HIS SPECIAL SECOND CHANCE LUNA

Chapter nine

"You're right to be cautious," Aaron's mother intoned. "If he finds out your fated mate is a member of his pack it could send his wolf over the edge. There's no telling how it could react."

'Must protect Mate!' Ray growled.

"Charles guarded her place last night," Aaron said. "I'll talk to her today and wrap up my visit as soon as I can."

"Take your time and don't rush the bond. Your mate deserves some romance before you sweep her away. Once I tell the pack you've found your Luna they'll settle down and prepare to welcome her."

Aaron grimaced. His pack had been waiting over ten years for their Luna. Though his parents were fated mates their pairing had been strained by his father's previous indiscretions and his mother was never able to properly bond with the pack.

Perhaps that was why it was so easy for Aaron to assume control even though his father was still in his prime. His father tried to deny it but there was no hiding how even his wolf bowed to his son.

Once Aaron turned eighteen his father finally accepted the truth and started preparing to officially hand over control of the pack even though Aaron had yet to find his fated Luna.

For years Aaron managed his pack on his own building their confidence and loyalty in stages until they were united under his leadership. Their bonds were strong but still lacking. The final piece was finally within his grasp: his Luna.

"Good luck, sweetheart," his mother's voice broke through his thoughts.

"Thanks. I'll call you later."

"You do that but don't interrupt your time with your Luna. Use this time to establish and strengthen your bond. When you come back it is sure to be hectic and it will be more difficult to spend time together."

"Right."

"See you soon. And I can't wait to meet her!"

"Bye mom."

Aaron hung up the phone. Running a hand through his hair he headed to the bathroom.

His mother said to use this time to establish his bond but how? He had only given this pack a total of three days for a security assessment so his schedule was tight and it would look suspicious if he extended it without reason.

After breakfast he was supposed to evaluate their warriors and observe their training methods.The full schedule hadn't bothered him at the other packs but now he realized how little time he had to simply mingle with the rest of the pack.

He had to find time to meet his mate and speak with her. Ray prowled the back of his mind growling softly. They were both anxious to see their mate again. Which reminded him...

"Charles."

"I'm here, Alpha."

"How was last night?"

"Uneventful. Luna was up early though. She's been awake for an hour already."

"Is she...And what is she doing now?"

"Right now she's sitting on her porch swing with a cup of herbal tea reading. I can't see the book title from here though. Should I get closer?"

"No. Don't disturb her. I suppose she'll head to breakfast soon."

"I don't think so, Alpha. I smelled eggs and bacon earlier so I'm pretty sure she made her own."

Aaron frowned. Made her own? It certainly wasn't out of the ordinary for wolves to enjoy a private meal from time to time especially if they lived away from the packhouse.

However, wolves were social by nature. So far the only ones his Luna spent time with were the pack's pups. He wondered why.

Not to mention her scent in the packhouse was virtually non-existent. It seemed she avoided it as much as possible but why would she do that? Wolves were not solitary by nature.

Ray whimpered at the thought of their mate being lonely. They should be with her.

"All right, Charles. Keep watch. I'll send Brian to relieve you so you can eat."

"Actually if you just send him out with food I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I already know my mate isn't here and after last night's party I got a sense my kind wasn't appreciated."

Aaron grimaced. Wolves generally didn't hold the same prejudices as humans when it came to s****l orientation. Wolves judged others by their aura and ability rather than their bed partners but some younger packs did harbor such views especially if they associated closely with human settlements.

Such prejudice made it difficult for wolves like Charles though he was more than capable of putting others in their place. For those who lacked pack status or physical strength to defend themselves staying with their pack could be impossible and sometimes they were even driven out, forced to become rogues which was truly cruel.

Packs like Crescent worked to help such wolves transfer to other packs. In the day in age of computers and internet helping wolves forced out by such circumstances was even easier.

In fact the Red Stone Pack in Canada made helping such wolves its mission establishing a network of safe havens ensuring they could find a permanent home and their mates.

Though Charles probably never thought about it, visiting the Mountain Dew Pack was a stark reminder he was lucky to be born in a pack like Crescent.

"Very well, I'll let Brian know. Keep an eye on her."

"Of course, Alpha. No one will harm our Luna."

Aaron's lips twitched with a smile. It warmed him to know his pack members were already showing loyalty to their Luna when he hadn't even spoken to her yet.

As his mother said, she would be welcomed with open arms once he brought her home. Ray bristled with pride.

Aaron dressed and was ready by the time Brian knocked on his door.

"How'd you sleep?" Brian asked with a smirk.

Aaron growled warning. His Beta was trying to lighten the mood but it wasn't helping.

Questions had run through his mind all night and the urge to hold his mate wracked his every thought. He didn't like she was so far away from the safety of the packhouse. One thing he knew for certain: he could not spend another night without her.

"Okay, bad joke," Brian held up his hands in surrender.

He was; in fact, impressed by Aaron's self-control. When Brian first scented his mate he couldn't keep his hands to himself. All night long he held his mate close, nuzzling her, kissing her and rubbing his scent over her before they mated and marked each other that very night leaving the party early.

"My mother called," Aaron said.

"What happened?" Brian asked immediately on edge.

"There was a breach. No casualties but the pack is getting anxious."

"Without their alpha present I can understand why," Brian nodded.

Even with Frank, Aaron's sister and mother present the pack would still be anxious without their Alpha especially with no proper Luna to keep them calm.

"So...what do you want to do?"

"I'm cancelling the rest of the tour," Aaron said. "The one thing I've been looking for is here. Mom said not to rush but I plan to head home as soon as possible."

Brian nodded.

Aaron took the safety of his pack very seriously so it didn't surprise him that they would drop the rest of their schedule. But he also knew Aaron was anxious since he hadn't even had a conversation with his Luna yet.

Somehow he had to introduce himself and convince her to leave her home to go with him back to his pack.

Normally, if a newly mated pair came from different packs they would discuss which pack they wanted to join. But in this case there could be no discussion.

Aaron couldn't simply stop being alpha. It shouldn't be too difficult with the bond pulling Hope to stay with her mate but it was clear she was very attached to her pack, or at least the pups. Brian wasn't certain how this would fall out.