Chapter: 54
******

The soft sound of birdsong filling the room was the only thing that disturbed his otherwise peaceful slumber. He opened one bleary eye and blinked against the bright light streaming through the drawn curtains. As soon as he realized where he was, he leaped out of bed and scanned the room frantically. It was empty. He was alone. A slight frown marred his handsome features as he began to search for his clothes that had been discarded on the floor in a tangle from last night's activities. His heart raced, and his breathing labored. Conri had left and didn't even bother to wake him up. Was he really that repulsed by him that he couldn't stand the sight of him after he woke up? The Weretiger wondered as he picked up his discarded clothes from the floor by the sofa.

His legs felt shaky from last night, and his body felt empty, he was hungry and tired beyond imagination. His clothes were in no better shape either, ripped into shreds, it looked like a pile of rags tossed into a corner. His chest ached with an emptiness that felt far worse than anything else ever could have. The thoughts of the Lycan leaving right after the beautiful night they had, ate at his very soul, turning it numb and hollow. He knew he wouldn't be able to handle his Rejection, not after last night. Even now, he could still taste his mouth, and his tongue, their kiss still lingered in his mind. He couldn't bear it. He wasn't strong enough for another wave of his hate. He would die a broken shell of his former self this time.

The thought made bile rise in the back of his throat, and he ran a hand over his face. There was nothing left but regret and bitterness in his chest. He turned toward the mirror and stood in front of it, looking down at himself as if he was seeing himself for the first time. His eyes met those of his reflection and immediately his heart clenched painfully tight within his chest. How did he mess everything up so badly? Conri didn't bother to wake him up or speak to him. He knew the Lycan would be hating what they shared at that very moment. Tears gathered in his hazel-colored eyes and spilled from his lashes. They pooled on his pale cheeks and fell softly down to the floor, landing on the fabric of his torn white shirt. His eyes scanned his naked body spotting the many claw marks, and love bites the Lycan left all over his body as if his body were this perfect canvas and he had just taken his precious time, drawing every flaw, painting him, loving him, marking him like a piece of art.

With a shuddering sob, he bent over and rested his forehead against the cool surface of the mirror. He wanted to sink through the mirror and disappear into thin air until he'd forgotten all about what he had done wrong. His hand wandered over to the side of his neck, and he flinched when his fingers grazed the bite Mark from the Lycan. Tears streamed freely from his eyes, wetting the mirror below as well as himself. After a few more moments his sobs subsided to a quiet sniffling. He stood up straight again and reached over towards the nightstand. He grabbed a tissue and wiped his eyes and nose clean. Then tossed the used tissue into the bin by the door, then turned toward the bathroom door where his ripped Jean lay draped across the handle.

He lifted it gingerly and frowned when he noticed he would not be able to put it on. The Lycan has ruined both his clothes. What then should he wear? He wondered as his eyes scanned the room, stopping at the closet doors. He took a step forward and hissed when he felt wetness slithering down his inner thighs, sliding past his knees. His hand covered his lap reflexively. He felt his breath stuttering at the realization of what the wetness was. His lips trembled and he felt his stomach knotting uncomfortably, as he rushed into the bathroom. He slammed the door shut behind him and locked it before throwing up all over the toilet as his eyes watered in horror. He gagged and retched repeatedly while tears continued to flow unabated.

After a couple of minutes, his throat burned and he felt a little less lightheaded. Still weak and shaky, he leaned over and flushed the toilet. He slowly rose to his feet, still slightly dizzy from vomiting and feeling like hell. Once his head cleared he leaned on the vanity and sighed, closing his eyes and tilting his head back, he waited for a while and once he felt strong enough, he stumbled into the bathroom and turned the shower on while stepping under the spray. He closed his eyes as the hot water hit his body and let the warm water beat against his tense shoulders, helping to soothe some of the pain and tension that still plagued him. He washed away the traces of vomit, the bloodstains, and the bruises that still decorated his skin.

When the water stopped he stepped out, dried himself, and grabbed a towel. He wrapped the towel around his waist and stepped out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom. He glanced over at the clock hanging above his desk. He had fifteen minutes before he needed to be at work. But, without anything to wear, he can only either walk back to the worker's lounge in nothing but a towel around his waist and get a change of clothes or wear the Lycan's clothes, which at this time seem like the only obvious and best choice. His heart sank at the thought of having to dress in the other man's clothing to go to his duties.

