The Hunting
Chapter 21

Healing was a painfully slow process, Niri regained her strength about a week ago, but she still couldn't heal Kia as fast as she use to. The nightmares are better but they still leave Kia in coldsweats, breathing heavily and shaking.

"Come on, time for your training." Clayton's voice came floating to Kia as she sat lost in her thoughts once again.

Since all her bones are properly healed, her father has insisted on training with her to get her strength back.

Kia groaned "Fine.." she said, standing up and grabbing her shoes.

They walked outside towards the training grounds, the warriors were already busy, lead by Tobias, as they approached.

"Morning Beta." the warriors yelled in unison.

Clayton nod in their direction and they continued their training.

"One-on-one?" Clayton asked, giving Kia an encouraging smile.

She nod her head and took her shirt of, leaving her in sweatpants and a sportsbra. She faintly noticed everyone's eyes fliting towards her and away again. That tended to happen whenever she exposed her scars, her body was full of them, on her arms, hands, shoulders back and stomach. Not to mention those on her legs. Since Niri couldn't heal her, she had to heal the natural way and that's why she got stuck with all the scars.

"Ignore them." Clayton whispered in her direction and Kia shook her head to clear her thoughts and focus on the task at hand.

She bent down into a fighting stance and watched her father approach, she studied his form, singled out his weak spots and planned her attack. He lunged forward aiming for her torso, she avoided his punch and brought up her knee, connecting with his stomach. He stumbled back a few feet before her regained himself and attacked again. This went on for over half an hour, with Kia successfully dodging every attempt on his part and hurting him some in the process.

The warriors had gathered around them, watching the fight closely. They always liked watching whenever Clayton and Kia fought each other, she was one of the few people who could actually beat Clayton.

Kia sweeped her father's legs out from under him and pinned him down by pushing down on his chest with her foot. They warriors cheered and Clayton gave her a bright smile.

"Nicely done." Clayton said as Kia helped him up.

"I got kidnapped, not brainwashed. I still remember everything you taught me." Kia said, rolling her eyes.

Clayton laughed, "Well, I'm glad to see you've found your sense of humor again."

Kia laughed too and slapped his arm, shaking her head. She walked over to Tobias who was looking at her with admiration and love.

"Don't look at me like that..." Kia said, shoving him a little.

Tobias laughed, "Like what?"

"Like I'm this amazing person." Kia said, folding her arms.

"You are amazing, Kia." he said, placing his hands on her shoulders. She tilted her head so she could look up at him.

"I'm not, I'm just me." she said.

"And who you are, is amazing." he said, smiling at her.

"Tobias.." Clayton yelled.

Tobias looked in his direction. "Henry wants to see us."

Together they all walked to the pack house, wondering what the Alpha wanted to talk about.

"Ah, come in please." Alpha Henry said as he saw Clayton at his door. The trio walked in and stood around anxiously.

"Oh, would you stop looking so nervous! Nothing bad has happened." Henry said laughing at the three of them.

"Why is it that we're here, Alpha?" Tobias asked, taking Kia's shaking hand into his.

"Blood Moon." Henry said, "We need to discuss what happens to it."

Tobias sighed, "Well the pack belongs to me now, but I have no want for it."

Kia looked up at him, realizing for the first time that since both his brothers and his father is dead, that means he's the new Alpha of Blood Moon.

"What, why? That's your home, your people." Kia asked, frowning at him.

"Kia, that pack hasn't been my home in such a long time. And those people don't care for me." he said, rubbing his face. "Besides, the pack members have grown on my father's way of doing things and they'll appose if I try and change it."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" Henry asked, folding his hands on his desk.

"Alpha, with all due respect. I don't give a fuck what you do with Blood Moon." Tobias said, his eyes turning darker. "You can burn it all to the ground for all I care."

Kia squeezed his hand, knowing he had nothing but bad memories from that place, and that what happened to her there only fueled his hatred for it.

"Maybe you should take over Blood Moon." Kia said, looking back at Alpha Henry. "Our borders are connected, you could simply expand your territory to include them."

Henry nod his head, frowning. "Yes, but I can't just take over when there's a living heir."

"I'll hand the pack over to you." Tobias said quickly.

"There's a lot of paperwork involved. We'll have to reach out to the Council as well." Henry said, sighing. "I'm not very comfortable with bringing them into this, we'll have to explain what happened to Morris and his sons." he said, his face turning grave.

Clayton shook his head, "It was necessary." he growled out.

"However so, the council has rules. Rules we ultimately broke, nevertheless I'm sure they'll understand once we show them what they had done to Kia." Henry said, eying Kia's exposed skin.

"She's not going anywhere near the Council." Tobias and Clayton barked at the same time, making Kia jump.

"Enough!" Henry said in his Alpha voice amd both men backed off. "She has to, and that's the last of it." he said, glaring at the two of them.

"I'll be happy to, Alpha. If it gets all of this sorted out." Kia said, giving them a soft smile. "The sooner I can put all this behind me, the better."

Tobias' eyes softened as she said that, probably realizing that him dragging out the future of Blood Moon, affected Kia in ways she'd rather not be. He smiled at her and pulled her close to him, kissing the top of her head.

" We'll sort this out, soon." he whispered to her.

"Good, I'll arrange a meeting with the Council for next week and we'll leave over the weekend." Henry said, looking around for his phone.

Clayton nod at Tobias and Kia, letting them know they should leave now. They left the office, leaving the Alpha and Beta to do what they did best, clean up the packs messes.

Tobias picked Kia up and she laughed as he threw her over his back and began walking out into the forest. After a while he laid her down on the grass in a clearing near the stream.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, taking in the sounds of nature around them. It made her feel safe, at peace, whenever she was in the forest. Since she had come back home she's been taking a lot of walks out here, just breathing and listening to the wildlife. It soothed her anxiety.

Tobias leaned down and slowly started kissing her, she kissed him back, loving the feeling of his warm lips against hers.

She broke away from the kiss and looking into his slowly darkening eyes.

"Design a tattoo for me. " she said.

"What?" Tobias asked, frowning down at her.

"I'm sick of people staring at my scars." she said, shaking her head and blinking her tears away. "I want you to help me design a tattoo that will cover them all."

Tobias smiled softly, rubbing his thumb over her cheek. "You want some ink, huh?" he asked, laughing. "I'm not a good influence on you, am I?"

"Not at all..." Kia said, laughing when he mocked hurt. "I'm serious Tobias. I want them all gone."

Tobias nod his head, thinking a while before giving her a bright smile. "I've got the perfect idea!" he said, before he started tickling her. She giggled and tried to get away from him but he held her in place. She growled loudly and Tobias let go, guilt ripping through him. He thought he'd hurt her or reminded her of something bad, but when he locked eyes with her she smirked at him.

She pushed him down onto the ground and straddled his waist. "Don't ever do that again." Kia said, as her eyes shifted from dark green to their normal vibrant green.

Tobias chuckled, "Really?" he asked, a knowing smile on his face as he asked the obvious question.

"Yes..." Kia said, a blush creeping over her face before she shook it off and slapped him. She stood up and he followed her, laughing.

"Your secret is safe with me." he whispered in her ear as he kissed her.

She groaned and shoved him away, running off with him chasing after her, laughing the whole way.

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