Charity Moon

by Deanna Kinney

  He whispered, “Okay, here’s what you do, swim straight until you see a wide gap in the trees to your right. Beyond that gap is the west boundary. Swim under water as much as you can to avoid being spotted. When you have to, take small breaks on the bank. When you get to the west boundary, yell for Levi, if he’s anywhere nearby he should hear you. Good luck to you, Miss Charity.”

  “Thank you so much, Hector. If you ever want to join our pack, you’re always welcome. I owe you my life.”

  “No, Miss Charity. Just make it back to Levi and live happily with him. Like you said, he deserves it. Now, you know I can’t just let you go.”

  I slowly nodded, understanding his meaning.

  He looked around until he found a thick, sturdy branch, one I could handle. Handing it to me, he looked into my eyes and nodded.

  I reached up on my toes and kissed him on the cheek before lifting the branch in the air, and with all the strength I possessed, swung and hit him in the back of the head. He fell like a stone to the hard forest floor.

  I looked down at the strong werewolf lying helpless on the ground and felt saddened, but then, remembering my purpose, quickly righted myself, dropped the branch, and hurried into the water. I took a deep breath, submerging myself completely under. I was glad I had taken swimming lessons at the Y for three years.

  I swam under water with all the speed I possessed, only coming up for air when absolutely necessary. And as I swam I prayed. I prayed there were no snakes. I prayed there were no alligators. I prayed I had the strength to keep going, to make it back to Levi, before succumbing to the cold or worse. I didn’t have much time.

  I went as long as I could, but finally had to make it to the bank to rest. I felt like I was going to collapse until I had an image in my head of Levi’s pained face. I had to make it back to him, to the man who taught me how to love and how to finally trust again. With that thought I found myself back in the water, swimming relentlessly. With every stroke I thought solely of Levi, of his amazing smile, those dimples that possessed the magic to melt my tough exterior, his kisses that melted a lot more than that, the way he looks at me, his mind-blowing scent, and then I felt it—a tingling in my connection symbol that slowly began sending heat throughout the rest of my body, warming me. The hope ignited, and I felt like I just might have the strength to make it.

  No sooner had that feeling come than my muscles screamed out in agony for relief until I had no choice but to obey them, turning on my back and floating.

  “There she is!” I heard someone call from the forest, followed by several loud howls, then splashes as they hurried into the water some yards behind me.

  I rose up in shock and looked to my right, spotting the wide gap in the trees Hector told me about. Okay, Charity, just a little further. You can do this. Just a little further then you’re home free, I told myself.

  I began swimming with all my strength, and once I got my second wind, was swimming faster than I ever had in my life. I lifted my head. “Levi!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, barely breaking my stride. I pushed myself further and further until finally I was passed the gap, but I was so exhausted that I immediately began to sink. I struggled in desperation to stay above the surface, but it was no use. I came up gasping for air one last time before surrendering as the grip of the depths had their victory. I was slowly drifting downward when someone grabbed me from behind, wrapping their arms around me and pulling me to the surface.

  “Charity! Charity!” Levi’s panicked voice called to me as he drew me from the water and carried me to the bank.

  “Levi?” I spoke weakly.

  He sighed in relief. “Yes, it’s me.” His face was filled with wonder as he pulled me up into an embrace, using his body heat to warm me. “How did you manage to get here?”

  “I swam you idiot.”

  “That’s my girl. You are undoubtedly the most amazing woman I’ve ever encountered in my entire life.”

  “I know.”

  He laughed, but only amazement tainted his handsome face.

  I was so weak that he had to lift my head up for me to even look at him. I imagined how I must’ve looked at that moment, soaking wet and a white, muddy dress clinging tightly to my form. I shivered at the thought.

  “I was so afraid I’d lost you.” His voice was desperate and pained.

  “Now that I’ve finally committed, it’s going to take more than a kidnapping from Benji to get rid of me.”

  “That’s what I was hoping for, but I was about to come and get you.”

  “Well, now you don’t have to.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck as he lifted me and carried me from the bank. His pack members anxiously surrounded us while Josh wrapped a thick blanket around me.

  “What’s the plan, Levi?” Josh asked.

  “Well, they’re coming. We need to prepare for a fight.”

  He looked down at me and anger pulsed through him as he noticed the bruising on my neck. “I’m going to kill him for hurting you,” he growled through clenched teeth, his chest rumbling beneath me.

  “Levi, no. There’s no need to fight him. I’m here now.”

  “He’s coming after you, Charity. He’s desperate to get to you before the wedding. He can’t let it go. He hates to lose. And because of that—he’s going to die. Here, Jordan, take Charity back to the facility, quickly.” He tried to shift me into Jordan’s arms, but I clung to him with such desperation unlike any I’ve felt before.

  “No! Levi I want to stay with you! Don’t let me go!” I tried with all my strength to cling to him, but he broke my grip effortlessly, laying me in Jordan’s arms.

