1 Prologue

THE MOONLIGHT LIT UP THE CASTLE GROUNDS as every warrior either stood attention or was doing their nightly patrol. They were unaware of the piercing eyes that watched them from above, except for one. The young warrior felt that he was being watched and looked to see the icy blue eyes staring back. He immediately put his head down, as to not seem he was challenging him and continued his march. The keeper of these eyes saw this and grew angry, although he didn't act.

He knew the young warrior, a pup whom had appeared in the middle of the night somewhat of 22 years ago, and since then remained at the home of his most trusted general. The general's wife, whom couldn't bear children herself due to an incident that happened when she was younger, saw this as a blessing from the moon goddess. They were gifted a child, but he can't be gifted a mate?

A question that he has asked himself for a long time. 500 years to be exact. Though he doesn't look a day over 25, his wolf and his mind have aged and grown wise, which made him a suitable leader to his kingdom.

The king returns to his chamber and stares at the paintings that line his walls. Its tradition that the king has a painting done of himself and his queen once she is found and crowned and his spot as laid empty for so long.

His wolf speaks," How much longer do I have to wait?"

"I am unsure," said the king," I grow weary as well."

When he reached his 100th year he began to doubt the moon goddess and her existence, but it took the near death of himself and his legion of werewolves to believe in her again. Poisoned by silver, he stayed in a coma for a year when finally, the grip of death released him and he could wake and therefore resume his position. With his help, the warriors lived and so training has been harsher and longer than before. Which is why the general questioned his adopted son's decision to become a wolf knight, but the young man was not discouraged. He turned out to be a fine warrior with a passion to fight to match, but even he found his mate.

The king growls and turns back towards the moon and says," You have made my mate evade for so long and I have no idea why. Did I do something wrong? What did I do to earn your disfavor? ANSWER ME!!"

He clutches the bar of the balcony, bending the metal and making it groan as if it was in pain. A lone tear falls from his eyes. He hears the wind pick up and he looks back at the moon as if he thought it was mocking him, but what he heard changed his mind.

A soft whisper spoke," Patience."

"I'm done being patient. I want my queen. I want my family. I want my peace."

He hears his wolf howling as he spoke. He storms away and out of the room. He makes it down to the grand hall and exits to the gardens. He never understood why the gardens calmed him.

Perhaps it was because it was his mother's. As he walks, he remembers his mother and father telling him all about mates and how important they are to a werewolf and how they can mean the difference between a healthy pack to complete destruction. It made him think of all his warriors and friends whom have already found theirs and he remembers the way his father always looked at his mother. He wants that, to be looked at with so much love and to look at his mate with the same affection.

He exits the gardens and reaches the edge of the forest that makes up for most of the royal territory. He strips and buries his clothes into the hollow trunk of a tree and shifts. His wolf, a midnight black, almost blue and his icy blue eyes, showing it was still him. He began to walk and soon it turned into him running. He dodged fallen trees, ripped through vines, and jumped off rocks. He was reaching the cliff side that resides in the middle of the forest. He climbs on top and stares into the horizon. The moon was setting, the sun behind him rising. He takes a deep breath and howls to the moon, releasing his built-up emotions. The howl was soon answered by the wolves that resided in the forest

now. He watches the moon get lower and lower.

"I will find you, if I have to die trying,"

He feels the wind pick up again and the same voice whispers," Patience."

His patience is ending now. Soon.