“It’s my pleasure, dear. I want this to be a great memory for you. I’ve got everyone doing their part, so all you have to do is show up and be beautiful.”
It was such a relief to know she had it all under control. All I had to do was decide what I wanted and Irena assigned people to do it. Most women would love the idea of planning their own wedding. And if it was a normal wedding, and I was marrying a normal guy, and in a normal time period, I probably would too. But this was not a normal wedding, and I was definitely not marrying a normal guy. I was trying to do what Ashley said and look at it optimistically. After all, he is the love of my life, and hopefully that life will be a long and happy one.
“Charity, will you stay and have dinner with us? I have a surprise for you afterward,” Levi said with much enthusiasm.
“Yes, of course. Can I ask you a question though?”
“Sure.”
“Are we going to have a honeymoon?”
“Well, we’re gonna have to wait until after graduation. There’s no way for us to get away now. It looks like we’re only gonna have Sunday together. Monday we have to be back at school.”
“Well, we’ll just have to make Sunday count.”
“I’ll plan something nice for us after graduation. Once Josh is officially my beta I can arrange for him to look after things for a week or so. Where would you like to go?”
“Well, I’ve always wanted to visit Charleston. We could rent a nice old home there for the week, or maybe stay in a B & B.”
“That sounds very nice. I’ll look into it.”
We had a quiet dinner, and afterwards I pulled out my lip balm, preparing to heap on a generous coating, when I noticed several other girls applying something to their lips as well. I had an odd feeling.
“Levi, is it just me or are other girls applying lip balm, same as me?”
“No, I see it too. What’s wrong?”
“Can you smell it from here?”
“Yes, if I want to.”
“Does it, by chance, smell like mine?”
He took a deep breath, his expression turning amused. “Actually, it smells exactly like yours. I do believe you have some female admirers.”
“Great, just what I’ve always wanted. Well, at least the mystery of who’s buying it all up is solved.”
“I think my pack’s obsession over you is just beginning. You should be flattered that they want to be like you. I think it’s sweet.”
“That’s because it’s not you. But, I guess it does have a sweet quality about it. Okay, so maybe I like it, a little bit, but don’t tell anybody.”
“My lips are sealed. Now, are you ready for the surprise?”
“Are you kidding? I love surprises.”
He took my hand and led me out of the dining room and down the long hallway. “By the way, did you know that the only sound in the world that doesn’t have an echo is a wolf’s howl?”
“Well, now aren’t you special?”
“Actually, yes I am.” He smirked.
We stepped into the large meeting room. It looked more like an auditorium as I noticed the props on the stage.
“What’s going on?”
“The children wanted to do something for us, more for you than me. They want to welcome you to the family.”
“Oh, how sweet.”
Levi led me to a seat in the front. “Whatever happens, act excited.”
I gave him an incredulous look. “Of course I will.”
After a few minutes, the production began. I soon recognized the play, Beauty and the Beast. How appropriate. I watched in amazement as the children played their parts awkwardly and off cue. They were adorable. It was hard to believe that the innocent boys before me would someday become beasts themselves.
“So which one are you supposed to be?” I whispered to Levi playfully.
“The beast obviously.”
“Well, based on the way he’s treating her now, I’d say that resembles the way I treated you when we met. So I’d say I’m the beast.”
“No, you’re definitely not the beast. You’re the beauty through and through.”
I just smiled at him. “Okay, you win.”
“It’s about time.”
When the play was over, I was so moved I could barely contain my emotions. We all stood and applauded. The children seemed proud of themselves. It’s odd how that one thing made me feel much better about the decision I was making. Suddenly it was easier to see this pack as my family. I caught a glimpse of the possibilities of loving them someday, and it made me very happy.
Chapter Seventeen
It seemed like I blinked and it was already Friday, my last full day of freedom. Saturday night at seven, I would no longer be a bachelorette but a bride. I had butterflies at the very thought. The story I told my mom was that Ashley and I had a serious paper due and I would be spending the weekend with her. Technically I wasn’t really lying. I mean I did have a paper due, and I would be with Ashley all weekend. Still, it felt wrong. But I couldn’t tell her about the wedding, so what alternative was there? Feeling guilty, I mumbled a quick prayer of forgiveness and felt better instantly.
The day started pretty much just like every other day. When I entered the parking lot, Levi was there, leaning against his blue Mustang, arms and legs crossed, waiting for me. As soon as I exited my car I noticed his look of great anticipation. He was counting the minutes until his freedom would end. I, on the other hand, was less excited and more nauseous. He reassured me with a sweet kiss to the tip of my nose. And it worked, but only for the moment. Once I was alone the anxiety returned with a vengeance. I must’ve gone through a whole tube of lip balm before lunch.
