49. Rain

**Rain**

I sit on the rock while Caleb gathers the skates and his phone. He mutters something under his breath about kicking Raven’s butt for leaving the things on the snow.

I bit my lip, trying to hide my smile.

“This is the last time Raven touches my stuff!” Caleb says while putting the backpack on his back.

I smile a bit sadly. “He was just trying to make Safia happy. Until Raven, no one took an interest in talking to her or taking her out on a date.” A lump forms in my throat. “Titan liked her, but Raven adores her. Don’t be mad at Raven for making Safia feel special for the first time in her life.”

Caleb crouches in front of me, takes my left hand in his, and kisses it. “Safia is loved by both Raven and me. She is amazing! I am sure Raven will make Safia feel special every day.” Caleb inhales deeply and lets the air out. “I know it will sound bad, but I am glad Jordan rejected you.” I blink. “Because if he had realized how precious and amazing you are, he would have never let you go. Just a few more days, and I will finally take you to the Ritual Stones, Red! Do you have any idea how happy I felt when you asked me to mark you?”

“No,” I said.

Caleb kisses me. “For the first time in my horrible existence, I felt truly loved.”

At this point, I blink fast, hoping the tears that have gathered in my eyes won’t fall. “I love you, Caleb fucking Black. So much.”

Caleb chuckles. Then he breathes me in. “I love you, Rain soon-to-be Black.”

I gasp. “So you can say my name! Say it again!”

“Rain,” Caleb says against my lips. “But you will always be Red for me, my Fire Luna.”

“Why Red?” I ask.

Caleb stands. “Let’s head back to the pack. I will tell you on the way.”

I get up from the rock, Caleb puts an arm around my shoulder, and we start walking.

“Well?” I ask after a few minutes of silence.

Caleb takes a strand of my hair between his fingers. It takes all my willpower not to moan at the sensation of having someone playing with my hair. I lean in his touch because it feels so good!

“I really like your hair. It was the thing I noticed about you—your gorgeous red hair. I didn’t see all those bruises that coved you from head to toe. Nor your broken heart or your skinny body. Only your hair. There were some twigs and leaves in it, and I remember wanting to take them out so I could take a better look at your hair color. I wondered if it was natural or if you dyed it. But then Jeremy pointed out how badly hurt you were, and I wanted to kill those that harmed you,” Caleb says while he continues to play with my hair.

I never took a great interest in my body. I don’t know if I have a beautiful face or not. Heck, I don’t even know what a beautiful person should look like. But to have Caleb saying he likes my hair is another thing because I can see it and work with it. Sarah has been showing me some new styles, and I want to try them. I hope Caleb will like them.

I feel lucky to have Caleb as my soulmate. He makes me feel loved. I hurry my pace. “Let’s go home, Caleb. Home to our daughter.”

With Christmas only three days away, the pack is setting up ornaments and even a tree for the children. I know there will be a big party on Christmas Eve, and I am excited because it is the first time I will celebrate with my new family and pack.

“I have been talking to Raven,” Caleb says as we walk fast through the forest. “We want to make you the house you want. You know, the one with the little white fence.” I stop in my tracks. “Red?” I jump in Caleb’s arms, wrap my legs around his waist, and put my arms around his neck. He laughs, grabs my ass, and starts walking.

“Caleb, I was wondering. After what the vampires did to you, has any doctor seen you? Maybe it can be undone, and we can have—”

“Sinn used a silver knife on me. It’s permanent,” Caleb says in a bitter tone.

I kiss his neck. “It’s fine; we still have Sky.”

“I would give anything to see you round with my child, Red. To smell my scent mixed with yours while you carry my pup in your womb,” Caleb says in a low tone. “It will never happen." Not after what Sinn did to me.”

We fall silent until we reach the Rogue Village. Caleb takes us straight to the Pack House, and since it is morning and wolves love to wake up early, we bump into Conon, Elton, and Viki. I am still clinging to Caleb like a baby monkey.

“Caleminator! How many times did you mate with Rain that you have to carry her?” He sniffs the air. “Damn! How many times did you do it? Wait, is that Raven’s scent?”

I let go of Caleb and stand. “I am fine!”

“Weak,” Conon says. “When I find my soulmate, she won’t leave my bed for a week! I will have to carry her for days after that!”

“Conon!” Caleb growls. “There are kids around here!”

Elton shrugs. “If you are talking about me, I have to remind you I am sixteen, not ten.”

“See?” Conon asks. “Elton knows what a cock is used for!”

Viki laughs. “Someone needs to get laid! And fast!”

Conon looks at his right hand. “Girl, we have a date tonight!”

I cover my mouth with my hand, but when Viki and Elton laugh, I lose it.

