Blood Moon Rising

Chapter 12: Back to the Old Territory

Caius eyes landed at Karina who’s happily enjoying her breakfast with Mavis. He received a message coming from the Union. Every alpha is requested to join the annual meeting. It wasn’t often that the alphas of different packs gathered in one place, but this meeting was special. The alphas had decided to host a friendly tournament to foster alliances, strengthen their packs, and keep old rivalries at bay. The host pack, the Crimson Claw Pack. Caius had already informed a few of his members about the annual meeting. He initially wanted to bring Karina, which she eager agreed. But he changed his mind now that he knows who the host pack is.

The sun hung high in the sky as Caius and a few of his trusted pack members, including Karina made their way toward the Crimson Claw territory. The air was thick with anticipation, a contrast of what his feeling.

Caius wasn’t entirely keen on entering enemy territory—especially not that of the Crimson Claw, the pack that mistreated Karina. He knew what being there could mean for her, he too, wasn’t optimistic about it. But Karina insisted she was fine. She had come far since she joined the Silver Moon pack, growing stronger, more confident, and more at ease with who she was becoming. Still, he could sense the tension in her as they neared the familiar lands despite her efforts to hide what she truly felt.

“Are you sure you want to be here?” Caius asked as they reached the boarders of Crimson Claw territory. He kept his tone light, but his words full of concern.

Karina gave him a small smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. She could feel her emotions in turmoil. Ever since they left the Silver Moon Pack’s territory, she could feel the flow of her magic responding to her emotions, it’s in a frenzy haywire. “I’ll be okay. Besides, I need to face this sooner or later.”

Caius nodded, respecting her decision, but he remained guarded and alert. He knew her past with this pack ran deep—especially with the Alpha of the Crimson Claw, Derek, her former mate. The thought of Derek laying eyes on Karina made his blood run hot. The man had rejected Karina, treated her as if she was nothing. Now, he would see just how much she had grown, how strong she had become in the Silver Moon pack.

As they arrived at the Crimson Claw’s main grounds, they were met with a display of hostility masked as formality amongst the members. Crimson Claw wolves stood tall with cold eyes, their expressions unreadable. The Crimson Claw’s leader, Alpha Derek, stood at the center, surrounded by his beta and a few other high-ranking members. Caius immediately recognized the man—the same one who had tossed Karina aside as if she were worthless.

Derek’s gaze flicked over the members of the Silver Moon, his eyes fixed on Karina for a few seconds. In a split second, something unguarded flashed in his eyes, but it was gone just as quickly. His face hardened, and he offered Caius a stiff nod.

“Welcome to Crimson Claw territory, Alpha Caius,” Derek said, his voice smooth but devoid of warmth. “It’s been a long time since we’ve hosted such a gathering. I hope we can make you feel at ease.”

Caius maintained his calm demeanor, though he felt a flare of irritation at the man’s arrogance. “Thank you for hosting, Alpha Derek. We’re looking forward to pleasant visit here.”

The other alphas from neighboring packs soon gathered in the Crimson Claw’s main hall. The space was dimly lit, with heavy stone walls that seemed to swallow the light. A large, long table was set in the middle, the table where Karina used to serve the Crimson Claw members. Each alpha took their place. Karina stood quietly at Caius’s side, her presence a silent reminder of the history between her and this pack.

Karina on the other hand, was secretly biting her lips to keep her emotions at bay. Small gust of winds kept occasionally blowing inside the hall despite having no windows. She had been practicing for the past few days, somehow, she could manage to control it. Her heart wouldn’t settle. Caius notice Karina’s nerves and squeezed her hand while he converse to another Alpha. The gesture made Karina smile. It put her emotions at ease.

Derek initiated the meeting. “The purpose of this tournament is to strengthen our ties and keep our warriors sharp. Each pack will enter their top fighters in a series of matches—no fights to the death, of course,” he added with a smirk. “Just a test of strength, skill, and endurance.”

The other alphas murmured in agreement, discussing the details of the tournament—rules, dates, and locations. Caius kept his focus on the discussion, but the way Derek gaze kept drifting to Karina wasn’t left unnoticed to him. It was as if Derek couldn’t help himself, even though he was doing everything he could to appear indifferent towards her.

Karina, for her part, stood tall, refusing to acknowledge Derek’s presence beyond a brief, curt nod when they first arrived. A lot has happened to her in this pack, being back here stirred memories she had worked hard to bury. The rejection, the pain, and the isolation all threatened to resurface, but she held herself together as she held her magic deep within.

