Mating ceremony

Under a sacred big oak tree with strange black leaves, candles are lit and kept in every corner of the crowd, more like in a sacred way. Oil lamps are carried by the servants of the moon goddess as she is performing some rituals for the start of the mating ceremony.

Everyone is present as they are all anticipating to get their Mayes in eagerness when Marian was ushered in by her maids. She is confused about what this is all about but doesn't show it. She is dressed in their attire and has chalks rubbed on her forehead, chest and palms.

"It's the mating season! Every young lady should anticipate the coming of their mates!" The moon goddess announced in a loud voice with her right hand raised as all the young ladies shouted in excitement as the men flooded in.

The moon goddess is a short old woman who acts like she is possessed with an evil spirit and chants some incantations all the time with white chalk always in her mouth.

Each of the girls tried to adjust their dresses, their hair and make up. Marian was just watching them, anticipating nothing as the men picked girls like chewing gum and stood beside them. Marian smirked and wondered if that's how werewolves get married.

Soon after, most of the young girls are already paired as they guggle excitedly with their partners.

"Move over to receive the blessings of the moon goddess before ascending the great mountain!" The moon goddess's assistant servant announced as everyone clutched their partner's hand to move forward. Everyone except Marian has a partner.

"Hey you! Stop!" The moon goddess turned around like an evil spirit and stopped Marian when she didn't see her with any man.

"You are cursed for wanting to ascend the great mountain without a mate!" The moon goddess growled as everyone turned to look at her and she became a laughing stock.

"A human!" The moon goddess perceived. "The fresh blood of a human is running through her veins! She must be killed!" The moon goddess exclaimed with anger as everyone shrieked in fear and confusion as the crows began to murmur.

"She is my mate!" A masculine voice spoke with authority as everyone turned to see where the voice came from. Reagan stepped in as he drew his sword with immediate effect which made the eyes of the moon goddess to pop out in fear.

"Y- You? You are cursed and can't be here! You will bring everyone bad luck, now leave!" She instructed but Reagan didn't make a single move.

"To break the curse, I had to have a mate." Reagan started.

"But you are rejected and no werewolf can have you!" The moon goddess added.

"Exactly, which is why the blood of a pariah will be mated to me." Reagan replied with a smile on his face.

Marian didn't understand what was going on. Is she feeling safe that Reagan is here to rescue her from these werewolves who are clutching their claws and itchy teeth to attack her or is she exposed to more danger by being bonded to her master again?

Reagan took her hand and kissed it in the presence of everyone. Marian knew that she just had to play along. She knew that she wanted to be killed but this man here was only scaring away her predators so she had to succumb to do whatever he asked her to do.

All the male werewolves transformed into their werewolf form and howled before the blood moon, by choice or by force as they can't resist the transformation except for Reagan. Marian looked at him and wondered why he didn't transform from his human form to a werewolf.

"Hey- the moon goddess is watching. Transform." She whispered to him but he just kept his cool. Reagan forced his claws out and his teeth but he couldn't change his body into that of a werewolf. He struggled so hard but just couldn't change.

"What's wrong?" She asked him with concern.

"N- Nothing. Focus on the moon." He said to her in a deep trembling voice. When he couldn't transform, he just gave up.

"Wait here, I'm coming." He instructed Marian who nodded her head and he left the great mountain down to the sacred tree where the moon goddess was. When she saw him leave the great mountain, she turned around and left too.

"What did you do?" Reagan asked her as his anger wanted to start boiling up but also in confusion.

"What do you mean by what I do?" She asked him in pretense.

"I have a mate, I've broken the curse so why can't I transform?" He asked her in a trembling voice as he knows how important it is for him to transform tonight.

"Have you?" The moon goddess asked him as he turned around to face him.

"Broken the curse? I- I did… I mean, she's a pariah which is why I brought her here. What else do I need to break the curse?" Reagan asked the moon goddess.

Marian was wondering what was happening to Reagan as she felt an extraordinary cold from nowhere hit her. She coughed and felt weak and dizzy. Should she go back home or was this a great opportunity to run away? She is still pondering on what to do as she looks at her angles to see how she can break into a run as the fear of being sacrificed here grips her.

What exactly do they need her here for or rather, her own master, at home? She needed to run away as she made a few struggling steps as the wind blew so hard in the opposite direction she began walking towards. Was this a way to keep her here? Was the wind trying to stop her from running away?

"You brought a pariah, that's not enough to break the curse Reagan. You need something else and more to that." The moon goddess replied.

"And what is that?" Reagan asked her.

"I have lived for two hundred years and still counting. You don't count me as a fool to call that girl a pariah." The moon goddess stated.

"Then what is she then?" Reagan asked in total confusion.

"A human."

"I disagree, I know her scent. She is a pariah and you must break this curse immediately before sunset and the first cock crow." Reagan argued.

"Then do something else."

"Tell me and I'll do it immediately!" Reagan answered in a haste.

"HER BLOOD."