Chapter: 53
*******

The morning arrived like every other, with the sun rising bright and warm in a sea of white canvas and yellow sky. The air was thick with moisture, making the early morning dew seem as if it might be raining. The sound of birds chirping filled the air and the scent of damp earth lingered. A slight breeze rustled through the leaves of the trees and caused the long grasses to sway, and the restless Beta who couldn't sleep a wink to sigh heavily for the millionth time. He rolled onto his side, but there was still no sign of peace, so he groaned again and pulled himself out of bed.

His feet landed with quiet slowness on the cold wood floor and his eyes wandered to his opened windows, which offered him a view across the grounds to the fountain that lay just outside. He sighed heavily again and walked out into the hall. A quick look over the room showed everything was exactly as he left it last night; clothes, books, and papers were strewn about the desk. It was a terrible idea, sleeping out here in his work office, but he could not have helped himself. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling like an idiot. He had no control over it. Not after the manner in which the Lycan dragged his Omega away last night. He wanted to be around when he woke up and be there to stop him from murdering the weretiger in his consciousness. If the situation ever came to that. He hoped it wouldn't.

Turning back into his office, he began to clean up the mess lying about the room, trying to ignore the fact that his mind kept wandering off to what could possibly be happening in the Lycan's bedroom. Was the weretiger alright? Did Rafa wake up already? Was he able to remember what had happened? Too many questions flooded his head as he worked, and by the time he felt he had tidied the place enough, his First had arrived. The smell of coffee wafted into his nostrils, and he could hear footsteps approaching the door of the office, he turned toward it and waited for him to arrive.

Colleen entered the room bearing in both hands two steamy mugs of coffee. He looked exceptionally radiant that morning, dressed in black jeans and a blue button-up shirt. His hair was freshly washed and styled, and a smattering of freckles dotted his nose. "Good morning!" He greeted cheerfully, sitting one mug down on the desk where it clanked softly against the glass and ceramic. He then moved towards one of the chairs that faced the desk and settled down while facing his sleep-deprived Second. "You look horrible," He commented, giving the other man a sympathetic smile. "Have you been awake all night?" He asked.

Dom shook his head and smiled slightly. "Yes," He replied, taking a sip from his mug. It was good. "Looking at you, I would assume you didn't have trouble sleeping at all." He chuckled, watching as Colleen took a long drink out of his own mug, and gave a soft snort.

"I have a Mate who knows how to send me to sleep even when I am most restless," He explained, smiling fondly before looking over his shoulder at the window.

Dom scoffed, he knew Colleen was teasing him again as the Lycan's Beta without a Mate yet. "Is that so?" He retorted with a teasing grin. He leaned forward onto his hands, resting them gently against the desk as he looked intently at Colleen. "Well, I could not sleep knowing that the Alpha of Alphas went up to his room last night with the weretiger he swore never to have anything to do with anymore." He stated firmly, leaning further forwards. "I'm petrified by the thoughts of the weretiger's death in Conri's hands should he wake up to find him in bed with him."

Colleen nodded his head, a sheepish expression on his face. "I know," He admitted. "You don't think he'll really kill him, do you?" He wondered. When Dom said nothing in response to his inquiry, Colleen frowned. "I'm worried too, but I don't think he would hurt him," He stated.

"What makes you think that?"

"Well, he recognized him even in his Rut, so that's saying something."

"Should we go up there to check? See what's happening?" Dom suggested, raising a brow questioningly at his First. "It would at least make me feel better." He reasoned.

"You want to die?" Colleen raised his eyebrows incredulously, his smile faltered momentarily but it soon returned with a more playful tone. He sat back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest as he regarded his Second. "Are you crazy? You want to go up to a Lycan in his Rut Period, and worse, with his Mate? He would slit your throat clean from the doorway before a beep can even get out of your mouth." He stated flatly, shaking his head.

Dom shrugged, "What else am I supposed to do, huh? I'm restless!" He complained, waving his arm about in agitation. "I'm truly worried."

"I know, but you have to stop worrying so much... Before coming over here, I spoke with Reynold, I informed him of the situation which he was aware of, so he would keep workers away from the main floor until the Lycan is confirmed stable and all is good, while you and I keep guard here. I had also informed his Soulmate, so everything should be under control," He explained calmly. Dom pursed his lips but nodded, leaning back against his seat with a defeated sigh. "Let us just wait until we hear something." He suggested.

