HIS SPECIAL SECOND CHANCE LUNA

Chapter four

"Aaron. Earth to Aaron. Hey wake up!"

Aaron jolted awake grumbling as his Beta playfully swatted him. They had known each other since they were pups, so there was no need for formality between them when they were alone. Yawning Aaron stretched in the passenger seat and looked out the window at the same scene that had surrounded them the past several hundred miles.

"Where are we?"

"About another hour before we reach the next pack," Brian answered.

"And which one is that again?" Aaron sighed. After visiting six other packs, they were all beginning to look alike.

"Mountain Dew," Brian cued the information on his iPad before handing it to Aaron.

Aaron dutifully read the pack's dossier. At just over four hundred members, it was only a mid-level pack. Like other packs, they had been experiencing more rogue attacks of late, which was the reason for his little tour...at least publicly.

Aaron was Alpha of the Crescent Pack, one of the six ancient packs. With over five thousand members strong, it was the largest pack in North America and one of the most prosperous.

At thirty, he had been running the pack for almost ten years, making him one of the youngest as well. As with most alphas, Aaron was tall and muscular without excess bulk.

He had dark chocolate hair. His chin was usually softened by a trim goatee, but due to the tight travel schedule, he had a bit more stumbles as of late. There was very little his sharp, brown eyes missed.

Others characterized him as a hard-ass, but those who knew him knew he was quite amicable, witty and charming despite his growing despondency.

His wolf spirit had awakened early, a testament to the sheer power contained within it. Ray was a large gray wolf with burning amber eyes and stood almost a foot taller than other wolves, even other alphas, including his own father.

Ray's early emergence was part of the reason Aaron became Alpha sooner than expected. His alpha aura was simply too powerful, overshadowing his father's and funneling the pack's loyalty away from his predecessor, whose rule was waning.

Aaron's one regret was not having his Luna at his side.

As his father's successor, normally Aaron would have marked his Luna before leadership was passed, but despite years of searching and traveling among his neighbors, he had yet to scent the one fated to stand by his side.

Most wolves engage in s****l activity to pass time and take the edge off their pent-up drive.

Aaron, however, abstained from such frivolous activity. The last thing he wanted was to be covered in another she-wolf's scent when he finally found his mate. He was determined she would be his first, only and last. Jim was in complete agreement.

But after a decade of searching, they were both feeling the strain. A pack was meant to be led by a pair. An Alpha was the pack's strength, but a Luna was its heart. His pack desperately needed the heart they had been missing as much as he needed his Luna by his side.

Tensions were ready to snap and discord wormed its way into the pack harmony. Aaron was beginning to wonder how long it could maintain its tenuous balance.

Wanting to help, his mother suggested a security tour. Rogue attacks were on the rise. It was a good time to tour the packs most affected and evaluate their security levels to determine if they were adequate.

It was also good cover to extend the search for his Luna as he would be visiting packs he hadn't been to before. That was the real reason for this trip, but after a half dozen packs he was beginning to lose hope, especially after the last one.

Aaron cringed at the memory of the alpha's daughter naked in his bed covered in rose petals. Despite numerous complaints and even threats, she continued to try and enter his bedroom. Ray was ready to go on a killing spree, so Aaron cut his visit short.

"Cheer up, Aaron," Brian eyed him with concern. "Hey, lucky number seven. Right?"

"Right." Aaron sighed, looking again at the dossier. "Looks like the alpha's a little younger than me...and he's mated. Lucky bastard."

"Y-yeah...well, maybe not. If rumors are true, they aren't fated mates."

"He took a chosen mate?"

Aaron frowned.

It was common knowledge that a mated alpha was more powerful than an unmated one and a fated bond stronger than a chosen one. That was the reason why alphas went out of their way to locate their fated mates as it would guarantee them more influence and strength.

There was no reason for a young alpha to resort to taking a chosen mate if his fated was not yet found. Was Mountain Dew's alpha just impatient or had he lost his mate in a rogue attack, in which case the Goddess would certainly have granted a second-chance mate?

Ray stirred, whining. His wolf was desperate to find its mate but not so desperate to resort to taking a chosen mate. No. Their fated mate was out there and when they found her she would be...perfect.

Aaron turned his attention back to Mountain Dew's dossier and tried to forget his anxiety, but that was easier said than done. His apprehension remained as they entered the pack's territory and arrived at the packhouse.

With a sigh, Aaron opened the door and climbed out while Brian conferred with their escort, emerging from two other vehicles and reminding them of proper visitor conduct.

Grabbing his jacket, Aaron breathed deep and suddenly froze as Ray practically leaped to attention and surged to the forefront of Aaron's mind.

It was a struggle to keep his wolf in check even as he breathed in the cool air again. There was no mistaking it: she's here.

"Aaron, what's up?" Brian asked, joining him. "Aaron? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"She's here."

"What? Who?"

“My mate.”