I stifled a laughed.
“And you—why wouldn’t you want him to pay for hurting you? Do you know how hard it’s going to be covering up those marks for the wedding?”
“Well, if anybody can do it you can.”
“If Charity would only let me heal her she’d be completely fine in a few hours,” Levi complained.
“No thanks, besides, I don’t hurt that bad.”
“Charity, your integrity’s being compromised,” he teased.
“Oh, shut up.”
“Well, I’m sorry, Levi, but in this case I have to agree with Charity. You guys are really scary.”
“Thank you!” I stated boldly.
Levi rolled his eyes.
“Gosh, Charity, you’re lip is so fat.”
“Hey! Hold the phone! Women pay lots of money to have lips like this.” I sighed. “But you’re right; maybe I should ice it a little.”
Levi stood. “Charity, why don’t you shower. I’ll send some ice and fresh clothes in here for you, then we can have supper.”
“Great. I’m starving.”
“I’ll see you soon. I need to talk to Hector.”
“Oh, is Hector still here?”
“Yes, he’s joined our pack. Wesley will kill him if he goes back, since he stood up against him.”
“Is his family here also?”
“They’re on their way.”
“Levi, it’s important for you to know that Hector saved my life. And he helped me escape into the lake.”
He looked surprised. “I’m glad you told me. I’ve always liked Hector, but I’ve never really gotten to know him all that well. He and his wife were strays when they joined the Windsor pack a little over three years ago. I’m glad to know he’s a genuinely good man. I’m going to go talk to him, thank him. I’ll see you soon.” He leaned down and kissed me gently on my forehead, then exited the room.
Ashley stared at me with an odd expression on her face. “So, now that the fur ball’s gone, are you gonna tell me what happened?”
“I heard that!” the fur ball called through the door.
She laughed, whispering, “Are you gonna tell me now?”
“Yeah, yeah, but first I need a shower. Help me up, will ya?”
Once I was showered and dressed, Levi escorted us to the dining hall. There was a reception waiting for us, and Levi and I smiled at each other as we passed through the line of applauding people, coming to Irena and Joseph last. They threw their arms around me, hugging me fiercely. “We’re so glad you’re safe and back home with us.”
“Thank you. It feels good to be back.”
After we ate, the celebration began. We were celebrating my safe return as well as our upcoming nuptials. I heard one of the guys say it was supposed to be our bachelor/bachelorette party. It appeared that my kidnapping spoiled the plans the guys had for a real bachelor party. Something tells me Levi would’ve adamantly refused, but I didn’t see these guys as the type to take no for an answer. I just hoped they didn’t blindfold a stripper and bring her in, or else they were going to see my version of a werewolf, and let me tell you—it ain’t pretty.
Someone touched me on the shoulder, when I turned around I had to look up to see Hector. “Hector!” I said with excitement, reaching up on my toes to hug him. Once his arms came around me I practically vanished.
“Miss Charity, how are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been beaten with an ugly stick, but it’s too late for Levi to back out now.”
“You could never look ugly, Miss Charity, but I know how you feel,” he said, rubbing the back of his head.
I grimaced. “I’m so sorry about that, Hector. I knew I’d have to hit you really hard for you to go down.”
“Well, that you did. I was out cold until Wesley found me. He had to shake me and douse me with water to revive me.”
“I’m so sorry, Hector, for everything.”
“Don’t be silly, Miss Charity. You’re safe, you and Levi are back together, and I’m here where I belong. I much prefer to serve Levi than Wesley. I’d let you hit me twenty times for that.”
“Thank you, Hector. You saved my life, twice. Is there anything I can do to repay you?”
“Well, as a matter of fact, there is. My wife is a little less excited about our move to this pack. She’s feeling guilty as if we’ve done something wrong. I think if you would make friends with her it might help.”
“Say no more, I know what to do. Where is she?”
“She’s over there, the beautiful one in the black dress. Her name is Tosha.”
She was a tall, curvy, woman and very beautiful. I was a little nervous as I approached her, not knowing what to say. ‘Oh, hello, I’m the skinny, white witch your husband protected and now your world has been turned upside down. Sorry’. Somehow I didn’t think that would go over too well.
She watched me approach, giving me a good once over. No doubt she knew who I was if she had been watching Hector talk to me.
“Hello,” I said, extending my hand. “I’m Charity. We’re very happy to have you join our family.”
“Oh, well thank you,” she said, looking a little surprised as she took my hand. “I’m Tosha, and that’s our son over there. His name is Jeremy, he’s three.”
“Oh, how nice. I bet Hector’s excited to have a boy first.”
