Charity Moon

by Deanna Kinney

  “Can he do that?”

  “Yes. The alpha can use the pack’s funds for whatever he chooses. No one ever questions it. We have lots of money available to us. I said the pack members were required to give fifty percent back to the pack, but a lot of them give it all. Think about it, if all of your needs are met, what do you need money for? I mean they keep some out to have fun, of course. But it’s always been that way, so our money has accumulated over the years. We have vaults we keep it in. And we have our accountants manage it for us. Oh, and did you know we even have our own medical clinic?”

  “Really?”

  “Well, it would be hard for a werewolf to go to a regular hospital, for one thing, we heal fast so that would be hard to explain, and second, the cells in our blood are slightly different. The women even have their babies there.”

  “Maybe I can work there someday, once I pass all my classes, that is. Is it against the rules for your mate to work?”

  “I don’t think so. My grandmother didn’t work, and I’m sure the others before her didn’t, but times are different now. The only concern would be that, unless you work at our facility, I couldn’t protect you when you’re at work. If my enemies wanted to get to me they might try to get to you. I would always have to have someone watching you. Actually, I’m looking for someone to do that anyway.”

  The word ‘enemies’ caught my attention and I swallowed hard. “Enemies?” I asked nervously, coming to sit down on the carpet in front of the fire.

  “Vampires are our only real enemy. It’s possible the vampires might want to take out the alphas. They succeeded with my grandfather.”

  I gasped. “And how would a vampire go about killing me?”

  “Well, they could drain you, of course, but if they really wanted to hurt me they would turn you into one of them. Then I would be forced to kill you myself. But they would most likely rip your throat out like they did my grandfather. That seems to be their favorite. That, or snapping your neck.”

  “Gee, I feel much better now. This career choice of mine just keeps getting better and better. So, let me just recap. I’ll be risking my life and reputation on a pack I don’t know for a husband who not only is a werewolf but who might possibly have to pick another bride someday, and in the end may die and pass me off to another werewolf to do with me as he pleases for the rest of my life. Did I miss anything?”

  “Gosh, Charity, you make it sound so awful.”

  “It is awful, Levi. Remind me why I’m doing this again.” A feeling of despair began to pour over every inch of me.

  “Okay.” As if sensing my distress, he came over and sat with me, cupping my face in his hands and pressing his lips gently to mine. Our lips parted and the kiss deepened. After a minute he pulled away and began trailing kisses down my neck.

  “Oh, now I remember,” I breathed.

  I pushed him back and looked intently into his eyes as tears filled my own. “I’m scared, Levi. I’m really scared.”

  He pulled me into his arms. “I know, baby. I’m so selfish. I should’ve never asked this of you. Tell me what to do? We can postpone the wedding to give you more time to adjust. We’ll figure out a way to keep you safe.”

  “No, no, I’ll be fine. We need to do this fast for the pack. I’m just a little overwhelmed. I’m scared to do this, but I’m even more scared not to.”

  “I’m sorry. I wish I could change things, but it’s too late for me. I would die without you. You see my heart is connected with yours now.”

  I looked up at him in astonishment. “What?”

  “My dad told me this once. He said it’s rare, but it has happened when a werewolf finds his soul mate and their hearts connect somehow, not literally of course, but if one dies, the other will soon follow. It happened with my grandmother. The reason we think it doesn’t happen often is because so many werewolves pick other pack members out of convenience and not always for love. They grow to love each other, but it’s not fate like with us.”

  “How do you know it’s happened to you?”

  “Well, for one thing, because I can feel it. When I’m away from you my heart hurts, not just like someone in love, but something deeper, more severe. Just the idea of taking you home tonight is torturing me.” He paused. “And for another—” He gently took my left hand in his and turned it over. There—on the palm of my hand, was a tiny blue line that was forming before my eyes. It almost looked like a vein.

  I gasped. “ Levi, what does this mean?”

  He turned his right palm toward me, exposing the same mark already formed in the exact place as mine.

  “This mark is a symbol of our connection. Mine started forming the first day I met you, but I couldn’t tell anybody, and I wasn’t sure what it meant at first.”

  “Why is mine just now forming? Why not at the same time as yours?”

  “They say that the female’s doesn’t start forming until the connection is acknowledged and accepted. I guess you just accepted it, whether you knew it or not.”

  “Hmm. What will it be? Will it ever stop growing?”

  “It will grow slowly for the length of our life together. We won’t know what design it will form for years to come. But if one of us dies, or the connection is broken for any reason, the other’s mark will slowly turn black, and soon after we will die. This is why I didn’t really stress too much over the pack accepting you as my mate. Because it was either accept you or lose me. I felt like I knew the choice they would make, and they made it without even knowing about our heart connection.”

  “Well, I guess it’s too late to call off the wedding, huh?”

