Scarred By The Moon

Chapter 19: Shadows and Games

Adrian

I played along with Alaina, though I hadn’t fully decided whether I could trust her. There was something that didn’t quite add up. Still, my wolf, Blaze, reacted to her in a way he never had with anyone else. He was calm around her, almost at ease as though he sensed something deeper.

And Blaze was rarely wrong.

Alaina was unlike the others. She wasn’t another she-wolf trying to secure a position by my side. She was genuinely invested in the development of the pack. She challenged me, rejected me, something no one had done before. That made her... complicated. Intriguing. Dangerous, maybe. And yet, I couldn’t ignore the pull she had on me.

I stood in front of the mirror, straightening my collar. I needed to look the part; strong, composed, dominant. The Pack Games were about more than strength. They were about image, unity, and legacy.

A knock pulled me from my thoughts.

“Alaina?” I called out instinctively, half-expecting it to be her.

The door creaked open, revealing a brunette with a crown of springy curls and a knowing smile.

“It’s Claire,” she corrected gently.

It took me a second to remember her name. Too many faces, too little time.

“Right. Claire. Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the Games?” I asked, offering a polite nod.

“I am,” she said, stepping inside with a casual air. “But I figured taking a moment to breathe before the madness starts wouldn't hurt.”

She moved closer, eyes scanning mine with something unspoken.

“Will you still have my back out there?” Claire asked, her voice softening. “You promised... when we were together. You said you wouldn’t let anyone humiliate me. I’m not like the others—”

I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, searching for words I couldn’t find.

“I don’t remember making that promise,” I said honestly.

Her face fell, eyes searching mine for something that wasn’t there.

“What?” she whispered, almost to herself. “You said it to me. You said I mattered. And you were right. Things are better now. People are bonding. Can’t you see how far we’ve come?”

She laughed bitterly, a forced sound. “I just wanted to give you something in return.”

I should’ve stepped away, but I didn’t.

“Fine,” I muttered.

She smirked and lowered herself, confident in what came next.

---

“Why the hell did that take so long?” Isaac asked as we walked toward the Grand Meadow.

“Preparation,” I answered flatly.

He didn’t push. Ahead of us, scouts cleared the path while I took my place in the center of the formation, with Isaac a few steps behind.

I tried to focus, but my eyes scanned the gathering for Alaina. She wasn’t with the others. Maybe she was late—or avoiding me.

“Blackwood Pack, we’re ready!” I shouted, and the pack answered with a chorus of howls and cheers.

We entered the Grand Meadow with purpose.

Towering oaks and pines surrounded the open field, creating a natural wall that gave the place both protection and reverence. At its heart was a shallow dip in the land—a perfect amphitheater where the Games would unfold.

This place had seen countless histories. Treaties, blood oaths, old grudges, reconciliations. Now, we were here to add another chapter.

The grass, rich and green, was peppered with wildflowers. The sky stretched wide and cloudless above us.

Looking over my pack, I felt pride swell in my chest. But beneath that pride was a whisper of unease I couldn’t shake.

Laughter and chatter mingled in the air as packs gathered. Some were relaxed, sharing inside jokes. Others moved with grim determination. Everyone had something to prove.

“Adrian,” a familiar voice called.

I turned and met Jayson’s gaze. Alpha of the Mountain Pack. Sharp blue eyes, buzz cut, and the same stoic energy he always carried.

“Jayson,” I greeted, clasping his shoulder.

He raised a brow as he glanced at the crowd. “Your pack’s looking sharp. Looks like you’ve done well preparing them.”

I smiled faintly. “We’re trying to make this year’s Games unforgettable.”

His lips curved into a smirk. “You still pissed at me?”

“Depends. Is this about a girl?” I asked, keeping my tone light.

Jayson’s jaw clenched slightly. “You’re still too comfortable talking about things you shouldn’t be, Adrian.”

Before I could say more, Isaac stepped in.

“Alpha Adrian,” he said, his timing deliberate.

Jayson’s gaze shifted, and his smirk returned. “Been a while, Isaac.”

They shook hands, tension humming under their polite exchange.

“I need to borrow our Alpha for a bit,” Isaac said pointedly.

Jayson shrugged. “Take him.”

He walked off, drink still in hand, leaving the air heavy behind him.

“Let’s not go down that road again,” Isaac muttered, pulling me aside.

He nodded toward a figure across the field.

It was Alaina. She stood with one of the pack’s omegas, her posture calm, her smile easy.

“What about her?” I asked, my grip tightening on Isaac’s arm.