Charity Received (23 page)

Charity’s mouth traveled across his chest, absently dropping soft kisses on his skin.

“Yes. Much. I’m sorry I kept you awake.”

With his fingers in her hair, he gently lifted her head to meet his gaze. “You have nothing to apologize for, chérie. But if you’re sick again, I want Arak to examine you.”

Charity nodded, but it wasn’t her agreement that took his breath away. A smile lit up her face, casting a radiant glow across her features. “It’s really not necessary, Kash. I…”

Whatever she’d been about to say fell away, drowned out by Remy’s urgent demand in his head:
“Kash, we need to speak to you and your mate.”

Kash sighed as Charity cocked her head to the side as if she sensed the other’s presence in his mind. “Get up and get dress, chérie. It seems this will have to wait.

Remy wants us downstairs.”

“But Kash…” she whispered

He bent his head to her and brushed his lips against hers lightly, silencing her protest. “I promise, Charity, just as soon as we discover what Remy wants. Okay?”

Her head fell to his shoulder. “All right, Kash,” she agreed softly. She tightened her arms around his waist for just a moment before she pulled away, and he felt the loss deep in his gut.

Kash rose from the bed and thrust a pair of jeans over his legs, not bothering with the top button before leaving Charity alone to dress. He headed down the steps to discover Remy was not alone; Zeke, Bale, and Arak trailed him. Not that Kash was really shocked. Where one went, the others were sure to follow.

“To what do I owe this visit?” Kash didn’t even attempt to cover the sarcasm in his tone. “I’d think you, Bale, would understand a male’s desire for some uninterrupted time with his mate.”

While Bale grinned unabashedly, Remy rolled his eyes. “You can have all the time you want to fuck your mate later. Right now, we have one really pissed-off wolf and could use Charity’s expertise.”

“Shit. It worked?” Kash stuffed his hands in his pockets as surprise swept through him. Up until this point, he hadn’t been convinced capturing a wolf was even feasible, much less the direction they should take if they did. And he didn’t particularly like the idea of his mate anywhere near the beast. “It does not come out of that cage, no matter what Charity says.” Kash pinned Remy with a resolute gaze.

They would give him their complete compliance, or Charity would be staying above.

“I will not risk her, Remy. Not for anyone.”

Their leader was already nodding. “We’ll do this your way, Kash, I promise. I am not willing to risk any of our safety with this wolf. If Charity can’t reach him, I will contact O’Malley.” Remy’s eyes locked with Zeke’s. “And the wolf will remain in his cage.”

Zeke held up his hands in a defensive motion, though the look on his face was mocking. “Hey, I’m the last one who wants to release the little fucker. You forget I lost a piece of flesh the last time I encountered one of these psycho wolves.”

“Crybaby,” Arak muttered behind a grin.

Zeke used his middle finger to smooth his eyebrow, flashing the action at Arak.

Kash was glad to see things between the two were resolved. In such close quarters, skirmishes between the large, dominant males were bound to occur, but second only to Raym and Caym, Zeke and Arak were the least likely to be combative toward each other.

“One never knows with you, Zeke,” Remy stated with a shrug. “I never expected you would be the one to challenge me either.”

“Yeah. He always figured it would be me,” Bale injected, his tone filled with amusement.

“What do you mean ‘would be’?” Remy arched a brow at Bale. “You question every decision I make.”

Rocking back and forth on his feet, Bale chuckled. “Can’t let you get too cocky.”

Remy grunted in response, then shook his head in resigned acceptance, though his eyes gleamed with humor. Then he focused on something over Kash’s shoulder.

Turning, Kash found Charity standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking hesitant.

Holding his hand out to her, Kash urged her to join them.

“What did you overhear?” he asked as he draped an arm around her shoulders.

“Just a lot of male posturing,” she said softly, though Kash could feel her amusement.

“Zeke and Arak captured a wolf last night, and Remy would like you to try to communicate with him.”

“But Kash, I can’t…” Charity clamped her lips shut and sighed. The last thing she wanted was to have this conversation in front of his brothers. She was just getting used to the news herself; she wasn’t ready to share it with the world.