She seemed to light up at that. “Yeah, he was excited, and I was relieved. The pack puts so much importance on having boys. I was just glad to have a boy first and get the pressure off.”
“Yeah, I know exactly how you feel,” I said as we both sat down simultaneously. “I’m marrying Levi tomorrow night, and he’s already emphasized the importance of having a boy. I have to be honest I’m worried about that. What if I never have a boy and he has to take another wife.”
“Honey, don’t you worry your pretty little head about that. You just trust in the love you two have for each other, and everything will work itself out. Hector told me about how much you two love each other and how you have a heart connection and all. Do you know how rare that is? Especially with someone outside of the pack, it’s almost unheard of. In fact, I think it is unheard of. Besides you and Levi, the only time I’ve ever heard of it was with Levi’s grandparents and they were both pack members.”
“Really? It’s that rare?”
“Uh huh. Not to change the subject, but do you know if they’re getting a stripper to come in here? I mean I know it’s your party and all, but I’m going off on someone if they bring a stripper in here. I don’t want my son or my husband seeing that,” she said with her hands on her hips.
I looked at her and smiled. “You and I are gonna be great friends.”
She smiled back at me.
Chapter Twenty
I made my way back to Levi sitting at a table talking to his father. Before I even came into view, he grabbed and held my hand instinctively without looking at me, tugging me down beside him. I wondered how he knew it was me? He hadn’t seen me approach—creepy. After a minute, Joseph winked at me and got up to join Irena sitting at a nearby table.
“What were you two talking about, or is it none of my business, you know, top-secret-werewolf-stuff?”
“Everything I do now is your business, even top-secret-werewolf-stuff. He was just giving me some advice about tomorrow night, you know, after the wedding.”
“Eww! Getting intimate advice from your father?”
“Well, he’s a classy man. Would you rather I ask some of the guys?”
“Okay, I see your point. So what did he say?”
“Honey, that’s private,” he said, touching his finger to the tip of my nose.
“But you just said everything was my business. Okay, if you won’t tell me then I’ll just go ask Joseph myself,” I said, getting up.
“No,” he responded, grabbing my arm and pulling me gently back down to my seat. “He just told me to be gentle. Since you’re—you know. I could hurt you if I’m not careful.”
“No—just all the males.”
I gasped.
“What? We’re werewolves, Charity. We have a sense about these things. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Most of the single guys in the pack are envious. Do you know how hard it is to find someone pure these days?”
“No I don’t.”
He laughed. “Well, neither do I, actually, but that’s what they say.”
He surprised me when he reached in his pocket and pulled out a tube of my lip balm.
“Oh thank you!” I exclaimed in relief. “Where did you get this?”
“I found it on the sidewalk by your backpack where Wesley abducted you. All the while you were gone I kept smelling it. It reminded me of you and gave me some comfort. This is embarrassing to admit, but I even rubbed it on my finger and dabbed a dot on my lips. It reminded me of the way it feels after we kiss.”
“Oh puppy, that’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
He chuckled. “You know I love you when I start wearing your lip balm,” he teased. “But, do you mind if I keep it? So I’ll remember you when we’re apart.”
“Of course. I have more in my purse. But wait—” I took the tube from him, applied a vigorous amount, then handed it back. “Now, come here.” I pulled him close and kissed him gently but passionately.
As he pulled away, he flashed me a brilliant smile. “So, what’s a Farmer’s Cry?”
“Oh, you heard about that—did you? Well, my father taught it to me when I was a little girl. He said when the farmers were working in the fields, plowing and planting their crops, they needed a call that could be heard from a good distance away in case they got hurt or needed help. I practiced and practiced until my dad could hear me calling him from all the way down the street. He was very proud of me.” I smiled at the memory. I was very fond of that memory.
“Well,” he said, taking my hand in his, “I’m proud of you too. A small girl got mean, angry werewolves to stop killing each other and be friends. I think that’s a first in our history books. You’re very special, Charity. I hope you know that.” He looked longingly into my eyes.
“Thank you, Levi. I think you’re pretty special too, when you’re not all furry that is.”
“Oh, you’ll learn to love my furry backside one of these days, you’ll see. It’s like cuddling up with a teddy bear except teddy bears can’t keep you warm and lick your ears.”
“Or eat your flesh.”
“I told you, Charity, werewolves don’t eat people.”
“So you said.”
“You’re impossible.”
“Have you ever seen yourself? Why do you have to be scary anyway?”
“It’s not my fault. I guess you’ll have to ask God that when you see Him.”
“Yes. The first question I’m gonna ask Him is why didn’t He make you a cute, cuddly puppy instead of a scary, creepy, snarling hound from hell.”
