The Claiming by Cooper

Layan’s Return Chapter 23. Katerina

Katerina

The morning that I was scheduled to enter the claiming, I was nervous. It was finally time. I was excited by also nervous. Alpha Luke had told me to find the cave tonight and sleep there. Luna Jara had told me the same. She also told me to carve my name into the wall, that they had started a tradition last year.

After the morning announcement that I was going into the claiming, I was given a bag of food, mostly freeze-dried meats that had minimal scent and therefore minimal flavor, but still food I would need over the course of the week.

Luna Jara had asked if I wanted anyone to walk me to the entrance, but I told her I was fine. As I walk to the entrance, I am rethinking that. My heart rate is ticking up. One more day. One more day before the hunt is on for me. I can only imagine what it was like last year for Luna Jara or Luna Hana.

As I turn, I see my 50 claimants watching me intently, possessively. They all want to catch me. I’m about to turn away when chocolate brown eyes lock with mine. Alpha Luke. A slow smile spreads across his face, as if he knows he’s just captured me in his trance.

I shake my head to clear it and turn, getting my mind into the hunt. Luna Jara said to use this first day to learn the lay of the land, and I intend to do that.

The Lunas and Layan had outlined parts of the territory for me, the lake with the cave, the stream, the cliff with the watering hole at the top and several areas where the trees were especially good for hiding. Layan, Mignon and Annabel had also given me some places where they’d found hiding spots. Now, I just need to make

they told me about are still there and that I know how

near the bottom. Her group was in the claiming haze though, so she sat quietly waiting for her time to be near. I won’t have that, most likely. We don’t anticipate the claiming haze to impact anyone this year. Plus, Alpha Luke already told me that he knew about Jara in the trees, so I’ll have to be very smart about my

the cave, I decide to go left and begin my exploration of the territory by the stream. I find it easily where it comes from underground, or under the fencing of the territory. I take off my shoes and begin to casually walk through the stream, eliminating my scent. Jara created multiple scent trails in her claim, but I plan to do the opposite. I want to make it extremely hard for my claimants to find

beside me where I could easily get into a tree, or identifying the areas where one of the Lunas said they found a hiding spot. When I get to the end, I realize there is an opening here. I make a note that if I’m being chased, I want to exit the stream before I get to

there, I see that there is a bit of distance for

territory below me. This will be a great spot to watch what is happening below me. And since I didn’t leave a scent trail, I will plan to head back this way to see where people are during the week. If I make it that long. I have three Alphas hunting me. All of them are smart, all of them know the Lunas and have heard the stories of

Alphas, have run right into a warrior or omega, getting themselves caught. It’s how my mother was caught by a warrior. She was being chased by two Alphas and they chased

of a couple of other cliff faces that Jara and Hana told me about. I stop at each of them, checking to find the ways to

I get to the lake, it’s late and I’m getting tired. I find the tree closest to the lake and leap down. They’ll find this trail, but it won’t lead them anywhere. I strip off my clothes, putting them in the waterproof bag with my food and enter the lake. I swim across, enjoying the cool water after a long day

trees.

of the lake, I swim towards the waterfall. It’s beautiful in the evening light, the sun casting its last rays of the day into

off the cliff into the waterfall. I’m a good swimmer, but I have no idea if there are any

head back to the left side of the lake, noting the area where Jara said she hid. It’s an extremely small space, one where I’d barely be able to breathe through the waterfall, but if I’m desperate, it’s a spot I can use. Then, finding the area that will take the least. amount of steps to get to the bottom of the cliff, I get out and begin climbing to the cave.