Chapter: 46
******

Dr. Creiff jolted awake when he heard the loud bang at his front door. Knowing there's only one person in the whole of River Bay who would make such a mindless entrance, the Doctor sighed, sat upright, and pulled his night robe from the hanger by his bed. He threw the robe on, wrapping it around himself, and sighed again when he heard Rafa roaring his name downstairs. Creiff slipped his foot into his plush slippers, and threw the door open, dashing down the stairs this time.

Upon arrival to his living room, he met emptiness, but there were blood splatters across the floor and on his favorite rug. He frowned and peered over the armrest of the sofa near the fireplace, where he saw Rafa sprawled out, face first, with blood dripping from his hands. The Doctor knelt beside him as gently as he could, and put a hand against Rafa's forehead. "Rafa?" He asked, his frown deepening further.

Rafa exhaled and snapped his eyes open as if awakened from a deep sleep. He was unstable and his vision swam for several seconds before he steadied. "Creiff!" He exclaimed, grabbing onto the older Wolf for support. Creiff winced as pain flared through Rafa's body at his sudden movement, and quickly got an arm under the Lycan's shoulder to help him sit.

"How badly hurt are you? You're bleeding a lot!" Creiff said as he helped Rafa sit up, cradling his head between his hands, feeling slightly dizzy.

"Hm?" Rafa asked, a little disoriented. Creiff watched him closely. He looked as though he was falling in and out of consciousness, and it troubled the doctor.

"What happened to you?" He asked, checking for injuries, and he did find quite a few, he wasn't healing from them which was strange, causing the Doctor to return his gaze to the Lycan. "Rafa,"

"Oh No!" Rafa replied, pulling away from his friend's hold, though it seemed more a reflex than anything else. "These aren't important," He muttered and Creiff frowned, but waited for him to finish speaking. "...It's Leon you should be looking after," He added as he rubbed his chest.

"Leon?" Creiff repeated slowly, turning to look around the room.

"He's in your office, please, Go!" Rafa pleaded, waving his hands urgently. He tried to stand up but stumbled when his legs wouldn't cooperate and fell back onto the sofa. Creiff rushed forward, and held Rafa tightly, supporting his weight. When he looked up, he saw that Rafa's eyes had rolled back in their sockets, his jaw slackening. "He's losing so much blood, we both are going to die at this rate, please, dear friend, save my Soulmate," Rafa whispered, voice slurred and barely audible. Creiff shuddered at the tone, he knew exactly what that tone meant. It wasn't just the loss of blood; there was also a threat implicit in it, and he knew all too well what it meant.

And so the Doctor got on his feet and hurried away. Inside his dimly lit workroom lay Leon's bleeding, and claw-marked body on the metal autopsy table he used for his latest research projects. He knelt next to the unconscious Lion and pressed his fingers into the fur above his heart. He felt a faint pulse there and let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, feeling relieved yet terrified. Creiff took off the gloves he had on and tossed them aside, he then pressed four fingers, two digits on either side of the Lion's ribs, he shut his eyes and relaxed, breathing out a few times, and when he opened his eyes again, they glowed bright yellow, a small glow appeared on each digit as they glowed red, and yellow respectively. After ten minutes, the glow faded and a few sparks like lightning flows began to shoot within the Lion's body, Creiff held his fingers still as he continued to surge healing energies into his body.

His heart raced when the Lion appeared nonresponsive to his magic. He tried to increase the energy beam, although it was starting to make him dizzy, he knew he had to wake Leon or Rafa will kill him before he dies.

Creiff closed his eyes as more power surged into the Lion and felt some of the injuries begin to mend themselves, although not fully healed yet. "You have to wake up now, Leon, come on!" Creiff muttered as tears filled his eyes, he was losing strength and it was only a matter of time before he fell unconscious if he didn't stop soon. His eyelids started drooping heavily, and he forced them open as he heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door leading into his workroom. He looked up when he heard the lock click open, and Conri stood at the door, looking down at the nonresponsive body on the table.

