A/N Ok so honestly when I'm reading, I hate prologues. I find them tedious and yet here I wrote a super long one. Le sigh* However if you are really into background info this basically sets everything up for the main character. If you are like me though and just want to get to the actual story here is a summary of it.....

Riona has a mate (let's call him dick splash) who keeps promising they can be together after several years of being kept apart. Turns out he's a dick (shocker) and has decided he wants to mate someone else claiming they are better to lead the pack. Riona (obviously pissed) claims she wants to reject dick splash and leave the pack so she can move on with her life but (surprise surprise) dick splash says no and drags her away to the dungeons so she can't escape. 

"How much longer?" Riona was trying not the whine but she had been waiting so long for her mate that being patient was taking it's toll.

"Not much longer." Bryce replied. Bryce was the Alpha of the Long Tooth Pack. He took over as Alpha two years earlier when his father died of a heart attack. Before that he was training along with some other warrior wolves in other packs. His father told him it was so he could could learn knowledge from other pack but secretly he wanted to separate Bryce from Riona.

Riona knew from her first shift that Bryce was her mate, but Bryce's father was against it and so told the pair to keep their status quiet. Now that Bryce was Alpha, Riona was anxious to finally start their relationship. There were some complications however.

While on his travel training with other packs Bryce started a relationship with Sabrina the Beta's daughter. Riona was hurt but couldn't blame Bryce for seeking comfort while he was forced away from his pack and home but now it was their time to be together. Although Bryce wanted to be with Riona he couldn't toss Sabrina away immediately after becoming Alpha and so asked Riona to wait until things settled before he claimed her as his mate and Luna.

Still even through all the years the two managed to find moment where they could spend near each-other and plan for the day for when they could finally be together. Tonight was a moment of just that where the two were sitting on the dock of their local lake just admiring the view of nature.

"Bryce I know you say soon, and I believe you, but if I knew just how much longer I think this would be easier to bear. I don't blame you for waiting. I see your point in it, but I don't want to miss out on years we could have together." Bryce let out a sigh of tension. This was a conversation they had many time before and it was getting harder to locate Riona. Not that he could blame her either.

"Tell you what. In three months is the Triennial Gathering. They always have the mating run during the full moon for unmated wolves. I'll take Sabrina with me. With so many wolves in one place she is bound to find her mate and I can let her go knowing she will be happy. When I return I can claim you as my mate with a clear conscience and we can start without any negative impact."

Riona was blessed to have such a caring mate. Even though he and Sabrina were not fated he still cared enough not to leave her broken and alone without a thought to her happiness. It was just a shame that his thoughtfulness was paid by Riona's loneliness. But that shouldn't be for much longer. Three months. She could wait three months for an eternity of happiness.

Riona snuggled into the side of her mate wrapped up in his warmth against the autumn air. Years from now when they have grown old and surrounded by grandchildren they would be able to look back and say that the wait was worth being with their fated mate.

......

Thwack! Riona was suddenly thrown to the ground by a blow to the head. "YOU STUPID BITCH!" Ah! That explains the sudden headache while reading in the woods near the pack house.

Riona took a deep breath before pulling herself up. She would need all her self control to deal with this. "Sabrina, always a pleasure. To what do I owe your company for?" Riona maintained a model of composure while Sabrina's whole body seethed with anger.

"I told you to stay the fuck away from Bryce. And here I find out you were flirting with him last night by the lake. How many time do I have to tell you? You're nothing. Stop throwing yourself at him. It's pathetic!"

"Who Bryce spends his time with is his choice. I would not have been with him if he did not want me there." Thwack! Another backhanded blow, this time on the other cheek. Riona glared up at Sabrina.

Even though they were in the same pack they couldn't be more different. Sabrina has pin straight blonde hair. Like the other she wolves she is long and toned. Riona on the other hand had wavy Russet hair and her body had filled out to include soft curves that were unusual for a she wolf, but not unflattering.

"Careful Sabrina. Just because your father is Beta does not give you permission to be cruel. You don't decide my fate." Riona put up with Sabrina's torment because she felt sorry for the girl, but even she had her limits.

"Maybe not as the Beta's daughter, but as Luna I can decide to do with you as I wish." That got Riona's attention.

"What do you mean as Luna? You are not the Luna. You aren't Bryce's mate."

"Bryce doesn't have a mate. If he did don't you think he would have found her by now?" Little did she know Bryce has known of his mate for the past 4 years. Just because he hasn't shared that information with the rest of the pack didn't make it any less true.

