Charity Rising (Charity Series Book 2) (22 page)

I stepped through the door. “Levi.”

He turned and froze. “Charity?”

I ran to him, throwing my arms around his neck and holding on as if my life depended on it. He pul ed me against him and held me so tight I

could barely breathe. “I’m sorry, Levi. I know you need me too. I haven’t been there for you, but I’m here now, and I love you.”

“Oh, baby, I love you too—so much.”

I pul ed my head back and peered into his beautiful eyes, my feet stil dangling off the ground. “Everything’s going to be fine. I know that now.

These boys are going to have everything they need. And we’l do our best by them, right?”

He smiled. “Right. Everything is going to be just fine.”

With that I smiled and hugged him again.

He sat me down on my feet and proceeded in tel ing me that Doc was concerned about the affect three boys would have on my health. He

had come up with a plan to hopeful y help. He’d been charting everything I’d been eating and the affects it’s had on me, and came up with a menu of safe foods and ones to avoid at al costs—rare meat to name one. He had also been working on a multivitamin especial y for me so that I’d keep

what I needed as wel as meet the needs of three babies. I had to hand it to him, he definitely had his work cut out for him—no doubting that. I was at once thinking much better about him as far as my mom was concerned.
Maybe I should be rooting for him after all.

“Levi, I think we need to put emphasis on our wedding. With triplets I’l start showing sooner. I want to be married before I start showing.”

“Of course. Do you stil want to have a double wedding?”

“Absolutely. That way we can share the spotlight. I don’t want the sole focus to be on us. It won’t seem so strange that we’re marrying so

young if our best couple is doing it along with us.”

“Good thought. Let’s get up with Josh and Ashley and get to work on this right away. How soon would you like this to happen?”

“Is a month too soon?”

“No. We planned our first one in a little over a week, remember?”

“How could I forget? That was the most stressful week of my life.”

“Yes, for me too.”

I gave him an incredulous look. “How was it stressful for you?”

“I had to deal with you.”

“Oh yeah.” Then we both laughed.

The week that fol owed was great. The eating program Doc created for me was working, and I felt fabulous. I had energy, the good kind, and

was feeling strong. Levi even commented that he noticed a change, no surprise there.

Ashley, Irena, and I were knee deep in wedding preparations and yet I was feeling playful. One of the highlights of my day was playing hide-

and-seek with Hector, though I’m sure he’d disagree. I would disappear and he would be frantic to find me. He was more on alert than usual so

losing sight of me caused him some anxiety, which I found amusing.
He’s always so serious
.

Everyone had been informed of the news that we were expecting triplets and the place was abuzz with excitement. Most seemed to think it

was a sign of great things to come. Never before had an alpha had male triplets, or triplets of any kind for that matter. I don’t believe in al the sign bul , but I do believe that God has a plan for al of us, and in that moment, I chose to believe that it was just the beginning of the great things He had in store for Levi and I.

I was in search for Levi when I spotted Mr. Bones talking to himself in the hal way. “Mr. Bones, have you seen Levi?”

He pointed down the hal and said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and

many enter through it. But smal is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

I stared at him for a moment. “Okay. Thanks.” I took off running ahead until I spotted him. “Levi!”

“Oh, there you are.”

I stopped in front of him, stood on my tiptoes, and whispered in his ear. “I’l race you to the room.” Then I was gone. It only took him a second

to respond, and then he was on my heels.

I bounded into the room and col apsed on the bed, laughing. Levi was only seconds behind me. We were both slightly out of breath. “You let

me win. And I love it so much when you catch me,” I teased.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Oh stop.”

“No, Charity, I didn’t let you win. You real y out ran me.” He had a look of amazement on his face.

“Real y?”

He laughed. “Real y.”

I grimaced. “Great, does this mean we have to go see Doc again?”

“Absolutely.”

“Okay,” Doc began, “here is what I think is happening. I think these babies are somehow passing their strengths and abilities along to you,

Charity. I’ve never heard of this before, but like we’ve said before, you
are
the first human to ever carry an alpha male, and three of them on top of that.”

