Charity took her hand in hers, compassion filling her as she studied Rose. “How could you have known? You two still barely know each other, but it’s not too late to make it right.”
“Charity, really? Do you think he can forgive me?”
She flashed a devilish smile. “I think he’s dying to forgive you—pun intended. Now here’s what you should do.”
Chapter Eight
Rose opened the door slowly and crept into Raven’s living quarters. It was dark, and until her eyes adjusted, she had to feel her way through the rooms. Once her eyes did adjust, however, she could see quite well, and had no trouble finding Raven’s bedroom. She stepped in slowly, cautiously approaching the dark figure lying unmoving in his bed. She sat down on the edge of the bed and took his hand in hers; it was slightly cool to the touch. He still didn’t move.
“Raven, it’s me, Sophia.”
His head gradually turned toward her, and she saw the moment his dark eyes finally focused on her. “Sophia? Is it really you?” His voice was but a whisper.
“Yes, Raven, it’s me. I came to apologize. I’ve been such a fool. Can you ever forgive me?”
His smile was weak. “Of course I forgive you. I too was a fool.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head from side to side. “You saved my life. I want to thank you properly, and I won’t take no for an answer. After all, I did inherit some of Rose’s tenacity.”
He laughed softly. “Yes, I do not doubt that.”
She brought his hand up to her lips and kissed it softly—then pulled her hair to the side and positioned herself on the bed, towering over him—her neck hovering just over his mouth.
“I am sorry, Sophia, but I cannot. I do not want to hurt you. I am too thirsty.”
She smiled. “I thought you might say that.” She secretly thanked Charity for the idea. Mischievously, she pulled her father’s pocketknife from her jeans pocket and cut a small slit on her neck, allowing the blood to trickle slowly down her neck toward her collarbone.
His eyes grew wide as he gaped at her in disbelief.
“Are you going to let my rich, sweet werewolf blood go to waste then?” she asked, watching him closely, as he lay there motionless on the bed below her.
His response startled her. Everything blurred as he grabbed her in his arms, but then slowly caught the droplet just passing her collarbone with his tongue. She gasped at the intimacy of the act, which left her breathless and lightheaded. He slowly traced the trail of blood up her neck until he settled his lips over her small wound. When he pierced her skin she felt little pain, able to focus only on the heat burning within her.
She imagined he couldn’t have made love to her and it feel any more intimate, his hands holding her so gently now as his lips caressed her neck. A moan rumbled in his throat, making her respond with a whimper of her own. When he pulled away and gazed up at her, she was sure she saw a flame burning behind his dark eyes. It burned with an intensity she’s never experienced in her short life, and she was unable to look away, compelled by the overwhelming beauty of him. When his lips came down on hers, she wasn’t prepared for her own response. She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him against her, holding onto him as if her life would end the moment he pulled away. And she felt like it might.
Abruptly he pulled away. “Sophia, you had better go now.”
“I don’t want to go,” she whispered, taking his face in her hands. She sought his lips again and found them. He was trying to be noble but wasn’t strong enough to back it up. He wanted her too and she knew it.
The kiss deepened as he sought to devour her, and she felt as though their souls were merging somehow as the passion flowed between them.
When they finally broke, both were left breathless, smiling contentedly.
“I think I love you, Sophia Rose Jameson,” he breathed, staring at her with such sincerity.
“You mean me and not your old Rose?”
“There is no old Rose. You are the only Rose for me now. My Sophia Rose.”
She smiled. “Oh yeah, well in that case I think I may love you too, Raven Vanderburg.”
His smile was wider than she’d ever seen anyone smile, flashing his sparkling, white teeth, and she thought to herself, wow—a vampire and a werewolf—who would have ever thought it possible.