  “Go!” he ordered him, ignoring my pleas. “Get her to safety! You have to go now! They’re coming! Go!” his urgent voice demanded.

  “Levi, don’t let me go!” I reached out for him as Jordan began running. “No! Levi! Don’t make me leave you! Levi!”

  His face was pained as he watched me disappear from sight.

  Jordan ran with great speed through the forest until we heard a commotion that stopped him dead in his tracks.

  “The fighting’s begun. They need you, Jordan. Leave me and go. I’ll stay here. Go!”

  “I’m supposed to get you to safety.”

  “I’ll be safe here. They need you. Please, Jordan, go help Levi.”

  I could see him struggling, his green eyes pained with indecision until finally, with reluctance, he sat me down. “Stay here,” he demanded before disappearing into the forest.

  Okay, I know I said I would stay, and I don’t like to lie, but my fiancé was out there, and in danger. I needed to make sure he was all right more than I needed my next breath.

  I threw off the blanket and made haste through the forest, following the sounds of the fighting, and though I was terrified, my legs kept running as if they had minds of their own. I came to the gap in the trees and there, in the clearing, were both packs fighting each other, each one in their werewolf form. I couldn’t make out who was fighting who. My mind raced. If only I could find a way to stop them long enough for them to listen. Suddenly, I had an idea. It was stupid, and if it worked it would be a miracle, but I had to try. I ran out in the middle of all those fighting werewolves, dodging and ducking as I went. Please God, let this work, I thought, right before I inserted my fingers in my mouth and—whistled; an ear piercing sound my father taught me when I was a little girl. I had practiced it until no other boy could top it. My father called it “The Farmer’s Cry” because the farmers used it when they were in trouble in the fields way back when. It hurt my ears, so I knew it would hurt the ears of wolves, and I was right. Everyone stopped fighting and turned to glare at me. One started to rush me and I whistled again, stopping him dead in his tracks—thank God for miracles.

  “Please listen to me!” I cried out to them, my voice full of desperation. “You are brothers! Just because your packs have split hasn’t changed that fact! I know you still care for each other! You don’t have to fight! Your p
acks can live in peace! You are not enemies! One day will come when you’ll have to fight your enemies and you’ll fight together, side by side! You have to stop fighting each other! Please!”

  Each one stared at me with what looked to be a pained expression. Then again, what do I know about werewolf expressions?

  “She’s right!” I heard a voice behind me and spun to see Hector step into view. “We are brothers, let’s act like it!” There was a brief moment of silence before Josh shifted into his human form and came and stood by Hector, followed by Jordan, Ian, and Jared. One by one, the others started shifting back into their human forms. I turned and smiled at Hector, wrapping my arms around him and hugging him tightly. I pulled back and scanned through the men to find Levi, but he was nowhere in sight, nor was Wesley.

  “Hector, where’s Levi and Wesley?” I asked in full alarm mode.

  “There.” He pointed a little deeper into the forest. “But a whistle won’t stop them. They’re fighting to the death.”

  “No!” I gasped, running into the forest after them.

  “Charity!” Hector called, then he and the others followed me.

  At first it was hard to spot them. They were fighting wildly and jumping all over the forest. Trees were being knocked down and splintered at every turn. Finally, I was able to locate them. I recognized Levi from the day he scared me in the forest. He was dark all over except for some light brown fur around his face. Wesley, on the other hand, was black all over.

  It was a terrifying sight. They were fighting ferociously, like two wild dogs, snapping and slashing at each other.

  Wesley slashed at Levi, striking him across the arm.

  “No!” I screamed.

  Levi turned and looked at me in surprise. When he did, Wesley sunk his fangs into Levi’s shoulder, causing him to yelp and slump to the ground.

  “No! Levi!”

  At my scream, Wesley turned abruptly, jumping and appearing instantly in front of me. He swung, hitting me in the face with the back of his hand, sending me flying into a nearby tree. I slammed hard to the ground and tasted blood as I began dragging myself across the forest floor. Wesley walked slowly and menacing until he was standing over me, lifting his hand to swing, this time with his claws extended towards me. Knowing it would be the deathblow, I closed my eyes and hoped it would be quick. Appearing out of nowhere, Hector jumped in front of me, acting as a shield. Wesley growled in anger and lifted his hand to strike him. His hand was in flight when Levi’s head appeared over Wesley’s shoulder, sinking his sharp fangs into his throat. He yelped in pain and went limp in surrender.

  Hector rose, exposing me fully to Levi’s view. Fury burned in his eyes as he noted my condition, causing his fangs to sink deeper into Wesley’s throat, making him whimper as blood trailed down his neck and chest.

  “No, Levi. Don’t do it. It’s not who you are.”

  He just peered at me, his yellow eyes burning with anger.

