17. Rain

**Rain**

Ever since Caleb told us a new Alpha is coming to the pack I've been feeling nervous. And not knowing from which pack he is makes me anxious. I sleep poorly.
In the morning I shower, put on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie, and I go to the kitchen.
"Hi, Blade!" I say when I enter.
Blade is in front of the stove and he is preparing breakfast. The kitchen smells of pancakes, omelets, and toast.
"Do you need any help?" I ask.
Not that I know how to make food, except basic things, but it would be nice to learn something new.
"Thank you for offering but I've been the cook of the Pack House since I came to live here and I got used to making all the food by myself. But if I ever need help, I will let you know," he says.
I am disappointed but I try to not let it show.
Safia lets me know that Blade is smiling and I nod.
"Are you hungry?" Blade asks and I nod. "If you want pancakes the syrup is on the table. I am going to take the breakfast to the others."
"Do you want me to serve the breakfast to the pack?" I ask but Blade shakes his head.
"Sit down and enjoy your breakfast."
While Blade serves the breakfast to the others I sit in the kitchen and eat in silence. And think about Caleb.
After our last conversation, I feel things will be a little awkward between us. I avoided him yesterday because I didn't know what to say to him. But that was yesterday. I will try to speak to him today.
When Blade returns with the dirty dishes I tell him that I am going to wash them and send him away from the kitchen. He deserves some relaxation time.
I am half done with them when the door to the kitchen opens and I hear Blade talking to someone, "If you are hungry, I still have some leftovers from breakfast."
I am about to turn towards the door when the scent of the person Blade is talking to reaches my nose and the plate I am washing falls from my hands and shatters on the tile floor.
That scent that tormented me for months. Oranges. Fucking oranges! It can't be him!
Safia goes still as the night.
"Rain, are you alright?" Blade asks me.
I drop to my knees and start to gather the broken plate with my hands. "I am fine," I assure him.
"Rain! Don't do that! You will cut your knees and hands!" Blade says in a loud tone.
Someone walks fast toward me, kneels in front of me, and touched my hand. I would know the feel of his skin anywhere, and I jerk my hand away from him.
"Let me help you," Jordan says in a low tone.
"Don't touch me!" I hiss.
Blade comes over with a broom and a dustpan. "Both of you stand!"
I do as Blade says and put as much distance between Jordan and me as I can. Why the hell is he here?
Blade cleans the pieces of the plate, I move next to the table as I try to think. What is he doing here? Did he come for me? If that is the case, he is in for a surprise!
Jordan comes behind me and I hear him say into my ear, "Can we talk?"
"There's nothing we need to talk about!" I say in a low tone.
Blade probably feels my agitated state because he asks, "Rain, do I need to call someone?"
"I listened to your recording," Jordan talks into my ears some more. "Please, Rain. I am so sorry!"
I inhale sharply as I get away from him and to go Blade.
"You don't need to worry about anything," I say. "Could you leave us alone? I need to talk to him about something." Blade looks ar Jordan and I say, "I know him."
Blade thinks for a long moment before saying, "Alright. But if you are in any danger scream."
I nod and Blade leaves the kitchen.
While Jordan closes the door I go and sit with my back to the sink. I don't want to be close to him.
"What are you doing here?" I ask him. I narrow my eyes, "Wait! How did you know I was here?" Jordan turns and takes a step toward me. "Stay where you are! I don't want you near me!"
Jordan stops walking, "Rain. I am sorry. You have no idea how– "
"You already said that you are sorry. Answers my question! What are you doing here?"
"After–after what happened in the pack with you–"
I laugh bitterly and Jordan stops talking. "After what happened in the pack? Are you fucking kidding me? You mean after what you did to me! You didn't even give me a chance to talk! And you let the pack beat me and throw me out as if I was nothing more than garbage. There, I fixed it for you," I say and when Jordan doesn't say anything I tell him, "You can continue talking now."
"Rain. What I did has no excuse but I want you to know that after I listened to that recording, I looked for you, Rain. I tried to get inside this territory to see if you were here, but I was never granted permission."
"Abusing your soulmate has no excuse! How come you are here?" I ask him in an angry tone.
"My father, he–" his throat bobbed, "he abused more females in the pack. I found out after...you... and I am here to learn how to help them."
"You want to help abused females?" I laugh. "I almost believed you." Then I ask in a serious tone, "Did you know I was here?"
