maybe Eli can hang with you too. The east pack would think it’s me and leave you alone.”

  “Great. A bunch of overgrown babysitters, that’s all I need.”

  “Charity, don’t make this difficult for me. Help me keep you and the babies safe.”

  At his words, my anger lost all its steam. “Well, when you put it that way.” I pouted.

  He smiled. “That’s my girl.”

  “Well, if I’m
gonna have to endure constant attention from two, gorgeous men, you’d better reward me for it.”

  “It sounds like you’re getting rewarded enough, but I’ll do what I can to make your life as comfortable as possible. What do you want?”

  “Hmm, come here and we’ll discuss it further.”

  He laughed softly. “You’re incredible—you know that?”

  “Blah, blah, blah. Now come here!”

  For five straight days a member of our pack had arrived home beaten and bloody. The latest was Jim—on his way home from his shift at the Post Office. He was outnumbered five to one. Levi was livid and felt like his hands were tied. He tried to shield me from his true feelings, but I knew.

  His elite wanted him to fight. The pack wanted him to fight. Even Joseph wanted him to fight. I seemed to be the only one who was against it. Levi was honoring my wishes no matter what the others said. Was I being selfish? I just wanted him safe. Some of the others had made attempts to reason with me about it. They assured me Levi would win, but they didn’t know the side of Wesley that I’d seen; the side that would stoop to any level to win. They tried to understand my side, but every day that passed caused someone else pain. Something had to be done……and quickly.

  After so many days of being hidden and cooped-up inside—I had to get out. And if I didn’t, someone was gonna get hurt, starting with Hector, Eli, and Raven. It seemed the goofy trio formed my new elite team. If you ask me they were taking this babysitting assignment way too seriously. Thank goodness the night of the full moon had arrived, which meant that all the furry men in my life would be running around chasing things and howling—and I’d be free. Ashley and I planned to go to our apartment and spend a girl’s night out, just the two of us—alone.