Chapter Nineteen
Levi watched the scene unfold before him.
Eli slashed the chains holding Rose to the tree and pulled her into his arms as he shifted into his human form. “I was so worried about you, Rose. Are you okay? Did they harm you?”
“I’m okay, Eli. I just have to see Raven.”
“Of course.” He picked her up and in seconds he lowered her to the ground at Raven’s feet. His eyes were barely open but his coloring was returning. Instead of a ghost pale, he was returning to a normal pale, and the pink was slowly returning to his lips. Levi’s blood was doing the trick and healing him quickly.
“Raven,” Rose whispered, touching her hand to his face in a delicate motion; careful not to harm him further.
His eyes opened fully then. He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “I am okay, my love. Now that you are free and here with me, I am okay.” He smiled, and the relief on Rose’s face was evident. Her face brightened and she seemed to be breathing more steadily. Levi could hear it. She was at peace until the next words were spoken.
“Levi,” Raven said, peering up at him, “Sophia and I must leave North Carolina as soon as we can.”
“What?” the entire pack said in unison, stopping what they were doing and staring in confusion.
“Sophia is with child. Griffin knew and he told my father, Julius, who is on his way here. When he finds this mess he will be angered and desperate to find me. He will want to destroy our child. He believes it to be an abomination. He will seek to destroy the three of us. We have to disappear. At least for a while until we feel it is safe to return. Do you understand?”
Levi was rubbing his chin, deep in thought. “Hmm, yes I think I do. And I agree. It isn’t safe for you here. We have a fellow pack in Alaska. You will be welcomed there—and safe. You’ll also have less sunlight to deal with so you’ll have more freedom. I’ll make contact with their alpha, Sergeant they call him, and for good reason. But he’s a good man—and a good friend to us.”
Raven took his hand. “Thank you, Levi, for everything. I don’t deserve it.”
Levi smiled. “You’re a friend, and now family as well. You deserve it and more. And you’re welcome.”
Levi noticed Wesley watching this exchange with seemingly curiosity. Something that was spoken intrigued him greatly, but he remained silent.
More than a dozen werewolves collected and piled the bodies of the dead vampires in the middle of the yard and set them ablaze. The others had shifted back into their human forms and were discussing the outcome. Twenty-five vampires were destroyed, including Griffin, their leader. The only ones left alive were Maurie, who somehow managed to escape though no one knew exactly how, and a female inside the house who was huddled in a corner, crying. The werewolves couldn’t bring themselves to harm her. This, of course was Cassie. Reluctantly, Levi let her go, knowing she would find, and join, Julius Vanderburg. Levi wasn’t worried about Julius. Too many vampires were destroyed. He knew he would most likely never be able to replenish the numbers needed to take his pack down. Julius would know their numbers were great, especially with them being joined by the Windsor pack.
Levi walked into the mansion to call Charity and let her know they found Raven and Rose, that everything was fine, and they would all be returning very soon. He knew her well enough by now to know she was pacing, anxiously awaiting news, despite the fact that she was supposed to be on bed-rest.
Afterwards, he dialed up the Mason pack from Alaska. “Sergeant Mason, this is Levi Drake.”
“Levi! What a nice surprise. How are things in North Carolina?”
“Things are good here. Um, Sergeant, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Of course. You know we’ll do anything we can for you guys. What’s up?”
Levi then proceeded in telling him of Raven and Rose’s situation, the kidnapping and battle, and finally the danger they were now in. “I was hoping you would take them in for a while until things are safe for them to come back here?”
“Sure. They can come here, but I have a favor in return.”
“Of course. If I can help, I will.”
“Well, I’m having some trouble with my daughter.”
“You mean Hope? The last time I saw her she was an angel, with long flowing hair and a lovely smile.”
He huffed. “Well, she’s all grown up now, or so she thinks. The long flowing hair is gone, replaced with choppy blue hair—all to piss me off. Anyway, I’ve tried everything. She won’t listen to me; she’s hanging with a dangerous crowd, and the harder I become, the worse she gets. I need to send her away for a while. I think the space will do us all good. Honestly, I want to get her away from these kids she hanging with. I need someone I can trust. So, what do you think? Can you take her?”
Levi strolled over to the window and peered out as he scratched his head. “Honestly, Sergeant, I can’t take her. As you know, Charity is about to give birth to triplets any minute now. The pack is really driving me crazy right now. I really—” He paused as he peered through the window and spotted Wesley kneeling down by Rose and offering her a bottle of water. His face was filled with such compassion. It was something Levi had never seen in Wesley before.
“Levi? Levi, are you still there?”
“Uh, yeah, Sergeant, I’m still here.” A smile slowly crept across his face as he continued to observe Wesley. “Actually, if you truly trust me, I have the perfect pack in mind to take your daughter in.”
Epilogue/Bonus Scene
It was early spring and the evening was still cold as Charity and the rest of the pack gathered in the clearing. They were celebrating all the many blessings they had been given over the last year—as well as their last week before Raven and Rose left them to join the Mason pack in Alaska. No one knew for how long, but the idea was killing Charity. She loved them both very much. Rose had become like a sister to her. She wouldn’t get to see the baby when it was born, and she would miss them very much. But tonight was about dwelling on their blessings.
Everyone was there, huddled near the bonfire, paired off and snuggling on blankets. Charity peered up into her magnificent husband’s purple eyes and marveled at how everything had turned out better than she could’ve asked for.
She glanced around at the happy couples and felt her eyes well with tears. Josh and Ashley were kissing. Raven and Rose were staring lovingly into each other’s eyes while he absentmindedly rubbed her still flat belly and the miracle that lie beneath. Hector and Tosha cuddled with their son Jeremy, and Doc and her mom were wrapped together, giggling softly to some whispered joke. Eli was the only one with a sour look on his face. She thought it irritated him that he was the only one sitting alone with no one cuddled against him. But something told her it wouldn’t be long before things changed for him. Joseph and Irena, like her, were glancing around at their family in contentment, while holding hands. Irena whispered her name. Their eyes caught and they shared a
