25. Rain

**Rain**

It is around lunchtime when Caleb and I finally leave the piano room. Caleb interlaces our fingers and kisses my knuckles before taking me to the dining room. His scent is strong, and I know he is happy. I am not there yet, but I feel not only safe but also content. I know there is a long road ahead of me until I will feel happy, but I know that I will get there one day.
"Sweet-Cheeks! Caleminator!" I hear Conon yell as soon as I enter the dining hall.
Caleb mutters something under his breath that sounds like 'find a new Beta.' A small laugh escapes my lips.
"Do you think we can escape Conon Beta-from-Hell and eat in the kitchen?" Caleb asks me in a low tone. The way Caleb says Beta-from-Hell makes me laugh so hard. "How about we grab some snacks, go to my room, and see a movie?" Caleb asks, and I freeze.
"I don't know," I say. I know Caleb won't hurt me, but I haven't been in a male's room before, and I am unsure what to expect.
Caleb squeezes my hand. "It is alright to say no."
I am about to reply when Conon comes to us and grabs Caleb by his free arm. "What movie are we seeing?"
"What?" Caleb asks in a confused tone.
"I heard you are taking Sweet-Cheeks and me to your room to watch a movie! Can we see 'Meet the Spartans'?" Conon says in an innocent tone.
Caleb growls. "Go away, Conon! You are not invited!"
"Why not? Besides, I have never been in your room before!" Conon complains.
The others pretend to eat in silence, but I know they are listening to our conversation.
Caleb folds his arms. "You have been in my room three days ago! My room still stinks like you!"
Someone laughs, and I pretend to be interested in the pattern from the paper wall.
"You mean I stink?" Conon asks in a hurt voice. Caleb shrugs. "Well, I wouldn't go into your room if you would just give me those dirty magazines you have under your bed! So I have to sneak in and grab one while you are not around so I can—"
Caleb growls, "Conon! Stop saying stupid things!"
Someone starts coughing, and I stare at Caleb. I am not sure what dirty magazines are, and I am pretty sure I don't want to know.
Caleb pulls me, and we leave the dining room. Conon follows us.
"So, can I see a movie with you guys?" Conon asks, and I laugh. "Come on; I even made Sweet-Cheeks laugh!"
"If you don't go away, Conon, I will tan your hide!" Caleb says in an angry tone.
We turn down the hall, and Conon finally stops following us.
"He is crazy," I say once I make sure no one listens to us.
"He is a nightmare!" Caleb says before opening the kitchen door. "But he is great with money."
I am first to enter, and I am glad to see it is empty. It still smells like Jordan, but his scent doesn't affect me like it used to do.
"So, you only keep Conon in the pack because he is the breadwinner?" I ask.
Caleb laughs. "He is in the pack because he is a good male. But don't tell him I said that."
"I thought he was a nightmare."
"That too!" Caleb says and goes to the fridge and starts rummaging. He takes out some ingredients and looks at me. "I am a disaster in the kitchen, but I make some decent sandwiches."
I go to him, "How about I help?"
Caleb looks at me, and Safia lets me know he is smiling. "I would like that."
We take our time making sandwiches while we keep talking and laughing.
"So, what dirty magazine do you hide under your bed?" I ask.
Caleb groans. "Discovery and National Geographic!"
I laugh. "Why are they dirty?"
"Because Conon touched them!"
I laugh even harder. "Why do I have the feeling you are lying?"
"Maybe I have a monster under my bed."
"A monster? And what does that monster wants?" I ask.
"Your love!" Caleb says.
I don't know what to reply, so I keep quiet.
Once we have our sandwiches, we sit at the table and eat.
"What made you start the pack?" I ask Caleb and take a big bite out of my sandwich.
"After I started getting out of my depression, I thought a long time about what happened to me. I knew that many more werewolves were facing similar experiences, but there weren't any packs specialized in trauma and abuse. I made a plan, talked to Tatiana, and started the Black Ruby Rogue Pack."
I take another bite while I look at Caleb. "You talk a lot about Tatiana. Is she an ex-girlfriend?"
Caleb laughs so hard he chokes. "Goddess, no! Tatiana, is...how do I explain her to you? She is like Houdini."
I frown, "What do you mean?"
"Well, now you see her, now you don't."
I laugh. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You have to meet her to understand. I am sure she will poke around here sooner or later." We finish our sandwiches, and Caleb looks at his watch. "We still have time to train." I groan.
"I was starting to believe you were perfect until you mentioned training," I complain.
Caleb grabs our plates and takes them to the sink. I follow him and start washing them while Caleb dries them.
"You don't like training too much, do you?" Caleb asks me.
"Nope," I say. "I still have nightmares with you making me run around the Rogue Village until my feet fall off."
Caleb's scent changes, and I smell his shock and then his sadness. "Red," he swallows hard, "I didn't know I was putting so much pressure on you by asking you to train. I was doing it because I thought it was helping you."
I try to remain serious, but seconds later, I fail. My laughter fills the kitchen. "I would have paid millions to see your face!" I say when I stop laughing.
Caleb shakes his head and cages me between him and the sink. "I should make you run so many times around the village that you will never make fun of me," he says in a playful tone.
"Well, I am serious when I say I don't like training," I say.
"And what do you like to do?" Caleb asks.
I look at him, and for the thousand times since I met him, I wonder what he looks like. Safia sends me images of a rock start and fangirls screaming like banshees when seeing him.