“Just try. All right?”

Charity felt his brothers’ expectant stares on her. Damn her inability to shift.

Eventually one of them was going to make the demand. Then she would be forced to blurt out the truth before them all. The only thing working in her favor was that the Grigori knew next to nothing about shifters. She might be able to use that to her advantage.

Charity nodded. It was the only response she could give.

Outside a small building just beyond the carport, Levi and Jet were waiting for them, while inside, the wolf was pacing the interior of the cage Kash had built. As they entered, he lunged at the door, drawing a startled gasp from the opposite side of the room and pivoting Charity’s attention to Faith and Hope.

Everyone was giving the wolf a wide berth. Faith moved to stand slightly behind Bale’s broad, protective frame, watching the cage intently. Hope, on the other hand, was staring at her. And she was pissed about something. Charity racked her brain, trying to come up with a reason for her friend’s hostility, but she couldn’t think of one.

“Can you get anything? Anything at all?” There was an urgency in Remy’s tone, and Charity guessed he wasn’t altogether comfortable with an unstable wolf in his fortress. Not that she blamed him.

She approached the cage slowly, reaching out with her mind. Attempting to connect with the animal, Charity asked,
“Can you understand me?”
But there was no response. It was useless. She hadn’t been a very good pack member when she’d been part of a pack. And she apparently hadn’t gotten any better with age.

Sighing in frustration, Charity turned to Remy and shook her head.

“You said you might be able to reach him if you shifted.”

The suggestion came from Zeke, and it twisted her stomach into a knot. With a quick shake of her head, Charity declined his proposition. She tumbled back into Kash’s chest, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, comforting her somewhat with his presence. She knew Zeke would persist, but what she hadn’t expected was for Kash to throw her under the bus.

“Chérie, if it is the only way, you must.” His warm breath tickled her ear, but his words had her unable to move.

Again Charity shook her head, fidgeting in his arms. “I tried to tell you earlier…”

she whispered, but before she finished her sentence, Hope interrupted.

“You can’t shift, can you, Charity?” Hope’s tone was harsh, and it whipped through Charity, sending her gaze flying to the female who had been her roommate. “There’s only one reason a female shifter would refuse, isn’t there? You’re pregnant.”

“Hope—” Charity began, distraught that the chance to share her joyous news was being ripped away from her. But she was also flabbergasted, not only by the fact Hope knew of the baby, but by the contempt in her friend’s tone. It dashed her excitement and infused her with bewilderment. Why would Hope do this to her?

But Hope didn’t allow her to continue. “When’s the last time she shifted, Kash? Has she even at all since she’s been here? ’Cause she couldn’t go more than a couple days when she lived with me, or she would get antsy, unable to settle down. She’d pace, just like that wolf in the cage.”

The room stilled, almost as if the very air had been sucked out of it, and Charity felt Kash stiffen as Hope’s words sank in. Scents grew thick in the air. Disbelief warred with fury. Kash stepped back from her, his face lined with confusion.

“Is it true?” His whisper was hoarse.

For one minute, Charity just stood there, stunned. She couldn’t quite grasp exactly what the big deal was. “I tried to tell you earlier—”

The rage that took over Kash’s face compelled her to abruptly cease speaking. She felt him pulling away from her emotionally, the connection between them growing taut before snapping completely. But not before she sensed his feelings of betrayal.

Almost staggering under the weight of his withdrawal, she reached for him, but he moved away from her touch, leaving her isolated, alone.

Emotions bombarded her from all sides. They were all angry with her. Except Arak.

His loyalty came as a complete surprise. Charity wrapped her arms protectively around her abdomen, moving her gaze warily around the room. She was no longer certain if she was safe here among these males.

“Leave us,” Kash barked, his tone causing Charity to flinch.

As the others quietly filed out, Arak paused, stating, “Kash, we need to talk.”

“Later. First I must speak to my mate.” The sneer brought on by those words hit her in the chest, and her wolf’s response was immediate. Charity turned on him with a growl, but Kash was already in her face, pointing an accusing finger at her. “Whose is it?” he demanded savagely. “I will take him apart piece by piece.”

“What the hell do you mean? It’s yours.”

