28. Rain

**Rain**

After Reyes gave me suppressors for my heat and spent the entire night in the clinic, I asked about Caleb before leaving. I was worried about him and hoped to see him as soon as Reyes told me I was free to go. But when Reyes told me there were no suppressors for Alphas, I got mad at Caleb because not only that he lied to me, but he was suffering.
I returned to my room and paced around it until my anger faded away. I started wondering where Caleb was and how he was feeling. Safia was equally worried about Caleb and Raven.
I went to look for him only to find Conon in the office talking to Tatiana over the phone and asking her to come as soon as possible because Caleb was in a rut and he wasn't feeling well.
Guilt hit me like a tsunami because I knew that if I weren't as broken as I was and scared of sex, Caleb would not be suffering.
I asked Conon where Caleb was, and he told me that both Jordan and Caleb spent the night in cells. Conon took me to the dungeons, and the scent of pain made me stop in my tracks. While I was in the clinic, with drugs for pain and suppressors, Caleb had been locked in a cell and suffering.
Something changed in my heart at that moment.
In one of the cells was Caleb passed out, covered in sweat, and Jordan next to him. I kneeled and touched his hand. His skin was so hot, and for a moment, I panicked something would happen to him. Fortunately, Conon came and helped me calm down.
We took Caleb to his room, and Jordan and Conon changed Caleb of his clothes while I was inspecting his room. After that, we waited for Tatiana to arrive. It didn't take her long to appear in the pack, literally. To my surprise, Tatiana is a nature witch, a druid. She kicked Conon, Jordan, and me from Caleb's room. I paced like a crazy female up and down the hallway while Conon and Jordan stared at me. I was worried and mad because when I asked Tatiana what was wrong with Caleb, she refused to tell me.
Safia was so nervous, and she wanted to shift and go for a run, but I didn't want to be away when Caleb woke up, so I tried to convince Safia to sleep until we had news about our soulmate. While Safia did not sleep, she retreated to the back of my mind and watched what was happening.
After what seemed like hours, Tatiana finally opened the door and told me I could enter and sit next to Caleb until he woke up. I asked her what was wrong with Caleb, and she promised she would tell me once Caleb woke up.
I entered Caleb's room, got under the comforter, and sat next to him on the bed. I traced his jaw with my fingers. To my relief, he no longer had a fever. I gave him a little kiss on his cheek, buried my nose in my neck, and left his scent to calm me. I don't know how long I stood like that, listening to his heart. When I felt calmer, I lifted my head, took a book from his nightstand, and started to read. Or at least I tried to read because I couldn't focus. My thoughts were in chaos, and my heart was hurting for Caleb.
When I felt Caleb waking, I put the book back on the nightstand. I kissed him because I felt so relieved he was finally awake, but then I remembered that he had lied to me, and I slapped him. Moments later, Tatiana, Conon, and Jordan entered the room.
"How is it that every time I turn my back for one moment, something happens to you?" Tatiana asks in an angry tone.
Caleb sits on the bed and looks at Tatiana, "Glad to see you too, Houdini!"
Tatiana shakes her head, "I won't kick your ass just because I love you! But don't call me Houdini! I am a real witch!"
Caleb chuckles, "You finally admit that you love me!"
"Don't push me, wolf-boy!" Tatiana says, and Caleb laughs.
I move closer to Caleb and rest my head on his shoulder. He interlaces our hands, and sparks come to life between our palms. I missed them, and I hope to feel them all my life.
Conon howls with laughter. "Tatiana, I didn't know you were related to the great Houdini!"
Tatiana looks at Conon, and I wonder what's her expression because Conon takes a step back. "I brought you some fresh baked cookies, but I think I will give them to Caleb and Rain instead," Tatiana says to Conon.
Conon whines and Caleb laughs. "But I love your cookies! So does Cookie!" Conon protests.
"Then learn to respect your elders!" Tatiana says. "Now, be a good pup, and go play in another room. And if you behave, I might give you one cookie!" Tatiana says, and Conon groans.
"I am not a pup! I am twenty-one!" Conon says. "But I will leave to show everyone I am an adult and not because I want to go to the kitchen and find those cookies!" he says before leaving.
As soon as Conon closes the door behind him, Jordan laughs. "He is something else. At least my Beta is more serious. I would be afraid to leave the pack in the hands of Conon even for one hour!"
Caleb growls, "I assure you that Conon is capable of taking care of the pack."
Jordan shrugs.
Tatiana looks at Jordan. "I didn't want to say anything in front of Conon but know that I am very angry with you! When the Moon Goddess gave you Rain as your soulmate, your obligation was to love and respect her!"
My breath stops because I did not expect Tatiana to know about Jordan and me. Caleb tenses next to me.
"I know," Jordan says in a sad tone. "And will pay the price of not listening to her all my life."
"Not only did you not listen to her, but also hurt her!" Tatiana says in an angry tone.
Caleb growls, "You hurt her, you fucker?"
Caleb tries to stand, but I don't let go of him. "Caleb, please, it's not worth it. He is not worth it!" I whisper to him.
