Raven's Rose (Charity Series Book 3) (17 page)

             
“Well,” she continued, drawing my mind back to her words, “our pack joined them in the fight. We defeated the vampires that day, but sadly, Wesley’s father, along with the Westside Pack’s alpha, better known to you as Levi’s father, were both killed. Wesley had secretly snuck out to watch the battle and witnessed the brutal death of his father.”

             
I gasped, putting my hand to my mouth. I had heard about the deaths of both of their fathers, but I didn’t know Wesley had witnessed it. “But you said you were witness to the moment his heart broke?” I questioned.

             
“Yes, well, after that Levi and his pack became part of our pack, as you know. Wesley began clinging to his grandfather, my husband, Clark. This was something he needed to do, and I tried telling my husband this, but Clark felt a strong draw to the sweet spirited Levi. Clark took both boys under his wing, but it was clear to most, including Wesley, that he favored Levi. One day, Wesley had gotten an A on his class assignment and was eager to show his Papa Windsor. He burst into his office, determined to show off his work, but Papa Windsor was in the middle of showing Levi some fighting moves. Wesley tried several times to get his grandfather’s attention, but my Clark never acknowledged Wesley at all. Levi also noticed but felt helpless. I was in the office that day watering the few plants he had allowed to almost die and witnessed the entire thing. I saw the grief and pain in Wesley’s eyes that day as the moment sunk in and he knew he had lost his grandfather too. From that day to this, Wesley has been filled with many emotions, anger most of all. I tried to fill the void the best I could, but it wasn’t enough. My husband didn’t see what I saw. And after Wesley began acting out, it was natural for my husband to grow closer to Levi and pull further away from Wesley.” She lowered her head, shaking it sadly. “He was never the same after that day.” Her eyes filled with tears. I gently laid my hand on top of hers. She glanced up at me and smiled, squeezing my hand in return.

             
“Thanks for sharing that with me. I still don’t like him.” Nana laughed at that. “But at least I understand him a little bit better.”

“You’re welcome, sweetie.”

“Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t you show me around your greenhouse? After all, if I’m going to be working with you, I guess I better get familiar with things.”

             
She brightened, straightening her hat with one hand and wiping at her tears with the other. “Well, I guess you’re right. Let’s just do that.”

             
I felt happy just knowing I had made her feel better. Maybe this place wasn’t so bad after all.

 
                                  Chapter Seven

Hope

Nana Butterfly had spent the day walking me through her greenhouse, which she had named Petals, and pointed out all her favorite flowers and plants. As much as I was beginning to like this woman, I had to admit, she was very strange. I tried to remember all she had told me, what the name of the flowers were, how to take care of them and things like that, but it was overwhelming to me. I had never really cared about keeping plants alive before. After all, as werewolves, we
did
live underground. It was hard enough keeping myself alive. Although, I had to admit to myself, it was nice being surrounded by so many beautiful and colorful things. There was a moment when I actually felt blissful, but it was only a fleeting moment, and I didn’t dwell on it.

             
My mind kept going back to Wesley and the story Nana Butterfly had shared with me. It affected me more than I let on. I felt sad for the little boy who watched his father die, and then to be rejected by the only other father figure he had left. And not only was he rejected, but he was looked over, as if he didn’t even exist. Sadly, I understood that feeling very well.

             
That evening, Nana Butterfly took me to the dining hall where dinner was being served. She let me sit with her and her husband, as well as others she had introduced to me but I had already forgotten their names. I found myself studying this Clark guy, the one who had passed Wesley over, and discovered that I didn’t like him that much. Why? I didn’t know. I was still staring at him when I heard a commotion and turned to see Wesley entering the room. He was excited and was laughing and high-fiving his friends and elite. I had never seen him like this and my eyes were drawn to him. His black hair was messier than normal, the spikes leaning toward the left side of his head, and his tall, muscular form was dressed in a hugging blue t-shirt and faded jeans. Black and white converse finished the look.
It was a nice look
, I thought before shaking my head, desperate to shake those crazy thoughts loose. He began making his way to our table and froze mid-stride for only a second when he recognized me, but then continued cautiously. I quickly went back to my food, trying to ignore the fact that he had taken a seat at my table.

             
He cleared his throat. “Hello, Miss Mason. I hope you’re feeling better tonight.”

             
Everyone at the table had quieted as if they were hanging on every word. I glanced up at him to make sure he wasn’t being sarcastic and found that he seemed sincere. “Oh, well, I’m doing much better, thanks.” I managed a smile but just a small one. I almost choked when he changed seats to the one open next to me. I peered up at him and recognized nervousness as he first looked to his grandmother before addressing me.

“Uh, I just wanted to say I’m sorry for the way I behaved last night. I think both of us were on edge, and it angered me that you would dye your hair just to irritate me. But now that I know you’re a true redhead I totally understand.”

I snapped to attention. “What is that supposed to mean?” I demanded, my anger returning in a flash.

He noticed my shift in emotion and also seemed to get angry. Nana Butterfly cleared her throat, trying to grab his attention but it didn’t work. “I just meant that the red hair explains the attitude.”

I turned to face him full on. “And what exactly explains your attitude, huh? Is the big bad wolf afraid he’s met his match?”

He snapped. “You are no match for me! I am the alpha of this place!” He motioned around the room.  “Everyone around here listens to me. Maybe you should too.”

