Charity Rising (Charity Series Book 2) (28 page)

The man approached, eyeing me suspiciously, but then, realizing that there’s no way I could’ve done anything to him, he knelt beside him.

“Jimbo, you al right?” He poked at him, but he didn’t budge.

“Is he al right?” I asked innocently as the man stood. I noticed Ashley had put her hands behind her back, acting as if she were stil tied up.

Smart girl.

We were both staring up at him when something hit the guy with enough force to send him flying across the room, smashing into a pile of

boxes. He was stil .

I looked up to see Eli and Hector staring down at me in relief.

Eli grabbed me and pul ed me into his arms, hugging me fiercely. I actual y felt nauseous at the quickness of the move.

“Eli, you’d better release me before you get your scent al over me and Levi kil s you!”

He pul ed back and peered at me, his purple eyes confused. “What’s wrong? Aren’t your spidey-senses working? It’s me, Levi.”

“No, because if you’re Levi then who’s fighting—” I gasped.

“Yes, and if I don’t get there quick Wesley might kil him. He’s learned a lot, but he’s not me.”

“Oh, Levi!” I grabbed him again, pul ing his lips to mine for a passionate, steamy kiss.

“Are you al right?” he asked, pul ing my head against his chest and applying soft kisses into my hair. “Are you and the babies okay?” He

reached down, gently caressing my stomach.

“Are you kidding?” Ashley butted in, “she kicked this big guys butt, knocked him unconscious. It looked like a scene from a Jackie Chan

movie.”

Hector and Levi both gazed at me in amazement, their mouths gaping open.

“Don’t look at me, the babies made me do it. How’s Raven?”

“He’l be fine. He’s with Doc now.”

Levi turned to Ashley. “Are you al right?”

She nodded, but looked around for Josh.

“I’m sorry, Ash, but he’s not here. Wesley would know something’s up if my beta wasn’t there, so I made him go to the clearing with Eli. He

was real y worried, but I assured him we’d find you.”

She smiled. “I understand. You did the right thing, but now let’s get there and save your brother.”

Levi tucked me under his arm as we walked with speed out the door, al of us in total rescue mode.

“So,” Hector said in disbelief as we exited, “You real y took down that big guy?”

“You know, Chewbacca, you could learn some respect from Raven.”

“Yes, my queen.”

“Okay—never mind. That just sounds down-right creepy coming from you.”

“Yes, my queen.”

“Stop it!”

“As you wish, my queen.”

“Stop it!”

He laughed.

“Levi, make him listen to me,” I whined.

Arriving in the clearing, I observed my pack gathered on the Westside with Wesley’s pack on the other. Everyone looked on in excitement as

the two werewolves fought with magnificent strength and speed.

Eli was holding his own surprisingly wel —that is until Levi cal ed out to Wesley, revealing the deception.

Wesley was so angry, noting me tucked safely under Levi’s arm, that he hit Eli hard, claws extended, sending Eli straight to the ground.

Levi ripped off his shirt and shifted as he flew into the center of the clearing, al of his built up fury visible on his hairy, snarling face. He struck Wesley with al his strength, slashing at him over and over again. Wesley struggled to keep his footing. Levi continued to pound him, and blood

spurted as he struck him in the face, stomach, and chest. Wesley kicked him, sending him flying into the air, but Levi hit the ground in a rol , jumping to his feet so fast I barely saw it and was on him at once, pounding him again. One, two, three punches to the chest; Wesley final y went down—and

went down hard. And just when I started to feel like Wesley had had enough, apparently so did Levi. He stopped, glaring down at Wesley slumped

on the ground, bloody and broken, and al of his anger dissipated. I could see the exact moment it left him.

He looked around at the east pack as they al stared back at him, and then he turned to cross the field. Wesley blurred in speed as he

sprang up and jumped him, slashing him in the back. Levi went down. Wesley continued to pound him repeatedly in the back and head.

I stifled my scream as I watched in horror. Ashley came and took my hand. Hector also stood close by. I could feel his presence. I glanced

over to see Irena, her hands clasped over her mouth in anguish.

Wesley was relentless. He turned Levi over, climbed on top of him, and began beating him in the face, hitting him, one, two, three times.

