Charity Moon

by Deanna Kinney

  “I know we’ve been blessed in a short time with more than most people ever experience in their lifetime, but I’m selfish, I want more—much more. I want a long and full life with you, with lots of happiness and lots of children.”

  “I want that too, and tonight you were blessed with more, we both were. Let’s not take it for granted.”

  “I’ll never take you for granted, Charity, never. I love you so much. When I first became alpha, I knew I had to take a bride, but I never imagined it could feel like this. When I first met you I was so tortured by you, your beauty, your strength—and that kiss! I was haunted by that dang kiss!”

  “Yeah—best sixty bucks I ever made.”

  “Yeah well, I saw your face in my dreams every night after that. I spent hours watching you from the woods behind your house, making sure you were safe, watching you journaling on your roof. I never thought I would find someone I could love like this. I never even thought it was possible. And now, I still can’t believe it.”

  “Well, you better believe it, ‘cause I didn’t get all dressed up for nothin’. I’m yours, and it looks like we’ve been given a second chance. And I, for one, am gonna make the most of it, so why don’t we ditch this party so we can start a party of our own?”

  “Oh baby, you read my mind. Everyone! Thank you for a wonderful experience! We’ve both enjoyed spending this time with you, but now we’re leaving! You’re welcome to keep celebrating as long as you like! Goodnight!” he finished, and cheers broke out as he scooped me up in one swift motion and carried me out the door before anyone could say a word in response.

  He carried me all the way across the facility, turning down a hall and stopping at the end in front of a single door. He kissed my lips as he opened it and carried me through.

  I was amazed. It was a beautiful room and much bigger than the other room. It had a gorgeous sitting room with a wide-screen TV, a kitchen, and possibly the biggest bed ever made. “Levi, it’s the most elegant room I’ve ever seen in person. Can we live here?”

  He laughed. “Well, I am the alpha, and your wish is my command. I live now only to make you happy.”

  “Really? Well, I wish for you to put me down now and kiss me senseless.”

  “With pleasure, but first I have something to show you.” He sat me on my feet and took off his tux jacket, pulling off his bow tie and unbuttoning his shirt.

  My pulse quickened, my heart pounding heavily between my ears.

  He pulled open his shirt, and there, on his upper chest, was a small marking the size of a quarter. It was a heart and above it were the small words ‘It’s for Charity’ scrawled in cursive.

  Aside from getting my ring, that must’ve been one of the things he left out to do during the early morning hours. My eyes filled with tears. “Levi, it’s beautiful. Thank you.”

  He peered down at me, his deep blue eyes bubbling with passion and oozing with anticipation. “Everything is for you now, my heart—my life—it’s all for you. Now—about that kiss.” When he kissed me it was different, not the safe, guarded kiss as before. He tilted his head slowly, moving his lips to my chin—neck—then capturing my mouth with his. He kissed me deeply, leaving me breathless and warm inside. He gently took off my veil and tossed it on a chair. He pulled out the diamond clips holding my hair up and smoothed it out, letting it fall loosely down my back, and gazed into my eyes with such love my heart skipped a few beats. He tilted my head up and kissed me gently on the chin as he unzipped my dress and let it fall to the floor, eyes bulging as he took in the sight of my lingerie.

  “Charity Drake, are you trying to kill me?”

  I laughed. “No, not yet. I’ve got other plans for you tonight. Which reminds me, I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain, now it’s time for you to fulfill yours.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

  “Well, follow this wolf man. It’s time for you to rock my world, and I better not be disappointed.”

  “Oh, that I can promise you.” He howled so loudly I thought the whole world could hear before taking me in his arms and kissing me again.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  When we arrived at school Monday morning, we were giddy at the idea of being husband and wife and secretly at that. Not to mention we were exhausted from spending more than thirty straight hours in our room, secluded from the rest of the world and barely even eating.

  Mrs. Hildebrand, our English teacher, had given us an assignment for a term paper, so when Saturday arrived, after lunch at Happy’s, we found ourselves at the Drake House working on it together. Levi and I, along with Ashley, Josh, Jared, Jordan, Ian, and Cody were all sitting at a table in the huge dining room working on our papers, when Hector escorted six women in to see Levi.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you, Sir, but these ladies wish to speak to you in private. They say they’re all that’s left of a pack that was attacked by vampires.”

  “Thank you, Hector, but whatever these ladies need to say, they can say in front of my wife and friends.”

  When he said that, I noticed one of the women looked at me strangely, as though sizing me up, and I instantly shut her down with a look of my own.

  The one that stared at me spoke, “My name is Selena. I’m the surviving alpha female of my pack. These are the only other survivors of what’s left of our pack. Our husbands hid us when the vampires attacked. My husband told us to come here if anything happened to him. Sadly, he was killed.”