  He laughed. “No. It’s not too late. But once we’re mated and you carry my scent—then it’s binding.” He took my hand in his and turned the intensity of his gaze on me. “But I don’t think I could live without you now, and I’ll do anything to protect you. It’s my fault that you’re in danger. Wesley wants you because I want you. It’s a competition to him. I’m sorry, Charity. If only I could’ve kept my feelings for you hidden from Wesley that night at the football game, but I was struggling with my emotions that night. And when he came near you I just wanted to snap him in half. I’m really sorry. I wish it were different.”

  “Don’t say that,” I said, touching my fingers to his lips. “I’m glad I’m with you. At first, I didn’t want this. I didn’t want to love you, but I couldn’t deny it for long. I love you so much, Levi, and I do accept you and your mark—forever, or for however much time we have together. And I do want to be your wife, really I do. It’s just that all of this is happening so fast, but I’m sure I can handle it.”

  “I know you can.” He smiled a reassuring smile as he slid his hand into my hair, leaning in and kissing me gently on the lips. “Would you like to hear a good story to cheer you up?”

  “Oh—a story? Do you know one?”

  “Are you kidding me? I know lots of stories, and they’re all true.”

  “You know, I think a story is exactly what I need to hear.”

  “Good. Well, I’m not exactly the first alpha to have fallen in love with a human girl. Though it’s rare, our history books tell us of at least one other instance. There was once a great alpha, one so great that legends have been written about him. His name was Micah, and he was one of my greatest ancestors. He lived many centuries ago, in England. This took place before our law against our alphas choosing a human bride. I guess it never occurred to us before then that an alpha would fall in love with a human, but that’s what Micah did. He was very brave and honest and that honesty almost cost him the love of his life.

  “One night the pack was routinely patrolling the forest when they came upon a group of orc-like creatures who had kidnapped a beautiful, young maiden.”

  “Wait,” I interrupted, “didn’t you say this was a true story?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Well how can there be orc-like creatures? That’s stuff of fantasy, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, and so am I if yo
u remember.”

  “Oh, right. Continue.”

  “Thanks. Well—”

  “Wait!” I said, grabbing his arm. “Are there still creatures like that today?”

  He laughed. “Not here in America. Over the years the werewolves have destroyed most of them. I wish I could say the same for other fairytale creatures, but no worries—I’ll protect you.”

  I was suddenly sure I didn’t want to know what fairytale creatures he was referring to.

  “Now can I get back to my story?”

  “Oh, yes of course.”

  “Thanks. Well the orc-like creatures began to argue amongst themselves about killing the girl and eating her flesh, but the one in charge insisted that she was to arrive unharmed or their master would be very angry. When it looked as if he was about to lose his argument the pack shifted into their wolf forms and attacked the creatures, destroying them all. They took the girl to their underground facility where she explained that she was the niece of the King of a nearby kingdom and had been kidnapped as a means of leverage against the King. Her name was Mia, and she was so beautiful that Micah instantly fell deeply in love with her. He was twenty years old, at the time.

  “She stayed with them for a few days while she regained her strength for her returned journey to the King. On the day of that last morning, they confessed their undying love for one another with broken hearts as Mia left on her journey, escorted by four of Micah’s elite.

  “When they returned, they had a message from the King. He was so grateful for Micah’s actions in rescuing his niece that he extended an invitation to him as a guest of honor at a special banquet planned for the following week.

  “Micah and his elite attended this banquet, which lasted five days, during which time Micah and Mia snuck off together to be alone, trying to savor their last moments together.

  “On the last day of the banquet, the King announced his gift to Micah—Mia’s hand in marriage. Mia was ecstatic, but Micah was less so. He didn’t feel comfortable accepting the King’s gift without him knowing the full extent of his choice. Micah and his elite took the King into his private chamber where they shifted before his eyes, exposing their true nature to him. The King became angry and withdrew his gift. He was in the process of having them escorted out of his kingdom forever when more creatures forced their way into the kingdom and began to attack the villagers. Micah and his elite shifted and almost single handedly destroyed them all. Once again the King was so grateful that he announced his giving of Mia as his gift. He ordered those who had witnessed the events of the day to forget they ever happened and to never speak of it again in order to protect the pack’s secret.

  “Mia returned home with Micah where they were married a few days later.

  “They went on to have many children, but they were all girls. When Mia was in her fifties Micah had no choice but to take a second wife, her name was Esther. Micah was so in love with Mia that he only slept with Esther once, which produced a son. He then released her from her duty to him, even allowing her to remarry. Micah and Mia raised the boy together and lived a very rich and happy life until Micah died at the age of one hundred and five. Mia followed him two days later. It’s the first account we have of a heart connection, and the only one with a human, until now. Their symbol that formed in the end was two hearts, one inside the other, with a vine wrapped around them.”

