Rejected

Romeo sat in a small secluded spot surrounded by trees. It was a pit-trap set for large and dangerous animals. It was near a village and although it was deep inside the woods, it wasn't near deep enough to enter Werewolf domain.

By this time, it was almost noon, and the sun burned hot in the bright blue sky. The sheep was still alive on his shoulders and, though it had not stopped trembling, it wasn't as bad as before. If not for its innate fear of Romeo, it might have napped, chewing cud as it slept. Unfortunately, the fear that Romeo stirred inside it kept it awake and fearful for its life.

Their sitting inside a big pit-trap was not the initial plan. The trap was well-hidden, and in a moment of carelessness, they fell into it. Romeo landed on his feet, and luckily, there were no sharp objects at the bottom of the pit.

Romeo dropped the sheep from his shoulders, placing it on the ground and ensuring it lay on its side. He placed a hand on it to keep it from moving.

"How do I kill you?" he asked the sheep.

Baaaa!

"Should I drink you dry first?" he continued. "Then steal a knife from these people to cut you open and..."

He paused, realizing a loophole in his plan. "How do I even make all this wool wearable?"

The sheep blinked at him as if mocking his stupidity. Romeo glared at it and lifted it back onto his shoulders. "Let's get out of here first."

He stood up and jumped out of the pit. Without thinking too deeply, he proceeded towards the nearest building in the village. As soon as he stepped out of the woods, he released the sheep. The sheep, once its legs touched the ground, paused for a second to look at Romeo as if wondering if it was being tested. Of course, sheep aren't actually that intelligent. But it definitely had its fight-or-flight instinct intact. It ran straight for the village, baaing as loudly as it could.

Romeo retreated back into the woods, a new plan brewing in his mind. He would wait for nighttime. Then, he would sneak into the village and find a few pairs of pants and maybe a jacket or two. Alpha Jake's dressing was a convenient way to dress for a werewolf. Oh, and some food as well.

As for why he did not just kill the sheep for food, he wasn't particularly hungry. Killing a sheep that big would have been a waste of food. Wolves did not particularly like sharing their meals with other animals that were not in their pack. Although there was nothing risky about that, it left a bad taste in their mouths.

He climbed a tree and went to sleep, not minding the hot sun.

Night fell. The sun was gone, and the moon was out. It was a full moon. Romeo opened his eyes. He felt very powerful, light, and energetic. As he stared at the moon in all its alluring beauty, he had a tough time stopping himself from succumbing to the temptation that grew out of the deepest, most innate, animalistic part of him.

"Tonight is not the night. I'm sorry for my obstinacy tonight, moon goddess."

He jumped down from the big tree branch he was on and landed on the ground.

Thud!

He unhesitatingly advanced towards the village. As he neared the end of the woods, he could hear the kids laughing and some singing. Fires were lit, and drumming was faintly heard as well.

There were sounds of laughter bursting out occasionally. It was obvious they were in a festive mood, and it got Romeo really curious.

"Are they celebrating something? Probably. What could they be celebrating? No idea. Does that mean taking a few clothes will be easier? Possibly," he spoke to himself again.

A slight breeze blew in his direction, and he took a deep breath, mastering and separating each distinct scent from the other.

"Sheep, human, shit, wolf..." He paused. "Wolf? Why is there a wolf among humans?"

He sniffed the air again. This scent was familiar.

"Werewolf?"

Now, he was really curious. Why would a werewolf be among humans? Letting little children pet him. Her, rather. He could smell how mature she was. She was definitely an adult. And she was bearing the mark of an Alpha but wasn't an Alpha.

"Why would an adult female werewolf be here on a full moon?"

"Go away!"

Romeo's ears twitched. The breeze had carried her growl to his ears. The growl was a warning for him to take his leave before things got ugly. It was an obvious threat.

"Who are you? And what are you doing with humans?" he asked back with a growl.

"My territory, my resources," was the answer.

To the children playing with the wolf, the wolf was basically an oversized dog in their eyes, and the growls meant nothing but playful wolf-talk.

"Your territory? What are you going to do to these people?"

"Personally, I will be eating one or two children."

Romeo frowned. The thought of someone wanting to eat children, even though they were prey, did not sit well with him.

"Why in the world would you choose to eat children?" he asked, hoping to understand what kind of personality she had, and if possible, what kind of werewolf she was.

What he received in response was a scoff.

"I see you have not tasted young blood before. Let me tell you, young blood is the tastiest of their kind. Their flesh is tender, blood is untainted, and for the spiritual ones like myself, their souls are still the most wholesome."

"But..." Romeo paused to think about it a bit. "But they are only kids."

"Exactly."

Romeo's thoughts drifted back to Mona. He remembered the first time they met, her laughter filling the air as they playfully chased each other through the forest. Her eyes sparkled with mischief and affection, and her smile was infectious. He could almost feel her hand in his, her touch a comforting reminder of the love they shared.

"What would Mona think of me if she knew I was here, facing this choice?" he wondered. Upon closing his eyes, the world vanished into a distant memory, encasing them in an unbreakable bubble of pure love. The soft breeze carried her sweet perfume as it blended with the scent of blossoming roses nearby, forming a magnificent harmony that whispered tales of affection around them.

Lightly tracing the contours of his face, her fingers caused shivers to cascade down his spine like a passionate melody. As they lost themselves in each other's gaze - windows reflecting their souls and unspoken promises for eternity – time seemed to stand still.

Every time his heart thumped, he felt her endearing love surrounding him. It was like a soothing hug that promised eternal commitment. Their spirits swayed in unison as they held each other tenderly, transcending the boundaries of Earthly existence with their profound love. The air around them became saturated with warmth and longing, indicative of their intimate connection beyond words could express.

As they savored the sweet stolen moment, he felt an unshakeable conviction that she was his lifelong companion in their journey of love and life. She illuminated even his bleakest moments and her melodic presence would echo within his heart forevermore.

His resolve hardened. "I won't let you harm these children," he growled, his voice filled with determination. "I don't care what you say, young blood or not, they are innocent."

The female werewolf's eyes narrowed, and she let out a low, menacing growl. "You're willing to fight me over this, Romeo?"

"For the sake of these children, yes," he replied, his thoughts once again turning to Mona. He could hear her voice in his head, encouraging him, giving him strength. "You taught me to be strong, to protect those who can't protect themselves. I won't let you down, Mona," he silently vowed.

As the tension between the two werewolves grew, the moonlight illuminated their standoff. The night air was thick with anticipation, and Romeo prepared himself for whatever might come next, driven by the love he still felt for Mona and the memories that fueled his determination to do what was right.