His Powerful Human Luna (Book 1)

***ROMAN'S POV*** I had just woken up from that dream again. It was the same dream I'd had every night for five nights straight. In this dream, I was standing in the middle of the forest when I caught the most intoxicating scent. It smelled heavenly- like the sweet smell of jasmine and the relaxing aroma of spring showers. My heart began to pound as the overwhelming need to find the source of this scent took over me. "MATE!" my wolf, Goliath, screamed wildly in my head. Could it be? I took off. My walk quickly turned into a jog, my jog into a sprint. I ran and ran until my human feet couldn't take any more of the rough terrain beneath them. "I can get to her faster than you can. Give me control!" Goliath insisted. I agreed, then, without even removing my clothes, I shifted. Goliath raced toward the scent, running at top speed. After what seemed like forever, we reached a clearing near the river. Goliath froze in place when we spotted a beautiful woman. She was not facing us, but we both agreed she was perfect. Goliath stepped on a twig, and it snapped beneath our massive paw. The sound made her turn around suddenly. My eyes widened. How could someone be so beautiful? She was about five foot four and perfectly curvaceous. She had beautiful brown, caramel-colored skin that I craved to touch, dark brown, almost black curly hair that I wanted to run my fingers through, brown eyes I could get lost in, and the most luscious pair of full, pink lips I ached to kiss. She was wearing a long white dress that hugged her stunning body gently. She is perfect. Goliath took another step forward, and the woman stepped back with a slight hint of fear in her eyes. "She's intimidated. I need to shift back," I told Goliath. I quickly shifted back into my human form. She stared at me intently when a soft, shy smile formed on her lovely lips. I walked toward her, completely naked, reaching my hand out to her. She took another step back before jumping into the river. And then I woke up. "Ugh, not again," I sighed as I sat up. Who is she? Is she really my mate? "Maybe it's time to see the oracle and see what she thinks about the dream," I said to myself as I rolled out of bed and walked toward my closet. I grabbed my clothes for the day and tossed them onto a chair before making my way into my bathroom. While in the shower, I could only think about the beautiful woman in my dream. I couldn't get her out of my head. I wondered if my wolf was just creating a mate for us since we hadn't found ours yet. I know he had grown frustrated. Goddess knew I certainly had. An alpha is supposed to be the most powerful of all wolves, but he is strongest when he has his mate- his luna. I've had plenty of wolves try to apply for the job, but I didn't want them, at least not as a mate. My beta, Darien, kept insisting I take a chosen mate so I could be at my strongest. Truth be told, I could never be as strong with a chosen mate as I would be with my fated mate. Perhaps the dreams meant she was close by. There may still be time. "Yeah, or maybe you're just going crazy, " Goliath chimed in. "Pipe down, mutt," I spat back, irritated by his interjection. As I turned off the water and wrapped a towel around my waist, I heard my cell phone ring. It was a text from my beta, Darien. "Hey, pretty boy, you up yet?" the message said. I rolled my eyes. The i***t is lucky he is my best friend. Darien and I are practically brothers. We grew up side by side, just as our parents did. As I trained my entire life to become the next alpha of Black River, Darien trained his whole life to be the pack's beta. "Yes, I just got out of the shower. What do you want?" I replied. "Umm, have you looked at the time? It's almost nine. The meeting with the alpha of the Red Wood pack is in ten minutes. Hurry up and get dressed." I was so concentrated on that dream that I didn't even look at the time. I had almost forgotten about the meeting with the friendly alpha. "Damn, I almost forgot about that. I didn't sleep much last night. I'm getting dressed now. I'll be down in five." "You had that dream about your mate again, didn't you? Man, you really need to just pick a woman and get that one out of your head. She's imaginary- all in your head. It's just your mind screwing with you because you NEED A DAMN LUNAAAAA." I stopped responding to him after that. I didn't feel like having yet another debate about my love life- my nonexisting love life. I stood in front of my full-length mirror and stared at my face. I looked like I hadn't slept in days. I towel-dried my hair, then threw on some dark blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and my black boots. I grabbed my phone, wallet, and keys before heading to the pack house conference room. I made it to the conference door in just a few minutes. As I approached the door, I spotted my beta greeting the alpha of our neighboring pack, Red Wood. "Alpha, you look like hell," Darien mind-linked me. "Thanks," I replied sarcastically before shaking the alpha's hand. "Hello, Alpha Cesar," I greeted him. "Alpha Roman, you look tired. Everything alright, son?" He shook my hand and then patted me on the back as we walked into the conference room together. I gave him a half smile. "Yeah, I'm good. I just haven't gotten much sleep recently. " I motioned for the alpha to sit at the large table. "I bet you are. A young, unmated alpha like yourself must have pretty ladies in and out of your