Raven's Rose (Charity Series Book 3) (13 page)

             
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, “but if you would’ve just listened to me I wouldn’t have to do this.”

             
He rushed into the forest with such speed that he blurred. The other one too blurred as he ran alongside us, but he looked different from Eli, with very pale skin. It almost glowed in the dark.

I felt a lurching in my stomach.

“We’re almost there,” Eli said.

Yeah, and then I’m gonna kill you
, I thought.

             
We ran up to a tree, and I closed my eyes, thinking we were gonna run into it, but when I opened my eyes we were walking into a round tunnel. I turned to see the glow of the moon disappearing as a door shut behind us.
Was the tree a door? Impossible
.

             
He took me into a big room and sat me down on a big red sofa.

             
“I’m sorry, Shae, but this is your fault.”

             
I stood and began yelling through my tape. “My fault?” I tried to say.

             
“Yes. If you would’ve listened to me I wouldn’t have had to bring you here.”

             
A couple entered the room then. The young man looked just like Eli, and I knew this must be his twin brother.

             
The girl started fussing at Eli immediately. She was very beautiful, and tall, with long, flowing, dark hair, and pale blue eyes. “So, it’s true! You kidnapped her? Are you crazy?” she screamed.

             
I think I really like this girl.

             
“Untie her now!”

             
Eli did as she said, being very gentle as he took the tape from my mouth.

             
I rubbed my wrist and tried to calm myself.

             
The girl cautiously approached me. “I’m so sorry for this.” She shot Eli a mean glare. “I’m afraid Eli is suffering from temporary insanity. Are you all right?” the girl asked me.

             
“Um, yes, I think so. You must be the sister-in-law?”

             
“Oh, so he’s been talking about me, has he?” She turned to scowl at him, hands on hips.

             
He looked like a reprimanded puppy with his tail between his legs.
I was liking this girl more and more by the minute.

             
“My name is Charity, and this is my husband, and alpha male of this pack, Levi.”

I glanced up to find a tall guy stepping around Charity. Oh man, this guy was extremely gorgeous. I could tell by the way he carried himself, and the gentleness in his eyes, that he was a good man. And he was in love with Charity, that much was obvious by the way he looked at her. “It’s nice to meet you both.” I didn’t know what else to say.

“Oh, honey, don’t lie,” Charity said. “I know you must be scared to death, but I assure you no one here will hurt you. We’ve been suspicious that Eli’s been interested in someone for a while now, but he only told us about you two nights ago. We’re very happy to get to meet you, although not under these circumstances, of course.”

             
Levi stepped closer then. “Yes. I’m sorry for your treatment. We’ll be glad to punish my brother if it will make you feel better.”

             
“No!” I snapped. “I mean, I’m sure he meant well. I’m fine. No harm done.”

             
He smiled, and then I knew why Charity had confused him with Eli. They looked exactly alike, aside from the red streak. Even the dimples were the same, and my heart went pitter-patter.

“I’m glad to hear that. My brother is sometimes bothersome, but I would hate to have to punish him.”

              “Yes, well I don’t think that will be necessary.”

             
Charity took my hand in hers, and I couldn’t help but be in awe. This girl was seriously beautiful, with long dark hair and very blue eyes. “I must say, Shae, Eli was right—you are very beautiful—and your eyes are remarkable.”

             
I couldn’t believe it. I was just thinking the same about her. More importantly, Eli had been telling everyone I was beautiful, and she said my eyes were remarkable. Aside from my mother, no one had ever said that to me before. Maybe Eli was right. Maybe these people were special somehow. I decided then and there to give them a chance.

             
I smiled. “Maybe I could see this place.”

             
She smiled back. “I’m sure Eli would love to give you a tour of the facility. Wouldn’t you, Eli?”

             
His smile was wider than I’d ever seen it, and his dimples were magnetic. “Absolutely.”

             
“Oh, by the way, who’s your partner in crime?” I asked, pointing to the lovely man standing by the door—the one who helped Eli take me.

             
“Oh, this is Raven,” Eli answered, “I talked him into helping me one last time. He and his wife, Rose are leaving us tomorrow to move to Alaska for a while. He’s our vampire friend. He lives here with us.”

Eli shot out of his seat and reached for me. “Shae! Not again!” I heard him say just before my world went black—again.

              When I woke I was lying on a bed and a lovely, older woman was wiping my face with a cold, wet rag.

             
“Eli dear, she’s waking up. Hello there. I’m Irena, Eli’s mother.”

             
I sat up slowly, and studied the sweet woman before me. She was petite with warm eyes. “Hello, Irena. Did I hear something about a vampire, and did I pass out again?”

             
“Yes, dear. But that’s understandable. You’ve had a great shock. It’s a lot to process, we understand. You should’ve seen Charity when Levi brought her here for the first time. We all thought she was gonna kill him.” She laughed at the memory.             

             
“Well, I’ll leave you two alone. Goodbye dear. I’ll see you soon.”

             
“Goodbye.”

             
Eli came and sat by me. “Shae, are you all right?” His voice was gentle, apologetic.

