Chapter: 9.
*****

Caleb stumbled around the fighting field in a daze. He tried to keep his head clear, to not get overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of noise and motion. His eyes kept darting from one side to the other, from Werewolves to Weretigers. His ears were ringing, and his head was spinning. He couldn't hear the warning being yelled from Scott and by the time he responded it was rather too late, a Werewolf launched at him, sharp jaws clenched into the side of his stomach, biting down, Caleb cried and crouched down on both knees, both hands grabbed tightly around the neck of the Werewolf but the wolf wouldn't bulge and Caleb fought desperately to prey the jaws apart before the wolf rips his ribs out, as a last resolve he shot a light of magic through his hand and the wolf went flying halfway across the battlefield and Caleb shot up on his feet instantly, looking around for the remainder of his group but they had fled the scene leaving just him behind. Grunting in both pain and frustration, he looked up to see the beast charging back toward him. The creature's face was covered in thick fur, with black, slitted eyes and jagged teeth. He opened his mouth wider and Caleb braced himself, prepared to fight for his life if need be.

But the Werewolf just stopped. A moment later, he slumped, dead. Caleb let out a shuddering breath before turning to his right, the other Werewolves retreating as well as he watched them, he thought for sure he was dead meat. After several minutes of waiting he began to realize that everyone else was gone and when he cautiously walked over to where the monster had fallen, he saw more werewolves corpse and some Weretigers, the field was filled with dead Wolves and Tigers, yet some of his Clan had managed to escape and so did the Wolves.

Caleb turned toward the direction of the road to the Clan's safety zone but suddenly stopped and turned the other way, he was bleeding badly now, both hands clenched to his side trying to stop the blood from spilling out even though he knew it wouldn't make any difference. "I am so sorry... mother," He said softly to himself as he began to walk. Bleeding and badly injured Caleb felt like he could barely move at all. Every movement sent stabbing pains through his body and he was exhausted, dizzy, and nauseous. But he had to keep going, he must find HIM.

He can not heal himself even if he tries. His magic is weak, it has been weak since that night. 

If he didn't bleed out then it would take nearly half a day until he reached the PackLand. The day dawned bright and warm, and he was able to find a place under the shade of a huge oak tree where he could sit down and rest. He has been walking the past hour and with all the blood leaving his body, he hoped he got help sooner before he dies. With that hope, Caleb rested his head against the trunk of the tree, closed his eyes, and fell asleep. His dreams, he never remembered, and what he did remember were flashes of the past. His childhood memories were of the night his father walked away from him. His little feet followed behind and crying for him to wait but his father never stopped, never even looked back, not once but the hopeful little cub followed still, his father's strides were long and filled with purpose and soon he lost him to the woods, one moment he was staring at his back and the next, he was gone from his sight, the cub cried, looking around for him and it was there he waited until his mother and a few Weretigers found him.

He never saw his father ever again.

Caleb felt wetness on his cheek and he sniffled slightly, the tears he had been holding off, he hadn't realized were coming down his face until that second. He brushed away the moisture hastily before it made its way to his mouth, and as Caleb wiped his face with his sleeve, he noticed that his shirt was drenched in dark red... his blood and he grimaced. How is he still alive? He wondered and then began to get on his feet. It was painful but necessary. He needed to get moving, to find HIM. Caleb took a step forward and his vision blurred. He felt another rush of nausea, and he bent over, putting his weight on his forearms which felt numb and useless. He pushed himself to stand again. "Come on, come on, come on..." he muttered to himself. He took one step after another, slowly making his way forward. It seemed like hours before his legs finally gave out, he collapsed, lay in the middle of the forest, and sobbed silently.

His entire body shook. When he tried to push himself back up, the effort sent a fresh wave of pain through his body and he gasped, curling into a ball, whimpering and crying softly. "Please... help me..." he mumbled to no one in particular, wishing it was possible someone might hear him or even help him. His vision blurred again and he shut his eyes, hoping the darkness would help, block out the sounds and lights. He didn't know how long he lay there, curled into himself, feeling nothing but the cold ground beneath him. He shivered as the breeze blew through the trees. When he was finally able to drag himself upright again, it hurt terribly and he was forced to lean heavily on a nearby tree for support. His clothes were torn, and his shirt was stained crimson, but Caleb hardly cared about his appearance. All his focus was on getting out of the woods, on finding HIM. With trembling arms, he pulled himself onto his unsteady feet, and with the help of the tree, he walked, one step, two steps, three steps... and his vision blurred again and Caleb felt an overwhelming urge to vomit. The smell was overwhelming, he couldn't stop it and this time, he actually did puke onto the grass and dirt below him. But that wasn't enough. He was dying, he needed to get out of there. He continued his slow crawl out of the forest, it was slow but it was starting to pay off, he could almost see the clear sands of River Bay and he knew he was not only on the right part but also close to his destination. 

He leaned against the closest tree and took several deep breaths, wiping the remaining bile off his face. He felt the warmth of sunbeams on his skin and when he opened his eyes the world swam, but he managed to stay upright. His gaze traveled around, taking in the landscape. He could see the ocean in the distance, and further off, the magnificent Town of River Bay Pack. He looked around and spotted the path he needed to be traveling on, the one leading directly into the heart of River Bay and he smiled, his spirits lifting immediately. The only problem he had was that it was far, much farther than he could walk on his own, especially with the gaping wound on his side but he had to make it, he must. He started walking, forcing himself forward, his limbs felt heavy but he couldn't allow himself to stop now. Caleb didn't want to die, not without knowing, not without hearing HIM say those words.

