Blood Moon Rising

Chapter 11: The Unseen Power

The sun was already setting, the golden glow of its light, bathing the horizon. The Silver Moon Pack’s territory was alive with its usual evening activities. Members of the pack gathered in small groups, discussing the day’s events and catching up with each other, while other warriors prepared for the nightly patrols. But among them, Karina felt an unusual tension building within her—something she had never experienced before. Something had change after she read the Book of the Blood Moon.

Lately, she notices strange things had been happening around her. Small objects moved without being touched when she’s exhausted, and sudden gusts of wind would stir through the air when she was deep in thought. She had begun to sense a flicker of energy flowing within herself, a current that was growing stronger by the day as bizarre occurrences of unexplained dreams kept visiting her at night. But with this new power came confusion, and a fear that it was tied to something far beyond her understanding.

Karina stood at the edge of the training grounds, watching the pack warriors spar, while lost in her thoughts. A strong gust of wind blew on the area, causing the leaves to dance in the air. She clenched her fists, trying to ground herself in the moment, doing her best to stop the wind and hoping no one would notice it was coming from her. But her mind kept drifting back to those strange occurrences. She knew she was different, she could feel it, that much was clear. The dreams of her mother telling her that she was half-witch, half-werewolf haunted her thoughts. Could it be that her witch side was starting to awaken?

Karina took a deep breath, causing the air to stop. She turned away from the others, slipping into the shadows of the forest to isolate herself, away from the pack members. Karina could feel the pack was starting to notice small signs—whispers about the air growing colder when she was near, or the flicker of lights when she was upset. Karina couldn’t let them see this side of her, not until she understood it herself.

Karina ventured deeper into the forest-her heart raced with anxiety. A tangle of emotions bubbled up inside her, and with it came her uncontrollable urge to release this energy. The leaves rustled violently above her, even though there was no wind. Karina’s eyes widened, terrified at the power she was displaying. She clenched her jaw and focused on calming herself, but the tension inside her only built until she felt like she might explode.

Suddenly, a burst of energy shot out from her, her entire being was terrified, sending a ripple through the air. The trees around her swayed, and a cluster of leaves was ripped from the branches, swirling around her in a tight spiral, her energy created a small but strong whirl wind. Karina gasped, her hands trembling as she watched the display in horror.

“No, no, no! Stop!” she whispered fiercely, but the magic didn’t listen, it grew stronger even more. It seemed to have a mind of its own, responding to her emotions.

She fell to her knees, squeezing her eyes shut and trying to force the power back down, concealing the power she possesses. Slowly, the wind died, and the leaves settled gently on the ground. Karina was left panting, her body tense with fear but relieved that everything stopped. How could she keep this hidden when it was getting stronger every day?

Footsteps crunched behind her, causing Karina to spin around, panic flashing in her eyes as she scans the place. But when she saw who it was, her fear melted into something else—something warm and comforting. The comfort his presence brought her at ease.

“Karina, are you okay?” Caius asked, his deep voice laced with concern for Karina.

She struggled to compose herself, wiping her hands on her pants to hide their shaking. “I… I just needed some air. It’s nothing.”

Caius stepped closer, his gaze piercing through her attempts to hide the truth. Karina tried to secretly avoid his eyes, which he didn’t fail to notice. He reached for her hands, an action he never dared to do. “I’ve noticed you’ve been distant lately. I can see it in your eyes—you’re carrying something heavy and we can see that. You don’t have to carry it alone. Don’t forget that we’re here for you.”

His words were gentle, yet they held an unspoken command to let him in, get him through her. Karina’s chest tightened. She wanted so badly to confide in him, to tell him about the dream, her dual lineage, and the strange power she couldn’t control, but fear held her back. What if he saw her as a threat to the pack? What if the pack turned against her? She doesn’t want to be alone anymore.

Instead, she forced a smile and notice Caius’ hand. Something inside her unexpectedly moves. The space between them felt like miles away. She couldn’t help but seek comfort in his warmth, drenching her being in his scent and protection. “I’m fine, really. Just a lot on my mind.”

