54. Rain

**Rain**

The training with Holgan went better than yesterday. I even managed to forget about my panic and concentrate on what Holgan was teaching me.

I want to get over what happened to me in the Crescent Moon Pack, and for that, I need to accept my past as part of my life while I move forward. As a Luna, I will have to assist pack members or visit other packs with Caleb, and I don’t want to let my former life keep controlling me.

I don’t want to let the terrible moments keep winning.

When training is over, Katherine, Elton, and I go to Sarah’s house. Sky is still watching movies with the other pups, and Miss Margaret promised to let me know when they are done.

Sarah lets us in and leads us to the kitchen. Viki sits at the table, looking at some recipes, and Elton goes straight to her. Lately, the two of them have become very close, and they spend a lot of time together. Safia lets me know that Viki and Elton are smiling at each other while they look at the recipe book. I am curious to see if they are soulmates, but Elton is too young. Viki is twenty-three already, and if Elton is her soulmate, she will have to be patient a little longer. It would not be the first case in which the female is older than the male.

I think I am not the only one suspecting a future bond between Viki and Elton because while we bake the pies, talk, drink some wine, tell jokes, or even dance, Sarah and Katherine are amused. Elton never leaves Viki’s side.

When we finish the pies, we go to the Pack House and invade Blade’s kitchen. He tries to get rid of us, but we insist on helping him finish the food for the party; he finally gives in and lets us be. We make him sit on a chair while we take care of everything. Each time we start a recipe, he stresses about us ruining the food, but we ignore him and chat his ear off. When we finish cooking, we go over to the dining room to see if Caleb and Conon have it ready for tonight.

When we enter the dining room, I gasp. A big Christmas tree is set at the far-off end of the room, and the children and Miss Margaret are decorating it. The females are putting the last decorations on the table, chairs and a karaoke stage.

Caleb, Jeremy, and Conon are checking the music system. Viki and Elton go to help with the decorations while Katherine goes to Conon. He puts her on his lap and kisses her cheek. Jeremy and Sarah leave to get ready for the party.

Caleb stops what he is doing and comes to me. “What do you think?” he asks me.

I feel everyone’s excitement, and I know tonight will be amazing. “Can’t wait for the party to start,” I reply.

Caleb looks at the children, making sure they are not listening. “Wait until the children receive their gifts.”

Conon gained a lot of money this month, and we spent a lot on the party. We bought bikes and tablets. When the snow melts, we will start making a park so that they can ride their bikes.

“We should eat something before getting dressed,” I suggest.

Caleb takes out his phone. “Only three hours left. Do you think you have enough time to get ready?” he asks.

I know he is joking, so I try my best to give him an appropriate reply. “I need at least five hours to look decent. Three hours, you say, but between eating something and helping Sky get ready, I will show up at the party looking like a zombie.”

Caleb chuckled. “A sexy zombie.”

Before leaving, we go over to Miss Margaret and take Sky with us. We go to the kitchen and grab some sandwiches before I take Sky to her room. The dress for tonight is in her wardrobe—it is pink, and the neckline and the sleeves are white.

I am still getting used to being a mom, and sometimes conversations with Sky might be a little cringy. “What do you think about the pack?” I ask her while I close the zipper on her dress.

Sky thinks for a moment. “I like it because I don’t have to hide what I am from the other pups.”

I turn her around so I can look at her. “Don’t you ever hide who you are, Sky.” I lift her right hand. “You are special because the Moon Goddess gave you the power to control the water.”

Sky thinks for a moment, and Safia lets me know she is biting her lip. “How do you know I can manipulate water?”

I open a button of the grey shirt I am wearing and show my mark to Sky. “Because I can control fire. Caleb can use ice as he wants.”

Sky smiles. “Can I show my friends what I can do with my power?”

I think for a moment before replying. “I think you should wait for a little while. You will still have your magic tomorrow or next year.” Sky nods, and I move to another topic. “I know you have lived with Katherine until now, and she took care of you as a mother would, but I was wondering what you think about having a family?”

Sky gets a little upset. “I have my father, the uncles, and Katherine! They are my family!”

“I know, but you can have a bigger family.”

“I never thought about it,” Sky tells me honestly.

I smile. “You belong to a pack now, which is like a big family with grandparents and cousins and other annoying relatives that you usually see once a year, and usually grab your checks and pull hard until your face hurt.” Sky giggles. I inhale deeply. “And then it is Caleb and me. One day, when you are ready, we would like to be your parents.”

“I already have a mother and a father. Well, my mother is with the Goddess Nix, but I still have my father, and I hope to live with him one day.”

“There’s nothing wrong with having two fathers. While I know I can never replace your mother, I want you to know I will love you as if you were my daughter.” Sky doesn’t reply, so I don’t insist. “Let me fix your hair,” I say and take her to the vanity table. I brush Sky’s hair and do a French braid. “Can you wait here while I go see if Caleb or Katherine are ready?” I ask.

Sky takes her tablet, sits on her bed, and I go to Katherine’s room. I knock, and when she doesn’t answer, I go to my room. Caleb is in the bathroom, trying to fix his tie. He is wearing a pair of black pants, a white shirt, and a red tie with snowflakes.

I go to help him with the tie while I think of the dress I am going to wear at the party. It is cherry red and has intricate snowflake motifs and decorative components scattered throughout it. Caleb purchased it for me, and I will wear it with the red shoesSarah gave me on the first date I had with Caleb.

