Charity Rising (Charity Series Book 2) (10 page)

Hector’s expression was pained and confused. “It’s true I have not seen her with anyone but you, Sir.”

I ran to Levi, grabbing his face in my hands. “See! Look at me. I love you more than my own life. I would die before I would ever betray you.

How can you not know that after al we’ve been through? How can you question me like this?”

His expression was also fil ed with pain and confusion as he peered down at me. He whispered, his eyes becoming moist, “Charity, the

scent is al over you. This guy, whoever he was, had his hands al over you.”

“Screw the scent!” I screamed. “It’s yours!”

“I’m sorry, Charity. I want to believe you with al my heart, but our decision is unanimous. It’s not my scent. I don’t have a choice.” He lowered

his face, covering it with his hands and sighed. “Take her, Josh.”

Josh approached, taking my arm gently.

“Levi, please! You are the one who had your hands al over me! You came to my room after school while your parents were meeting with the

principal! Please remember!”

He looked at me then, disbelief in his sad eyes. “Charity, I didn’t come to your room. I was with my parents during that entire meeting with Mr.

Lewis. They wouldn’t let me come to you afterwards, they were so mad.”

I shook my head, trying to make sense of the confusion. “No—that’s not true! Levi, that’s not true!” The tears streamed down my cheeks as

Josh began leading me out of the room. “Levi! You have to believe me! Why have you forgotten? Levi! Wait!”

* Levi’s POV *

My heart broke at the sight of my wife being led away, tears, pain, and confusion in her eyes. It kil ed me to hurt her.

“Arrrr!!!” I growled, punching the wal , leaving a deep hole. Charity would never hurt me, never betray me. I knew that, but yet there was no

other explanation. I felt helpless, a painful feeling when related to Charity. It was my job to protect her, to comfort her, to be there for her. At that moment I couldn’t be any of those things, and it was kil ing me. But the scent??
I couldn’t just forget about the scent, could I?

I paced angrily about the room. There had to be something I could do. I had to go to her.

I started out of the room in pursuit, when my elite stepped in front of me, blocking my exit. “What are you guys doing?”

“We’re intervening. You can’t go after her, Levi. It’s the law. You can’t be with her until this mess is cleared up.”

“I don’t care anymore! I have to ease her pain! You saw her! I have to!!”

“Listen,” Jordan began, “we know it hurts, and maybe she real y is innocent. But until we find out what is going on, you have to stay away from

her. I’m sorry, Levi.”

I sighed, gripping my hair in frustration, but acknowledging defeat. I knew they were right. I couldn’t go to her until the confusion was al cleared up. I had to believe she would be strong enough, but could I be? I looked up at them then. “Fine! Then find that scent!!” I plowed past them and down the hal . I burst through my bedroom door, slamming it shut behind me. Suddenly, Charity’s hurt expression came back to me, her eyes fil ed with tears

and confusion, and I was the cause. I gripped my chest as the violent bolt shot pain through my heart. I should’ve been thankful that the bed was

there to catch my fal —but I wasn’t.

* Charity’s POV *

Josh led me by the arm careful y through the facility and into the garage. I was so distraught he had to pick me up and set me in his car. I

cried al the way home. Levi’s expression haunted me. He was so confused and unsure. He hated hurting me, and yet he felt betrayed.

When we pul ed into my driveway Josh final y spoke. “I don’t know exactly what’s going on, Charity, but I’l find out. Levi real y wants to believe you, and so do I. I’ve known him my whole life, and I know he’s extremely conflicted. He believes you—and then he doesn’t.”

I wiped my eyes and looked over at him, noting compassion in his sleepy eyes. “What’s gonna happen now?”

“Wel , you’re forbidden to enter the Drake House again. But try not to worry. I don’t know how, but this wil al work out—somehow. I just know

it wil . Before I go—can I ask you—were you with someone else?”

I gaped at him. “No!! I could never be with anyone else but Levi—never!”

“Okay. I don’t know whose scent is on you, but it’s a werewolf’s, so we’l find him eventual y. He can’t get far.”

“Josh, it was Levi’s scent! I’ve been with no one but Levi! How many times do I have to tel you?!”

“Okay, please calm down. We’l figure this al out, I promise. Now go inside, and again, try not to worry about this.”