One; he would be bathed in the Lycan's scent, and two; Everyone would know, and the shame... He wasn't prepared to do that. Another wave of dizziness hit him, and his knees nearly buckled. His hands came forward and gripped the bedpost next to him to keep upright as he fought the urge to sit down again. He closed his eyes briefly, trying to steady his breathing. The last thing he wanted was everyone's eyes to follow him as he walked down the halls, or go about his duties, wondering what had happened to him, some might even dare to ask questions he wasn't prepared to give answers to.

What would he say? That he has shamelessly offered himself to the Alpha, and he discarded him once he woke up that morning.

The last thing he wanted was to look into anyone's eyes and see sympathy, disgust, pity, or anger. The kind he has been seeing since his demotion. He noticed how they took pity on him. How they would apologize if they got dirt on him, or rudely spoke to him. He knew they felt sorry for him. Some may even be happy about it since he would often hear whispers of rude remarks thrown at him, while they pretended as if he wasn't there and wasn't hearing their insults. He didn't want them to judge him. They wouldn't understand.

He sat on the bed after a while, and his tiredness grew the second his butt hit the soft mattress. Sleep overtook him again, and he succumbed to oblivion, letting his mind drift back into his dreams, and his dreams were filled with memories. Memories of being kissed, touched, and cuddled. The feelings that course through him every time he saw and heard him. He dreamed that he and the Lycan could be together and nothing else mattered. But, reality would eventually kick in. And the dream went awry.

********

"Caleb?" Reynold called, tapping lightly on the sleeping man's shoulder. "Caleb?!" He called again, louder this time, shaking him slightly to try and get the man awake. He gave Caleb a small shake, and his brow furrowed at the lack of response. This was starting to worry him.

Ever since that morning when the Alpha spoke to him, he had been restless and couldn't wait for the time given to go up into the room and check on the weretiger. The Lycan's order echoed in his mind the entire time.

'Make him some tea, a light breakfast would do... or lunch depending on when he wakes up, please. Soak a towel in warm water and massage his lower abdomen once he wakes up. I have also prepared some clothes for him to wear, you'll find them by the side upon opening the closet doors. And Reynold, call in the doctor once he has had his meal, have him run a full body check.' Conri had ordered him that morning before he left with his Betas, and since then, Reynold has waited with bated breath for the Lycan to permit him to go up into the room.

He didn't know why Conri was so concerned until he entered the room and felt the Pheromones coming from the weretiger, and since he was naked, he spotted the glowing Alpha's Moon on his stomach. Reynold has never seen his Moon so bright since he took him from the Alpha's arms the night of the rescue. Seeing the Mark could only mean one thing, and smelling the Omega's scent of the Alpha that morning only proves it.

After the Lycan left with his Betas, he went into the kitchen and personally prepared The Luna's meals. He waited restlessly for a few hours, and when Caleb wasn't forthcoming, he called the Lycan and asked if he could go up, and once the Alpha agreed, he hurried up the stairs. He pushed open the door carefully and saw that the duvet covering the top half of the bed was already removed, revealing a naked male, laying there motionless with a peaceful yet unguarded expression. His hair was splayed across his face, and his breathing was calm and slow. Reynold paid no mind at first, he simply went back down and grabbed the meals he had prepared and set them up on the table, then he went back for the bowl of warm water with the towel soaking inside it, alongside a bottle of recovery pills upon instruction.

He laid everything down carefully and then returned to the bed to wake Caleb up, but the weretiger wouldn't budge. He was close to calling the Alpha in his panic when he caught Caleb beginning to stir and shift, his eyelids fluttering and opening slowly. He looked up to stare at the man who was looking down at him with concern in his dark blue eyes. A smile spread across his lips and he smiled warmly at the man facing him. Reynold let out a sigh of relief and got out of bed, he went to grab the bowl and returned to the bed, then without any word began to massage the weretiger's lower abdomen with absolute care and respect. The aura radiating off him was like the intimidating ones the Lycan surrounds himself with. A warning was in the aura, and then a need for respect, it drove Reynold to lower his head and not look directly into the weretiger's eyes.

Caleb frowned but didn't object to his tenderness and care toward him. He lay still and waited for him to get done with his massage. He felt both pangs of pain and relief with each press into his lower abdomen. It made him wonder how Reynold knew he wasn't feeling the slightest well that morning. Reynold took great care of him and when he was finished, he pushed the bowl aside and climbed out of bed. With a slight bow, he turned toward the closet. Caleb sat up in bed and turned to look at the Butler. "I'm sorry I woke up late. I feel very tired all of a sudden, and I have been throwing up too." He said, rubbing at his sore stomach, wincing with each movement.