"Hey Conri," Creiff greeted, seeing that he was finally out.

"How is he?" Conri asked, after nodding to his friend in acknowledgment.

"I'm not sure," He replied honestly.

Conri noticed the Doctor getting weaker and he stumbled into the room to go stand behind him. "He's healing, I can feel it." He muttered into Creiff's ear and heard the Doctor sigh in relief.

"And I'm getting weaker," Creiff replied tiredly, closing his eyes as his energy depleted. "If he doesn't wake up soon, I'll be the one needing an energy surge." He panted. He could feel himself fading away already.

"What can I do to help?"

Creiff laughed warmly, turning briefly to his friend he shook his head. "You can't even keep yourself up, look at you swaying from left to right," He smiled once again when he saw Conri's expression fall. "Hey, it's alright," He assured him, but Conri wouldn't budge. "I promise I shall not die until your Soulmate's health is fully restored!"

"That is not funny," Conri retorted, glancing over at Leon.

"I know, just trying to lift your mood," Creiff sighed. "By the way, you look awful."

Conri scoffed, "Thanks," He met the doctor's eyes and saw them swimming once again.

Creiff was beginning to drift into unconsciousness at this rate. "Whoever did this wants you dead by all means necessary, and they picked the fastest route too," He panted again, trying to keep himself from succumbing to unconsciousness.

Conri nodded and glanced over at the operating table. "I don't want to think about him right now," He muttered, and Creiff frowned.

"Him?" He asked, looking over at the Lycan. "Who?"

The Lycan turned to look at him. "Caleb," Conri said quietly.

This seemed to knock the Doctor awake, as he gasped and looked around, confused. "Caleb?! But how - what?!" He exclaimed, shocked.

Conri shrugged. "He blames me for his childhood trauma... He blames all Werewolves for his father's madness and death!" He yelled, frustration seeping into his words, anger coloring his voice, and Creiff watched helplessly as his friend lost his calm completely. Conri slammed his hands on the table and leaned closer to Leon. He brought a hand down to his golden hair, and gently pushed the stray locks out of his face, tucking them neatly behind his ears. "I don't know what I have done to deserve such betrayal... such hate, even from my Mate!" He sounded defeated, and it broke Creiff's heart.

"He's as crazy as his mother then," Creiff said.

"Maybe even worse," Conri retorted.

"Who would have thought?" Creiff murmured as the energy within the Lion increased. "What are you going to do now?" Creiff asked, still struggling to stay conscious.

"I don't know," Conri responded, taking deep breaths. "But if anyone is going to kill him, it has to be me..." The Lycan trailed off and ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

"He is still your Mate!" Creiff protested weakly, and Conri shook his head angrily, eyes flashing dangerously.

"I do not wish to be associated with the likes of him anymore," Conri retorted and looked toward the window. Outside, the moon shone brightly, bathing the city in light. He wondered when it became nighttime already. How long had the fight lasted? He watched the moon intently, the sight seemed almost peaceful, yet it brought no comfort to the furious Lycan. "If I knew he was my enemy I would not have marked him with Calmness before Rejecting him that day," His voice cracked, as his memories faded into the said day.

******

Before they had gotten home, he made sure they made a quick stop at Creiff's. The Doctor was surprised to see him walking weakly toward him, with his head hung low as if he had given up on the world. Creiff who was sitting on his front porch welcomed him warmly despite the man's obvious exhaustion and led him inside the house, where he placed him on his kitchen counter. "What happened?" Creiff inquired, worriedly.

"I'm going to Reject him today," He said simply, his voice flat, lifeless.

"Are you sure?" Creiff asked, frowning.

Rafa shook his head. "Not really." And with those words, he slumped forward, his head hitting the countertop with a quiet thud. "Rejection hurts, it is disorienting, and not many come out of it alive, I do not wish to put him through such pain... I love him too much to hurt him like that," He cried, voice muffled under the countertop.

