Blood Moon Rising

Chapter 15: Unexpected Encounter

The sun hasn’t shown his full glory in the sky when Karina slipped out of the Silver Moon pack’s territory. The early morning mist hugged to the trees, casting an ethereal glow over the forest as she walked deeper into the forest, alone. This was her first time hunting alone, and she welcomed the solitude. She decided to hunt alone to give herself a chance to clear her mind, to push herself without the watchful eyes of the pack on her every move.

A lot has happened ever since she joined Silver Moon. The training sessions with Tobias and the other warriors had sharpened her skills and heightened her senses. Almost all of her aspects have improved. She felt stronger, faster, more in tune with her instincts. But even with all that progress, a part of her craved independence—proof that she could stand on her own two feet.

The forest felt alive with the sounds of morning—birds chirping their own melody, leaves rustling in the breeze, the occasional snap of a twig as small creatures scurried through the underbrush. Karina’s ears twitched at every noise, her heightened senses keeping her alert. She moved with the grace of a seasoned hunter just like how Tobias and Caius taught her. Her steps light and deliberate as she followed the faint scent of deer deeper into the woods.

Karina kneeled and walked like a crawl as she carefully crept, the scent grew stronger, tinged with a musk that told her she was close to a large buck. She slowed her pace, crouching low as she spotted her prey—a majestic stag grazing in a small clearing. Its antlers gleamed as the soft morning light touched it, and Karina’s heart raced with anticipation. She’s finally facing her first prey. This was the challenge she had sought—the thrill of the hunt.

But just as she prepared herself to lunge, her focus shattered. Her nose caught a familiar scent—one that sent a chill down her spine—drifted on the wind. It was a scent she hadn’t expected to encounter during her first hunt, so far from the Crimson Claw territory. Her heart pounded as she recognized it: her former mate, Derek.

Karina’s breath hitched as her memories with him rushed back—painful, bitter memories of rejection and cruelty. What was he doing here, so close to Silver Moon lands? Confusion warred with anger as she scanned the trees, her eyes narrowing as she spotted a familiar figure moving through the shadows.

It was him—Derek. His tall, muscular frame moved with a predatory grace as he prowled through the trees, clearly hunting something of his own. The sight of him sent a mix of emotions surging through Karina, the surge of energy slowly surfacing as she felt a prick on her finger. She isn’t prepared to face Derek, alone, with Caius by her side. She wanted to turn away, to ignore him, avoid him and focus on her hunt, but she couldn’t. She needed answers.

Steeling herself to control her magic, she turned her attention back to the stag. Her instincts told her to take the shot now, but Derek’s sudden presence unsettled her, fazing her. She could feel Derek’s gaze on her even before he emerged from the shadows, stepping into the clearing with that same arrogant air he always carried. His eyes—once cold and dismissive—glinted with something she couldn’t quite place. Karina was taken aback. Curiosity? Annoyance? Perhaps a mix of both.

“Karina,” Derek said, his voice laced with condescension. “What are you doing here, hunting alone? Did Caius send you out here as a distraction so he could deal with real threats?”

Karina’s jaw tightened. She ignored what he said, refusing to let him get under her skin. “I don’t need anyone to hold my hand, Derek. I’m more than capable of handling myself.”

Derek was surprised at Karina’s reply. He didn’t know Karina as someone who could fight back. He had known her as a timid and weak omega. “Someone has forgotten her place.” His smirk faded slightly as he watched her, his gaze assessing. “This is dangerous territory. These woods are filled with beasts you’re not ready for. You might want to leave this to the stronger wolves.”

Anger flared in Karina’s chest, causing a strong gust of wind to blow their way, but before she could respond, the stag’s ears twitched, sensing the tension in the air. It bolted into the trees, and without hesitation, Karina sprang into action, pursuing it with all the speed and agility she had honed in the Silver Moon. She could hear Derek following behind her, but she ignored him, focusing solely on her prey.

The chase led them deeper into the forest, the trees becoming a blur as Karina pushed herself harder, faster. The thrill of the hunt surged through her veins, distracting her emotions from Derek’s presence, and driving her forward until she was closing in on the stag. Just as she was about to make her move, a massive bear burst out from the underbrush, roaring as it charged at the fleeing deer.

Karina’s instincts screamed at her to change course and avoid the ginormous bear, but instead of retreating, she dug her heels in and faced the bear head-on, face-to-face with the bear thrice her size, she couldn’t feel any fear. She wasn’t the frightened omega who cowered at every challenge anymore. She was stronger than that—stronger than Derek ever gave her credit for.

Before she could prepare to attack the bear, Derek appeared at her side, a look of concern flickering across his face. “Get back!” he barked, his voice laced with both command and frustration. “You’re going to get yourself killed!”

Karina’s eyes blazed with defiance. “I don’t need your protection, Derek.”

Ignoring his warning, she leaped toward the bear with precision and strength, ducking beneath its swiping claws and striking at its side. She remembered all of basics, Tobias taught her. Her movements were fluid, calculated, showing just how much she had grown since leaving Crimson Claw. The bear reared back, caught off guard by how she face him with equal ferocity.

Derek watched, his expression shifting from surprise to grudging admiration for the woman she had known but felt unfamiliar to him. For a moment, he hesitated, torn between stepping in to help and letting her prove herself. Karina moved with a confidence that he hadn’t expected and hadn’t seen from her, and for the first time, he found himself questioning everything he had believed about her.

With a powerful lunge, Karina delivered the finishing blow, sending the bear crashing to the ground. She panted heavily, her body buzzing with adrenaline, but there was a triumphant gleam in her eyes. She had done it—without anyone’s help, without her power’s help. Her emotions seem calmer, like her magical power whenever she’s in a fight.

Derek’s eyes narrowed, masking the admiration that had briefly softened his features. He quickly reverted to his usual cold demeanor, hiding whatever respect he might have felt towards her and layered himself with indifference for her. “Impressive,” he said, though his tone was laced with bitterness. “But that doesn’t prove that you’re one of us. You’re still just a runaway omega, hiding in a pack that’s too soft to see your real worth.”

Karina’s heart clenched at his words, but she forced herself to remain calm. “You can think whatever you want, Derek. I don’t need your validation anymore. You’re no longer my alpha, nor my mate.”

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone in the clearing. Her heart pounded in her chest, not from the fight, but from the confrontation. She had expected cruelty from Derek, but seeing that fleeting admiration in his eyes had thrown her off balance, it had undoubtedly shaken her heart. It was a reminder that even though she had moved on, there were still parts of her past that clung stubbornly to her.

She was lost in thought on her way to the Silver Moon. Why had Lucas been so far from Crimson Claw lands? It didn’t make sense—unless he had a reason for being this close to the Silver Moon’s territory. The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Whatever that reason was, she would need to be cautious and alert. She wouldn’t let him hurt her new family.

But one thing was clear to her—no matter how much Derek and others from her old life tried to undermine her, she was no longer the weak omega they once knew. She had grown into something more, and she wasn’t about to let anyone take that away from her.

The sun was higher in the sky by the time she reached the safety of Silver Moon’s borders, the warmth of its rays was contrast to the icy tension she had left behind with Derek. But as she approached the pack’s territory, a new determination filled her. She knows she wasn’t just surviving anymore—she was thriving. And she promised herself that no one, not even her old mate, could take that from her.