Dom nodded, "Hm." And grabbed his mug for another sip.

*********

Conri stirred, he felt light-headed, and his sides felt heavy as if he carried a big bag of weight around him. He opened his eyes slowly to see what was going on when he realized it all wasn't a dream at all. In his haze, he had thought it was a dream, but upon opening his eyes and looking beside him, Conri hissed, biting down on his lower lip as he watched the weretiger, curled tightly to his side. Caleb's head was nuzzled into Conri's side while he snored softly. His chest rose with his shallow breaths, as well as Conri's heart thumping wildly in his ribcage.

His beautiful locks covered his face and spread across Conri's chest like a smooth silk blanket. When he tried to shift so that he could sit up, however, Caleb tightened his grip, shifting to lay more comfortably against Conri's side, his arm draped over his waist. It made it difficult for him to move even an inch away from Caleb without waking him. With every breath Caleb took, Conri inhaled the Weretiger's scent which was intoxicatingly sweet and smelled vaguely of salty seawater and fresh herbs.

He wears his scent, and Conri could smell himself from the weretiger.

With a sigh, Conri closed his eyes again, leaning his chin against Caleb's forehead. The moment he settled in, his body relaxed, his muscles becoming looser and more pliable while Caleb slept soundly against him, his soft snores echoing through the empty room. He lay still, just inhaling his intoxicating scent, his fingers tracing the lines carved into Caleb's back as their breathing synced rhythmically together and the weretiger's body heat seemed to radiate outwards from him.

Conri wondered how he hadn't noticed before how warm Caleb's skin was. Caleb was always cold, but he also seemed to radiate warmth whenever he slept next to Conri like one could almost burn hot water out of his skin. Without thinking, Conri let his fingers wander to the hair spread across his chest and ran them through the short strands, enjoying the tingles that went through his fingertips. He let his fingers explore some more before smoothing the locks out slightly and tracing his fingertips against the weretiger's skin. Caleb hummed in his sleep, leaning closer so that his nose buried deeper into Conri's neck. It felt good having the weretiger close to him, after all this time. He must admit he has missed him a great deal, but he could not just forget what he had done, and act like he never did those things.

Whatever got into him to have caused him to act the way he did?

Conri exhaled deeply and shut his eyes for a few seconds, trying to regain control over his emotions. His hands trailed down further to Caleb's abdomen, caressing his smooth skin softly, making sure not to wake him up. Caleb didn't stir either when Conri began to lightly rub circles in his stomach, smiling at the sound the weretiger emitted. Even though he couldn't see his reaction, Caleb obviously loved the touch, because he let out a low purr as he leaned further into him. Conri sighed happily, pressing a kiss to Caleb's temple. He pulled the blanket up higher over them and wrapped an arm around Caleb protectively, letting the weretiger relax against him once more.

["We marked him again last night,"] Rafa muttered softly from within and Conri nodded, shutting his eyes. ["Did we forgive him?"] He asked, sounding unsure. Conri looked over at the sleeping man who lay half across him, tangled up in blankets and smiled. It was so adorable how content he looks. It was something to be happy about too. They may have held nothing but resentment toward one another the past months, but Conri still cares for Caleb greatly, and he had found some comfort in this new bond between them and he wouldn't want to lose it.

Rafa chuckled lowly, ["I wouldn't want to lose this either,"] He replied and Conri could practically hear the smile in his voice. ["I don't have the slightest idea what we should do from here on, but I for one know that I am tired of all the chaos, and heartache we have suffered since the very beginning, and for once I would appreciate a little bit of peace."] Rafa said and Conri smiled widely, nodding. A lot of tension seemed to leave his shoulders as he agreed with his Lycan. There really is nothing like feeling at home, surrounded by love, safety, and a Mate's warmth.

["Usually, we would go for any Omega, but yesterday was different. We didn't want any other Omega, but our own Omega... that tells a lot."] Conri admitted softly as he traced Caleb's hip bone absently. ["And with him wearing our scent, the whole world would know now that we have made him our Erasthai."] There was a sense of pride in Conri's words. Rafa huffed quietly and Conri smirked slightly.

["But, I still like to give Xiher a few more punishments,"] Rafa grumbled darkly. ["Nothing too extreme like before, he's home now, and he is ours to keep, and to protect,"] He added quickly, sensing that Conri wanted to protest.

