Barely Breathing

The Mate Hunt is being held annually and participated by different packs all over the world. This event is as old as time, back to the ancient days of werewolves finding a mate. Before, the monarchy holds a royal ball each year, where everyone can socialize first before the actual mate hunt. However, this has changed after the war. The council, who replaced the monarchy’s rulings has altered it into a more primitive way.

What happens is every female werewolf will be blindfolded and lined up as per status in their pack. Then the male werewolves will pass each female to find their chosen and try to familiarize her scent, to find her easily on the second part of the mate hunt.

A chosen mate varies in a man’s preference and the pull their wolf feels is significant in choosing. Alphas are more selective though, for their wolf seeks more than the physical attributes of a woman, but of strength and bloodline. The pull their wolf feels is usually stronger than ordinary male werewolves.

After the initial part, the females will then be released into the forest to seek shelter while waiting for a male to claim them. After half an hour, the males will be released to find their chosen.

Once a werewolf finds his chosen, he will have to mark her to ward off other males. The mark will bind the two and give them an unbreakable bond. The unbreakable bond is a gift from the moon goddess and will grow stronger as time passes by.

But there is one problem. The trick is one or more males might find the attraction to one female. That’s where the werewolves submit into their primitive nature - a fight.

There is only one rule: The stronger gets the girl.

***

Females were all gathered in the hall in Moon Valley packhouse. The house was huge, the hall itself was wide and has a height of a two-story ceiling. We were all at least a hundred females here lined up by status. I, being a warrior stood in the middle, after the alpha, beta, and gamma’s daughters. Ehren, being the beta’s daughter stood proudly in the front chatting with another blonde. They seemed to know each other well.

others spoke. I, on the other hand, kept silent. We were waiting for the council to arrive

chosen.” I heard someone

rubbish! He went last year.” Someone

turned slightly and in

Tiffany!” a brunette called out to one of her friends. “You have to hear this news!” The girl she called Tiffany was with the beta's

“About what Isla?”

Isla mouthed. Upon hearing that, more girls came into the circle of three and

mind is a haywire mess. It’s scary to live inside my mind

place upon their arrival like students rushing to their seats when the teacher comes. The lady wearing eyeglasses stood at the

ladies, welcome to our annual Mate Hunt. I want to congratulate each of you for participating in this event. May the moon goddess bless you

the males will be here to take their first look at you. So, please put on your blindfold. Remember, the males are the ones choosing you. This has been the practice since the primeval time. You have to trust the moon goddess with the fate she bestows you. Wish you

eyes. I saw the other girls already putting on their

of these

feeling of being trapped and out of control in my own life suffocates me more than anything else. And, having a mate, means, giving away my freedom, my plans, my dreams, and my soul. And that’s what

men were here. I felt nervous for some reason. The hall was so silent, no one talked, and I think we