Charity Moon (9 page)

I heard Ashley scream. “Ashley!” I jumped up and dashed in the direction of her scream, but lost my sense of direction immediately. I couldn’t see much. We were too deep into the forest for the headlights to be much help anymore, but I could hear chaos everywhere. My heart froze in fear at the realization that there were werewolves all around us, and I had no idea where I was. I finally just stopped and stood there like an idiot—not knowing which way to go. Someone grabbed me, throwing me over his shoulder and bounding through the forest. I screamed and kicked wildly against him.

“Stop fighting me, Charity, so I can get you out of here!”

Although I should’ve been terrified, I sighed in relief at the sound of Levi’s voice. “But Ashley.”

“We’ve got her. She’s in front of us.”

Something slammed into us with a massive force, knocking me from Levi’s grip. I fell hard to the forest floor and screamed out as pain stabbed my ribcage. Levi had shifted again, and I could make out the two werewolves snapping and clawing at each other. One knocked the other back and rushed at me, picking me up, this time more aggressively, and I was well aware it wasn’t Levi. I was terrified at the claws grabbing my thighs and the growling rumbling through his body, causing it to vibrate. I was knocked to the ground yet again as the other werewolf attacked. Frozen in a state of fear, I was powerless to even move. A werewolf came out of nowhere and grabbed one of the two, freeing the other who then picked me up over his shoulder and began running. I didn’t know who had me or what he was planning to do with me, but I submitted, knowing it was useless to struggle. I felt a shifting beneath me as the werewolf became a man.

“Levi?”

“Yes.”

Once again I was relieved to hear his voice, but the pain shooting through my ribcage was overwhelming. A moan escaped my lips causing Levi to stop abruptly and set me down on my feet.

“What are you doing? You can’t stop here!” I grabbed my ribs and bent over in pain.

  “You’re safe. We’re in my territory now, but you’re injured.” He reached for me.

“Don’t touch me!” 

Ignoring me, he reached and grabbed me before I could fall, scooping me into his arms like I weighed nothing. I rested my head on his shoulder and didn’t fight him again.

One minute Levi was carrying me through the dark, thick forest, and the next minute we were in a long, dimly lit tunnel of some kind. It was as if the forest just opened up and swallowed us. I could see a faint glow of light ahead. He carried me through a doorway and into a big, open room. It was then that I realized the tunnel was actually a hallway. The big room was decorated in simple furnishings, nothing elaborate, with bookshelves that lined the walls, a library perhaps. Levi sat me down on a blood red sofa, how appropriate considering I was most likely about to be eaten. Another man entered and Levi ordered him to get the doctor. I thought it was odd how quickly the man obeyed.

“Where’s Ashley?” I demanded.

“She’s resting comfortably in another room. Don’t worry, she’s safe. We won’t harm her.”

“How can you say that after what we’ve witnessed tonight? You’re werewolves for cryin’ out loud! I can’t believe I just said that. I can’t believe any of this.” I leaned over and put my face in my hands, feeling a slight urge to vomit.

“Try to relax, Charity. I’m not all that different from you.”

I looked up then. “Oh yes you are. You are very different from me. For one thing, I’m a lot less hairy. I don’t howl, growl, snarl or bite. Okay, maybe I bite, but you’re a dog, for Pete’s sake. Oh-my-gosh. Oh-my-gosh.” Feeling hysteria creeping in, I got up and began pacing before stopping and grabbing my ribs again.

“Charity, please calm down.” He came to me and helped me slowly back to the sofa. “Here, let me feel.” He felt my ribs gently, causing me to squeal in pain.

“If you do that again I’m going to punch you in the nose, dog or not.”

“Can you please stop calling me a dog? A dog and a wolf are clearly not the same. I think you have a cracked rib.”

“What’s the difference? You both have lots of hair and sharp teeth, except one licks you to death, while the other eats you to death. And how do you know I have a cracked rib?”

“Dogs don’t eat people, Charity, and because I can feel the crack.”

“That’s real funny. How can you be so casual about this? As though this is normal.”

“Because this is my life. This is all I’ve ever known. To me this is normal.”

“Wow, that really sucks.”

“Not really. No one can beat me. I’m strong, healthy, and hard to kill. It’s pretty awesome to tell you the truth.”

“Poor Lava—I mean, Levi. You’re in denial.”

He laughed. “It’s okay. I know what you and your friends call me.”

I smiled guiltily, feeling the heat rising into my cheeks.

“Really, it’s okay. It could be worse. But I’m not in denial. I only shift when I want to, except on a full moon, and it’s pretty cool.”

“Gee, lucky you. By the way, could you please put a shirt on?”

“Why? Does seeing my skin bother you?”

In ways I can’t even describe
. “Yes. Especially since just a moment ago it was covered with dog hair. And why aren’t your pants ripped?”

He laughed. “You watch too many movies. In truth, our bodies don’t really grow all that much. Our upper body grows slightly, mainly because of all the hair, and our shirts might rip if they were tight. We usually take them off along with our shoes. We only take off our pants on the night of the full moon, you know, so we’re not restricted. I hope you’re not too terribly disappointed.”

 “Wipe that smile off your face before I do.”

