21. Rain

**Rain**

I resume eating while I think of the moment I am going to have the bonding ceremony. It is supposed to be the most special time in the life of two werewolves when they decide to tie their souls and to be bonded. They would forever feel each other, and in time, the pair can even gain the ability to communicate mentally. But the ceremony of an Alpha and Luna is more special, as both of them will also create a bond with the pack.
“Caleb, I don’t know anything about being a Luna,” I say and try not to sound as scared as I feel.
He looks at me, “I can sense your distress, Red. I don’t want you to worry about the future. We will learn together because there are many things I still don’t know. But I don’t want to talk about this tonight. What I want is for you to relax and enjoy this evening.”
Caleb is right. I should not think about the pack and being a Luna and just enjoy the dinner. No one has done something so beautiful for me. I drink some wine and try to relax.
I never had drank wine before, but it tasted a little sweet. When I drink some more, Caleb chuckles.
“Do you like the wine that much?” he asks.
“It is the first time I have wine, but it tastes sweet,” I say and sip some more.
“If it’s your first time, you should take it slow. You could easily get drunk.”
“Caleb, we are werewolves. Human alcohol does not affect us the same way it affects them.”
He laughs softly, “This is a special wine. Conon and Jeremy makes it, and I know it can get you drunk fast.”
I look at the wine bottle, and it is then that I see a photo of a wolf howling at the moon on the label. ‘Winelling’ is written gold letter.
“Very original, but I have to say I like its taste,” I say and drink until I have all the glass empty. I can feel the alcohol ride inside my body, and I feel a little strange, but I still point at the wine bottle, “Can I have more?”
Caleb chuckles, “If I give you more, no doubt you will get drunk, and I still have plans for tonight.”
I forget about the wine as I look at him, “What plans?”
“Finish your food, and I will tell you,” Caleb says and points at my plate.
I resume eating and look once more out the window. It is still snowing.
“After we eat, I would like to take you to another place,” Caleb says.
I look at him and narrow my eyes, “What place?”
“You will see, and I am sure you are going to like it.”
I am curious about where he wants to take me and want to ask, but I feel he won’t tell me, so I decide to ask him something else, “What do you like to do in your free time?”
Caleb drinks from his wine and then says, “I like to play the piano.”
My eyes go round and say excitedly, “You play the piano? It is my favorite musical instrument!”
“I am not good at it; I am self-taught, but if you – “ Caleb says but shakes his head. “Forget it.”
I till my head, “What?”
I feel he is nervous.
Caleb drinks more wine while he looks at the bottle. When he is done, he finally looks at me, “I was wondering if I could play the piano for you?”
He is nervous because he wants to play the piano for me?
“Yes! I would love to hear you play!” I say, and Safia lets me know he is smiling.
After we eat, Caleb takes my left hand into his, interlaces our fingers, and as we walk towards the stairs.
“The room where I have the piano is on the last floor,” Caleb tells me. “Think you can climb all the stairs with those shoes?”
I look at the shoes for a moment, and I am sure I will trip and fall on the stairs. “I think I can manage,” I say while looking at him.
We start going up the stairs, and Caleb asks me, “Is there something, in particular, you want me to play for you?”
I bite my bottom lip before speaking, “My favorite movie is ‘Love story’ from 1970. I only saw it five times, but I love everything about it.”
Caleb laughs softly, “Only five times? I saw it more than ten times.” When I gasp and look at him, Caleb adds, “It’s one of Conon’s favorite movies. When it is movie night, and it is his turn to pick out a movie, he always puts ‘Love story.’”
We reach the third floor when I laugh at what Caleb said, and he stops walking. He stared at me for a long time.
“Is there something wrong?” I ask when I start feeling as if I am under a microscope.
“Red, hearing you laugh is like hearing a Goddess singing a gentle song. You should laugh more often,” Caleb says, and I can’t help but smile. I have never heard someone compare laughter to a song. “And you should always smile. You have no idea how beautiful you are when you smile.”
No one has ever said something like this to me, and my heart skips another beat.
We walk down the hall until we reach a room that is at the end of it. Caleb opens the door, and I enter. A beautiful black piano is in the middle of a big room.
Next to a wall, there’s a long table, and music sheets are on it, next to a photo camera. On the wall, I see all kinds of pictures.
A black leather sofa is placed in one of the corners. A little coffee table is placed in front of the sofa. A laptop rests on top of the table.
