Blood Moon Rising

Chapter 19: The Confrontation and The Race

As the final day of the tournament dawned, Karina’s thoughts kept unsettled from all of her confusions. Shad barely slept last night, her mind racing with questions that she couldn’t get answers. Derek’s silence after her accidental display of power had left her on edge. Why hadn’t he exposed her? What was he trying to do? She knew she that confronting Derek is her only way of getting the answers from all of her questions, but the opportunity had yet to present itself.

The morning air was fresh and cool as the participating packs gathered for the final event: the amazing race. This is the final event of the tournament, a grueling test of endurance, strategy, and sheer willpower. Each member of the participating packs would be separated, sent along different routes through the dense forest, with the goal of reaching the finish line first. The pack whose member crossed the finish line first would be recognized as the winner of this year’s tournament.

As the Silver Moon pack gathered to discuss their strategy, Karina couldn’t help but glance over at the Crimson Claw pack, who’s gathered a few feet away from them. Derek was standing at the center, discussing the strategy to his members. He showed the same arrogant look to his pack, a brooding expression on his face. Karina could notice how he looked exhausted, his movements slower than usual. It was clear he was still recovering from the injuries sustained during their combat battle. Yet, despite his condition, he was dressed in running gear, ready to lead and win in the race.

Before she could think better of it, Karina excused herself from her pack’s huddle and made her way toward Derek. Caius watched her, not saying a word, his expression unreadable. Karina’s heart pounded with each step, but she forced herself to remain calm. This was something she needed to do, no matter how uncomfortable it made her.

“Derek,” she called out as she approached him, getting the attention of the Crimson Claw members and receiving looks of distain.

He turned to face her, his expression unreadable. He excused himself from his pack and walk towards Karina. For a moment, they stood in silence, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Karina finally asked, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her. “You could have exposed me, but you didn’t. Why?”

Derek’s eyes softened slightly, which caught Karina off guard, but he remained silent. Instead of answering, he stepped closer to her, and before Karina could react, he reached out and gently tapped the top of her head, his touch surprisingly tender. The gesture was so unexpected that it left Karina momentarily speechless.

“Derek,” she said, trying to keep the frustration out of her voice. “I need to know. What are you trying to do? This isn’t you. Why are you protecting me?”

Derek just looked at her for a long moment, his gaze intense and filled with something she couldn’t quite place. Then, without a word, he turned and walked away, leaving Karina standing there, her questions unanswered.

Frustration bubbled up inside her, but there was nothing she could do. The race was about to begin, and she needed to focus. But as she returned to her pack, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.

***

The participants from each pack darted into the forest when the signal was given and the race had officially begun. The participants disappeared into the dense foliage within seconds. The rules were simple: there were no rules. The only objective was to reach the finish line first, by any means necessary.

Karina sprinted along the path, her heart pounding as she leaped over fallen logs and dodged low-hanging branches. The forest was a labyrinth, the paths twisting and turning in unexpected directions, but she pushed forward, determined to win the final event and prove everyone that she was no longer weak and helpless.

As she ran, her thoughts kept drifting back to Derek. His silence, his touch, his refusal to answer her questions—it all left her feeling more confused than ever. She knew she needed to put it out of her mind, to focus on the race, but she knew it is easier said than done. Every sound, every shadow in the forest seemed to remind her of him.

After what felt like hours of running, Karina reached a clearing in the middle of the forest. She paused for a moment to catch her breath, her chest heaving as she wiped the sweat from her brow. That’s when she saw a familiar figure from afar. The man who had occupied her thoughts is right across her, Derek was limping through the trees, his face pale and strained.

The mysterious injury he got from the battle looked like taking a toll on him, badly. She could see it in the way he favored one leg, the way he clutched his side as if trying to hold himself together. He shouldn’t have been running at all, not in his condition, but here he was, stubbornly pushing forward.

Without thinking, Karina rushed to his side. “Derek, you’re hurt,” she said, her voice filled with concern.

“I’m fine,” he muttered, trying to wave her off, but the pain in his voice was undeniable.

“No, you’re not,” Karina insisted. “You need to rest. Let me help you.”

He hesitated for a moment, then nodded, too exhausted to argue.

“Just for the record, I my attacks never got the chance to reach you during the battle.” Karina heard a soft chuckle from him, something that she never heard when she was still at the Crimson Claw.

“Of course, I didn’t get this from you. You can never beat me. You’re weak. I did this to myself.” Derek’s answer puzzled her even more.

“Why?” Karina knelt beside him, placing her hands on his injured leg. She closed her eyes and concentrated, calling upon the healing power that had become both a blessing and a curse.

“So that no one would notice what really happened.”

A soft, warm light emanated from her hands, and slowly, the tension in Derek’s body began to ease. His breathing steadied, the pain in his eyes fading as the wound mended itself. When Karina finally pulled her hands away, Derek looked at her with a mixture of gratitude and something else—something deeper.

“You’re half-witch, aren’t you?” Derek said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Karina froze at his question, her heart skipping a beat. She had feared this moment, the moment someone would finally piece together the truth. She nodded slowly accepting she had been caught, unable to find the words to respond.

Derek sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I figured as much. That’s why I didn’t say anything back then. I didn’t want to see you hurt, not again.”

“Why?” Karina asked, her voice trembling. “Why are you protecting me? After everything…”

There was a silence from Derek for a few moments. He stared into the distance, his expression thoughtful. “I don’t know,” he admitted finally. “Maybe because I couldn’t protect you before. I didn’t protect you before. Maybe because I see how much stronger you’ve become. Or maybe… maybe it’s because I’ve realized what I lost.”

Karina’s breath caught in her throat. She wasn’t sure how to respond to that, wasn’t even sure what to feel from Derek’s confession. Derek had been her mate, her past, and now… now he was something else entirely. Something she didn’t quite understand.

“I won’t tell anyone about your powers,” Derek said softly. “I will protect you with all of me no matter what. You have my word. But you need to be careful, Karina. The world is dangerous for someone like you.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, though the words felt inadequate.

Derek simply nodded, then turned and began to walk away, limping slightly but moving with more strength than before. Karina watched him go, her emotions a tangled mess. She didn’t know what to make of Derek’s words, his sudden change of behavior towards her, his actions, or the strange bond that still seemed to linger between them. She could feel it’s still there. All she knew was that she had to keep moving, to finish the race.

***

The final stretch of the race was grueling. Karina pushed herself to the limit, her muscles burning, her lungs aching as she sprinted through the trees. She could see the finish line ahead, a banner fluttering in the wind, and the distant figures of the other racers closing in.

Karina once again used her healing powers on herself and with one final burst of energy, she surged forward, crossing the finish line just seconds before the others. The crowd erupted into cheers as the Silver Moon pack was declared the winner of the tournament. But even as her packmates surrounded her, congratulating her on the victory, Karina’s mind was elsewhere.

She glanced back toward the forest, where Derek had disappeared moments earlier. His promise to protect her secret echoed in her mind, a mystery she couldn’t solve. Why was he doing this? What did he really want? The questions gnawed at her, but she knew there would be no answers, not yet.

As the celebration continued around her, Karina’s thoughts remained with Derek, the past she had tried to leave behind, and the future that now seemed more uncertain than ever.