Caleb looks at me. "But you are worth it!"
"I am sorry!" Jordan says. "There are no excuses for how I acted that day!"
I look at Jordan. "No, there aren't! But I don't want to talk about *it* anymore!"
Tatiana tsks, "Jordan Reed, I hope you learned something, and *if* the Moon Goddess chooses to bless you with another soulmate, you will treat her how she deserves!"
"I don't think I can love another female!" Jordan says.
"Well, too bad for you!" Tatiana says. She looks at me. "Happy with your second chance?"
I look at Caleb, "I couldn't be happier!"
Jordan looks at me. "I didn't want to believe Caleb was your second soulmate, but when you rejected me, I knew it was true because you would never accept being with someone who is not your soulmate."
Tatiana looks at Caleb and me, then at Jordan. "Talking about soulmates, Jordan, I need to have a chit-chat with these two! Close the door behind you!"
"Yes, ma'am," Jordan says and leaves.
Jordan leaves, and Tatiana sits on a chair, facing Caleb and me. For a long time, no one says anything, and I start to feel uncomfortable. I try to move away from Caleb, but he puts an arm around my waist and brings me closer to him.
"Caleb!" I protest.
Tatiana laughs, "Don't mind me! I enjoy seeing both of you happy!"
Caleb kisses the top of my head and looks at Tatiana, "Do you know what happened during my rut? It felt as if I was burning."
I look at Caleb. "I am sorry!"
He cups my cheek, "It's not your fault!"
"But I —" I say and stop.
Tatiana clears her throat. "Caleb is right. It's not your fault. What he experienced is called a real Alpha rut." I frown because I have never heard about a real Alpha rut before. Tatiana continues speaking. "It doesn't happen very often; only very few Alpha's experience it. But it can be very painful for the male if he is not with his soulmate during that time."
"So, if I had stayed with Caleb, he would not have suffered," I say, feeling guilty.
"Red, it was my choice not to be with you. Stop feeling guilty!"
I nod, but I can't control my feelings.
Caleb looks at Tatiana. "Will I be experiencing it again?"
Tatiana nods. "Yes. And soon."
Caleb mutters under his breath. "Can't you do something?" he asks Tatiana.
"I can keep it dormant for only a short period, Caleb," Tatiana says.
"How long?" I ask.
"Maybe a month," Tatiana says.
I inhale deeply. Maybe one month seems like a short time, but I know that Caleb will never push me to do anything I don't want to do.
Caleb growls, and I grab his face between my palms. "Listen to me, wolf-man! I trust you! While I am scared, I trust you not to hurt me!"
Caleb kisses my forehead, "I would never hurt you!" He looks at Tatiana. "Will you explain how this rut works? Because what I know is that Omegas go into heat and trigger the Alpha's rut."
Tatiana nods. "Yes, that's what happens for most Alphas, but those Alphas that find their one and only soulmate enter into a real rut. And when they go into a rut, they trigger the heat of their soulmates."
I frown. "Their only soulmate?" I ask Tatiana.
She looks at me. Light filters through the curtains, and her rainbow-dyed hair shines. I am sure she had glitter in her hair.
"While the Moon Goddess blessed you with a second chance, Caleb was given only one soulmate—you," Tatiana tells me.
I look at Caleb and wonder if everything that happened to me was so I could meet Caleb.
"I would not want any other soulmate for me," Caleb says. "How many times will I experience this rut?"
"Well, around two times a year," Tatiana says. "And from what I sense, Rain will have around three or four heats a year. I can hardly wait to see your babies!"
Caleb tenses, and I remember what he told me yesterday in the kitchen. The vampires took so much from him, and I hope that one day they will pay for everything they've done.
"We might not have babies," Caleb says in a sad tone. Tatiana tills her head, and Caleb rubs his eyes with his fingers. "Sinn," Caleb says, and Tatiana nods as if she understands.
"One day, the Queen and Sinn will pay for all the pain they caused," Tatiana says.
"I hope they rot in hell!" Caleb says. "Together with Tristan!"
Tatiana stands, "Tristan is not like Sinn. He is one of the few vampires that still have morals. And is the only one that can save the vampires."
"They can all rot in hell for all I care!" Caleb says.
"I understand your anger, Caleb, but not all are evil," Tatiana says, and Caleb snorts. "I have to go. I expect to see both of you next month at the annual meeting of the Alphas and Lunas."
"I am just Regent," Caleb said.
"You were Regent, but now you have a Luna," Tatiana says. "Ask the Elders to officially recognize the pack."
"It can wait," Caleb says.
"Caleb, you have to be at the meeting next month," Tatiana says in a serious tone.
"Why?" Caleb askes.
"You will know then. I can't tell you more right now!" Tatiana says and goes to the door. "I almost forgot. When she is ready, take her to the magic groove."
Caleb looks at Tatiana, "I don't understand."
"You will! It was nice seeing you again. I will leave you two to bond, or whatever you wolves do, and see if Conon left any cookies!"