“What is this room?” I ask because it is the first time I see it, and I find it beautiful.
“My little piece of Heaven. This is where I come when I can’t sleep,” Caleb says.
“Does it happen often?” I ask.
Caleb inhales deeply, “Often enough.” I squeeze his hand.
I frown because ever since I started living in this pack, I never heard Caleb playing the piano.
“How come I never heard you play?”
“The walls are soundproof.”
He lets go of my hand, goes to the table, looks at the music sheets, picks one, and returns to me.
“Come,” he says and tugs me gently towards the piano.
The bench is big enough to permit me to sit next to Caleb.
He puts his fingers on the piano’s keyboard, looks at the musical notes, and starts playing. I smile and close my eyes while he plays the musical theme from my favorite movie. My heart drums inside my chest while I listen to how beautiful Caleb plays the piano. He has real talent.
Even Safia listens to Caleb. She is captivated by his music. I don’t blame her because I feel the same.
When he finishes playing, I open my eyes and look at him. “Thank you!” I whisper to him.
“I want to play something else for you,” Caleb says, and I nod.
He stands, goes to the table, looks at the music sheets and returns, and puts a few papers on the piano desk.
He starts another piece, I don’t recognize it, but it is very beautiful.
“What is it called?” I ask when he finishes.
“Ballade pour Adeline,” Caleb says. He turns some music sheets and starts a new piece, “This one is called ‘Marriage d’amore.’”
I look at how his fingers gently caress the keyboard as he plays more songs for me.
When he finally stops playing, we stare at each other for a few moments. I would give anything to see him, even for a few moments.
“Caleb,” I finally say, “this is the nicest thing someone ever did for me.”
He cups my left cheek and says, “Then I will play for you any time you want.”
His thumb strokes my cheek gently, and I lean into his touch. I thought I wouldn’t like being touched, but Caleb makes me feel safe.
“Red,“ he says and brings his face closer to mine, his breath caressing my skin, “you have no idea how long I have waited for you. I was starting to lose hope I would ever be blessed with a soulmate.”
“Caleb –“
“When I was in the hands of the vampires, the only thing that kept me sane was thinking that there was someone out there waiting for me.”
“The things you went through,” I say, and my chest hurts. I don’t even want to think about what they did to him.
“If that was the price I had to pay to be with you, Red, then it was worth it.”
My heart beats like crazy.
Caleb lets go of my cheek, puts his hands back on the piano, and starts a new song. I watch his fingers dance while the room is filled with beautiful, heartbreaking music. He looks at me while he plays.
“The street where the wind resides,” I say when Caleb finishes the song.
His scent changes and I can tell he is shocked.
“You know this piece?” Caleb asks me.
“Mr. Smith, the art teacher from my former pack, loves this song. He used to put it all the time when he was teaching me. I always found it painfully beautiful. ”
“It was the first thing I learned how to play,” Caleb says. “There’s one more song I want to play before taking you to another place.”
Caleb stands, and I take a look at the music sheets. My finger traces some musical notes when I hear a *click*. I turn to head to look at Caleb, and I hear another *click*.
A gasp escapes my lips when I see Caleb on a knee, with the camera in his hands, taking photos of me.
“Caleb!”
He takes a few more pictures before lowering the camera and looking at me.
“You are so beautiful; I had to take photos of you,” Caleb says, and heat rushes to my cheeks.
He rises, puts the camera back on the table, and comes to me.
“There’s one more place I want to take you before this night is over,” Caleb says and extends his hand.
I put my palm into his and he helps me stand.
We get out of the room, and Caleb leads me to another door that takes us to the rooftop.
Outside it is still snowing, and it is cold, but it does not bother me. Lights are placed on the borders, illuminating the place. I look around and see some beach chairs and a low table in front of them.
“This is the place you wanted to show me?” I ask because I don’t understand what’s special about it.
“Yes,” Caleb says. “This is my favorite place in the pack.”
I take another look around, thinking that I am missing something.
“Why?” I finally ask.
“When I was in the dungeons, I craved to see the sky. And from up here, I feel close to the stars.”
I shiver not because I am cold but because Caleb doesn’t hesitate to talk about his time with the vampires.
This male who stands before me and has suffered so much for so long is one of the best persons I have ever met.