*'I think you are the banshee, but when it comes to Raven,'* I say to my crazy wolf. Safia lets me know she just opened a fan club for Raven, and she is the only member. She even has pom-poms. *'You are crazy.'* But I am happy for her; Raven is an amazing wolf.
As I still look at Caleb, I send a prayer to the Moon Goddess, asking her to let me see Caleb's face, even if for a few seconds.
"Read, draw," I say. "I am a dull Omega."
"You are many things, Red, but never dull."
I snort, "What many things?"
Caleb lifts his right hand, grabs a strand of my hair, and puts it behind an ear. He looks at me, and I can swear that not only he is looking into my eyes but also into my soul. "You are beautiful, inside and outside. You are brave. You are my soulmate, and not to mention that you taste like a goddess. And I can hardly wait to claim you." At this point, my heart starts a concert for Caleb. He lowers his face until his breath caresses my skin. "I want to taste you again."
"Pretty sure I taste like our lunch," I say, and Caleb chuckles.
"I don't care. So can I?"
Caleb is so different from Jordan. He asks me before he kisses me and is very patient with me. I am not sure what he sees in me, but nevertheless, I am glad he wants me.
I close my eyes, and Caleb kisses me. I put my arms around his neck while his palms rest on my hips.
When his tongue enters my mouth, his sweet taste becomes my own drug. Caleb kisses me for a long time, his tongue exploring my mouth.
Suddenly, he breaks the kiss and puts his forehead on my shoulder. He is breathing hard, and his hands are gripping my waist. His body is trembling.
"Are you alright?" I ask.
"I just need a moment," Caleb says in a husky voice.
Understanding what Caleb means, I just let him hold me.
The door opens, and I don't need to see his face to know who he is.
Jordan looks at Caleb and me, and I can smell his pain.
Caleb growls. Not lifting his head, he says in a loud tone, "Tell that fucker to leave, or else I will rip him to pieces!"
"Fuck!" Jordan says, and Caleb growls so loud it scares me. "Get away from her!" Jordan says and walks into the kitchen.
I don't know what's happening, and I hope Caleb will tell me. "Caleb?" I ask.
"You are safe with me," he tells me. "I will never let anything happen to you." Jordan takes another step inside the kitchen. "If you still want to keep breathing, I suggest you walk away," Caleb says to Jordan. He still doesn't lifts his head. "Now!"
"But you are going into—" Jordan protests.
Caleb growls, "I know! Just leave so I can calm the fuck down!"
Jordan hesitates a few more seconds before going out the door. "Should I call someone?" Jordan asks.
"Just tell Reyes, the doctor, what's going on. He knows what to do. Tell him Red will be there as soon as possible," Caleb says. "And close the door. If I smell another male around my soulmate—"
Jordan closes the door, and I remain alone with Caleb. He is shaking even harder.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
Caleb inhales deeply, "Promise you won't panic."
"Now you are scaring me," I say.
He chuckles but sounds like he is in pain. "I am going into a rut."
An Alpha rut is the equivalent of an Omega heat, only that an Alpha goes into a rut when there's an Omega in heat close to him.
"Am I going into heat?" I ask. "Because I am so not ready for it!"
"I am trying not to think about it!" Caleb says. "Don't worry about it; Reyes has drugs for Alphas and Omegas. We are going to be fine."
I have heard of drugs to suppress the heat of an Omega. But the next heat is going to be worst if I suppress this one. But I didn't know there are also suppressors for Alphas.
Tears gather inside my eyes because I am not ready to have sex.
I try to joke, " I am not ready to be a mama!"
Caleb inhales sharply, "Red, the vampires, they did something to me. I don't think I can have children."
I expected Caleb to say anything but that, and for a moment, I don't know what to say. "It's fine," I say softly, "there are other ways to have children."
"I am sorry," Caleb says.
The first spikes of my heat start, and pain spreads through my body like molten lava.
"Caleb!" I cry.
"Fuck, Red!" Caleb inhales deeply. "Listen to me carefully. I am going to count to five. When I get to five, I will let go of you, and I want you to run straight to the clinic. And don't look back, no matter what."
Caleb starts to count, and at five, he lets go and moves to a side. I rush to the door but stop when I hear Caleb whine in pain. I stop and look at him. He is gripping the counter with both hands while his body shakes violently.
"Caleb, what can I do to help you?" I ask even when I feel more spikes of heat.
"Go!" Caleb says.
"But you are in pain!" I protest.
"For the love of the Goddess, just go! I don't think I can control myself any longer!" Caleb yells.
I turn my back and run. When I hear a howl that shakes the Pack House, I run even faster. When I feel more pain and fall to my knees, I want to turn around and ask Caleb to help me with this stupid heat. I force myself to stand and keep going.
I get to the clinic, and Jordan is inside, waiting for me with Reyes.
"Did he do anything to you?" Jordan asks. I huff and get closer to them. Jordan takes a few steps backward. "Rain, your scent. Fuck! I've never smelled anything like it!"
Reyes looks at Jordan, "If you think you can't control yourself, leave!"
"And you can resist that scent?" Jordan asks.
"I am a Gamma, and her scent doesn't affect me the same way it affects you!"
"What's wrong with my scent?" I ask between gritted teeth because with each passing second, the pain grows stronger.
Jordan groans, "You smelled good before, but now you smell like a hundred times better!" He looks at Reyes, "I have to go!"
Jordan storms outside, leaving me alone with Reyes.
"Come with me," Reyes says, and I follow him into one of the rooms. Each step I take is an agony. "I am afraid you will have to spend the night here. I will give you something for the pain and then the heat suppressor."
"Hurry!" I say before falling once more to my knees.