Creiff placed a gentle hand upon his friend's shoulder and looked at him sympathetically. "Do you trust me?" He asked, tilting his head a little as the question slipped from his mouth.

Rafa pulled his head up and met the worried doctor's gaze. "With all my heart, you know this, Creiff," He replied.

"Good," Creiff sighed and pulled his phone out of his pocket, dialing a number, he waited anxiously until it clicked.

"Hello?" Came the familiar Scottish accented voice of the Healer Sage.

"Yes, sorry to bother you, I know how busy you get this time of year, but I need your help, it concerns the Alpha of Alphas... How soon can you get here?" Creiff asked, looking at the clock on the wall as he spoke.

"What is the situation?" Fergus asked.

"Rejecting his Mate," Creiff said bluntly.

"I'll be there in five," Fergus promised. "And do try to keep him steady.

Creiff nodded and brought the call to an end. He looked over his shoulder at his friend, still lying on the counter, unmoving. "It's going to be alright," He assured and clasped a hand around his shoulder. He offered him a cup of tea, but Rafa rejected it. Creiff tried to keep him occupied with small talks which didn't last long as a few minutes later, a portal opened before their eyes, and Fergus walked into his kitchen.

The man looked exhausted and worn out, he removed his leather jacket, tossing it to the side, with a smirk. "Where is the fire, my friend?" Fergus asked, strolling over to the fridge. He started rummaging around inside and pulled out a glass, filling it up with water. He placed the glass in front of the Alpha and took out a bottle from his bag, pouring its content into the glass, the water changed into a greenish-bubbly color, and the smell became stronger as well. Fergus smirked knowingly at the Lycan. "Drink, and we will talk," He ordered.

Rafa took the glass and without questions asked, downed its content in one gulp. When he put the glass back onto the counter, he sat straight. Staring from Fergus to Creiff, "Well?" He asked, impatient.

Fergus broke the silence. "I just gave you a second chance, a remedy to your Rejection troubles, now when you Mark him, make sure to leave that portion inside him, it will suppress all pain, and he will feel nothing from the Rejection, it would be as if he were never Rejected, which wouldn't be far from the truth," Fergus explained calmly.

"No, the process must be genuine, Mariana has to believe he is Rejected otherwise this whole thing fixes nothing!" Rafa argued, his Birth Omega's words sinking into his thoughts.

'As he held the door knobs and was about to leave, he heard him call softly from behind. "His Rejection will uncover the hidden truths... You must not let him die because should he die, Mariana wins against you." Rafa had nodded and shut the door behind him.'

Smiling, Fergus poured himself a cup of tea. "Even he as a god will not be able to tell the difference," He sipped from his cup, and gently placed it back on the counter. "Just do as I say," He said, beaming into Rafa's eyes.

Rafa stared at him intently for a moment then turned towards Creiff, staring silently at him for several moments. "That's it?" He asked.

"All you need," Fergus replied, taking a seat beside Creiff.

"No Pain?" Rafa asked.

"None whatsoever!"

"And will he present Rejected?"

"Like any other Rejected Were, only without the Pain, confusion, and wishes of death that follows,"

"This is great!" Rafa exclaimed.

Smiling Fergus replied. "You're welcome, Alpha,"

Rafa got back on his feet and turned to leave. "Oh, and Rafa," Fergus called, bringing his step to a halt. "Bite carefully, not deeply." Rafa nodded and muttered a soft 'Thank you' before exiting the room.

*******

Frowning deeper, Conri met Leon's form on the table and sighed. "I should have let him suffer, if he was suffering from the Pain of Rejection, he would not have had the opportunity to fight alongside his mother, and to hurt my Soulmate the way that he had done." He whispered, feeling his heart constricting in his chest.