“Okay, now you’re totally exaggerating.”
“Well—maybe a little, and seeing a werewolf in jeans definitely helps.”
Once the music started, Ashley came bouncing up to our table. “Come on, Charity, let’s dance. This is a great song, and you know how to rock a dance floor.”
“Ash, I would need a full body transplant to dance like that right now. Besides, I’m resting up for the rocking I’m going to be doing tomorrow night.” Levi and I smirked at each other.
“Eww, I don’t want to hear this,” she said, covering her ears.
“Then go away.”
“Fine. Josh, come and dance with me,” she said, leaving our table and skipping to his.
“Can I ask you a question?” I asked Levi once Little Miss Perky Pants was gone.
“Sure, anything.”
“How did you know it was me when I came and sat beside you a moment ago?”
“What?”
“You took my hand without looking at me. How did you know it was me?”
“Hmm, it was so natural I didn’t realize I did that. I just sensed your presence. I felt you there.”
“Cool—can I do that?”
“Well, let’s try. Close your eyes and try to feel my presence.”
I closed my eyes tightly and tried to concentrate. “Hey,” I said after a short minute, “I can feel your presence, wow that’s—” I opened my eyes to find that I was sitting all alone. “Great, I suck at this.”
I squealed in surprise as Levi appeared beside me. “You’re right, you suck at this.”
“Thanks.” I rolled my eyes.
“Well, you’re human, Charity. You’re not supposed to be able to do everything. Isn’t it bad enough that you possess the power to capture the hearts of unsuspecting fools?”
“And you put yourself in that category?”
He laughed. “At the top of the list.”
“So you’re a fool then?”
“A fool in love,” he sang. “Come dance with me.” He helped me up and led me to the dance area. He took me in his arms and held me close as we slowly swayed together.
“Mmm, you smell so good,” I whispered in his ear. “I’ve always loved the way you smell. It blew my breath away the first day we met.”
He pulled away and looked down at me, his eyes wide with surprise. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, of course. Remember that first day in the cafeteria? I caught your scent and it almost knocked me out of my seat. No man has ever smelled that good to me, not even my dad. Is something wrong with that?”
“Um no, it’s just that humans aren’t supposed to be able to smell us at all. Our scent is for fantasy creatures only.”
“Well, I guess that’s just more proof that we’re meant to be together.”
“You never cease to amaze me.”
“Good, you’ll never get bored.”
“With you, never. But why don’t you let me heal you? Please.”
“No!”
“Please.”
“No!”
He opened his mouth again.
“No!”
He shut it.
As the LeAnn Womack song “I hope you dance” began to play, he pulled me up against him and held me close. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling. So much had happened that day, and yet I was safe in his arms again. I became overwhelmed with emotion and, to my surprise, began to cry. Have I mentioned how I hated feeling vulnerable?
Levi pulled back and put both hands on my face. “Charity, what’s wrong? You’re supposed to be happy.”
“I am happy. It’s just that I didn’t think I was ever going to see you again. And when I was in the lake, I thought I was going to drown before I made it back to you. I was so tired and cold. Then once they spotted me and started swimming after me, I thought that was it. I was so close to you and they were closing in on me. But somehow I managed to out swim them. How did I do that? Then you were there, in the water with me. You saved me, Levi. And just like this song, I almost sat this all out because of fear. I was afraid to trust, afraid you would hurt me, and I almost missed you.” I cried, tucking my head into his chest.
“Oh baby, you’ve got it wrong—you saved me. But we’re both here—together, and—we’re dancing.”
I smiled and hugged him tighter. “Yes, we’re dancing.”
He wrapped his arms tightly around me. We stayed frozen in place, dancing as they played us another song.
I was so tired I became almost limp in his arms. I tightened my grip around his neck as he lifted me up, carrying me out of the room. We entered my room and once again he laid me gently on the bed and brought me some pain medicine.
“I had someone put something for you to wear in your closet.”
“Oh, thanks. I was beginning to think clothes just miraculously appeared in there.” I got up painstakingly slow, took the nightgown out of the closet, and went into the bathroom. When I emerged, I was in awe at the amazing sight of Levi in his pajama bottoms and stretched out comf
ortably on the bed. I swallowed hard as I studied his tanned, chiseled upper body.
“Come here,” he said, reaching his arms out to me, his eyes overflowing with such love.
I climbed onto the bed and into his arms.
“I almost lost you today, more than once. Don’t make me leave. I want to hold you all night. My thoughts tonight aren’t sexual. I’ll behave, I promise.” He wasn’t asking.
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