He sniffed the air for that scent, the scent of burning woods blending smoothly with that of salty seawater. The familiar scent and he breathed a sigh of relief when he caught it. The scent was strong enough to bring tears to his eyes but he fought against them and hurried forward, pushing himself harder, faster and soon he broke into a sprint, running at full speed, stumbling several times and falling, but each time he picked himself up, and he ran. It was hard, really hard and he could tell he was getting weaker and weaker, his lungs burned with every shallow inhale and each gasp for air but he continued anyway. And soon his muscles began to ache as his lungs demanded oxygen, and he felt his legs begin to give out as his vision began to blur but a familiar figure caught his eyes and he stood rooted to the spot as he stared into the dark abyss of flowing locks. The beast was standing there, watching him with his red glowing eyes, a snarl twisting his lips. He raised his arm and Caleb gasped when he saw the arrow pointed at him. He felt weak, betrayed, hurt, heartbroken and angry but most of all, scared. So scared he didn't even feel pain anymore, instead, he felt only fear and despair. He couldn't have walked all this way only to be killed by the one who had urged his journey from the start.

He wanted to cry, wanted to scream, but he couldn't. He could only stare, unable to move, paralyzed by the sheer terror of death that was threatening to claim him. Death by the hands of his Alpha. 'You are supposed to love me' the thought flashed through his mind and he felt faint. He watched helplessly as the arrow neared him. Silent tears slipped through his eyes and he let them. His vision flickered, the blackness was encroaching and he could feel himself slipping away. The sound of his heartbeat faded into nothing. Everything went black and just for a moment he felt nothing at all. No pain, no ache, no fear, nothing at all, he could even say he was... at peace, at last. And all the while a lone tear slid down his cheek, unnoticed by anyone.

His mother was right.

He killed him.

******

The Alpha of all Alphas was standing in the center of the training grounds. The air around him seemed electrified as he paced, his long black hair flowing behind him like a cape. His dark eyes were locked on the Weretiger that had appeared in the middle of the clearing. In an instant his eyes began to change colors, taking the colors of his fathers' Wolves. His Beta had asked a question but he did not hear it over his own heartbeat and roaring blood within his ears. His wolfsbane arrow was already drawn and aimed at his target before he fully processed what he saw. His wolf was fighting for control, begging him to put down his bow, he must not take that shot! His other hand gripped tightly the string of the bow, ready to fire.

"Alpha, wait!!" The voice rang in his head but he did not listen. Not until the arrow had left his quiver and embedded itself in the heart of his prey. He watched from afar as the body slumped forward onto the ground. His Beta was calling for him but he could barely register it over the pounding in his ears, the roar of blood drowning out every other sound except the one thing echoing over and over in his mind. 'Kill... kill... kill...' The Beta pulled him out of the trance he had fallen into and he dropped to his knees, burying his face into his hands

["WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!!"] Rafa rolled from within.

["I killed our Mate, it's what I've done."] The Alpha Of Alphas rose slowly to his feet and faced the training ground once more, ignoring the tears streaming down his face as he stared at the lifeless form lying there.

"You have asked a question, My Beta..." He spoke softly. "Fate is when you've spent forty years without a Mate and when the Luna Goddess decides to give you a Mate she gives you a Tiger and not just any Tiger your enemy for a Mate, that is fate, My Beta."

Colleen rushed over to him and shoved him hard. "What have you done?!" He yelled, shoving him again but the Alpha just stumbled weakly and wouldn't meet his Beta's eyes. "You fucking idiot! You just fucking shot your Mate, you fool!" He was shouting now, but he didn't seem able to stop himself. Anger coursed through his veins like electricity. "You get one Mate... ONE and you freaking shot him! What happened to you, Alpha? When did you become so cruel even to your own Mate?!" Colleen grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. He was shaking with rage, tears running down his face too and he was trying very hard to keep from breaking his jaw. "You shot your Omega!" He screamed in his face. "How can you call yourself an Alpha?"

"Enough!" Conri ripped away from his grasp and paced the grounds. "He is not my Mate!" He spat out vehemently. "I am not a monster!" He cried, turning and glaring at the Beta. "And you will not call me so!" He yelled and began to walk away.

"What are you all looking at?" Dom yelled to the troupe of young Werewolves on the training ground. "That is your Alpha's Omega, bring him to the physician and let them do all in their power to wake him up or all hell will rain down on River Bay!" At his orders, the Werewolves began to rush over to where the Tiger had fallen but when they got closer they met only his blood soaking into the sand but the Weretiger was gone.

"He is GONE!" One of the Werewolves yelled and both Beta muttered softly.

"What?"

"He is not here, come see for yourself!" He beckoned and as they ran over to the scene Conri stood where he was when he heard the first Werewolf echo the word 'He's gone' and his heart began to race rapidly in his chest.

He was going to rush over to the scene when he felt a tug on his pants and he looked down to find a little Tiger cub at his feet but this Tiger looked different, familiar even.

But the strangest of all, he smelled of Burning woods blending smoothly with salty seawater.