“Levi!” I screamed. I started to go after him until Hector intercepted me. Eli was also there, holding me, his bloody face already beginning to

heal.

“It’s okay, Mrs. Charity.”

“No it’s not, Hector! He’s hurt!”

“No,” he whispered in my ear, “he’s forfeiting.”

I glared up at him in confusion. “What?”

“He’s letting Wesley win.”

Tears fil ed my eyes at his words. Levi was enduring a beating so that his rival alpha could regain his honor, giving his old friend one last gift, and assuring my safety. Something struck me then—how could I even think my boys would harm each other when their father’s blood ran through

their veins? Peace flooded my heart and overflowed.

Levi tried to stand but Wesley struck his side sending him to the ground once again. Wesley stood over him, pounding his closed claws into

his chest and face over and over.

I had al I could take. “Wesley! Please show mercy! Please!” I yel ed out in pain.

He stopped and peered across the field. His icy gaze met mine.

I grabbed my stomach and dropped to my knees—my eyes pleading as the tears fel .

Something happened then that I thought I’d never live to see—compassion fil ed his eyes. He glanced down at Levi, bloody and beaten, and

then took a step back—and another and another. He glanced at me again before stumbling back to his pack. It would take him some time to

recover from the injuries sustained from Levi’s fury as wel .

I ran out into that clearing and dropped to my knees beside my husband, who was now in his human form, and took his bloody face in my

hands, wiping his face with the sleeve of my shirt. He seemed to be unconscious. I looked over at Wesley who was just shifting back into his human

form. He glanced back at me—the compassion was stil there. Suddenly—to my surprise—he smiled at me……and before I realized what I was

doing, I smiled back. Had he known Levi was forfeiting al along? Did it real y matter?

I peered down at Levi who was now smiling up at me. I slapped his chest. “You scared me to death!”

“Oww!” he laughed. “I’m sorry, kitten, but once my anger was spent I knew what I had to do.”

“What made you decide to forfeit?”

“It was something Mr. Bones said before I left to come find you. He said ‘Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to

mutual edification’. I knew then what I’d needed to do, only I wasn’t sure, with al the anger I had built up for him, if I’d be able to do it.”

“But you did.”

He smiled softly, reaching to stroke my face. “Yes, I did. And now you’re safe.”

“
Sei il mio eroe
,” I whispered.

“I don’t know that one.”

“It means ‘you are my hero’.”

“Thanks babe. Stil haven’t discovered what Barney said?”

“No, dang it! I keep finding things I want to say to you. I love you so much, you know. Forget Micah, you’re the best alpha this pack wil ever

know.”

“Baby, you say the sweetest things.”

“Not always, but I think today you deserve them, even if you did take away my beloved car; which reminds me, I’m sorry I got mad at you

about that. You were right. I shouldn’t have been speeding. I deserve to pay the consequences, even if it means losing my car.”

He studied me for a few seconds. “And how’d that taste coming outta your mouth?”

I laughed. “Like a rock……..covered in peanut butter. I guess this wife business is harder than I expected. I hope you’re not too

disappointed.”

He reached up and lovingly stroked my cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I could never be disappointed in you. You are

everything to me.” I was, at once, lost in the intensity of his gaze. It seemed as if a swirl of yel ow was forming in his eyes, but before I could comment, a commotion drew our gaze back to the forest just about the time Grandmammy plowed onto the scene carrying a .38 Special and

waving it around like a mad woman. “Where is he?! I’l put a bul et in his butt if he hurts my Leroy! He’l not mess with us again!”

Levi’s elite were on her at once, disarming her as Hector stepped up and escorted her off the field and out of sight, but not before she gave

him a good tongue-lashing.

I glanced back down at Levi. He was amused—we al were. You can say what you want about Grandmammy, but she was definitely the

seasoning to our stew.

“Do you think you can stand?”

“Um, yeah, I think so.”

“Guys, come help please!”

Instantly they were there, helping their alpha to his feet and the look in their eyes was nothing but pure awe.

Everyone moved aside as he limped through the crowd, me tucked under his left arm, Eli on his right, with Josh and the rest of the elite

picking up the rear.