"Every Mate's first instinct is to protect their Halves, you did only what everyone else would have done. Do not beat yourself up for it," Creiff told him. "You could not have known what he had in mind."

Sniffing, Conri slapped a hand across his face, his chest was starting to burn once again. "His mother confessed that she had him spelled as a boy to hate a Werewolf Mate, and by the Goddess, how I was willing to forget everything he had done if only he did not admit that he knew all about the curse when I asked, and nothing has hurt more." Groaning, he sobbed silently. "It hurts too much, Creiff... Does it always hurt this bad?" His voice cracked a few times. "Why do I feel like I'm the one who got Rejected truly?"

Creiff met the crying Lycan and shook his head sadly at the sight playing out before him. Until now he's never seen the Lycan cry, but lately, he has seen him cry more times than he could count, and in truth, it was starting to make him restless, seeing him so broken, so helpless.

"I can't see him... I can't be with him,"

Creiff nodded, understanding perfectly, but didn't say anything as they stood like that for nearly three hours until Leon finally twitched and groaned. When the Lion started gasping and coughing in between breaths, Creiff released his glowing fingers and watched as the last energy disappeared into his fur. Leon sat up, shaking violently, panting heavily with wide eyes. He stared around wildly, taking in everything surrounding him, including the fact that he was sitting on a worktable. Leon blinked a few times. "What - What happened?" He breathed out, slowly regaining his composure.

Conri threw both arms around him, hugging him tightly, and smiled when the Lion reciprocated, leaning his head into his nape, and squeezing him tightly into his embrace, and while they hugged the Werelion shifted, his furs melted away, leaving a smooth brown skin to the touch.

"You're safe..." The Lycan whispered, staring into his eyes. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to the Lion's forehead, with breath held Leon leaned deeply into his warm caress.

When he pulled away, Leon brought his finger to the Lycan's face to wipe his tears. "I can't remember much, but he attacked me, why did he attack me? He wanted us dead, you were right, it was Caleb, and by the Goddess's sweet thighs, he is strong! I didn't stand a chance!" He ranted with emotion.

Rafa frowned slightly, "He is a god, Leon, it would take a lot to defeat him by yourself. But, It's over now, I subjected him to submission, and I demoted him from Luna to a servant," He paused, and glanced down at the floor.

Leon pulled away from their embrace. "That is too extreme!" He protested, crossing his arms.

"No, extreme is stealing the Book Of Neer and almost killing me... and you. Extreme is conniving with his mother in destroying my Packs!" Rafa argued angrily, ignoring the slight trembling that shook his body as he stood his ground. "Extreme is making me weak and confused, had me acting recklessly, shooting at him, almost killing him, then guilt tripping me into thinking I had suddenly lost my marbles somewhere... That Leon, is extreme!"

"I understand what he has done is unforgivable, but it does not change the fact that he is your Omega... You Marked him," Leon cried. "He is still your Fated Pair," He stated firmly. "You wouldn't even Reject him properly!"

"I will correct that mistake soon enough,"

"Rafa-"

"No more about this," He growled lowly, and walked briskly past them, and into the living room. Both Leon and Creiff stood there stunned as he stormed out. Leon looked after him sadly, then glanced back at the Doctor.

"He needs a moment," Creiff muttered.

"No, I can feel him, he meant every word," Leon replied sadly and fell back into the table.

"How do you feel?"

He forced a smile and turned to the Doctor. "I'll heal, slowly but surely," Leon replied. "It's Conri we should be worried about," He commented, gesturing to the doorway.

"You're right," Creiff agreed. "This is not good,"

Leon nodded.

A betrayed Lycan is a dangerous Lycan. If the Witch and her son thought Conri was reckless before, well, too bad because his madness is about to double tenfold.

Leon must try to control him so it doesn't get way out of hand.

Caleb has made a grave mistake. But, if Conri hasn't Rejected him until now, then something can still be done.

Hopefully, it is not too late.