  Funny, she didn’t look sad. I hope she didn’t think she was going to come and seek refuge with my new pack, and my new husband.

  “We’re hoping you will be gracious and allow us to join you. I, of course, will humbly submit to your wishes.” She bowed then gave me a quick smirk. I wondered if Levi saw it. And what did she mean by “submit to your wishes”?

  She was very beautiful, petite and thin, with long, jet-black hair. Actually, they were all beautiful, all six of them. Hmm, six of them, six of my men, what are the odds?

  “Serena, I’m flattered that you chose this pack, but the east pack would be more suited for your needs. Wesley, their alpha, is still unwed and seeking a bride. I, on the other hand, have recently wed.”

  “No, I’m afraid not.”

  “Oh, you’re going to be afraid,” I said as I stood and started toward her, but Levi sprang from his seat and grabbed me around the waist.

  “Charity, let’s hear her out,” he demanded.

  Selena continued, “My husband was very clear. He told me to come to the Drake House. He said the leader of the east pack was cruel. He didn’t want me under his rule. Please don’t force us to go there, please,” she begged, and I almost believed her—almost.

  “Calm down, Selena. You can stay here, for now, until we can confirm your story, then we’ll discuss this again.”

  “Thank you, Sir.” She bowed with a smile, and then Hector led them out of the room.

  “Levi, I think we need to talk,” I spoke through clenched teeth as I pulled him out of the room and down the hall. We went into the library and shut the door behind us.

  “Please tell me you were just trying to make them feel better and you’re not considering letting them join us.”

  “I’m just trying to make them feel better. Charity, they just lost their husbands.”

  “Oh please, did she look like she was a grieving bride to you? She’s full of cow manure, and you better not let her become your wife or I’ll kill her!”

  “Now calm down. It’s too soon to start talking like that. Let me do some investigating, then we’ll talk more about this.”

  “Levi, please send them away. I have a very bad feeling about this. Something’s not right here, please.”

  “They’re just some grieving women. Everything will be fine. I’ll counsel with my father. You go back and work on your paper with the others.” He kissed me on the forehead and left the room. I went reluctantly back to join the others.

  How could this be happening? I wondered. We�
��ve only been married a week and someone’s already wanting to share my husband. Well, anyone who wants my husband better be ready for a fight. No one threatens my marriage without my permission.

  I stayed close to Levi the rest of the evening. At dinner, I noticed Selena watching us closely, and I poured on the love thickly.

  “What are you doing?” Levi’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “You know exactly what I mean. You’re even wearing your ring. You’ll have to remember to take it off before you get home. I’ve never seen you this insecure before.”

  “Me—insecure? I think you’re confused.”

  “Charity.” He pronounced my name slowly, giving me a stern look.

  “Fine, but don’t look at me like that. It’s just that that Selena chick keeps looking at us. I just want her to know you’re mine. I think she’s up to something bad, and I don’t trust her.”

  “Well, do you trust me?”

  “Is that a trick question?”

  “Charity.”

  “Oh, of course I trust you.”

  “Well, then you know that I’m very cautious, and I have a lot of people watching my back, not just my wife.” He smirked.

  “I’m watching more than just your back,” I said with a wicked grin.

  “Really.” He stared at me for just a moment before taking my hand and leading me out of the dining room. Faster than I could count to ten, we were crashing on our bed in a frenzy of passion.

  After an hour or so there was a knock on our door. Hector came in, once we were decent, and told us that Joseph had some information about Selena. After Hector left, Levi got dressed quickly.

  “Wait for me, Levi,” I said, jumping into my jeans.

  “Just wait here. I’ll let you know everything later.”

  “No way. We’re a team now remember? Even top-secret-werewolf-stuff. I’m coming with you. Put it this way—if you try to stop me you better install heat in your doghouse.”

  He sighed in defeat. “Okay then hurry up.”

  I smiled and got dressed quickly, grabbing a handful of my hair and braiding a loose braid over my left shoulder as we scurried out the door.

  “What did you find out, Father?” Levi asked as we entered his office.

  “Well, Selena is the alpha female of a pack named the Domingo pack. The alpha, Jessie Domingo, and the rest of the pack were reportedly slaughtered by a coven of vampires. Rumor has it that the Western Carolina Coven, led by the infamous Raven Vanderberg, is seeking to avenge the destruction of a coven ten years ago.

  “Could that be the coven that your pack, along with the east pack destroyed?” I asked.

  “Yes, it most likely is,” said Joseph, putting his hand on my shoulder as a reassuring gesture. “But I just don’t get how six women could escape such a powerful coven.”

  “Well, maybe Raven allowed them to escape as a warning to us,” Levi added.

  “But that’s not how the vampires operate. They like surprise, since the werewolves outnumber them, it’s the only way they can count on an advantage. And this Raven is not one to ever show mercy.”

