A Primal Passion - A Night's Mate| Book One

Chapter Eighteen- Verandas

Josie giggled as Fin mimicked Boone, who was lecturing him about behavior for Urram Gealach. Apparently this two-day ceremony was in honor of the Moon for providing them with three things, their wolves, their strength, and their mate hood. 

It started in the early morning with a hunt in which all men and women Shifters must go into the woods as their fur and return with something to add to the table to prove their abilities and to show to moon her gift was not wasted.

Then they would showcase their strength by going out at dark and surviving in the the cold for eighteen hours. It apparently wasn't difficult to survive this since they were immortal, but those who tapped out early from the discomfort were demoted in their ranks.

The men and women Shifters would return home at dusk the next day and rest until nine at night where the mate hood ceremony would immense. The ceremony was conducted by the reigning Alpha and Luna. Josie had panicked for a moment at hearing her involvement in something she knew little about, but apparently all she had to do was repeat whatever Sinclair said. He would do some symbolic ritual, tying of knots, runes drawn on skin, something with mixing sand.

Then the feast.

The food that had been caught took almost the entire time till the feast to prepare and cook. The meats and vegetables were marinated in fine sauces until they were all placed on grills or in ovens and cooked till perfection, from rare to well done. The desserts were cooked last so cakes were still piping hot and frosting slid off the bread like a wet dream. Josie was excited for the feast.

Considering that this was the Mating Ritual, at sundown, the female is released into the forest and there she has to hide from her mate until the moon is in the center of the sky. Any sooner and the mating is frowned upon by the gods. Apparently this part is very important and Josie was growing more nervous for it. It was only for an hour or two as she is released during the night.

The mating ceremony was... consummated... once she was caught.

"I know, I know I have to be a good, dutiful mate so I can bring pride to you." Fin rolled his eyes lightly, "Boone I may like to prank but I do know when something is important to you. I promise to behave."

Boone smirked, "Oh that's too bad. I was hoping to have to punish you."

Fin's jaw dropped, "Well that's not fair you tricked me! I'll be sure to act extra rotten now." He teased and Josie giggled, blushing lightly at Boone's comment. "And for the love of the Gods watch your tongue. My little sex-depraved Luna could be set off by the smallest of things. We don't want Sinclair to miss the hunt because Josephine attacks him in the bedroom."

"Fin!" Josie shouted and hit him hard with a pillow. Fin fumbled forward and Josie only mildly felt bad, she was still getting used to this new strength. "Boone, I love you, but will you leave because I'm sure Fin will only continue to embarrass me if you stay."

Boone chuckled, "I understand your pain all to well. I actually have to live with him."

"Now that's just rude." Fin mumbled from the ground as he struggled to climb up back onto the couch.

"Quick! Leave before he starts up again!" Josie joked and Boone quickly disappeared through the door. Fin glared at her lightly and reattached a jewel that had fallen off his horn.

"I should teach the both of you a lesson." He said and sighed, "But in all honestly I wish you some serious luck on making it past the ceremony. I know that the moon pull is as equally challenging on the non-Shifter as it is on the Shifter."

"Why is he doing this!" Josie groaned and resumed Fin and her video game. "It's making me miserable. I can't even bare to be in the same room as him without getting all hot and bothered. I obviously want to... you know... consummate our matenessity."