Romulus POV

I look at the moon that gives light within the night—what a beauty. Ever since I came to the age of 16, I have always believed that I would find my mate immediately.

It did not happen.

Another year passed.

Another.

Then another.

Before I knew it, I was now thirty.

Every full moon, the werewolf tribes would get together and hunt for mates. We hunt in nearby villages only—it sounds barbaric for one who does not understand it. However, to werewolves, it means the whole world.

We see it as hope. The hope is that we will have a mate.

We existed alongside humans thousands of years ago, but we dominated humans. We were powerful by day and night. Even females were among the werewolf race. However, the humans prayed to the gods and goddesses for their help. It is said that the moon goddess intervened, and as punishment, she turned the female werewolves into humans so that the werewolf race wouldn't become so powerful. Also, she made the male werewolves infertile when they reached thirty-five and made them transform only at night. The humans went against the werewolves as revenge; many werewolves were hunted and killed during the day.

The population was at its lowest point.

The werewolves begged the moon goddess for forgiveness and pleaded for safe refuge. They swore they would not kill humans only if it were necessary. The moon goddess felt pity, and she granted their wish. She created a safe home for our kind; the entry is a waterfall, and only werewolves know the actual passage. The werewolves pleaded with the moon goddess for mates as loneliness consumed them. The moon goddess agreed. The werewolves made a tradition that when the moon goddess is more powerful, she will allow them to hunt for their mates every full moon.

That is how it went.

We sometimes went to cities at night before a mate hunt to ensure our mates lived there. There were cases when many werewolves found their mates in cities and far away places within Rome.

Before every mate hunt, I would travel afar to find my mate, but I had no such luck.

I have five more years until I find a mate; if I don't, I will become infertile.

Why is the moon goddess so cruel to me!? Whenever I see a werewolf with their mate, I get jealous.

My dream is to have my mate beside me and a family.

Is that too much to ask?

I looked at the moon and prayed to the moon goddess. I prayed to her that maybe this year I would find my mate.