  “What did it mean?”

  “No one knows.”

  “Wow, Levi that was incredible. Are you sure that was a true story? It seems too amazing to have really happened.”

  “Yes, it really happened. When I was twelve my father asked me to pick one of my ancestors to study. I chose Micah. He seemed to be the most heroic and hence became my hero from that point forward.”

  “Well, I understand why. He sounds like he was an amazingly honorable man, and a great leader.”

  “He was. Probably the best we’ve ever had. I only hope to be half the man—and alpha that he was.”

  Reaching over, I gently stroked his face. “Levi, you are the most amazing man I’ve ever known. I know you’re gonna be one of those leaders, just like Micah, who’ll be talked about for centuries to come. Just think, maybe someday a young couple will snuggle by a fire and talk about you and me.”

  “Oh, I have no doubt they’ll be talking about you. You know, Charity, you can go talk to Ruth, our pack’s historian. She’ll let you borrow our history book if you want to read the story for yourself. As a matter of fact, she’s already begun recording our story, as well.”

  “You’re kidding me. Well, maybe I’ll just do that. Thank you, Levi for sharing it with me. It was definitely encouraging.”

  “I thought it might be, and you’re welcome. Now, would you like to see a tour of the house?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “I’ll even let you choose which room you want to be ours once we’re married.”

  He took me on an extensive tour of the house, and of course I chose the most beautiful room with the biggest bed. But it was getting late so we decided that it was probably time for him to take me home.

  We said our painful goodbyes at my front door, kissing so long and hard my lips were red and swollen, before I reluctantly turned and went inside. The house was dark and quiet. I took off my shoes so I could climb the stairs in silence. When I entered my bedroom, I walked over to my lamp, turned it on, and jumped as my door slammed shut behind me. I turned quickly to see Frank standing there, his eyes dark with desire.

  “Frank, where’s my mother?” I asked, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.

  “She had another headache, so I gave her some heavy painkillers. She’s out for the night. Now you and I can have our time. I couldn’t stop thinking about the way you look tonight.”

  I glanced around, desperate for something to use as a weapon. As he took a step in my direction, I ran around the bed. “Levi!” I screamed as Frank ran after me. He reached his hands out, but I ducked away from his grip, only to slip as my rug slid out from under my quick feet, causing me to fall hard to the floor. I screamed out in pain as my ribcage smashed against the wooden floor. I continued to moan as Frank grabbed my feet and pulled me to him. Then I saw my window open, and like a shadow, Levi floated in. He grabbed Frank by the throat, jerking him into the air and slamming him against the wall, his feet dangling three feet from the floor. A deep, menacing growl rumbled in his chest.

  “No, Levi, don’t kill him!”

  He looked at me with anguish on his face as he struggled to tame the lycan within. He squeezed his eyes shut for a short moment and when he opened them again they were no longer yellow but his beautiful color blue. He turned back to Frank. “If you ever touch her again, and I will know, then I’ll rip your head clean off. Do you understand?” he growled.

  Frank somehow managed to nod. When Levi released him, he fell to the floor, getting up faster than I thought possible and scurrying out the door.

  As I looked up in amazement at Levi’s angry face trying so hard to compose itself, I realized in that very moment that I completely, without any doubt, trusted this man with my life—and more importantly—with my heart.

  Levi rushed to my side. “Charity, are you all right?” His voice was strained. I knew it was hard for him to let Frank go, but his expression remained composed.

  “Oh, oh,” I moaned, grabbing my ribs.

  He picked me up and carried me to my bed, laying me down gently and feeling my ribs very carefully.

  I winced.

  “You’ve re-injured your cracked rib. Let me get your pain medicine. He went into my bathroom and got a cup of water. After I took the medicine, I reached for my nightgown lying at the foot of my bed, making him turn, as I got undressed and under the covers. Twenty minutes later the pain had subsided and soon I was fast asleep, cradled securely in Levi’s tight embrace.

  I woke to the sound of my alarm clock at six a.m. and groaned as I slowly sat up in my bed. I glanced to my left to see Levi sitting
in a chair next to me, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

  “You stayed,” I commented with surprise.

  “Of course I did. I kept watch over you while you slept. I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving you. How do you feel?”

  “Sore, but better than last night. Thank you, Levi. Once again you saved me from Frank.”

  “Well, he’s just fortunate I didn’t kill him. I don’t think you’ll have to worry about him bothering you any more though.”

  “Are you serious? Well, if that’s true then it’s worth the pain I’m feeling now.”

  “Do you feel well enough to go to school today?”

  “I think so, though I just might be a little slower than normal.”

  “Well, why don’t you go get in the shower. I’ll go home, get showered and changed, and meet you back here in time to bandage you up, then you can ride to school with me.”