9. Rain

**Rain**

Sarah points to one of the small houses, "That is the house I live in. I have all my hair products there."
She starts walking towards the house and I drag my feet after her, hoping that she will brush my hair fast and I can return to my room.
The house is warm and cozy, and Sarah leads to me to the living room. On a sofa, I spot a male that smells like coffee.
"This is my companion, Jeremy. He is a Delta and an Enforcer," Sarah says, pointing at the male. "Jeremy, this is Rain. Remember her?"
While soulmates are pairs fated by the Moon Goddess, companions are werewolves that fall in love and choose to be together.
A second soulmate is something very rare and those that end up rejected or lose their soulmates because of other circumstances usually end up with a companion.
Jeremy looks at us, and wave at me. "Hi! Glad to see you are finally out of your room. Sarah is going to help you with your hair?" he asks, while he comes to us.
When Jeremy is next to Sarah he kisses her cheek. My heart hurts when I remember happy moments from the past.
Jeremy looks at Sarah for a few moments before looking at me, "She is the best hairstylist from the pack!"
Sarah laughs, "You mean I am the only hairstylist in the pack!"
"Semantics," Jeremy says in an affectionate tone.
I can't help but envy them. They seem so happy together.
I look away, not wanting to see the happy couple anymore. And at this moment I am glad I am face blind because I don't have to see how they look at each other.
Sarah clears her throat, "I should start working on your hair. Come with me."
I follow Sarah as she takes me to a room next to the living room. The room is set up as a small salon. I had never been to an actual salon while I lived in my older pack. I usually cut my own hair, but sometimes I would be permitted to see a movie I have seen how salons are.
Sarah leads me to the washing chair. She puts a towel around my shoulders.
"Sit," she tells me. "First I want to properly wash your hair."
I do as Sarah asks me. She gets my hair wet and adds some products to my hair. And then she starts washing and massaging my scalp. To my surprise, this feels good.
"I am glad that Caleb finally got you out of the room," Sarah tells me as she works on my hair. "He has been trying for almost a month."
I remember Caleb trying to take me out of my room before, but I didn't realize he has been trying for a month. When he came to take out I usually ignored him, until he got bored and left, or just fought him.
When Sarah finishes washing my hair she takes me to another chair and dries my hair with a towel. After that, she puts more products on my hair and starts to slowly brush it.
"I know it is hard now, but in time it will get better," Sarah says.
"Will it?" I ask. "I feel so dead inside."
"As I said earlier, I know how it is to be you. I felt the same way. Then Jeremy happened. He understood through what I was going through and knew I needed a friend and he became that friend for me. Little by little I fell in love with him. And he also fell in love with me. We had our binding ceremony over a year ago," Sarah says with happiness.
While soulmates claim each other by biting their right shoulder, companions have a binding ceremony, similar to a human wedding.
"And one day you will find love once more," Sarah continues talking.
"No. I am done with love. It is only pain and suffering."
"But without pain, we can't know true happiness," Sarah says, while she works on a stubborn knot. "One day I am sure you will be as happy as I am."
"You are happy because you found someone to understand you," I say. "I will never find someone like your Jeremy."
Sarah laughs softly.
"All you have to do is take a look at the Rogue Pack. It is full of werewolves that will understand you." When I frown, Sarah explains, "Caleb created this pack five years ago for abused werewolves. He takes in all those that have been rejected, abused, tortured. He helps the abused werewolves to heal and trains them, and gives them a new purpose, a new life."
"He is a bully!" I say. "And I really hope he will just leave me alone."
"Caleb is strict and rarely laughs, but deep down he is a good person."
I snort. Caleb might have built this pack for abused werewolves but how can I know he is not another abuser?
Sarah continues working on my hair, while Jeremy brings in some sandwiches.
I am not hungry but Sarah insists that I should eat and in the end, I end up eating a sandwich.
After we ate, Sarah keep brushing and detangling my hair.
"What do you think?" she asks me when she finishes.
I look for a while at my hair in the mirror. My hair has never looked this nice in the past.
"Thank you!" I finally say. "It looks very good!"
"Anytime you need me, you know where to find me," Sarah says.
When I finally leave her house it is late afternoon.
I go directly to my room and get in bed and sleep until morning.
*****
"Red! Get up! We have to train!"
My eyes snap open when I hear the voice of Caleb. I pull my comforter over my head and groan when I feel how sore my muscles are.
"Go away! My feet hurt! I don't want to run today."
Caleb pulls the comforter away, "Time to shower!"
When I don't try to get up, Caleb pulls me up and throws me over his shoulder.
"You really have an obsession with putting me over your shoulder!" I say while I push with my hands at his lower back.
"If you just would do as I say then I wouldn't have to carry you around like a caveman!" Caleb growls.
He takes me to the bathroom, makes me stand, and before he leaves, Caleb looks at me, "Shower. You have five minutes!"
I feel like screaming and throwing things at this male!
Does he think I am going to shower in five minutes? He can think again!
I take my time, unbraiding my hair and getting undressed. I get into the shower and wash twice before I get out. Then I take my time drying myself.