“Let me get this straight,” Levi said, “you think the babies are making Charity strong and fast? That somehow they’re passing along werewolf

strengths through their blood connection?”

“Yes.”

“Wel ,” I interrupted, “I did hear Levi tel Hector yesterday to keep and extra eye on me. And I thought that was kind of weird.”

Levi was looking at me in amazement.

“And why was that weird?” Doc asked.

“Because Levi was in his office with the door shut.”

“Wel , that’s not that unusual.”

“It is considering he was in the A Wing, and I was in the R Wing, walking on the treadmil .”

His mouth fel open. “I see your point. Let’s try something. Charity, come sit here at this table across from Levi. Now, I want you two to arm

wrestle.”

“Um, Doc, I wil not hurt my wife.”

“No, I want you to take it easy and test Charity’s strength.”

Levi wrapped his hand around mine and smiled. “Ready when you are, dear.”

I smirked. “Yes, of course, darling.”

I began to give it a little pressure to make sure Levi wouldn’t pul my arm out of its socket, when he didn’t I pul ed with al of my strength. Our arms began to move to my left. Levi pul ed, and then they went to my right. We danced this dance for a few minutes, but soon I began to tire. Final y, I gave one last ditched effort and pul ed hard, and Levi let me win. I knew this because of the wicked smile on his charming face.

“So, Levi, explain what happened.”

“Wel , I let her win, but it wasn’t easy. I thought she had me there a few times.”

“Real y?” I beamed.

“Hold on now. Don’t go getting any ideas. I’m stil the stronger of the two of us and you’d better remember that.”

I mock pouted, but in my mind I was already thinking of ways to take advantage of my strength, and he knew it.

“Wel , I think it’l be pretty cool to be strong for a change. I’m always the weakling around here. I like being fast too, but more than these, I like being able to hear secrets.”

“Now, Charity, you’l have to remember to be careful. You’re not use to being strong. You could hurt someone,” Levi said.

“If you mean you then you’re right. Doc, are we done here?”

“Um, yes.”

“Good. Come, Levi, let’s retire for the evening, shal we?”

“Anything my wife desires,” he said, taking my hand and leading me away.

As we walked down the hal way toward our room, whispering things we planned to do to each other, Irena approached. “Levi, dear, I hate to

interrupt you, but we have a problem with Grandmammy.”

“Great. What is it now?”

“Wel , people are gathering in her room claiming to have sore throats and such in order to drink some of her moonshine. I hear even some of

the younger pack are there as wel .”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, between his eyes. “Thanks, Mom. I’l handle this.”

When we entered the B Wing it was crowded with people stumbling around and laughing. “Uh oh. It looks like she’s giving this stuff to

whoever asks for it,” Levi said in frustration.

As we stepped into her room we spotted the younger members gathered around her while she looked down their throats.

“Grandmammy, may I have a word with you—alone please.”

“Of course, Leroy.”

“Everybody out!” he demanded, and everyone scattered as if someone yel ed, “GameStop is having a clearance sale!”.

When the conversation was over, the arrangement was that no one could have any of her now famous concoction, unless they had a

prescription from Doc.
I’m sure this is gonna please him greatly.

At breakfast Levi told everyone what Doc said about the babies giving me their strengths. They were in awe. Al of a sudden everyone was

looking at me like I was the queen of England or something. Even though it was creepy, I kind of liked it.
Finally, some respect
.

Levi, it seemed, was proud of me, like he’d married a werewolf after al . After the babies were born I’d return to my normal, boring self. I

hoped he wouldn’t be too terribly disappointed. Although I was afraid I might be more disappointed than him. Super powers were total y addictive. I hadn’t told Levi, but I had also developed somewhat of a spidey-sense, so to speak, and it seemed to be getting stronger by the day.

