It was that time of the year again, the most important time in a males life in the pack. As the summer arrived it was time to claim the eligible young women, for the first mating. Of course it wasn't just a simple thing, you couldn't just walk up to the female you desired and grab her. Pecking order had to be established, status in the pack was an immensely important thing and a week before the chosen night the males of the pack would assemble in a clearing in the woods, away from any prying eyes that might otherwise spy this immensely important ritual... and there the males fought among themselves for priority when it came to picking their mates. The results were always respected to the up most, and on rare occasions the might even carry on to the death when two young men both desired the same eligible female.
This year there had been no deaths, Donovan had defeated any who had attempted to challenge him. He was still young, only twenty years old but already there was talk that one day he might be able to challenge for the position of Alpha of the pack, leadership, responsibility, and of course the added benefit of being able to enjoy several mates... a right afforded only to the alpha of the pack.
Any challenge was a few years away at the earliest though, something Donovan reflected on as he climbed from the pool where he had been swimming, pushing his long hair back from his eyes and taking a deep breath, he had been in the water for a while and his body burned from the time that he had spent swimming, though as he stood on the bank of the pool and pulled on a pair of dark cotton trousers he could already feel the burning recede, his body recovering quickly. It was almost time, the sun was starting to set and before long the full moon would be rising, humans might think that the moon controlled the transformations of werewolves but the truth was of course more complicated. The transformation could occur at any time, it was easily controlled most of the time though some factors could make maintaining that control more difficult... but a full moon did heighten the call, make the animal nature come to the fore.
Setting off at an easy run he made his way back to the village, it was only a few miles away but by the time he got there the sun had begun to dip below the horizon. Already people were starting to assemble, the eligible young women standing in a rough line, some looking quite eager, others almost desperate as they looked over the assembling males, and one in particular looked quite disinterested in the entire affair as though she would rather be anywhere else. It was her that Donovan had been interested in for quite some time, having seen her many times before, strength and beauty rolled into one.
Others might prefer a more pliant young thing, something easier to deal with but Donovan wanted the challenge, he wanted a mate that would enhance his reputation, being an asset should he even challenge the current alpha for position. As he moved into the group there was of course the expected posturing, a few fights breaking out as males tried to make minor changes in the order of the selection at the last moment, and of course the display was also there to impress the females... some of them might even enter heat because of the display before them, it had been known to happen in the past.
But Donovan ignored all that, making his way through the males and approaching the assembled females with a small smirk on his face. A few growled as he passed them but such petty little displays from males that he had defeated soundly a mere seven days before. Fully enjoying his right as the victor of the contest he slowly walked down the line, sniffing slowly as he passed the eligible females, slowly making his way towards Ella, the one who had caught his eye, the one he had already chosen but instead he was taking his time, dragging things out as was his right.