Chapter Nine
From that moment on they were inseparable. Aside from school, they spent pretty much every waking minute together, learning everything there was to know about each other; past memories, their favorite things, what music they listened to, and how they felt about each other. They even shared their future dreams. Raven didn’t have any dreams outside of spending his days with Rose. This made her blush, which he adored. Rose, however, dreamed of being an artist. She loved to paint and was very good at it. He spent a lot of time peering over her shoulder, watching her work on piece after piece. He loved how elegant her fingers were as they stroked the pages and created such colorful images. His favorite was the one she did of him. He was smiling, and at first, he almost didn’t recognize himself, but this was his life now; a life filled with laughter and lots of smiling.
Charity had been put on bed-rest for the remainder of her pregnancy, and everyone knew this was bothersome to her. Raven, Rose, and the others tried to make regular visits to her room to keep her spirits up. The pack was relieved there were only a few months left before the due date. At least with Charity on bed-rest the drama had dwindled to just Grandmammy and the pack’s weird, toothless dog, Fang. Raven stayed annoyed at the dog because it constantly barked at him every time he entered the same room. He wished he could say he hated the dog, but the truth was, he had developed a liking for the whistling canine.
Rose’s parents didn’t allow her to spend time alone with Raven at his living quarters, so most of their time was spent at her home and with her family. They had fully accepted him, and this pleased him more than anything else.
* * *
A few months later, one night after dinner with her family, Raven took Sophia to the library where they could be alone. He had made sure everyone knew to clear out beforehand. He was nervous, and he thought she could sense it.
Sophia took Raven’s hand in hers, rubbing it softly with her thumb. “Raven, is everything okay? You seem anxious about something. Is it Eli? I’ve noticed that he’s been sneaking off a lot lately. Have you noticed too? Is that what’s bothering you?”
He shook his head. “No. I mean, yes, I have noticed, but I am not worried about him. I think perhaps he has set his sights on a particular young woman. Although, I cannot be totally sure.”
“Oh. Okay. That’s good. I guess.”
Raven found his nerve. He faced Sophia and knelt in front of her, his eyes becoming moist instantly. “Sophia, you must know that I adore you with all that is in me. I felt dead inside before I met you, but now I feel alive again. And that is all due to you. I want to spend every moment of my future with you. Please, say that you will become my bride—my real bride. Sophia Rose Jameson, will you marry me?”
She hesitated for a moment, her eyes growing wide as she processed what he was asking. She swallowed hard and then squealed. “Yes, yes, yes! Of course, I’ll marry you!”
Raven pulled her up into his arms and swung her around. Before she could say a word, he was kissing her with all the passion he had held at bay since their very first meeting. His lips moved over hers with purpose, but he somehow managed to restrain himself, although it was the hardest thing he had ever done. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted anyone, but their time would come…and soon.
* * *
Rose felt him restraining himself from giving in to her fully. He knew she wanted to wait until their wedding day to be intimate, and she knew he would honor that at all cost. He was an amazing man; a man with so much tenderness and vulnerability that he hid very well, but she knew it was there. She didn’t allow herself to worry too much about her future with him. She wanted children, but tha
t was an unknown when it came to them. She also knew he was immortal and she wasn’t. Yes, she would age slower after mating, but no one really knew anything about what would happen with the mating of a vampire and a werewolf. Most things they would just have to discover together. And for now, that seemed just fine with her.
Chapter Ten
Raven’s dreams were coming true. In a few hours Sophia Rose Jameson would finally become his bride. He hadn’t believed this day would ever come. There was a time when he thought he was destined to live this cruel life alone—forever. But, as Charity’s God, and now his God, would have it, fate had dealt him a sweet hand, and one he would cherish with all he possessed. He would not mess this one up, and he would protect this woman, and his new life, with his own.