bedroom multiple times a night," the old alpha chuckled heartily. Darien looked at me and winked. I rolled my eyes at him. "Yeah, I suppose I do." I faked a laugh at the alpha's comment and proceeded with our meeting. "So, what about this threat to your pack? What exactly did you hear?" I wanted the topic to be as far from my s*x life as possible. "Could we wait for my beta to arrive? He had to secure our border before heading here. He will be here shortly. " Cesar said. "Sure. We can wait. Would you like a drink?" "A coffee would be nice. Black with two sugars." I nodded, then called for someone to bring it. An omega named Jenna brought it in. "Thank you, Jenna," I said as she left the room. "Of course, alpha," she smiled at me before she walked out, closing the door behind her. I looked at Darien and Cesar; they both had goofy smiles, those "are you hitting that?" expressions. Before they could say anything, I shook my head. "No, no. Before either one of you says a word, NO. I am not, nor have I ever, nor will I ever mess around with Jenna." They both laughed. "Why not? She's hot, and you're the alpha. Plus, she clearly wants you; of course, alpha," Darien imitated her voice as he plopped into the seat beside me. "You're an alpha! You can have any woman you want since they all throw themselves at you! No one will say anything if you fool around with the help," Darien winked at me. I was about to mind-link him to shut the hell up when the door opened. "Alpha Cesar, Alpha Roman. Sorry I am so late." Cesar's beta, Michal, walked in, his face riddled with concern. "What happened, Michal?" Cesar said sternly, straightening up in his chair. "There was an attack on our left wall. Just a handful of them. About five or so. Nothing we couldn't handle," Michal said as he sat at the large table. "Who attacked you?" I questioned. I grew increasingly concerned about this situation. The Red Wood Pack is our neighbor, and anyone trying to pick a fight with a pack as large as theirs might feel froggy enough to attack my pack. "Rogues," Michal began. "This was the first attack. Up until now, it's been only threats. We didn't think much of it because we are the third-largest pack in this region. We didn't think a handful of rogues would have the balls to attack us, but they did. They didn't do any damage, though. They were severely outnumbered." Michal ran his fingers through his blondish hair. "Something is going on. Rogues are not strong enough to take on a pack of your size. Why would they be sending threats? Why would they think they could attack you?" I stood up from my seat and paced the room. "Roman, I am an old man." Cesar stood up and walked towards me, "and as big as my pack is, we are vulnerable right now. My Luna could not give me an heir. I only have my daughter, Lana. There is no one in line to take my place as alpha. They see our weak spot and will take full advantage of it." Cesar said as he scratched his salt-and-pepper-colored beard. "So, what do you need from me?" I crossed my arms against my broad chest and looked from Beta Michal to Alpha Cesar. "Please, if you could help us secure our borders and keep these filthy rogues away from our pack so that I have time to name my successor, I would be more than grateful." Cesar has been a good friend of my father and a mentor to me since I took my father's place as alpha. He's never asked me for anything until now. I could not deny him. "I will assist you in any way I can." We shook hands, and he smiled. "Thank you, boy." I smiled back at him. "Please, have a seat. We will iron out the details before you go." We sat down and formed a plan, starting with scouting and investigating. Aging alpha or not, he is still an active alpha, and his pack is massive. It's only a few hundred pack members less than mine. Why would rogues take such a risk in attacking Red Wood? Something else was going on. I could feel it, and I needed to know what. After Alpha Cesar and Beta Michal left, Darien and I sat in the conference room conversing about the situation when I heard a growl. It came from Darien's stomach. "Dude, I'm hungry. Let's get breakfast." I looked at the clock on the wall. "It's twelve-thirty," I said, standing to head to the door. "Okay, then. Lunch?" I stepped out of the room with Darien at my heels. "I wanted to speak to the oracle about that dream first." "She won't be here tonight. She was called away for personal business. She said she'd be back in a few days." Darien said as he closed the conference room door. "Really? Damn. Alright, fool, let's go," I gestured toward the front door, and Darien followed me out of the building. "Lunch in the city? s**t, let's go!" Darien hopped in my truck before I did, damn near pulling my door off its hinges. "Hey! Be careful!" I exclaimed as he slammed my passenger door shut. Darien is about six-two and two hundred pounds. He is quick and built like a quarterback. Not to be outdone, I am six foot five, about the same weight as Darien, only with more muscle definition. Simply put, I am built like an alpha. "Try not to break my damn door, please!" I fussed at him before climbing into the driver's side. "Yeah, yeah. Your precious truck is fine. Now let's roll. I'm hungry!" I started the truck and headed to the nearby human city, about twenty minutes from pack territory. I began having an anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach. My wolf was stirring, but he said nothing, so I continued down the road.