"Sabrina the pack would never accept you as Luna. Only a fated mate could be his Luna and you are not-"

"-Oh and you are!" Sabrina started stalking towards Riona. Riona quickly got up and began backing away. When it came to brute strength Sabrina had both the muscle and the skills.

"I am so sick of you chasing after him, hoping to weasel your way in. I've been there for him since the beginning. I was there when he was sent to train. I was there when he became Alpha. And where were you? How dare you even think he would want you."

Riona's back hit against a tree halting her retreat. Sabrina quickly grabbed Riona's shirt and lifted her against the tree off the ground. Sabrina's eyes were dark.m, a tell that her wolf was near the surface. Riona felt sorry for her. She was losing control of her grasp on life and there was nothing she could do about.

As Riona stared down at her she saw something catching the light around Sabrina's neck. It can't be. Riona feeling around Sabrina's throat found the pendent she wore and lifted it to see it better. The pendent was a silver crescent moon with a jewel hanging off of one end. It was the Luna's necklace. She knew what it was because Bryce has showed her that very same necklace before he left, promising to give it to her upon his return.

Sabrina seeing the subject of Riona's investigation began to chuckle. "See something you like?"

"Where did you get this?"

"Bryce gave it to me. Judging by your reaction I think you know what it means" No. It couldn't be. Why would he give her that? That necklace was reserved for the Luna of the pack. It belonged to her so why was Sabrina wearing it? Her wolf pushed it's self into her consciousness.

Four years! She has been waiting for her mate. She did everything that was right. She was patient and understanding. Always willing to listen to his excuses. All those stupid excuses!!! Enough!

Riona lifted her legs to push against the tree and kicked off overpowering Sabrina and throwing them both to the ground behind them. After a few tumbles Riona was able to push and land on top. Her hand went to Sabrina's throat while Sabrina still recovered from the spill.

Sabrina eyes showed surprise as Riona looked into them. Looked at the last obstacle in her way. Sabrina was the reason she still had to wait. Sabrina was the reason she still suffered without her mate. No. It was not her...

Riona's wolf normally calm and docile was now a ball of quiet rage. It wanted to hurt the she wolf in their arms sure, but she was not the one to blame. Bryce. How many promises had he made them? How many times had he spoke about patience and selflessness? That it wasn't just about them? They had to consider the well-being of the pack. Her wolf was beginning to wonder how much of this was about the pack, and how much of it was that Bryce was being selfish.

This was over. This had to be over. Two years is more than enough to break it off. To keep a relationship with someone you know you won't be with this long either means you don't really care about that person or that you have no intention of breaking it off.

Riona released Sabrina as she shot up and strode to the pack house. It was time to have a conversation with her mate.

........

I barged into Bryce's office, pack propriety be damned. As I ran in two men's faces snapped to attention to see who would dare enter without permission.

"You fucking liar!" Bryce stared at me sitting behind his desk, a swirl of fury burned in his eyes. In a seat across from him sat his Beta, Frank. He had cool blonde hair like his daughter. His eyes narrowed at me in disgust.

"Frank will you excuse us for a while. I think I need to have a discussion with Riona on the proper way to address her Alpha." Frank chuckled as he stood up to leave. He obviously thought Riona was in store for a decent punishment that was rightfully deserved.

"I always find the belt to leave a better impression," he mumbled as he turned to leave. Riona's eye grew wide at his statement. What kind of sick fuck is he. Bryce didn't respond to the Beta but instead continued to shoot daggers at her. He refused to speak until Frank had left closing the door behind him.

"Do you have any idea what kind of FUCKING position you are putting yourself in?!?" On no. This was her turn to be angry.

"That's problem! I have no clue what kind of position I'm in. I thought I knew. You told me I was yours, that we would be together but now I find Sabrina wearing the Luna's pendant. The very same pendant you promised me." Bryce's eyes softened as realization dawned on him. He leaned back in his chair using his finger to pinch his nose as if to battle an oncoming annoyance.

"What's going on Bryce? You tell me you care for me, that we are going to be together. I have waited so long. I have tried to be the patient mate but then I found that necklace on Sabrina, it made me wonder what kind of person would do that?" Her voice broke with the unshed tears that were now gathering. "Bryce what's going on? I'm trying to be understanding but I Don't know if I can-"

She was cut off when Bryce's hand darted out grabbing her by the front of her shirt and pulled her across his desk. His eyes grew dark as his wolf pushed forward. They stared at each other. Him in anger, her in shock at his sudden aggression. Bryce had never been rough with her. He hadn't even raised his voice to her. What changed? It took several moments before he spoke.