Rose had finally, but reluctantly, agreed to an outdoor/daytime wedding. Eli had let it slip that she’d always dreamed of a lovely, sunny outdoor wedding. He knew she had changed those dreams to accommodate him—to protect him. But he couldn’t have that. It was his job to protect her, not the other way around. Besides, they would actually be safer from his old coven of vampires if the wedding was during the daytime hours. His new, crazy wolf pack were sparing no expense in shielding him from any and all sun rays, including plans to drive him to the ceremony, located in the lovely Windrake Mountain Park, in the darkest tinted car he’d ever seen. Was it even legal for them to be that dark? He didn’t really care. As long as he made it to the site on time to marry the woman of his dreams.
Raven smiled as he thought of his new family. He never would have imagined this new life of his. He used to think that maybe he was crazy for even considering joining this pack, but now he knew better. He was just blessed, plain and simple.
He was still smiling, adjusting his tie in the mirror, when Charity burst into his room without even knocking. “Raven!”
He spun to face her, recognizing the fear possessing her lovely face. “What is it?” His gut twisted with dread.
“Rose is gone!”
He stiffened. “What do you mean ‘gone’?”
“I went into her room to help her finish dressing and she was gone! We’re searching the facility now!”
She flew from the room with Raven hot on her heels. She was fast, with her new powers given to her by the triplets within her, but too soon Raven blurred past in a whirlwind that caused her dark hair to whip around her.
Moments later, Levi and Eli had caught up to both of them and they were all searching every closet, corner, and doorway. They were just running through the lobby when they all came to an abrupt stop, recognizing laughter coming from the wing to the left. They peered around at each other in confusion before the realization dawned. In unison, they bolted down the hall and into the room, freezing at what they saw next. Rose was sitting at a table with, of all people, Grandmammy, laughing hysterically while Grandmammy topped off her tiny shot glass with a dark liquid they all recognized. And before any of them could stop her, she downed her drink with eagerness.
Raven turned paler, if that were possible.
“Grandmammy! What are you doing?” Levi, Charity, and Eli shouted in unison.
“Oh, just givin’ her a somethin’ to calm her nerves. She was shakin’ worse than a bloody stump in an alligator pond, she was. My moonshine will cure anythin’ from a cough to the flu, it will.”
Rose burst into a fit of giggles as she shoved her glass in for another refill.
“Oh no you don’t!” They all said, racing in to take her glass.
Raven finally snapped into action, taking Rose by the arm and pulling her up and into his arms. “Let us get you out of here.”
She stumbled, giggling as Charity took her other arm and together they led her out.
Rose peered up at Raven. “Oh, Raven, you look so handsome.” Then she did the unthinkable—she burst into tears.
Chapter Eleven
“Here, take this,” Charity said, shoving a bowl of popcorn in Raven’s arms. She knew he was addicted to the stuff.
Staring blankly into space, he shoveled the tasty snack into his mouth—one handful after another.
Okay, so the situation seemed serious, but Charity had been through worse. She could help these two through this. Couldn’t she? “It’ll be okay. You’ll see. She’s on her third cup of coffee. She’ll be fine by the wedding.” Charity was saying the words but she wasn’t buying any of them—and it seemed neither was anyone else. She glanced around at the faces surrounding them; Eli, Hector, Josh, Ashley, Irena, Joseph, Mr. and Mrs. Jameson, and finally, Levi. He gave her a sympathetic smile which she returned. But she had worked too hard to get these two people together to let a stupid thing like the bride being hammered disrupt things. There would be a wedding even if she had to hold the bride in place herself. She glanced again at the usually strong Raven, still staring blankly while shoving more popcorn in his mouth, and was spurred into action.
“Okay, let’s get this show on the road.” She walked over to Rose and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s take you to get dressed. Ashley, Mrs. Jameson, can you two help me?” The two women joined Charity and together they ushered Rose away.
* * *
Rose’s vision was still slightly blurred as she watched the women dress her, careful not to jerk her too hard. She wasn’t able to be of much help yet. “What was in that drink that crazy old woman gave me?” she slurred, then giggled.