"Don't apologize, it is understandable." The Butler replied gently, coming to sit next to him, "Are you feeling alright now?"

"Better, thank you," Caleb said quietly. "What time did I sleep in anyway?"

"I was supposed to serve you breakfast but it's four hours past breakfast time, so you'll be eating lunch," He said, handing him the clothes in his hand. "Here, get dressed in these," He told him and rose from the bed, with another bow he walked over to the sitting area, and sat on a sofa overlooking the bed.

Caleb sniffed the clothes and met the Beta's approving gaze, then without a question asked, he began to get dressed in the clothes. The scent of the Lycan filled his nostrils as he covered his body in his clothes. The clothes were a little oversized but otherwise provided a very warm huggy feeling to his skin. His burning stomach seems to agree too. When he finished dressing, he walked over to Reynold who stood up as he approached and waited until he had sat down before taking his seat once again.

Caleb dug into the meals prepared for him, they consisted of all his favorite food, and he took great joy in devouring the food with gusto. As he ate, he noticed Reynold staring at him. It was becoming harder for him to resist looking up. Each time he lifted his eyes from his food he caught a glimpse of blue orbs studying him intently. He knew this was an unusual behavior, Reynold looked at him as if he was curious about something. Like, he had too many questions brewing in his mind and didn't know how to ask them, or if he was permitted to ask them. Caleb didn't speak, he simply just ate and didn't stop until he had slipped the last crumb, and drank the last drop.

"I've never seen you eat like that before," Reynold commented as he reached for the dessert carton.

Caleb shrugged, "I feel famished," he confessed shyly. He glanced at the other man and frowned, his eyebrows scrunched together, and his mouth twitched slightly. "You're smiling at me." He pointed out.

Reynold laughed softly, "Yes, you are quite amusing when you get excited," He explained.

"Really? I always thought I had a blank look on my face most of the time."

"And why would you think that?"

"Well..." Caleb trailed off, "I don't really talk much, people don't exactly take notice of me most of the time."

"That may be true, but only because they respect you, no matter what had happened in the past, you're still their Luna, and they adore you regardless, even those who gossip, and I think it's only going to get better from now on."

"What do you mean?" He questioned.

"Well, I think I have said too much," Reynold rose to his feet and began to clear the table. "The Doctor will be coming up to check your vitals, so in the meantime, try to get as much rest as possible."

Caleb frowned as he watched the Beta clean up the table, stacking the empty plates into the trays. "I should be getting back to my duties, not resting!" He protested.

"No, you should be resting, Alpha's orders!" Reynold called over his shoulder.

Caleb frowned and stood up himself, and began to walk toward the door. "Alpha's orders? You seem awfully chummy today. Is there a reason you're acting as if we're on equal terms?" He inquired.

"I will not dare consider myself equal to you," Reynold said, turning back to face him. "It seems you have not noticed," He muttered, raising his brows at him.

"Noticed what?"

"You are different... You wear the Alpha's scent, his aura is spilling through you like a warning sign. You are now the Alpha's Erasthai and our Luna. You no longer work as a servant, and none would even dare look you in the eye should you step out of this room, so please, get some rest, and the doctor will be up to tend to you shortly." The doors shut behind the Butler echoed in Caleb's ears for a long while.

He was confused beyond words, he didn't know what to make of Reynold's words. What does he mean by that? How can he be the Alpha's most desired, his lust and his love? No. Something must be wrong somewhere. He hadn't even bothered to call him this morning or speak with him before he left. Was he trying to punish him in this manner? To make a mockery of him, and of his desperation to get close to him. Either way, he will have to find out for himself soon. He made to walk toward the door but felt dizzy once again, he stumbled back into the sofa and picked up the bottle of pills, popping two into his mouth he swallowed with the sparkling water on his table, then deciding he was too tired to walk, he crawled back into the bed, and it didn't take long for another round of sleep to claim him.

He will confront Conri when he wakes up.

His Erasthai.

Him?

It has to be punishment. There is no better explanation than that.

His scent? Reynold had said. Impossible.

Speaking of scents, the Lycan's clothes were starting to smell very strongly of his Pheromones, and it lured him deeper into sleep, easing his mind of its worries.