  “I have an idea,” I piped in, “maybe this woman isn’t really Selena at all. I mean do we really have a way of knowing that she is who she says she is?”

  “You’ve got a point, Charity,” Joseph said, “I can’t sense her lying, so if she is she’s quite skilled at it. All we can do right now is keep a close eye on her. If she asks you, Levi, about joining us again, just delay her until we can determine her motives.”

  “But Joseph, what if we can’t prove she’s wrong? What then?”

  “Well, we might just have to take them into our family.”

  “No we can’t! That would mean she would become Levi’s second wife!”

  “Charity, just because she becomes my wife in name doesn’t mean I have to have a relationship with her.”

  “Levi, I know you’re trying to help—but don’t.”

  He smirked. “You’re so adorable when you’re jealous.”

  “Need I remind you of what almost happened to you the last time you made me jealous.”

  “Well actually, you never told me.”

  “And trust me, it’s better that way.”

  “I’m going to go talk to her, see if I can get any information about the coven from her, and also see if I can detect her lying.” He turned to leave—with me so tight on his heels that I stumbled into him when he stopped unexpectedly.

  “A little room please,” he barked in mock agitation.

  “Not on your bloody life. And I mean that literally.”

  By the smirk on his face he was definitely enjoying my discomfort.

  “Hello, Selena,” Levi greeted her as we entered the dining room. Though most everyone had cleared out, she and her friends still remained.

  “Oh hello, Levi. It’s so nice to see you again so soon.”

  “If you don’t mind I have a few questions for you.”

  “Of course not,” she responded, eyeing me curiously, “but does your wife have to be here? She makes me nervous.”

  “Oh, you have good reason to be nervous,” I chided.

  “Charity,” Levi snapped.

  “Fine,” I said in surrender, feeling like a reprimanded child.

  “Yes, I’m afraid she does have to be here. But I’m just curious, when you told me about your husband’s death, you didn’t seem all that upset—why?”

  She excused the other girls to leave. When they were gone from the room she answered, “You see, it was our wedding night, and we weren’t in love. He was killed before we could consummate. So I guess that’s another plus if you take us in.” She smirked at me.

  “No she didn’t,” I said boldly, standing up. In my peripheral, I noticed Hector stepping closer.

  “Charity, I’ll handle this,” Levi demanded.

  “Well, you don’t seem to be doing such a great job,” I retorted as I sat back down, crossing my arms angrily over my chest.

  “Levi, if I may say so, you don’t deserve this petulance. I would be very obedient to you, obeying every order. This one, on the other hand, seems to have a problem submitting to your authority.”

  “Oh yeah, well your face is about to submit to my fist!” I jumped up and rushed at her.

  “Hector!” Levi called.

  Hector’s giant hands clamped down on me as he lifted me off my feet, flinging me over his shoulder with no effort at all.

  “Take her to our room, and keep her there,” Levi demanded.

  “No! Hector put me down! Levi! Tell him to put me down! No! Selena, or whoever you are, you might have the werewolves fooled, but you don’t fool me! I’m a human, and I’m onto you! Levi you’re in deep dung! Don’t agree to anything, Levi! Levi!” I kicked and screamed as Hector carried me down the hall.

  “I apologize for my wife’s behavior. She gets a little worked up sometimes.”

  “I heard that! Werewolves aren’t the only ones around here with good hearing! Levi, I’m gonna kick your canine butt! You’re in the doghouse, Mister! Do you hear me?!” I felt Hector laugh under me. “What? If I could, I’d kick your canine butt right now too! Don’t sleep tonight is all I’m gonna say.”

  Hector took me in my room and dumped me on the bed. He studied me and recognized tears. “Mrs. Charity, why are you crying? Are you going to let that little girl upset you like that?”

  “She’s trying to steal my husband, Hector. And in case you haven’t noticed, she seems to have the upper hand. Look where she is, and look where I am. Not to mention she’s beautiful, and on top of that, it appears she’s playing the virgin card. She’s trying to entice him with all that obedient bull. And for your information, I am not disobedient to his authority.”

  “I beg your pardon, Mrs. Charity, but yes you are.”

  “Oh shut up. Who asked you anyway?”

  “Mrs. Charity, you don’t have to worry about this woman and Levi. He loves you,
and you are much more beautiful than she is.”

  “Do you really think so, Hector?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Hector, listen to me, something’s wrong here. No one seems to believe me, or maybe they don’t see it, but six of them show up here and there are six of Levi’s elite, counting him. And they’re all widows, how convenient. She’s trying to worm her way into his bed, and I’ll kill her first. But the problem is, until after graduation, I’m not going to be here except on weekends. What if she tries something while I’m gone?” I cried.