"I suspected but I wasn't sure. It was pure luck I found you today here. Please, Rain. I am so sorry for what happened. I still love you," he says and takes a step toward me.
"Fuck you! And I said to stay the fuck away from me!"
Jordan stops walking and puts his hands in the air, "I am not going to hurt you."
"You already did! And you let the pack beat me until I was almost dead!"
"You have no idea how sorry I am. I've prayed to the Goddess each day to forgive me," Jordan says in a sad tone.
"I am the one who has to forgive you, not the Goddess!"
"I know, and I am going to do whatever it takes to get you back!" Jordan promises me.
"That will never happen!" I vow to him.
"You are my soulmate, Rain. I know that one day you will forgive me and the pack for what we did to you."
"Go to hell! You and your pack!" I say. "We are done talking!"
I might still love him, but that doesn't mean that I am stupid enough to forgive him. He rejected me and that's how things are going to stay.
The door opened and Caleb enter. He looks at me and then at Jordan.
"What going on?" Caleb asks me. "Who is this male?"
I look at Jordan and I give him my best smile. "This is Caleb Black, Alpha of this pack, and my second chance to happiness. He is my soulmate." And I go next to Caleb and lean my head on his shoulder.
"What?" Caleb asks in a confused tone but I ignore him.
"Caleb, love, let me introduce you to Jordan Reed, Alpha to my former pack," I say in a tone so sweet it almost gives me diabetes.
A loud growl echoes in the kitchen and Caleb launches himself at Jordan so fast it doesn't give Jordan time to reach.
Caleb punches Jordan so hard his head snaps back. I am sure Caleb broke his jaw.
"This is for what you did to her!" Caleb says in an angry tone, grabs Jordan by his sweater, and punches him again. "This is for letting the pack beat Red like she was a punching bag!"
Jordan doesn't try to defend himself. He stands there and lets Caleb hit him. And as good as seeing Caleb beating Jordan feels, I know I have to stop him.
"Caleb! Enough!" I say but he ignores me. I go over to where Caleb is beating Jordan and I put my hands around his arm. Caleb stops and looks at me. "That's enough, Caleb." He nods and looks at Jordan.
"Get the fuck out of my territory! I don't know who let you in but I give you one hour to disappear! If after an hour you are still on my territory, no one will ever recognize you when I finish with you! Or find you!"
Caleb shoves Jordan so hard he falls flat on his back.
"Elder Adam sent me," Jordan says with a voice full of pain.
"You are the Alpha that I am supposed to teach?" Caleb asks in an incredulous tone.
"Yes!"
"I am going to talk to that fucker because there is no way in hell I or my pack will teach you anything!"
Caleb grabs me by the hand, "Come with me!"
I go with him and I can feel how angry he is. He walks fast and I try to keep the pace with him. When we are in front of his office he opens the door and I get inside. Conon is inside sitting on a sofa.
"Out!" Caleb barks at Conon, holding the door open. When the Beta hesitates, Caleb barks even louder. "Now!"
"I am leaving! No need to bite my ass!" Conon says to Caleb. "Sweet-Cheeks, I don't know what you did to make Caleminator go nuclear, but I hope you survive the explosion!"
Conon leaves the office and Caleb locks the door. And then faces me.
"What the fuck was that Red?" he growls.
"What do you mean?" I frown.
He inhales deeply. "Calling me 'love' and 'soulmate' in front of him? You used what I feel to get revenge on that bastard!"
"I am sorry, for doing that. It won't happen again," I say. Then I breathe deeply and say, "I have been thinking about what you said in the clearing and I give you until the end of the month to make me forget Jordan. If you help me forget him, I am going to accept you as my soulmate, even if I am not in love with you."
Safia send me the image of and 'yes' and a heart. She is happy for giving Caleb a chance. I only hope I won't regret it.
Caleb crosses his hands and looks at me, "What made you change your mind? That bastard?"
"Does it matter?"
Caleb breathes for a few moments and relaxes.
He thinks for a while before saying, "I guess it doesn't. Prepare yourself Red. Because if we are doing this we are going to do it on my terms. And our relationship won't be platonic."
I know I should not think too much about it because adults werewolves have sex almost daily but my skin crawls when I think about it.
I bit my lower lip, "I hate sex."
"You will love it with me." When I say nothing, Caleb adds, "You won't regret this."
I look at him, "I hope not!"