My face turned red with anger, and I ignored all the curious faces fixed on the two of us. “And just when I thought this place had potential.”

If he was in his wolf form I would have seen the hair rise on his back. “And just what in the hell does that mean?” he demanded, his voice rising.

I put my hands firmly on both hips. “It means, you overgrown pig-headed dolt, that this place would have potential if everyone didn’t listen to you!” I snapped.

His eyes went wide and he began shaking his head around. “Oh yeah! And who are they gonna listen to? You?”
             

We both stood and began yelling at each other with arms flailing, and I stood my ground despite him towering over me by more than a foot. Within seconds, his elite came, and with great effort, ushered him from the room as we continued to yell.
If this guy thought he was a match for me, he was in for a rude awakening, and I couldn’t wait to see his face when that realization hit him.

                                Chapter Eight

                           
           Wesley

I paced back and forth just outside of the dining hall. My hands were balled tightly into fists. My elite were trying to make me calm down but it wasn’t working at all. My head jerked up when Nana exited the room and came to a stop in front of me. “I tried to talk to her, Nana, but you saw how she was! She’s unreasonable! She’s nothing but trouble! Trouble! I should send her back to her father in Alaska!”

             
Nana was calm when she took my face in her hands. “That was the poorest attempt at apologizing I’ve ever seen. Now, you need to try again.”

             
“What?” I yelled. “No way! She needs to apologize to me! She’s the one who went crazy in there! No way, Nana. No way!”

             
She took my face in her hands once again, looking me sternly in the eyes. “Okay, calm down and listen to me. You were just as unreasonable as she was. The two of you are very much alike, and you’re both wounded. Now, you will benefit more from being friends than enemies. Am I right?”

             
I had to admit, she made it sound reasonable. “Fine. I’ll give it another try, but if she goes all crazy on me, I’m done with her. Got it?”

             
She smiled, rubbing my arm gently. “Of course, sugah. You’re doing the right thing.”

             
It took over an hour or so for me to cool off before heading to Petals, my Nana’s greenhouse, to give my apology one last shot. Once I entered the door to Petals, I heard music. As I got closer to Hope’s door, I realized she was playing her guitar. I stood there for a few minutes listening. She was really good, but the song seemed sad. She stopped and I wondered if she knew I was there. Suddenly, she opened the door and plowed right into my chest.

             
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Her eyes went wide when she realized it was me. She crossed her arms over her chest. “What are you doing here?”

             
Okay, here we go
, I thought. “Okay, here’s the thing. I’m not really all that good at apologies.”

             
“No, you’re really not,” she said sarcastically.

             
I narrowed my eyes at her.

             
“Okay, fine. I won’t give you a hard time.” She gestured with her hand. “Go ahead.”

             
I was lightly kicking the door post with my foot and looking at her through my lashes, hoping the puppy dog look worked.  So far nothing else had. “Well, I’m sorry for earlier. It got out of hand. I mean,
I
got out of hand. And I guess I haven’t made this transition very easy for you. Will you forgive me—please?”

             
She studied me for a moment, and I had no idea what she was thinking. I shifted my feet nervously. This was clearly out of my comfort zone.

             
“Okay. I guess I forgive you.”

             
I huffed. “You guess?”

             
She laughed. “I’m kidding. I forgive you.” She looked at her feet. “I guess I’m sorry too.”

             
By her expression that was harder for her to say than even me. “Well, the guys and I are going to Happy’s for ice cream. You wanna come along?” I shrugged. “You know, get out of this place for a while?”

             
“Um. What’s Happy’s?”

“It’s an ice cream parlor located in the nearby city of Happy. It’s not too far, maybe twenty minutes or so. We’ve been hanging out there some lately.”

She smiled a little. “Oh, okay, sure. Just let me get my jacket.” She walked into her room and returned moments later wearing a black form fitting jacket that accented her slight curves. I couldn’t help checking her out, but I tried not to be too obvious. She was wearing skinny jeans that were a normal shade of blue, not black like before. Her fiery red hair was in soft natural waves just touching her shoulders, and her lovely round face was pale with just a touch of pink on her cheeks and lips. And of course there was the adorable light dusting of freckles across her nose.

“Are you ready then?” I asked.

“I think so.”

I motioned for her to take the lead, which I thought might please her and followed at a safe pace behind her. I caught sight of Nana peeking around the corner, hiding behind one of her huge plants. She was giving me thumbs up. I rolled my eyes and kept walking.

                                 Chapter Nine

  
                                        Hope

Thirty minutes later, Wesley, Li, Andrew, and I strolled through the doors of Happy’s Ice Cream Parlor. The atmosphere of the room seemed cozy and friendly, with cheerful faces and laughter surrounding us. We took our seats at a booth near the front. Andrew said he liked to people watch. I thought about my friend Cathy. She often said the same thing. Sometimes we’d end up at the mall just so she could people watch. She said people were much more entertaining than watching T.V. I missed her. Many times since arriving I’d wanted to message her but my dad confiscated my phone and iPod weeks ago after my fight with Amanda in the school parking lot. It had been my third fight with her within the year. She had been bullying Cathy a lot this year, and I couldn’t allow that. Even though I’m smaller than Amanda, I gave her something to fear—redheads. I smiled thinking about it.