Wesley came to this clearing seeking to gain respect, but it was Levi who earned it. Yes, Wesley had regained his honor, something every

alpha strives to have—but it was Levi, the knight, who walked off the battlefield with not only his honor in tact, but a legacy to his name. Levi Thomas Drake, greatest alpha in the history of the Drake pack, and my husband, was now a legend in his own right.

The next morning Levi received a notice from Wesley declaring that the rivalry between the two packs was now official y dissolved, and that if

a time ever came when they were needed—they would gladly answer the cal .

“Hmm, wil you look at this?!” Levi said in amazement as he handed me the message.

“Levi! Is this what I think it is?”

“Yes, but that’s not the amazing part.” He reached into his pocket and pul ed out a note, unfolded it, and handed it to me. “This note was

stuck in our door this morning. It’s from Mr. Bones. I recognize the handwriting.

I looked down and read:

When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

To celebrate, that evening we had a party, and since dancing seemed to be their favorite past time, it made perfect sense to make it a disco

party. The pack spent the entire day preparing for it. The meeting room was reconstructed to look like a nightclub out of the seventies, including the disco bal . The D.J. was instructed to play only disco music, and it was requested that everyone was to dress the part.

Ashley and I went shopping. I found a pair of maternity, bel bottom jeans. I had a pair of platform heels in my closet at home, but I had trouble

finding the top. We went into at least five stores before I spotted the one that was perfect for me; a vintage Star Wars t-shirt from the 70’s. It fit snugly across my new petruding bel y, but I liked it. In fact, I liked it so much that I bought Levi one to match, in his size of course.

Ashley went al out, buying a red, afro wig and a multicolored dress that made me want to puke. Her white platform boots finished her off with

a bang.

When we arrived back, I convinced Ashley to help me research Italian on the Internet. She happily agreed.

“Okay,” she began, “You won’t believe this but
Carolo
in Italian means cabbage.”

“What? That can’t be right. Look again.”

She did. “No, it real y does. Maybe cabbage is an insult in Italian. Sounds weird, but it wouldn’t be the first time I thought that of a foreign

language.”

“That stinking man was cussing me using the word ‘cabbage’. You’re right that’s total y weird. No wonder Levi laughed.”

A few hours later, I went to the kitchen to check on how the food was coming for the party, and instantly noticed that Barney seemed extra

agitated.

“Barney, is everything al right?”

“No!” he barked in exasperation. “That crazy, old woman was in here again trying to tel me how to cook meat a bal s! Meat a bal s!”

“Calm down. I’l talk to her again. I’m sure she means wel .”

“Yes, like you!”

I got angry. “Oh yeah! Wel —cabbage to you too, buddy!”

“Mamma Mia!” I heard him exclaim as I stormed out in a huff and went looking for Grandmammy, to congratulate her.

The party was spectacular, and everyone seemed to be present, even some I didn’t know yet. Some of the outfits were outrageous, others

were hilarious, but Ashley looked remarkably sexy, go figure. I, on the other hand, felt like a fat, cow ready to be milked, and I sulked.

“Charity, honey, what’s wrong?” Levi asked. “This is supposed to be a party.”

“I feel ugly. Everyone looks cute but me.”

He chuckled. “You could never be ugly. You’re the most beautiful, angelic creature here, or anywhere for that matter. And that lovely bump

you’re carrying just adds to your exquisiteness.” He pul ed me into his arms and kissed me passionately.

Instantly I felt the way he was describing. “Oh, pooh bear, I love it when you talk sweetness to me.”

He grimaced. “You know I tolerate a lot of name cal ing coming from you because I know it amuses you, but that’s one name I can’t tolerate.”

“Fine—Snoopy it is.”

He rol ed his eyes in mock agitation.

When he took my hand and led me out onto the dance floor, I didn’t let my pregnancy bump get in the way of my disco jive. Levi showed me

up with his sexy moves, but together we were unbeatable—that or everyone was just scared to compete.
Lucky for them.

Once Levi was exhausted, we left the dance floor and took a seat. Ashley and Josh joined us, bringing us drinks with them.