“Sky is ready, and she is waiting for you in her room,” I say. “Once I am dressed, I will go to Sarah’s house to do my hair and makeup.”

I finish fixing the tie for Caleb, and he kisses my forehead. “I don’t like it when you use makeup because it hides your adorable freckles.”

It is the first time Caleb mentions my freckles. I even forgot about them. “You will see them when I remove the makeup. Will you pick me up from Sarah’s house before the party starts?” I ask.

“Of course! I will let you get ready. Meanwhile, I will go see how Sky is doing.”

Caleb leaves, and I check the gifts, wanting to make sure all of them are in the bags where I put them. I put the dress on, a pair of sneakers, take the red heels in my left hand, and I go over to Sarah’s house. Five females I have seen only from afar are in Sarah’s salon room. They are having some tea and cookies and talk loudly while Sarah is fixing the hair of one of the females. When I enter the room, they stop talking and look at me.

“Luna Rain,” one says, “join us!”

They make space for me to sit between them, and I am tempted to run for my life. Safia sends me some images from Prison Break.

I straighten my back and sit on the chair they left empty for me. The females resume their conversation and include me in it. They ask me about my mating ceremony with Caleb and start planning the party, and I feel grateful because I don’t have to worry about it. Sarah works fast; it doesn’t take long before she has everyone’s hair and makeup done.

Ten minutes before the party starts, Caleb and Sky come to look for me. “You look exquisite!” Caleb says as we leave Sarah’s house.

“Thanks! You don’t look bad yourself!” I reply, and Caleb chuckles.

**‘We are the sexiest males alive!’** Raven snorts.

I snort. “And humble! Don’t forget about that!”

Before we go to the dining room, I look at Caleb. “I need to grab the gifts! They are in our bedroom!”

“Do you want us to come with you?” Caleb asks.

“It’s fine,” I say. “I am sure Sky wants to be with the other pups and enjoy Christmas Eve.”

I rush upstairs, grab the bags, and go to the dining room as soon as possible. Caleb and Sky are sitting at the same table as Katherine, Conon, the vampires, Elton, and Viki. I sit between Caleb and Sky and put the gifts under my chair.

The food is on the table, and I put some on my plate. Caleb fills my glass with wine and some juice for Sky. Little by little, more pack members show up, and the party gets started. The room fills with music and laughter. From time to time, someone would go up to the stage and sing something. The pups go to the part of the room set for them and start playing.

At some point, Conon stands and looks at Caleb before going to the karaoke stage. “This is for you!”

I grab my glass of wine and sip a little. “This has to be good!”

Conon gets on the stage, and I choke on the damn wine when he starts singing “In the heat of the night” by Sandra. Oldie but Goldie. Someone whistles.

Once Conon is done, Caleb stands and goes to the stage. Conon gives him the microphone. “Hit the road Jack” by Ray Charles starts, and we lose it. When Caleb finishes the song, Conon sings “Despacito.” At this point, everyone is laughing and having a good time. I wonder what Caleb will sing next, and I almost fall from the chair when he puts “Psycho girlfriend” by Jessie James. He told me about what Conon thought about Katherine yesterday. I wonder if Conon will smack Caleb or kiss him. I shake my head when Conon sings “Evil” by Hish. Animated by Caleb and Conon, more werewolves join the fun, and soon a competition starts.

Someone sings “Lady in red,” and Caleb invites me to dance. “I think this might be our song,” Caleb says.

I put my arms around his neck. “I love it.”

Close to midnight, we give the gifts to the children. They start jumping around excitedly, and it takes a while before their parents calm them and take them to their rooms. Sky is tired, and I give her my gift before taking her to bed. Since I wasn’t sure what she would like, I bought her a teddy bear, two Barbies, some coloring books and pencils. Caleb and Tristan bought her a dollhouse, and they will set it up tomorrow.

I am glad to see Caleb and Tristan working on their friendship.

Before Caleb and I take Sky to bed, I give the rest of the gifts. For Sarah, I got a professional set of makeup brushes, while for Viki, I bought some alien romance books. I still don’t know Katherine well, so I decided to buy some expensive chocolate. For Elton, I got hiking boots because he once told me he likes to walk around the forest, and for Conon, I bought a funny game - Geek Battle.

After we make sure Sky is sleeping, Caleb takes me to the piano room. “I got something for you,” he says and gives me a gift box.

I give him my gift before I open mine. “Caleb!” I say when I take out a Kindle Paperwhite and an XP Pen.

“So you can read all the books you want and draw as much as you want,” Caleb tells me before taking out the ash wood dagger I got him.

For Raven, I got a TARDIS teapot and mug.

**‘You are the best, Red!’** Raven says.

“I love you, crazy wolf!” I reply to Raven while Caleb inspects the dagger. “So you can kill Sinn and the Vampire Queen!”

“I will use it! Before returning to the party, I have one more gift for you,” he says before putting the dagger on the table and taking me to the piano.

We sit on the bench, and Caleb plays a song I had never heard before. I watch his fingers fly on the keyboard while I listen to each note.

“What do you think?” Caleb asks when he finishes.

“I love it! What is it called?” I ask.

“Loving Red,” Caleb says, and I frown. “I composed it for you because you are the love of my life, and I can’t imagine living without you!”