  “I’m fine, Levi. I’m fine, see.” I tried to get up, but collapsed again. Okay, maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. Instinctively I looked down and Levi followed my gaze, taking in the trickle of blood down the front of my white dress. He growled and tightened his grip at once.

  “Levi, please let him go. He’s losing a lot of blood. He needs a doctor. You’re not a killer. Now, let him go so we can go home—together. Please.” And though I was afraid of him, I made myself reach out and touch his arm, rubbing my fingers through his soft fur. At that, his eyes softened. He slowly released Wesley and he slumped to the ground, changing instantly into his human form. Wesley moaned in pain. Hector motioned for his pack members to come. One of them, the biggest one, picked him up and carried him swiftly through the forest until they disappeared from sight.

  Levi shifted back into his human form and collapsed to the ground in pain. He had slash marks on his left arm and puncture wounds to his left shoulder.

  “Levi!” I crawled over to him. “Levi, talk to me,” I cried, taking his face in my hands and rubbing it gently.

  “Charity, you weren’t supposed to be here,” he whispered, his voice weak from exhaustion and pain.

  “I know, and I’m sorry, but I couldn’t leave you. Don’t you know I love you? Please be okay. I can’t live without you,” I said, tears streaming down my cheeks.

  “I’ll be okay, Charity. Werewolves heal quickly, but humans don’t. He hurt you. I have to get you to Doc.” He rose slowly and bent down to pick me up, moaning in pain as he did.

  “Levi, put me down. You’re hurt. Someone else can help me.”

  “I’m not letting anyone else touch you. If they try they’ll lose a limb.”

  He was serious. He shifted most of my weight to his right arm and stubbornly carried me through the forest. I gently kissed the side of his face over and over as I clung tightly to him. It’s funny—it took me so long to admit that I loved the man, but once I did I gave myself to him whole-heartedly, without question, and I knew no matter what happened I would never stop loving him.

  I glanced over his shoulder and noticed the separate packs saying goodbye to one another and my heart softened. Maybe something good came out of the night after all. At least in that moment there was peace—until Wesley heals. Then what?

  I watched in bewilderment as Hector followed us all the way back to the Drake House.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Levi and I went straight to the Medical Center to see Doc. Levi stayed by my side as Doc examined my condition, not leaving my side even for a moment. I winced as he touched me in certain places. My back where I hit the tree was especially tender. To my relief, Doc assured us nothing was broken, just some bruising. My lip was busted though, and I looked like Angelina Jolie. Levi begged me to let him heal me, but I couldn’t allow that. I’d seen enough of snarling, growling werewolves for one night. And one biting me was more than my mind could comprehend.

  Levi was fine too. He had already begun healing. The scratch marks were all but gone. Doc had said the puncture wounds would take a little longer, but by the wedding he should be fine. I, on the other hand, would be a little stiff and a lot sore.

  Even though I could walk, Levi insisted on carrying me, and when we entered my white room, I sighed in relief, happy to be back in that room. Earlier in the day I had feared I would be spending the evening being tortured by Wesley, all my dreams dead. But there I was, back with Levi, all my dreams alive again.

  Levi laid me down gently on the bed as he sat down beside me, gently rubbing his hand on my face. “I was afraid I’d lost you. You can’t know how it felt when I heard you scream, when I knew you were in that car being held down and afraid. Thinking he would possibly touch you or hurt you, or if I didn’t get you back, marrying you.” He clenched his fists and beat them lightly against his thighs. “I’m probably going to regret not killing him,” he growled.

  “No, you did the right thing by letting him go, Levi. So what if he kidnapped me and scared me half to death. I got away, didn’t I?”

  “You’re not helping me, Charity,” he said, gritting his teeth.

  I laughed.

  “Are you laughing at me?”

  “I’m sorry, but you’re so cute when you’re jealous.”

  “You don’t understand, Charity. I was so afraid.”

  “Okay, stop saying that. A werewolf saying ‘I’m afraid’; that’s like a skunk saying, ‘I smell pretty’. It’s like an oxymoron or something.”

  “What did you call me?” he teased, pulling me into his arms and kissing me carefully.

  “In the name of Buckwheat!” I blurted out as Ashley burst into the room. I hoped that wasn’t going to become a habit.

  “Charity! Are you okay? I was so worried when you disappeared from school. Levi wouldn’t let me leave with him.” She gave him a scowl. “Oh-my-gosh!” she said once she was close enough. “You look awful.”

  “Thanks. I can always count on you to flatter me.”

  “What happened to you?”

/>   “I’ll give you a hint. It starts with a W and ends with a Y.”

  “Did he hurt you?”

  “No. I smacked into the tree of my own free will.”

  “And your neck! Did he strangle you? Well, did he?” she demanded, ignoring my sarcasm.

  “Yes.”

  “I hope you killed him,” she said, turning to Levi, anger all over her sweet face, which was rare to see.

  “No. Charity wouldn’t let me.”

  “What! Since when do you listen to Charity? Are you a werewolf or a panda?”