“Are you cold?” Caleb asks me. “I should have thought this better and brought a coat for you.”
I shake my head, “I am fine.”
Big snowflakes fall from the sky while Caleb looks at me. “I should have brought the camera with me. You look even more beautiful with snow covering you.” He runs his finger through his hair. “Give me one minute, and I will be right back,” he says and rushes to the door.
I shake my head because I don’t understand his little obsession with taking photos of me.
While I wait for Caleb to return, I look at the sky. I extend one hand, and snowflakes fall on my palm. As soon as they land on my skin, they melt away.
It doesn’t take long to hear the click of the camera, and I stiffen.
“Pretend I am not here,” Caleb says.
I try to ignore him, but I can feel him moving around me, and I can’t relax. Caleb takes a few more photos before stopping. I am about to turn and look at him when from the sky falls the most beautiful snowflake I have ever seen. I catch it in my hand, and to my surprise, it is made entirely from ice. It is almost as big as my palm, and it fascinates me.
Caleb takes more photos, but I don’t pay him any attention as I look at the snowflake. I wait for it to start melting, but nothing happens.
“Caleb,” I say after a minute, “look at this.”
He comes over and looks at my palm. “Interesting snowflake.”
I kept staring at it and its pattern. “I’ve never seen anything like it before. The peeks look like tiny flowers.”
“Let me take a photo of it,” Caleb says.
Once he takes a couple of photos, he steps away for a few moments.
The snowflake still doesn’t melt. I frown.
“It is strange,” I say.
“What is?” Caleb says from behind me, where the door is.
I am about to tell him that the snowflake is not melting when a song starts – ‘Lady in red.’
“You look stunning dressed in red. When I saw you coming down the stairs, all I could think was about dancing with you while we listened to this song.” My heart drums in my chest. “Dance with me,” Caleb says while he hugs me from behind.
The only person I’ve danced with before was Mr. Smith.
I let the snowflake fall, and I turn around and look at Caleb, “I would love to dance with you.”
My palms rest on his shoulders while he puts his hands on my hips, and we start to dance. His scent envelops me, and I forget about everything while we dance.
Once that song stops, a new one starts.
I am not sure how long we dance, but when we stop, my feet hurt.
“We should go inside,” Caleb says. “It’s getting colder, and I don’t want you to get sick.”
We walk towards the door. Next to the opened door, on the floor, I see Caleb’s camera and laptop. Caleb picks them up.
“Before I take you back to your room, let’s make a small stop so I can drop my camera and laptop.”
“Sure,” I say.
While we walk, I try not to wince while we walk because I am sure I have blisters.
After Caleb stores his things, he looks at me, “How bad are your feet hurting? Do you have blisters?”
My eyes go round, and a little gasp escapes my lips, “How do you know?”
“Red, I have seen how you walk. I even bet it is the first time you are wearing heels. I should have been more considerate and not made you dance so much, but I love having you in my arms.” He comes close to me, “Let me help you take those heels off, and then I will take you to your room.”
Once the heels are off, I sigh because it feels so good.
“Better?” Caleb asks.
“Much better.”
He picks me up in his arms.
“Caleb, I can walk,” I say when he starts moving.
“It is my duty and responsibility to take care of my soulmate.”
I smile and rest my head on his chest. His heart beats strongly, and his scent fills my lungs.
“Thank you for tonight,” I say.
“I am glad you had a good time.”
“You are wrong. I had a great time with you.”
“I am happy to hear that.”
Caleb takes me to my room and puts me on top of my bed.
“Wait here,” he says and goes into the bathroom.
While I wonder what he is looking for in my bathroom, I put the shoes on the nightstand.
Caleb returns after half a minute with a first-aid kit, puts it on the bed next to me and opens it. He looks inside it, and after a few moments, he takes out some ointment.
He sits on the bed, next to me and looks at me, “Put your feet on my lap.”
“I am fine, Caleb. I am sure that by tomorrow they will disappear.”
“Red, it is in my instinct to care for you. It roars inside my head that you are hurt. I won’t be able to walk away when I know you are in pain.”
“I am not in pain,” I say while I put my feet on his calves.
Caleb put ointment on my blisters and then gives me a massage. It takes all my will not to moan because his fingers are amazing.
I start to relax and lay on my back. While I begin to drift asleep, a warm feeling invades my heart, and for the first time in months, I don’t feel so empty. Or alone.