Ashley was just as excited as Levi. You would think I was marrying her. She was my maid of honor, and I knew that was the cause for her excitement. She had bought a lovely dress and was thrilled that she was going to get to wear it twice, once for my real wedding and again later for my wedding of pretenses.
I was at my locker, getting ready for my next class, when Jason Bradley approached me. I’ve only spoken maybe two words to him my entire life.
“Charity, Levi asked me to come and tell you he needs to see you in the parking lot, right now, before class.”
“Oh, um—thank you, Jason.”
“You’re welcome.” He turned and walked back down the hall in the direction he’d come.
That’s odd. I wondered what was going on. Then it dawned on me that maybe he was planning something, a wedding surprise perhaps. After all, I had just recently told him how much I loved surprises. I perked up and walked with a spring in my step toward the parking lot. Hey, when did I turn into Ashley?
I was applying fresh lip balm when I approached the edge of the sidewalk and spotted Levi’s blue Mustang speeding toward the curb in front of me. It squealed to a stop, the door swinging open. As I stepped around, I gasped and dropped my things. It wasn’t Levi in the driver’s seat—it was Wesley! I only got out half a scream before someone in the backseat grabbed me, pulling me in. The door shut behind me and the car sped quickly away.
I kicked and struggled against the stranger’s incredible grip, his enormous hands encircling the tops of my arms and overlapping.
“Levi! Levi!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
“It’s no use, Charity,” he said, looking at me in the rearview mirror, his eyes smirking. “He’s heard you already, but he’s too late to save you. By the time he communicates with any of his pack we’ll be too far away for them to catch us. His heart is gonna break when he realizes there’s no wedding for him tomorrow night, but there will be one for me.” He laughed.
I could feel my face turning red with anger. “No!” I yelled, reaching across the seat for him, only to be stilled as the man in the back seat clamped his big hands down over me.
“Really, Charity. What did you think you were going to do to me? I’m a werewolf—a lycan. You can’t hurt me, but I can hurt you, though I really don’t want to, so please
behave.” There was smugness to his voice.
I stopped struggling and accepted my defeat. The man next to me released me, and I began to cry.
“That’s sweet, but it won’t save you. You’ll get use to the idea of being with me, and soon you’ll learn to love me.”
“I’ll never love you! What’s wrong with you anyway that you can’t find someone on your own? Is Benji having trouble finding love?” I spat.
A growl rumbled in his chest. “Careful, Charity, you don’t want to unlock the beast inside me. Lucky for you, we have a few weeks before the next full moon. Now that’ll make for a good memory, don’t you think?” he asked, his dark eyes amused.
“I think you’re a jerk, and I know you’re just trying to scare me.”
“Is it working?”
“No, and I can’t wait to see Levi wipe that smirk off your face.”
“Not this time I’m afraid.”
“Why do you want to marry me anyway if you don’t like me?”
“Actually, I like you a lot.”
“Really, then why do you take pleasure in hurting me?”
“I’m not going to hurt you, Charity. Actually, I’m gonna make you very happy.”
I didn’t miss how he accented the word ‘very’.
“That’s not possible. I don’t love you. I love Levi, and he loves me. He’s the only one who can make me happy.”
“Well the challenge is on me to prove you wrong then. We’re entering my boundary now. Levi has lost, and I’ve won.”
“You haven’t won anything. You cheated. In a fair fight Levi would beat the snot out of you—but then you know that. That’s why you kidnapped me.”
“Charity—just except your fate. There’s nothing you can do to change it now. You don’t have a choice.”
“Yes I do. My life is not, and will never be, in your hands.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“If you’re planning to harm yourself, it won’t work. Hector, I’m appointing you to guard Charity every minute right up until the wedding.”
“Yes sir,” the man beside me answered.
I gazed up at him, a Shaq look-a-like to be sure. He was a big, bald man, possibly 7 feet tall, and an intimidating figure, and yet, for a brief moment, I thought I saw a look of compassion in his deep, dark eyes.
I didn’t see a way out of the situation and my eyes filled with fresh tears.
The car disappeared down a ramp and into the ground, just like at the Drake House, and then we were in their underground garage.
Once the car was parked, Wesley cut it off and climbed out. Surprisingly, I noticed he left the keys in the ignition. Hector grabbed my arm and pulled me out, but suddenly I had an idea and acted on instinct.
“Ouch, ouch!” I said, pretending to hurt myself, and once Hector was distracted, I pushed him and quickly jumped in the driver’s seat, shutting the door and locking it. When I turned on the ignition, Hector was there, in front of the car, holding it in place. Wesley appeared at my door, looking very angry. My eyes widened in horror as he yanked it clean off, tossing it aside like it was nothing. He reached in and grabbed the back of my neck—then my world went completely black.