“It’s not your fault, Rose,” Ashley began, “Grandmammy makes the strongest moonshine anywhere around, and she loves to share it with any willing body that she thinks might have an ailment.”
Rose studied this Ashley girl. She was very cute, with short, blonde, cropped hair, and she was pregnant as well, although not as far along as Charity. She remembered hearing that Josh, Levi’s beta, and Ashley were having a little girl. They were naming her Glorianna. Glory was for what they felt God deserved for blessing them, and Anna, Charity’s middle name, was a way to honor her best friend, a name Ashley said she always loved. As Rose continued to study her, she decided that she definitely liked this girl. After all, she was helping her into her panties, all the while chatting animatedly about something completely irrelevant. This girl was perky beyond reason, but she still liked her.
“So, do you guys know if vampires can have babies?”
The question obviously caught them by surprise based on the way they were looking around at each other. Charity was the one to answer. “Well, you see, Rose. Umm, actually, no. I’m sorry, but they can’t have children.” She said frankly.
Rose shrugged. “Thanks for being honest with me.”
“Rose,” Charity began, “you and Raven have a special love and connection. You have been gifted with each other. Some people never have that. Try to focus on that. Okay?” She smiled and squeezed Rose’s hand.
This touched Rose deeply. “Okay. Thanks, Charity. I appreciate that.” She started giggling again. “Did you know I used to be jealous of you? I thought Raven was in love with you. I still think he has strong feelings for you that even he doesn’t truly understand.”
“Well, there is only one woman for Raven, and it’s you, Rose. He loves you very much. He would do anything to protect you. I hope you know that.”
The mood had turned serious, but Rose did know that what Charity spoke was the truth. Raven would die to protect her. She knew that if she didn’t know anything else.
Chapter Twelve
The music began, and by the time her father took her gently by the arm, and planted a sweet kiss on her cheek, Rose was finally sober enough to walk straight. She would have to remember to steer clear of that strange Grandmammy Goodfeeling. She peered over and spotted the woman seated by the back. She quickly smiled a strange, toothy grin. Was something wrong with her dentures? She thought they looked as if they didn’t fit quite right. Someone cleared their throat pulling Rose back into the moment.
Raven was tucked deep into the gazebo, out of the reach of the sun’s rays, and Rose couldn’t enjoy the view unt
il she was all the way inside. Once inside, she marveled at how handsome he was, with his dark tux, so striking against his pale skin and dark eyes. He smiled then, setting her nerve-endings on fire. She couldn’t believe it. Was this man really hers?
He took her hand and gathered her to his side. She glanced up into his deep, passionate eyes, and she knew things would be forever different from that very moment on. And she was right.
* * *
“Okay, let’s get this meeting started,” Levi said, “Raven, you coming?”
Raven barely looked up from his phone as he held up his finger to indicate he needed one more minute. He wanted to touch base with Sophia before the meeting began, but she wasn’t answering her phone. She knew how important it was to be accessible after the incident with Kyle. Her safety was more important to him than anything, and if he couldn’t reach her, he wouldn’t be able to function properly.
Jordan rushed in, throwing his backpack on the table. He was always late to these things. As soon as Raven spotted him, he rushed over to inquire. “Jordan, did you see Sophia this afternoon?” He didn’t want to alarm anyone, but keeping the anxiousness from his voice wasn’t easy for him.
Jordan shrugged. “Oh, yeah. I saw her after school. She seemed fine to me.”
Raven suspected that Jordan might still be slightly sore over not winning Sophia for himself. “Oh. Well, thank you.”
Raven continued to pace even as Levi began the meeting.
“Does anyone know where Eli is? He’s missed three of these meetings already,” Levi remarked. “Raven, do you know where he is?”
Raven was pulled back into reality then. “No. I am sorry, but I do not know where Eli is today. He has been gone all day long. I am sorry, Levi, but I must go. I fear something has delayed Sophia, and I am concerned. I will try to hurry back.”
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