When the meeting paused for a break, Derek approached Caius and Karina. He was smiling tightly, there was a coldness in his eyes as he addressed Caius. “It seems the Silver Moon pack has gained a valuable new member. Karina, wasn’t it?”

Karina’s jaw clenched, but she remained composed. “Yes, Alpha Derek. I’m sure you remember me.”

Derek’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Oh, I remember. I see you’ve found your place elsewhere. I’m surprised you lasted this long. It’s not easy adjusting to a new pack, especially for someone like you.”

Caius felt the barely concealed insult beneath Derek’s words, and his wolf bristled in response. “Karina is a valued member of the Silver Moon pack,” he said evenly, “and she’s proven herself time and again.”

Derek’s gaze shifted between them, a flicker of something dark passing through his expression—jealousy, perhaps. He chuckled softly. “Well, I suppose even the weakest can find strength in numbers.”

Karina’s eyes flashed with anger, but she bit back a retort as she felt a flicker of energy at the tip of her fingers. She wouldn’t give Derek the satisfaction of seeing her riled. She can’t lose control in front of the alphas, in front of Caius. Instead, she stood straight and proud, meeting his gaze with quiet defiance. “I’m stronger than you think, Derek. Perhaps I can prove it to you during the tournament.”

Derek’s smirk disappeared for a split second before he quickly regained his composure. “We’ll see,” he replied, a hint of bitterness in his tone. Without another word, he turned and walked away.

Caius watched him go, his expression unreadable. “He’s trying to get under your skin,” he said to Karina once they were alone. “But you didn’t let him.”

Karina exhaled slowly, the tension and the emotions draining from her shoulders. “I won’t let him have that power over me again. I’ve changed. I’ve moved on.”

Caius stepped closer, his presence provides a comforting shield against the lingering dark vibes. “I know you have. But if he tries anything during the tournament, I’ll make sure he regrets it.”

Karina smiled at the protectiveness in his voice. “Thank you, but I can handle myself. Besides, this tournament is supposed to be friendly, right?”

“Friendly in name only,” Caius muttered with a hint of amusement in his tone.

Karina and Caius stood in comfortable silence, the weight of the confrontation lifting. Caius’s gaze softened as he looked at her. A flicker of admiration and something deeper shining in his eyes. “You’re stronger than anyone here gives you credit for, Karina. You’ve come a long way.”

Caius’ words gave warmth through her entirety. She had always been drawn to Caius’s strength and calm leadership, but in moments like this—when he saw past the surface and acknowledged the battles she fought within herself—made her feel truly seen and valued.

“Thank you, Caius,” she said softly. “I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me.”

He reached out, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The touch was brief, yet it sent a shiver down her spine. “You’ve done the hard work yourself. You earned your place in the pack.”

For a moment, the world outside seemed to be nonexistent. It was just the two of them, standing close enough to feel each other’s warmth. Karina’s heart raced, caught between the emotions swirling inside her. She had never felt this way before—not with Derek, not with anyone. Caius’s presence was both comforting and exhilarating, and she found herself leaning even closer to him.

But before anything more could happen, the delegates of the meeting came from their break, shattering the moment. They quickly stepped back, composing themselves as one of the Silver Moon warriors approached to inform them that the meeting was resuming.

Caius nodded. There was a lingering look between him and Karina—a silent acknowledgment of what happened between them. “Let’s finish this,” he said, offering her a reassuring smile before turning back to the main hall.

The rest of the meeting proceeded smoothly, with the alphas finalizing the tournament details and agreeing on the dates. Caius couldn’t shake the feeling that this tournament would be more than just a test of strength as they leave the Crimson Claw territory. Old wounds were reopening for Karina, and Derek’s simmering jealousy, a thing that wasn’t left unnoticed by Caius, was a dangerous undercurrent that threatened to boil over.

Karina remained quiet as they made their way back home, her thoughts swirling between the tension of being back in her old pack’s territory and the warmth she had felt with Caius. She had never imagined feeling something like this again, but now, it was clear that her connection to Caius was growing stronger with each passing day.

As they reached the safety of Silver Moon’s borders, Karina watched Caius, a mix of emotions in her eyes. Whatever the future held—whether it was facing her dark past or embracing the future—she knew she wasn’t alone anymore.