“Don’t lie to me, damn it. Who is the baby’s father?”

“You should already know this baby is yours. How could you think otherwise?”

Charity shook her head with a humorless laugh. “You know the pain I felt. Could you have tolerated another’s touch long enough for a quick fuck?”

He hesitated, and she saw the uncertainty on his face. “I told you of my origins. Of our punishment. Part of that punishment was to never again be able to procreate.

So you see, mate, I cannot be the father.”

For a moment, she stared at him in wide-eyed disbelief. Not because of his words, but because of his utter conviction. It was like being sucker punched. If what he said was true, how would she ever convince him this baby was his?

“I came to you a virgin and gave you the only thing of value I possessed. If you can believe, even though the pain would have cost me dearly, that I could have betrayed you with another after waiting so long for my mate, then there is nothing I can say to persuade you otherwise. And frankly, I’m not sure I want to try.”

And leaving her heart there, bleeding at his feet, Charity walked away. Kash’s voice rang out, demanding she return, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. With each step, her fury intensified. She couldn’t comprehend how Kash could think her capable of such an act. The longer she thought about it, the more irate she became.

Without even considering the threat Raym might pose, Charity climbed into her SUV. She had to get away before she physically hurt someone. She was livid enough to give over some control to her wolf, but the sliver of brain that was still rational knew it was an action she would later regret.

* * *

Kash stormed back to his quarters, but everything reminded him of Charity. Her possessions were mingled with his. Her scent permeated every room. And then there was the armor. He stood before it, his fingers itching to smash it against the stone wall. But even filled to the brim with anger and disillusionment, he still could not do something that would cause her pain.

He snorted, cursing bitterly. He was a glutton for punishment. He snagged the keys to his Harley and his leather jacket and headed out with no real destination in mind. He just needed to feel the vibrations of the bike between his thighs and the wind tearing at his clothes.

He was watched with a wary eye as he stalked across the bailey. The only one with the nerve to approach him was Hope, and Kash quickly dissuaded her with his foul temper, sending her fleeing. It might have been irrational, but he blamed her for his happiness being smashed to bits. If Hope had minded her own business, he’d still be blissfully unaware of Charity’s betrayal.

Kash growled when Arak approached, and he grabbed the handlebars of his bike.

“Not now, Arak.”

“Fine, Kash.” Arak released his hold and stepped back. “You want to ride out of here like Lucifer is on your tail? Go right ahead. You want to toss away the best thing that ever happened to you? Be my guest.”

“She fucking betrayed me with another male,” Kash snarled, “and you are seriously deranged if you think I can just ignore that.”

“Did she, Kash?” Arak clenched his fists as he snorted in indignation. “Because I seem to recall an examination I performed on Charity. One you requested. And she was ovulating. Not pregnant. So if she really is with child, she managed to get knocked up in the…what? The six hours she was away from you? And while suffering through debilitating pain? She is one truly amazing female.”

Stunned, Kash watched Arak turn and nonchalantly walk away, as if he hadn’t just figuratively punched him in the gut. Sweet Jesus. What if Arak was right?

* * *

Arak was dying to get his hands on Charity. If he could, he would be able to prove his theory—that the curse had been lifted.

Shoving his fists in his pockets, he went in search of Remy. But first he sent a surprised and confused Zeke after Charity. She had to be protected now at all costs, and Zeke was the most logical choice. One word from Arak was all it took to persuade Zeke that Kash had been wrong, because Zeke had wanted to believe in the little shifter’s innocence. It also didn’t hurt that Arak was absolutely certain his theory was correct. Zeke would have spotted even the slightest hesitation.

Arak encountered Remy in the foyer, where he appeared to be in a heated discussion with Jet. Levi and Bale stood at the top of the stairs, silently watching the debate.

Arak wondered what was going on, then thrust the question from his mind. He could inquire about it later; right now, Charity’s safety was of the utmost importance.

“I demand the opportunity to examine the female,” he interrupted loudly.

“For what purpose? To confirm our punishment is over?” The sarcasm rolling from Jet’s tongue indicated he believed there wasn’t a chance in hell of that possibility.