             
I sighed. I wanted to be mad at him, but for some reason I couldn’t make myself feel it anymore. “Yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry.”

             
“Don’t apologize. I’m the one who should be apologizing.”

             
“So, why don’t you?”

             
He smirked, looking down at his clasped hands. “I’m very sorry I kidnapped you from your bed. I just wanted you to give me a chance. It was wrong. Please forgive me.” His expression was pitiful.

             
I reached over and touched his face. “I forgive you, and I guess I could give you a chance.”

             
He smiled. “Thank you.” He took my hand and kissed it gently. Then he slowly bent his head forward and pressed his lips to mine for one soft, sweet kiss. “Now, what about that tour?”

            
                        Chapter Eight

Eli

Spending time with Shae was amazing. She was the kind of girl I’ve always wanted; sweet but knows what she wants. Her eyes are what stole my heart. It was a month ago when I was running through the forest, searching. I was so lost and lonely. Raven knew how much I was struggling, but he was happy once I found Shae. He didn’t even take too much convincing to help me kidnap her. But now he and Rose were gone. It had been a few weeks since they moved to Alaska so they could have and raise their baby in safety. I missed them very much, but at least I had Shae. I remember the first time I saw her. I was running through the forest. That’s when I heard her singing in her backyard. She was doing homework on her picnic table, and her singing was bad—I mean real bad. But when she looked up, I saw her eyes; one green and one brown. Instantly I knew I was lost.

              She was insecure about her eyes; thought she was a freak. But in the wolf family different color eyes means strength. From that moment on I knew I had to get to know her. I think I fell in love with her right then and there. There was no going back for me. I was totally lost.

             
Now it seemed that maybe she was lost too. The more time we spent together the more I was convinced of this. And she seemed to really love my family. She spent a lot of time with my new nephews; helping Charity with the babies whenever she could. I was starting to feel a little jealous. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I’m a selfish kind of guy. I wanted her all to myself.

             
Every Friday night I spent with her family, playing poker and watching a movie. Mrs. Leoni really loved me. Her dad seemed to like me as well. And the feeling was mutual. She was a great girl, and I was blessed beyond measure. Every day I woke with praises on my lips for being blessed with such a wonderful life and a wonderful girlfriend. She was all I could ever ask for. My heart was bursting.

             
That’s why it was so hard for me the day she told me that her and her parents were going to Virginia to visit her grandmother for a week. It was just a week, but it seemed like a lifetime. I was counting the days until her return. She had texted me every day, but it wasn’t the same as having her here with me.

             
Levi and I were in the middle of training when my cell phone rang. “Oh, Levi, this is probably Shae. I’d better answer it. She’s on her way home now.”

             
“Sure, bro. Go ahead and answer it.”

             
“Hey, Shae, baby. Where are you guys?”

             
“Hey, Eli. Mom says we’re about half way. I can’t wait to see you. I’ve missed you so much. Sara’s gonna come over tonight and hang with us if that’s okay. I’ve sort of been neglecting her. I hope it’s okay.”

             
“Of course it’s okay. As long as I get to see you. That’s all that matters to me.”

             
“Well, I can’t wait—” Suddenly there was a screeching noise and Shae screamed. The phone went dead.

             
I stood there in shock, too frozen to move.

             
“Eli what happened? I heard the noise from here. Is everything okay?” Levi was talking to me, but I wasn’t hearing him. “Eli, come on! Let’s go!”

             
Levi finally got me to move as we both burst from the forest, shifting into our wolf forms, in pursuit of Shae and her parents, allowing nothing to stand in our way.

    
                              Chapter Nine

                                          
Levi

After more than an hour we finally traced Shae’s scent to the hospital located almost exactly halfway between Windrake Mountain and the Virginia line. My heart constricted in pain at the thought of my brother, Eli’s fear. I could feel it radiating from him. We both raced through the hospital, bolting up stairs and around corners until we finally spotted Shae’s parents. But the scene didn’t look good. They were both embracing each other as though they had just received bad news.

             
“Where is she?” Eli called, his voice glum.

             
Her parents turned in surprise to see Eli standing before them. I decided it was best that I stay back and observe.

             
“Eli!” Shae’s mother cried. “There was an accident. A car t-boned us going through an intersection. They hit the back part of the car where Shae was sitting.”

             
His eyes were panicked. “Where is Shae?” he demanded.

             
“The doctor just told us. I’m sorry, son,” her dad was saying, touching Eli on the shoulder. He barely got the next words out. “She didn’t make it, son. I’m sorry. She was killed instantly.” Then he burst into tears, gripping his wife tight in his arms for support.

             
Eli shook his head, backing away in shock and disbelief. I came up beside him then and took hold of his arm. He jerked away and bolted down the hall and disappeared. 

             
I went after him, finally locating him in one of the stairwells, huddled in a corner. I ran to him, pulling him into my arms. At first he fought me, jerking and growling, until he finally grabbed my shirt in his hands and buried his face in my chest, violently shaking as he howled a howl unlike any I’ve ever heard. It rattled my bones and broke my heart. It was a cry that not one person in that hospital that night would ever forget.