"Do you have any idea what it's like to have you for a mate?" Where is this coming from? Riona decided it was best to placate him.

"Bryce sweetie-"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Riona was scared now. This wasn't her mate. Bryce continued to speak to her, his voice almost a growl. "Do you know how hard it was to admit to my father who you were? That the smallest weakest wolf in our pack was somehow suppose to be my mate? Because of you, I was sent away from my pack. From my home. I was in exile, not much better than a rogue. I was constantly mocked for my position all the while you were here safe in our borders, ignorant to the dangers we face."

Riona could see the pain Bryce held for the recent years but how could She have known of that pain when he didn't share it with her. She was his mate. That's what makes are suppose to do.

"I know it hurt you to leave Bryce. It hurt me too-" Bryce's face cracked with laughter and mirth as released Riona and She stumbled to gather herself.

"What do you know of it? Even when my father opposed our union it wasn't you he sent away. It would have been so easy to have sent you to another pack. No instead I left." Riona wrapped her arms around herself to shield from his confession. Her mate was broken and she was hurting him more.

"Is that why you went to Sabrina? You were alone?"

"Sabrina was there through it all. She was there every step. She is strong and knows what it takes to run a pack. Sabrina is exactly what this pack needs in a Luna."

"I see..." Riona began to shake in shame. He had all but said it. She was not fit to be Luna. The Goddess had made a mistake in making her his mate. The kindest thing would be to leave. Get out of the way of his happiness. That's what a true mate would do.

"Then since I am not fit to be your Luna...I.. I won't stand in your way. I'll leave. You can reject me as your mate and we can both move on."

"Don't you think I've already tried that. Do you know how many times I've tried that. Heck even last night when we were together I had every intention of rejecting you." Riona looked back on the many memories she had with Bryce. Never once did he even show a sign he had an intention to reject the bond.

"If you don't want me, why didn't you say something. Why lead me on when it would be much easy to reject me."

"My wolf won't let me. Every time I start to say the words he throws a tantrum and won't let them come out." Riona's heart broke. He truly did mean to break their bond. Riona's wolf whimpered while curled in the back of her consciousness. It hurt to know that their mate did not want them.

"Well if you can't than I will. I can break the bond and you can tell the pack I was the one in the wrong and then you can bond with Sabrina without any negative connections to you." Bruce stared at her for several moments, sadness creeping in to his eyes. Even though he didn't want her as a mate it would still be hard to lose her.

"That's not going to happen." He almost whispered.

"What? But you said-"

"I said my wolf won't allow it. Despite your lack of position and skills, for some goddess damned reason he still only wants you as his mate. So you will stay here to keep him happy."

"I don't understand. What do you mean?"

"I mean that I will bond with Sabrina. She will be a good Luna that will help make our pack strong. You will support us by staying near where we can keep an eye on you and make sure you don't cause any trouble."

"If you think I'm going to stick around while you parade my suffering in front of my face, you are wrong." Bryce shot from his chair and slammed me with his Alpha power. Riona crumbled to the ground under the weight of it. Her wolf yelping at the pressure.

"Don't push me. This can go one of two ways Riona. You can either accept your lot in life and lead a very comfortable albeit an unconventional life. You can be satisfied knowing that your sacrifice would strengthen our pack...Or you can fight this and just see how miserable one can truly be."

No. This wasn't right. Riona could not accept this. Even as her wolf cowered in the back of her mind it still would not be content with this fate. "I will never stop fighting this. I can't accept this. What you are asking is for me to forever be in anguish for you selfish happiness. If you don't want me, fine. But you cannot just expect me to accept this just because you don't have the guts to end it." Bryce withdrew the pressure and Riona was able to relax. Maybe he was finally seeing reason. Now he could break the bond and let her go to try to find some sort of peace. Bryce took a deep breathe in and slowly released it.

"So it's like that then." He was finally seeing reason. "I had hoped it would not have come to this. I only hope you will see the error in this decision. ...Frank!" The door barged open and in walked the Beta immediately grabbing Riona and pulling her to him. Riona began kicking and flailing trying to throw off the Beta. But even with her passion and anger she was no match for the warrior. After a brief struggle Riona was pulled up and against the brute of a man to face the Alpha who only stared at her as she struggled.

"Frank, take her to the cells. I'll decide what to do with her from there."

"NO!" Riona called out. She tried to beg him to let her go but he only stared and watched her claw at the door frame and walls as she was dragged down the hallway from his office. Riona's cries and pleas were left on deaf ears as she was brought down to the darkness of her new reality.