Mate Hunt

Near

Leah was stunned, and it was quiet between them. She eventually finished swallowing a piece of pasta. "Grandma, how can you be so sure? I mean, really, werewolves?" Leah wanted to laugh, but when she saw her grandmother's serious expression, she knew it was no laughing matter.

"Why do you think I told you those stories?"

"Are you saying that they are real?"

"There are stories and legends for a reason, my child. I firmly believe they have existed throughout history but kept their existences hidden in the shadows. Would you also believe me if I told you I saw them when I visited another village?"

The young woman took a sip of her tea. "No way? You never told me this."

"This happened when I was your age. I lived in another village before I met your grandfather. There was an attack, and it happened during the full moon. Legends say that werewolves are more powerful under the full moon. Anyway, there were these creatures that attacked us. The men went out to fight these creatures; they used pitchforks, machetes, guns, and other weapons they had. However, these things, werewolves, were smart and quick. They could have killed the men, but they didn't. They outfought and took the young women."

"Grandmother, if you say true, why didn't they take you?"

Isla sighed. "We lived farthest from the village. My father instructed my mother and the rest of us to go to the woods and run away, far away. We weren't caught. I had friends and cousins that were never seen again. No one believed us in what we saw. So we all believed it would be best to keep quiet."

"Wow. I don't know what to say or think."

"While you are here, you must be more careful. When it is night, you have to be home. Am I understood?"

"Yeah, of course. It would be best if you didn't worry, Grandmother. I'm sure everything will turn great."

Isla smiled. "Well, eat up. I don't want your food to turn cold." Leah began to eat, as did she.

Isla looks at the fire burning in the fireplace. "It is almost the full moon. I hope that nothing happens in the meantime."

Meanwhile, Romulus lookeddatt the moon with tenderness on a solid tree branch. "It's almost time for the Mate Hunt." He felt his heart pounding from excitement.

"Looking at the moon again?" asked a masculine voice.

Romulus did not look at the man who spoke to him and sighed. "It is obvious, Remus. I'm sure you are ready for the Mate Hunt.."

Remus is in his early thirties and is almost at the age where he will be infertile. Remus climbed on the tree and stood next to Romulus. He stood six feet tall and muscular, typical for werewolf males. His hair was short and dark brown but was nicely slicked to the right side of his head. His eyes were dark brown with dark eyebrows and eyelashes. Remus had a broad face with a small scar on his left eye. His skin was light olive and clear. His face was clean-shaven. "Nervous for the mate hunt?"

Romulus smirks. "I should ask you the same thing, cousin. You and I are in our limit."

Remus smirked back at his cousin as he looked at the moon himself. "Praying to the Moon Goddess?"

"Werewolves getting closer to a certain age, always pray to the Moon Goddess. I am sure you do the same thing."

"Do you think this year will be our year?"

"Who knows? Perhaps good things come to those who wait," said Romulus.

"Indeed, but we have waited for far too long. I mean, look what happened to others of our kind. They never found their mate. Many of them committed suicide. Sometimes I wonder if the Moon Goddess cares for us anymore."

Romulus sits up and looks at Remus. "Don't say such things! Have faith!"

"Full of faith, but where is your mate? Maybe you were not meant for a mate, no matter how much you pray. Until then, cousin, the mate hunt will be in two days." Remus jumped off the tree and went away.

He and his cousin didn't always have the best relationship. Remus was considered the good-looking one, while Romulus was considered the wise one. During childhood, they were close but changed when they became adolescents. Both had different ambitions. Remus wanted to be part of the werewolf council, which led the werewolf community. Romulus wanted a more quiet life.

Romulus sat alone, thinking about his cousin's words. He then looks at the moon again. "I have faith, the moon goddess. I know this will be the year I will have my mate with me."