He covered his smile with his hand.

“So, what’s the buffer zone?”

“That’s what we call the neutral land that separates the pack’s territory.”

“I see. Not to change the subject, but I’m really hurting here.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. I wish I could heal you.”

“Heal me? What do you mean?”

“You see, werewolf saliva has healing properties, but it doesn’t heal bone injuries, only flesh and organ damage, and things like that.”

“Wow, if you could bottle it you’d make a fortune.”

“Yeah, well the healing properties die when the saliva turns cold, so that doesn’t work. We have to be in our wolf form to bite or lick the wound. The healing properties emerge during the transformation to wolf. If we bite into your flesh the wound will heal quicker, along with the bite wound.”

“Well, that’s one talent you can keep to yourself. You’ll never bite me in your wolf form. I almost had a heart attack. If I never see it again it will be too soon for me.”

“I’m sorry, Charity, it’s my fault you’re hurt. You could’ve been killed tonight,” he said, shaking his head in disappointment.

I sighed. “It’s not your fault. Ashley and I followed you after school this afternoon. We heard you say where you were meeting, and we made sure we got there before you did.”

“You followed me? Wow, I need to sharpen my skills.”

I rose from the sofa in full alarm mode. “It was my idea. Please don’t take it out on Ashley.”

“Oh, I’m sure it was your idea. And I wouldn’t dream of taking anything out on you or Ashley.”

“You’re not going to eat us then?”

“No!” He laughed. “Werewolves don’t eat people. We don’t harm people at all, except under rare circumstances. On the contrary, we protect humans.”

“Really?”

“Yes really.” He laughed again.

I sighed in relief.
Stinking movies don’t get anything right
. “So, what do you protect us from?”

“Trust me, you don’t really want to know.”

I decided he was right and dropped the subject, but filed it away for later.

The doctor entered the room. “Good, Doc, you’re here. Charity was injured during the escape. I think it’s a rib.”

“Well, let’s take a look. Charity, I’m Dr. Ellis, but you can call me Doc. Everyone else around here does.” He was a very polite, middle-aged man, handsome, tall, with dark hair with splashes of gray. I squealed as he felt my ribs and noticed Levi cringing in response, which puzzled me.

“Well, you’ve got a small crack in one of your ribs. I’ll wrap it for you and give you something for the pain. If you keep yourself wrapped tight, and don’t do anything strenuous, it’ll heal on its own. You’ll be in pain for a while, but just take the pain medicine I give you as often as you need it, according to the directions. If you don’t mind taking off your jacket, please. You can just pull your shirt up a little—that should be fine.”

I stood and looked at Levi. “Shouldn’t you be leaving?”

“If I wanted to see your body I would’ve seen it the night I brought you home. I’m sorry I left you on your bed in that wet dress, but I think you would’ve been very angry at the alternative. I
was
tempted, however.” He smirked.

My mouth fell open in disbelief. “I knew it!”

“Well, there’s no sense in trying to hide the truth now.”

“I guess not.” I have to admit I was relieved to finally know for sure that he brought me home that night. “How did you get me to my room?” I carefully peeled off my jacket.

“I carried you through your window after I had Doc meet me to check out the bump on your head.”

“Oh—well thanks,” I said, looking first at Doc and then Levi. “I was wondering, how did you get the water and mud off the floor?”

“I used a towel out of your bathroom. Didn’t you check the hamper?”

“No, actually, I never thought of that.”

“And here I thought you would make a good reporter someday. I still can’t believe you guys were in the forest watching us and none of us knew it.”

“Well, you were a little distracted, which was what we were hoping for.”

“So, now that you have your story, so to speak, we need to discuss what you plan on doing with it.”

“Is this the part where you threaten to kill me if I tell what I’ve seen?”

“Something like that.” He looked up and locked eyes with me.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes I am. You can’t tell anyone what you’ve seen here tonight or we can’t allow you to leave here—ever.”

I swallowed hard and tried not to look afraid. “And where is here—exactly?”

“We’re in the forest—underground.”

“What? This is all underground?” I asked, looking around in disbelief.

“Yes. This facility’s been here for over a century. Our pack’s lived here off and on all that time.”

“Wow, impressive—most impressive.”

“I recognize that.
Star Wars
right?”

“Hmm, I’m surprised. I wouldn’t think werewolves watched T.V.”

“There’s one born every minute. But seriously, Charity, you must understand we have to protect our way of life. You can’t tell anyone what you’ve seen. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Levi, I get it. Who would believe me anyway? It’s not like I could find my way back here to show them. And what am I gonna say? ‘Hey everyone, follow me! I want to show you where the werewolves like to play’. I’m rather fond of my freedom, and strait jackets aren’t really my style.”

“Charity, the humans would try to destroy us, and we’d have to defend ourselves. Many people would die.”

“All right, I get it. I’ll keep my mouth shut. I promise.”

“I can tell if you’re lying to me, you know.” He approached me, and the intensity of his gaze made me feel uncomfortable. I swallowed hard, and the doctor backed away as he stepped closer. We stared at each other, and for a moment, I got lost in his gloriously beautiful eyes. They were an odd color, a deep blue, almost purple.