I opened the car door and entered the house quietly in order to avoid explaining anything to my mother, who was in her room, probably

changing out of her work clothes.

I strol ed into my room and plopped down on my bed where despair would’ve consumed me had it not been for the anger rising up inside of

me. I did not betray Levi, and I didn’t know how I was gonna fix it, but that’s what I had to do.

I grabbed the phone out of my back pocket and cal ed Hector. “Hey, it’s me. What’s going on?”

“Wel , Levi’s a mess. After you left he went into his room and hasn’t surfaced, despite attempts to talk to him. Everyone is in shock, and no

one knows what to do. Are you al right?”

“I don’t know yet. I don’t have time to think about that right now. I have to figure out what’s going on.”

“Mrs. Charity, I haven’t seen you with anyone else, but I have to ask—have you been with anyone else?”

“Why does everyone keep asking me this?! No!! I have not been with anyone else, and I never wil , got it?!”

“Yes ma’am. But the scent wasn’t Levi’s scent.”

“Yes it was!!”

“Okay, Mrs. Charity. I’l help you with this. Whatever you need me to do, just ask.”

I sighed. “Thanks, Hector. What I need you to do right now is keep an eye on Levi. Let me know if you see any suspicious behavior.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Afterwards I cal ed Ashley and fil ed her in on everything. Along with everyone else, she was in total shock, but also agreed to help me.

I heard a tap on my window and jumped up, running to it and jerking it open. “Levi?”

“No, my love. Sorry, it is just I.”

My shoulders slumped forward. “Oh, Raven.”

His left eyebrow arched. “I am sorry to disappoint.”

“No. Come in.” I plopped on the bed, sighing.

“Are you al right, love?” he asked, reaching to take my hand in his.

I looked up into his deep, dark eyes and marveled at the compassion there. Before I knew it I was in his arms. He held me close as I wept.

At school the next day Levi was a no-show. I knew if I could just talk to him I could make him believe me. But I couldn’t talk to him if I couldn’t see him, and going to the Drake House was out of the question, seeing as how I was exiled and al that.

Focusing on my schoolwork was impossible.

At lunch I sat at my usual table with al of my usual friends. Josh, Jared, Jordan, Ian, and Cody never spoke to me, but they weren’t exactly

ignoring me either, though the mood was somber, to say the least. I wanted to ask about Levi, but in doing so would draw attention from my other

friends, and I didn’t think I was ready to answer their questions just yet.

Too late.

“So, Charity,” Delaney began, “where’s your shadow today? It’s odd seeing you guys apart.”

I looked up in surprise and fumbled for an answer. “Oh—uh—wel .”

“He wasn’t feeling good this morning,” Josh said, putting me out of my misery.

I offered up a smile of thanks, and he returned it. How odd. They were treating me rather good for someone they suspected of betraying their

alpha.

At once something occurred to me. Levi once mentioned werewolves could sense if someone was sick. I wondered if that was because the

scent changed. I brightened up at my new theory and headed out of the cafeteria to cal Hector.

“Hector, hey. How’s he doing?”

“He’s stil locked in his room. No one’s seen him yet.”

“Not since yesterday—since I left?”

“That’s right.”

“But shouldn’t someone check on him?”

“He needs his space right now.”

“But what if something’s wrong?”

“He’l be fine, Mrs. Charity.”

“But—”

“He’s fine.”

Suddenly I remembered my earlier thought. “Hector, if a werewolf was sick, would his scent change at al ?”

“Um, females’ scents change when they’re pregnant, and when they’re marked, but I’ve never heard of a male werewolf’s scent changing.”

“But could it be possible?”

“Are you suggesting that you believe Levi is sick?”

“I’m not sure, of course, but his behavior has been odd lately. He’s been acting unusual and forgetting important things—things we’ve

discussed in detail—things he should never forget. Could it be possible? And that would certainly explain the scent change.”

“Wel , I guess it could be possible, and the scent did smel a lot like his, so maybe that makes some sense. I’l look into it.”

“Thanks, Hector. I real y appreciate it.”