Caius didn’t seem convinced by her response, but he didn’t push further. He took her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. “I know you’re strong, Karina. But even the strongest among us need someone to lean on.”

His fingers traced along her palm as his eyes locked on hers−sending a shiver up her spine. Karina found herself leaning into his touch, drawn to the safety he offered. Something deep inside her is burning. She had never felt this way before, not even with Derek. Caius’s presence was calming, reassuring, a steady anchor in the storm of her emotions.

Karina subconsciously leaned her head against his broad chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, easing her mind. Caius was taken aback for a moment, but he accepted her. He wrapped his strong arms around her, and pulled her closer. For a moment, the world faded away—the worries, the fears; the burden of her secret seems to be nonexistent. All that mattered was the warmth of his embrace and the way his arms wrapped around her, holding her close to him as if he could shield her from all her troubles.

Caius’s voice was a soft murmur in her ear, a lullaby she wanted to fall asleep on. “Whatever it is you’re facing, you don’t have to hide it. You’re part of this pack now. We’ll face it together.”

Caius’ words comforted her, but there’s a pang of guilt followed. He didn’t know what she was, what danger she might bring if she lost control. How could she explain the power surging inside her when she barely understood it herself?

She pulled back slightly, looking up into his eyes. “Thank you, Caius. You don’t know how much that means to me.”

He smiled down at her, his eyes warm and filled with unspoken promises. “Never forget that you’re not alone, Karina. Not anymore.”

For a moment, she let herself believe it. She let herself savor the thought that there’s a future where she could be a part of this pack without fear, where she could stand beside Caius as an equal. But reality crashed back in when a flow of energy sparked through her fingertips, reminding her of the secret she was hiding.

Karina quickly pulled away, crossing her arms to hide the tingling in her hands. “I should get back to my cabin. It’s getting late.”

Caius studied her for a moment, his eyes filled with concern, but he nodded. “Alright. Just… don’t shut yourself off from everyone, okay? We’re here for you.”

“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind,” she said with a forced smile before turning and heading back toward the pack’s settlement.

As she walked away, her thoughts spiraled. The bond she was forming and the pull she felt with Caius terrified her as much as it thrilled her. How could she ever let herself get close to him when she couldn’t even trust herself? The power inside her was growing, and she knew it wouldn’t stay hidden forever.

Back in her cabin, Karina sat on the edge of her bed, her eyes on her trembling hands. She tried to use her power intentionally, but it remained dormant. It only ever seemed to respond to her emotions—anger, fear, anxiety. She clenched her fists as the frustration building within her. How could she control something that only surfaced when she was at her most vulnerable? How could she teach herself to control her power all on her own.

She needed answers. She needed someone to guide her, but she had no one to turn to. The library held some information about witches and their powers, but nothing explained how a half-wolf, half-witch like herself was supposed to handle this. She couldn’t even find books that might teach her the basics of her power. She was walking a thin line between discovery and disaster, and one wrong move could reveal everything.

As the night deepened, Karina laid her back to her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her thoughts drifted back what happened between her and Caius in the forest, to the way he had held her, the sincerity in his words. Despite everything, she couldn’t deny the connection between them. But that connection only made her fear the future more. How could she stay by his side when she was hiding such a dangerous truth?

Tears welled in her eyes, feeling hopeless yet determined. She silently vowed to find a way to control her magic. She couldn’t keep living in fear and uncertainty, and she wouldn’t let this power push her away from the one place that had started to feel like home. But for now, all she could do was pretend that she’s still the Karina they used to know and hope that the magic didn’t erupt again at the wrong time.

Karina clutched her pillow, whispering to herself, “Please, just let me figure this out.”

But deep down inside her, she knew time was running out. Her magic was awakening, and sooner or later, it would refuse to be hidden. Whether her power would cause destruction or help, all depends to her.