When I am done, I put on a bathrobe and get out.
Caleb is waiting for me, in the middle of the room, with his hands folded and smelling all spicy. He is mad.
"Do you have a problem with your ears? I said five minutes! You stood in there twenty. So you are going to run fifteen laps around the village. Now get dressed! You have ten minutes!"
Caleb leaves me alone in the room and it is now that I notice a blue gym suit on the bed. I am shocked to see that he actually listened when I said I don't like pink.
I get dressed and brush my hair. Then I put it in a messy bun and get out the door.
Caleb looks at his watch then at me, "You are only two minutes late. You are showing some improvement. Now let's eat."
I follow him to the kitchen. Blade is already there, preparing breakfast.
"Good morning!" he says and I greet him back. "What should I make for you today?" he asks.
"Cereals is fine," Caleb says.
When Blade puts a bowl full of cereals in front of, me, I stare at it for a minute.
"Eat, Red! Otherwise, I am going to make you run with an empty stomach!"
I end up eating half a bowl before I feel full.
When we get outside, Caleb already starts running. I start walking. Slowly.
"Move that little ass faster, Red!" Caleb says in a loud tone. "You have to run, not walk!"
I ignore him and keep walking.
"If you don't start running I am going to let Raven out and make him chase you!" Caleb says while he stops running.
I never heard of Raven, and have no idea who he is.
"Who the hell is Raven?" I ask.
Caleb looks at me," Raven is my wolf. And trust me, you don't want to have him chasing you around."
"Why not?"
"Because he doesn't like lazy wolves! And because he is very fast. Now move that ass and start running!"
I stop walking and fold my arms. And look at Caleb as if trying to say 'your turn.'
Caleb unzips his gym suit, "You asked for this."
I start running because I can't believe Caleb would strip in the middle of the village and because I don't want to get chased by an Alpha wolf.
"Good! And now don't stop until I say otherwise," Caleb says and starts running next to me.
My feet hurt but I try to concentrate on putting a foot in front of the other.
I end up running six laps before I collapse on the snow.
"No more," I say. "I can't run anymore."
I can feel Caleb staring at me for a few moments before turning on his heels.
"See you tomorrow at 7 AM, Red!"
After Caleb leaves, I get up and start walking slowly to the Pack House. All the time I am walking I am praying that I won't cross paths with any werewolf that wants to talk to me. I just want to get into my room, crash in my bed, and spend the rest of the day complaining about how much I dislike Caleb and how much my feet hurt.
When I get inside, I sigh with relief when I see the entrance empty. I start to climb the stairs when I hear from behind me, "Sweet-Cheeks!"
I want to cry with frustration when I hear the voice of the Beta. What was his name? Collin? Conor? Conon!
Maybe if I pretend I didn't hear him, he will go away. I keep going up the stairs and I hear Conon coming after me.
Just go away!
"I know you heard me!" Conon says.
"Go away!" I say as I reach the top of the stairs.
Conon laughs, "Why? I want to get to know you better."
"And I want to collapse on my bed and never get up again!"
"Why?"
I sigh, and I say as I keep walking, "Because that bully of an Alpha-hole made me run six laps around the village."
Conon laughs so hard it startles me.
"Did you just call Caleb an Alpha-hole? I think I am in love! Can you be my girlfriend?"
I stop in my track, turn and look at Conon.
Come on, Safia, work with me. What expression does Conon have? But Safia is silent.
"What?" I ask after a minute.
"I asked if you want to be my girlfriend," Conon says in an amused tone.
"No!" I say and turn to go to my room.
"You broke my heart!" I hear Conon say before I close the door to my room.
I get in my bed and sleep until someone knocks on my door.
"Who is it?" I ask.
"Hi! I am Viki! I am here to tell you that dinner is ready!"
Oddly enough, I feel hungry so I decide to go eat.
"Coming!" I say and get out of bed.
Viki takes me to the dining room. I haven't been here before, and I am surprised to see a big, long, table with around fifteen werewolves that are talking among themselves.
I wonder where the other werewolves are eating. All kinds of scents assault my nose and I try to breathe through my mouth while I get used to them.
Caleb is sitting at the table speaking to a male with blond hair. He looks at me, or at least I think he looks at me for a moment, but he keeps speaking to the male.
"Sweet-Cheeks! Sit next to me!" I hear Conon say, but I ignore him and sit as far as possible from him. On the chair next to mine is a female with black hair that smells like violets. The other chair is empty.
Fortunately for me, the female doesn't try to speak to me so I am happy to sit in silence.
Moments later Blade serves dinner, and a plate with lasagna is put in front of me.
I take a bite of my food when I see a male approach Caleb and tells him something at his ear. The male spoke low, so I can't hear what he said.
Caleb nods a few times and then he stands and looks at Conon, "We have to go. Yellow code."
After Caleb and Conon leave the atmosphere around the table gets tense and the others eat their food in silence.
I wonder what yellow code means.



*I wanted to let everyone know that I have signed a contract for this book, so the chapters will be locked soon. I am sorry if this is incovinient for anyone.
Also, I want to say that I made a FB group - Amy T Stories - a group for Frozen Heart and Rain and Ashes. I will post teasers, let everyone know when I will be posting new chapters, answers questions etc.*