I hung up the phone with renewed hope. Maybe the mystery was closer to being solved after al . Al I had to do was be patient. But I real y

hated the idea of Levi suffering. I glanced down at my connection symbol—blue as ever. As long as that was true everything was stil al right.

The rest of the week came and went and stil no sign of Levi. Josh was col ecting his schoolwork so he wouldn’t get behind. Obviously they

had given the teachers some good excuse as to why he was absent. I was worrying, of course. I hadn’t talked to Levi in four days, and the

separation was beginning to take its tol . And if I was feeling it then so was Levi.

“Ash, do you think there’s some way you could help me sneak into the Drake House to check on Levi?”

“Oh no, Charity. I’m not messing with the werewolves. We could get in serious trouble.”

“Ash, they love us.”

“I know, but they also think you betrayed their alpha. They banned you from there. If I help you it could be bad. What if they ban me from there

as wel ?”

“I’ve got to see Levi, Ash. I just have to.”

“I can’t, Charity.”

“Please—as more than my friend—as my sister. Please.”

“I can’t.”

“Something’s wrong with him. I can feel it. Something’s definitely wrong. Remember the day of our wedding? I can sense it. Ashley, please.”

She stared at me then, and I watched her resolve break. She sighed. “Fine.”

“Thank you.”

“But I have no idea how we’re gonna do this.”

“You leave that to me.”

“I real y hate it when you say that.”

“It’s a good thing I’m not claustrophobic or we’d have a real problem,” I said right before Hector shoved my head down and closed the lid.

“Just remember who insisted on doing this,” Ashley said.

“Fine, but drive fast, wil ya? On second thought don’t, I might get sick and vomit.”

The ride to the Drake House was bumpy and far more uncomfortable than I had original y expected when I hatched this stupid plan. On top of

that I was covered in smel y laundry Hector had insisted would mask my scent, but I had little choice. I had to see Levi. And if I was right, he needed to see me too.

“Okay, we’re here,” Hector whispered. “Now remember, no matter what happens don’t make a sound.”

“Fine,” I whispered out of the tiny hole he’d made by my head so that I could breath. I could actual y see out of it too, though just barely.

Hector was carrying the chest across the facility with Ashley by his side. When they came upon Josh, Ashley broke away and went to distract

him, while Hector continued on.

We had just entered the lobby when Tosha, Hector’s wife, approached.
Uh oh.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“Oh, just some laundry Irena asked me to take to the Laundry Room.”

Up until that moment I never knew Hector was such a bad liar, and I think she knew it too.

She was silent for a moment, and I began to sweat as the silence dragged on. I could see the Alpha Wing through my little peephole, and I

was getting antsy with anticipation. He was so close I could almost feel him.

“I need your help for a minute,” Tosha said. “Could you come with me? Someone else can take that for you.”

“Wel , I told her I would take it. Let me just get rid of this, and then I’l come and help you with whatever you need.”

“Don’t be sil y. It’l only take a minute.”

He was reluctant, but sat the chest down. “Fine!” he said loudly for me to hear, “but I’l leave it here and come back for it in a minute!”

Good grief! Why had I insisted on him helping me again? Oh yeah, he’s the only one who can carry me in a chest full of smelly clothes

across the facility without straining.

I listened intently, hearing no one. With my heart pounding wildly in my throat, I slowly opened the chest and peeked out—no one in sight. I

flung open the lid and sprang from my hiding place. I heard murmurs behind me and turned to see Jordan and Jared coming from the R Wing and

headed in my direction. Without further hesitation I bolted down the Alpha Wing, heading straight for Levi’s room.

“Charity, stop! You’re not supposed to be here! Stop!”

I didn’t. I kept running, pul ing the key from my pocket and fumbling with it. I reached the door and stuck the key in the lock, but before I could turn it they were on me.

“Levi! Levi!” I screamed in desperation.

“You’re not supposed to be here! You can’t go in there!” Jordan said, pul ing me from the door.

“I have to see him, Jordan! Levi! I have to see you! Levi!”

I continued to scream and fight until I was at the end of the hal way. I heard a click as Levi’s door unlocked and slowly crept open.

“Levi!”

Hope sprang to life. He was coming out to see me.

Jared and Jordan pul ed me into the lobby where a guilty-looking Hector joined us. I struggled to see passed them and into the hal where I