I was driving through the mountains on my way home from visiting Ashley, concentrating extra hard on obeying the speed limit, when

something darted out in front of me. I slammed on brakes, bringing the car to a screeching halt, causing my breathing to come fast and hard. I sat

there for a moment and peered out at the road. A dog suddenly stepped into view, his head down and tail between his legs. He was a dirty and

pitiful sight. I got out and went to him, kneeling down at his feet. He whimpered and put his paw in my hand. My heart melted as I gazed into his big, sad eyes. I knew Levi wouldn’t like it, but I listened to my heart and ushered the dog into my car.

I walked through the facility searching for Levi, the dog tight on my heels, and heard his voice coming from the lobby. When I came into view

he froze.

“What on earth have you done now?”

“This is our new pet to the pack,” I declared proudly.

“No, Charity. You already brought in a pet. Remember how much trouble that one caused—is stil causing?”

“Levi, this one is different.”

“Baby, we have twenty shift-changing werewolves in this place, why do we need a dog?”

“I didn’t say we needed
him
, but just look at him, he needs us. I’ve named him Fang. I think it’s appropriate for a dog belonging to

werewolves, don’t you?”

“Fang?”

We both glanced down at him, and he cocked his head and wagged his tail, his long tongue hanging out to the side. “Okay, so he doesn’t

look much like a Fang, but maybe if I feed him some red meat it’l toughen him up.”

“I don’t think so. Look at what it did for you.”

“Fine. You got a better name?”

He studied him for a minute, his eyes widening in amusement. “How ‘bout Gummy?”

“What?”

“He’s missing some of his teeth, Charity.”

“Oh no!” I knelt down and pul ed open his mouth. Levi was right. Two of his front teeth were missing. Thankful y not his canines or I’d never

live it down. “Poor thing. Probably lost them while attacking some wild animal, fighting for his life.”

“Yeah, more like he lost them from lack of use,” Levi murmured.

I covered Fang’s ears. “Sshh, he’l hear you. I don’t want him to have an inferiority complex. Do you think there is such a thing as doggy

dentists, and if so do they make doggy dentures?”

He actual y rol ed his eyes at me—rol ed—his—eyes. “Only you could find a toothless dog and name him Fang and expect him to protect a

pack of werewolves. Charity, you know I love you just the way you are. And I would never ask you to change, but you have got to stop rescuing every sad case you run into. I know you’re bored, and you’re stil trying to find your place here, but trust me, this is not the way. In case you haven’t noticed, we already have enough crazy creatures living here.”

“Fine, on one condition.”

He perked up. “Great. What condition?”

I put on the saddest face I could conjure up. “You let me keep him.”

“Charity, that dog needs to be put to sleep not brought into a pack of werewolves.”

I covered his ears again. “Maybe al he needs is to have a purpose. Maybe he can alert us to danger.”

Suddenly the dog perked up and began barking relentlessly.

Hmm, did he understand me?

At that exact moment Raven walked into view. I held on tight as the dog went berserk, growling and barking; although his bark made a

strange whistling sound. It must’ve been those missing teeth. One look from Raven’s piercing eyes and the dog hushed and laid down.

“Hmm, maybe he could be of some use after al ,” Levi said in amusement.

“Oh, Levi, thank you.” I hugged him.

Raven stared at us for a moment, looking at Fang, then us, then back to Fang again. “Does this mean we have adopted yet another helpless

animal?”

“It looks that way,” Levi responded grimly.

“Yes, and you two can thank me later,” I said, strutting proudly out the doorway, with Fang loyal y at my feet.

“I think she needs a hobby.” I heard Raven say to Levi.

“Sadly, I think she’s found one.” I heard Levi mumble.

I gave Fang a bath and took him into the kitchen where I mashed him up some leftovers and sat them at his feet. He gobbled them up in

minutes. Truth is he didn’t look so bad after a thorough bathing. He actual y looked quite good, a little skinny perhaps, but we could fix that right up.

Levi growled at Fang when he came into our room to find him sleeping on the end of the bed while I was reading. Fang jumped down, and

after three or four turnarounds, found a comfy spot on the floor beside me.

In the morning, at breakfast, everyone was enjoying our new pet. I was happy to see how accepted he was by most. That is until Barney burst