Chapter Eighteen
I woke to the sensation of pain shooting through my neck and head. “Oww,” I moaned, grabbing my neck as I sat up, my eyes focusing instantly on Wesley and his wicked smile.
“I’m sorry I had to do that, Charity, but you really gave me no choice. I do hate that I had to ruin the car though. It took me days to find one identical to Levi’s. Now I see what he sees in them. I’ve seen what he sees in you as well.”
My gaze followed his as I looked down and discovered myself clothed in a long, white dress. “Did you undress me?” I asked, appalled.
“Charity, do you automatically think the worst of me? I sent someone in to do it for me. Don’t worry—it was a female. I can’t have you getting married in your jeans now can I?” He smirked.
I jumped to my feet. “I thought you said the wedding was tomorrow night!”
“I changed my mind. I can’t take a chance in Levi attacking us in a desperate attempt to get you back. As soon as we’re wed, I’ll send word to the west pack, and Levi will know there’s no use in coming for you.”
“You’re wrong. He’ll come for me anyway, and he’ll kill you.”
He laughed exuberantly. “Once you’re mine he won’t want you anymore.”
“Well, now you’re wrong again. You see, our love is stronger than you think. We have a heart connection.”
“A heart connection, really? Did you hear that, Hector? Levi and Charity have a heart connection.” Though he tried to hide it, his anger rose to the surface.
Hector’s expression also turned to alarm.
Wesley reached over aggressively and grabbed my hand, turning it over and staring at my symbol. “So then if I want to kill Levi, all I have to do is kill you first.” He threw down my hand and grabbed me by the throat. I gasped and swung at him, struggling wildly to free myself. I tried to pull his fingers away but they were like stone, frozen in place. I was just on the verge of collapse when Hector interrupted.
“Sir, wouldn’t marrying her cause Levi greater pain in the end?”
He released me, and I fell to the floor, gasping frantically for air.
“Yes, you’re right, Hector. Thank you. I’m sorry, Charity. Once again you’ve pushed my buttons. I hope you’ll have forgiven me by tonight. I want this night to be special. I apologize for the simplicity of the dress, but it looks amazing on you. I’ll send someone to help you with your hair and makeup as the time draws closer.” He glanced down at me, reaching to touch my neck. “Oh no, you have bruises on your neck. I’m sorry about that, Charity. I guess I don’t know my own strength sometimes. Maybe some makeup will cover those up. Hector, stay with her. Make sure she doesn’t harm herself. I have some arrangements to make.”
“Yes sir.”
When he was gone I began to hyperventilate.
“Miss Charity, are you all right?” Hector asked, stepping beside me.
“I need some air.”
He studied me for a moment, testing my sincerity perhaps. “Come.” He took my arm and led me out of the room and, in only a matter of minutes, we were walking through the forest. My breathing became more regulated, and I sighed in despair.
“Are you all right now, Miss Charity?”
“My breathing’s better, if that’s what you mean.”
“Yes, that’s what I meant.”
“So, your name is Hector? Were you named after the Prince of Troy?”
“Actually, yes I was. He was a great hero.”
“Yes he was. And do you consider yourself a hero?”
“Well, that’s a tough question to answer. I used to think so, but these days the line between good and bad is a bit more blurred.”
“Like today?”
“Yes, I guess so,” he replied, lowering his head.
“So, you don’t agree with what Wesley’s doing then?”
“Well, I’ve always liked Levi. He used to be my brother. I don’t relish the idea of hurting him like this. And this is the worst kind of hurt he could possibly be subjected to. I imagine he’s going mad as we speak.”
As he spoke the words, pain shot through me, sending me to my knees. I put my head in my hands, no longer able to fight the tears.
“Please don’t do that,” he pleaded, his voice full of compassion.
I looked up and met his gaze. “Help me, Hector, please.”
“I can’t. Wesley will kill me, and I have a family.”
“And how would you feel if someone from the west pack stole your wife and took her as his own, forcing her to love him?”
He gritted his teeth. “I would kill him.”
“Exactly. That’s what’s going to happen, Hector. Levi will kill Wesley and our packs will be united once again, but many pack members will die i
n the fight. Is that what you want?”
“Of course not. My pack brothers don’t deserve that.”
“I know, and neither does Levi. He’s a good man who only wants to live in peace with the packs and the woman he loves by his side. Please, Hector, help me.”
He looked at me for a moment, as if contemplating, and then his eyes turned soft. “Come with me.” He helped me up and led me swiftly through the forest, my feet struggling to keep up. After what seemed like forever, we came to a clearing in the trees, and there it was—the lake. I sighed as my hope sprang to life.
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