Conri smiled softly then very smoothly not to disturb Caleb, begin to move his hand away from around him, careful not to jostle him awake, and sat upright, taking advantage of the newfound freedom of movement to stretch, yawn and rub the back of his neck. He glanced toward the still-sleeping Omega and crawled out of bed and into the bathroom to clean himself up.

He will have to visit his Birth Omega, they have to talk about these new feelings, and this bond that he and his Omega has once again begun to form. After freshening up and getting dressed, Conri stepped outside to find his Betas waiting impatiently at his bedroom door.

"Alpha!" They greeted the Lycan with a deep bow.

"You smell different," Dom, who could not hold his tongue, commented as soon as he saw Conri. The others murmured in agreement and Conri sighed. "Alpha?!" He demanded, running after the Lycan who had started to stride away. "Is Caleb alright? Do we need to send in the Doctor? Or call the Morgue to bring with them a body bag? What happened?" Dom rambled on as they continued to walk down the stairs.

Conri found his son sitting with his Birth Omega at breakfast, and immediately the boy caught sight of him, he jumped down from his chair and ran toward him. Conri picked him up and spun him around happily, eliciting a delighted squeal, and set him down on the floor again so he could run back to his food. Kael got up after that and approached the Lycan, but he didn't make it close enough before he caught a waft of possessiveness oozing from the Lycan, like he could see the Weretiger standing behind him and warning him away from what was his. Kael frowned confusedly but stayed where he was, merely a few feet away from Conri, he simply bowed in greeting and returned to his breakfast.

'It's impossible! It can't be!' Kael's thoughts wandered as he forced a spoonful into his mouth.

Conri gave his breakfast order to Reynold amongst other things, then began to walk away from the dining room. As he walked he turned his head and shot another glance in Kael's direction, having noticed what had happened, he cracked a smirk and proceeded to walk out of the Manor, his Betas in tow.

"What was that?!" Dom cried out incredulously, looking from the Lycan to the other Betas. "I could not have been the only one who saw that just now, could I?" He exclaimed. "Did you guys see that? Is that really what I thought I saw?! Oh my gosh, I'm going crazy!" He exclaimed hysterically. "Somebody say something!-" Colleen smacked him behind the head and the Beta zipped his lips shut, shooting a death glare at his First. "What does this mean, Alpha?" He cried once again and Conri couldn't help the chuckle that bubbled in his throat.

It was nice to hear his Beta acting this silly. He patted Dom's head gently, then turned to face them, with one sharp claw, he ripped two buttons lose then pushed the shirt open to reveal the brimming red Mark of the weretiger on his chest, right on the side where his heart lies. His Betas gasped loudly, their eyes widening as they stared at the Mark, it was beautiful. Even the first time he mated with him when he had Marked him on the neck, Caleb had Marked him as a Weretiger, but the Mark they saw clearly is that of the god Xiher. Whatever bond they formed last night, is far stronger than the one they once held.

"And-And did you also?" Dom stuttered and Conri smiled.

"What do you think?" He teased, with a wink.

"Your Erasthai," The Betas chorused.

"All mine," Conri breathed out and began to walk once again.

"Then we have to announce this, and let the Sixth begin to prepare for the Bonding Ceremony, oh and Eva, she's good at preparing for Bonding Ceremonies, I bet she would be beatific to learn of this wonderful news, and-"

Once again, Colleen smacked the rambling Dom's head, causing him to shut up once again with a frown.

The action had both Lycan and his other Betas in a ruckus of laughter.

"And what were you all doing in front of my door this morning?" Conri asked, not looking back. He couldn't keep the smile off his face.

"Your cute little Beta here didn't sleep a wink all night, he summoned us all to come help him check on you to be certain you haven't committed mate murder," Anya answered with a laugh. She had her arms crossed over her chest as she watched the others rolling in laughter. "So, we accepted when we saw we could not talk him out of his paranoia, but none of us had the guts to knock so we stood there until you came out, and found us in our quest of shame!" She cackled, and Conri couldn't stop the laugh that left his lips.

"I have always known only he loves me above all else," Conri teased, meeting the pouting Beta's face. Dom huffed and looked away when his gaze fell into those of the Lycan. "And I love him too," Conri added with a grin. "I love all of you... Thank you for worrying about my Omega." His strides became long and purposeful as he began walking toward Pack Hall.

He has sent a link to his Fathers, and they should be arriving soon.