The Claiming by Cooper
Chapter 178

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 replace 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

sure that the places they told me about are still there and that I know how to get to them.

As I walk into the territory, I look at the front line of trees. I see the one that is most likely the one Jara spent her last couple of minutes in. It's closest to the entrance and has a large branch near the bottom. He 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 use of them.

Since I'm planning to spend the night in the cave, I decide to go left and begin my exploration of the territory by the stream. I replace it easily where it comes from underground, or under the fencing of the territory. 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 replace me.

I walk the stream, marking spots in the forest 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 the end, otherwise, I'll be leaving a scent trail behind for them to catch me.

I double back, replaceing the closest tree to the stream that I can climb and pull myself up. I begin to carefully make my way to the back of the claiming territory. This is where Jara said the cliff with the watering hole is. Once I get there, I see that there is a bit of distance for me to make it to the cliff. I take a deep breath and run as far as the branch will let me, leaping into the air and just landing on the cliff. I tuck and roll as I land and as I come to a stop, I see the watering hole.

Since it's already afternoon, I sit and eat, using this opportunity to get some fresh water and look down on the 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 how they were captured, and most of them came across at least one of the Lunas during her time in the claiming in one way or another.

They will be my biggest threat of capture, but I've also heard stories of how she-wolves running from 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 her right into the arms of my father, who didn't waste any time marking her.

When I'm done eating, I take a running leap back into the tree. It's time for me to start heading toward the lake and the cave. I begin leaping through the trees, searching for the hiding spots the others told me about. I also make note of a couple of other cliff faces that Jara and Hana told me about. I stop at each of them, checking to replace the ways to climb up or down if I'm trying to evade capture, then I leap back into the trees and continue on my way.

By the time I get to the lake, it's late and I'm getting tired. I replace the tree closest to the lake and leap down. They'll replace 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 of leaping through the

trees.

When I get to the back side 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 the water. I swim to the farthest edge, noting

that there is way to climb up to the cave from this side. All of the Lunas said that, but I wanted to make sure it's still true. This will be my only time in the cave. If I'm cornered up there, there is only one way to escape. Leaping off the cliff into the waterfall. I'm a good swimmer, but I have no idea if there are any rock formations under the surface of the waterfall and I won't risk breaking a bone. There would be no way to avoid capture at that point, and I intend to leave the claiming territory unmarked. Luna Jara almost made it, and now I've learned from her.

I 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, replaceing 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.

Once there, I pull my clothes back on and begin grabbing some pieces of wood to make a fire. I heard there was a fire pit inside. the cave. When I get inside, I see that it's true and I get a fire going. After it's lit, I look around the space. As the fire grows, I see the writing on the cave wall. The writing of the Lunas, a tradition that they unintentionally started last year, a new rite of passage.

I look to see their names on the wall and then Jara's as the last entry. "My girls. My sisters-in-arms. We will prevail. Jara"

She was right, they have prevailed. I feel a kinship to the Lunas. that I didn't feel before I entered the territory. It's almost as if I've now completed my initiation, making me one of them, even if I don't actually become a Luna. I've entered the claiming and will survive the hunt. I entered this territory single, a virgin, a child. When I leave here, I will be claimed, marked, soon to be mated, and no longer a child. Dividing into paget how

I replace a stone and leave my own mark on the wall.

'We have prevailed, and we will make a better future for all. Katerina'

When the sounds of the hunt echo through the forest the next morning, I'm ready to face the ritual fires of the claiming and begin the next phase of my life.