“You should find your soulmate! You may grow up if you have a female next to you!” Caleb says to Conon. “I’ll see you at breakfast. Red and I will go see if Sky is awake.”

We go up the stairs, and Caleb takes me to our room. “I thought we were going to check on Sky.”

“We need to shower and change our clothes,” Caleb says. “You smell just like Raven.”

“Jealous?” I ask while I undress.

“No, I will make you smell just like me tonight!” Caleb says.

“Can’t wait!” I say and rush to the shower.

“Red!” Caleb says and comes after me.

I get into the shower. Water runs down my body, and Caleb looks at me. I wish I could see his face and know his expressions. “Do you like what you see?” I ask.

Caleb takes off his clothes. He is hard. “I don’t like what I see; I love what I see, Red. Your body is so amazing I can’t get enough of it!” he says and enters the shower.

I hand him the soap and turn my back to him. His hands trace the marks on my back. His fingers stop on my right shoulder. I almost forgot what Jordan did to me. Almost. But the mark he put on me when he rejected me is still there.

“Is there a way to remove it?” I ask. “I don’t want it on my body anymore!”

“I will ask Tatiana. Maybe she knows something. But even if you will have it forever, I don’t care! I know you are not a betrayer. You are a survivor!” Caleb says and starts washing my body. When he reaches between my legs, I freeze. “I am just going to clean you, Red. I won’t put my fingers inside you.”

I nod. “I am sorry,” I say and face Caleb.

“Never be sorry for your trauma,” Caleb says and starts washing his body.

When we are dry and dressed, we go to Sky’s room. Katherine is brushing her hair. I feel bad because it is supposed to be my role as Sky’s stepmother, but I have never taken care of children before. In the former pack, pups used to avoid me like the plague.

Katherine looks at me. “You will learn. Just have a little patience with youself,” she says, as if she can guess what I was thinking about.

“Rain! Caleb!” Sky says and comes to us. She gives us a little hug, and I can hardly wait for the day when she will learn the truth about her real father.

Caleb crouches in front of Sky. “Do you want to have breakfast with Red and me?”

Sky looks at Katherine, and when she nods, Sky turns her head back to Caleb and me. “I hoped to eat with my father, Zeke, Xenos, and Katherine.”

“I have another idea,” I say. “How about we go into the dining room and have breakfast with the others, but you will eat lunch with Caleb and me?”

Sky thinks for a moment. “I would like that.”

We go to the dining room, and to my surprise, Tristan and his knights are with him. I know he wants to return to the Vampire Palace to get Emma out, but I hope Caleb won’t go. I know I sound awful, but the vampires took so much from Caleb and Raven.

Conon, Elton, and Viki are sitting next to another and talking in low voices. Elton says something to Viki, and she giggles. Unfortunately, Safia is sleeping—Raven has exhausted her last night—and I don’t know Elton’s facial expression.

Sky runs to Tristan. “Father!” she says and puts her hands around his neck. “I am glad you are staying more with me this time.”

Caleb squeezes my hand.

The other werewolves look at Sky and Tristan and then at us. From what Caleb told me, only those born in his family have silver eyes. I am sure the pack knows or suspects that Sky is Caleb’s daughter.

Tristan looks at Caleb before turning his attention back to Sky. “I will stay a little longer. But when I have to leave, Caleb and Rain will take care of you.”

Sky sits next to Tristan. Caleb usually sits at the head of the table, and I sit to his left, but this time we chose the chairs next to Sky. Katherine sits next to Conon. She says something to him, but he ignores her.

After Caleb puts food for Sky and me, he picks up a cup of coffee.

“I want to start training,” I say to Caleb. I have been thinking about this for some time, and I think it is time for me to learn how to fight.

Caleb drinks from his coffee. “We will start right after we finish breakfast.”

I shake my head. “I want to train with someone else.”

“Why?” Caleb asks in a shocked tone.

I look at Sky because I don’t want her to hear me. When I see she is talking to Zeke, I say into Caleb’s ear. “Because I trust you and I like when you touch me, and I want to train with someone I would hate to touch me. I need to get over my panic attacks.”

“It doesn’t work like that,” Caleb says.

“Humor me!” I say. Caleb likes saying that to me.

“Fine! But I need you to use your safety word when it is too much for you. Just like you used to do in therapy. Do you remember?”

“Yes,” I say.

I pick up a slice of toast, put some prosciutto, and bite it. While I chew my food, I look at Katherine. She sits very close to Conon.

When Conon touches Katherine’s hand by mistake, I can smell their shock.

“Soulmate!” she says.

Conon stands. “Fuck no!” he says before leaving.