Born To Be More

Coming clean

Max

The rogue was only a distraction. I knew it the second Doc said Raine left alone.

I ran harder, Tyson clawing for control beneath my skin. If anything had happened to her—if someone touched her—I wouldn’t forgive myself. Not ever.

Behind me, I hear the heavy rhythm of paws hitting the dirt. Rion and Sam are close. Good. I need backup if this turns bloody.

The garden entrance comes into view, and then—her. Raine. Sitting alone on the bench.

But she’s not alone.

Warrick. That sleazy little s**t is standing over her like a vulture. My growl tears from my throat, warning him I’m here.

We launch—over garden beds, between hedges—and land hard in front of her. Tyson pushes forward, lowering our massive body between her and Warrick. Rion and Sam flank me like shadows. The prick steps back, eyes wide.

Tyson doesn’t hesitate. He presses his muzzle to Raine’s cheek and licks her once before I shift back. Someone tosses me shorts—thank the goddess, or I’d be staking my claim in more ways than one.

“You okay, baby?” I ask, breath still ragged.

“Of course,” she says, eyes flicking between me and Warrick.

I stare Warrick down. He’s twitchy, too relaxed, always smiling like a rat. I don’t like him. Never have. But I can’t expel someone without cause—at least not yet.

He eyes me, then Raine, and has the balls to smirk. I see red.

“I said—she’s mine.”

My emotions are on a razor’s edge. She’s mine—mine—and I need to remember that. I need her close. Safe.

I drag her into the pack house without a word, ignoring the looks, the murmurs—none of it matters. Rion and Sam can handle Warrick. Right now, I need Raine in my arms.

I shove the lift doors open, push her inside, and the second they close, I crash my lips to hers. Hard. Desperate. I need to feel her. To know she’s here, unharmed.

I settle her into my lap the moment we reach our room. Her weight grounds me. Her heartbeat calms Tyson. I can’t lose her. Not now. Not ever.

“I won’t keep things from you,” I tell her, voice rough. “There was a rogue at the fence. He said he was sent to scare you. I think it was a distraction—something else was meant to happen.”

I feel her stiffen in my arms.

I link Rion.

“There’s no way Warrick just happened to be walking in the gardens. He was watching her—or he’s working for someone.”

“Yup, on it, Max,” Rion replies. “Guy reeks of slime. I’m planting a tracker on his phone before I let him walk. Won’t be able to hold him long.”

“Do it. Let him go. But I want time with the rogue tonight. Remind the guards—nobody goes near the cells except you, me, Sam, and my brothers.”

“Copy that, Alpha.”

I end the link, jaw tight. If anyone thinks they’re going to take her from me—scare her, touch her, use her—they’re going to find out exactly what it means to cross an Alpha.

And they won’t survive it.

I walked beside Raine, every step heavier with the weight of what I was about to tell her.

She deserved the truth—about her parents, her pack in New Zealand, and what she really is. A rare wolf. A blue wolf.

I linked the Doc ahead of time. “We’re just arriving at the hospital.”

We were welcomed in and guided down the hall to his office. Doc launched straight into her results, and as gently as he tried, he still managed to freak her out. Poor thing thought she might be a troll. It was all I could do not to laugh—only she could be that damn adorable in the middle of a supernatural crisis.

When the shock hit her, I pulled her into my lap, grounding her, holding her together with everything I had. Then I told her the truth.

That her pack had hidden her. That she was placed in protective custody. That she wasn't abandoned—she was protected.

And that her parents were still alive.

I felt her heart break right there in my arms, and mine shattered with it. I would carry this pain for her if I could—but I can’t. I can only hold her. Steady her. Stay beside her while everything she thought she knew is ripped away.

This is only the beginning. And I f*****g hate it for her.

But I swear to the Moon Goddess—I won’t let her go through it alone.

I took Raine with me to see Rion. She hadn’t wanted to be alone—not after everything—so I kept her close, leading her up to the pack house and straight toward my office.

“Rion, I’ve got Raine with me,” I warned through the link as we approached the door.

He was already waiting as I opened it. I guided Raine in ahead of me, then pulled her straight into my lap at the desk. I needed her close. Grounded. Safe.

“What did we get out of Warrick?” I asked, not bothering with pleasantries.

Rion raised an eyebrow. “Claims he was just taking in the view—spotted Raine alone and decided to be ‘friendly.’”

“Friendly, my ass,” I growled. “Warrick always has an agenda. Keep him under close surveillance. I don’t trust him.”

“He gives off a creepy vibe,” Raine added, shifting slightly on my lap. “He made my skin crawl. I couldn’t tell what his intentions were, but he came across… sleazy.”

I squeezed her thigh gently, offering silent reassurance. She trusted her instincts—and so did I.

“What about the rogue?” I asked, my tone sharper now.

Rion’s lips curled into a satisfied smirk. “Your brothers are on their way up. They’ve been working him over.”

That made me pause.

When my brothers get involved, it’s no longer just an interrogation. It’s war. They may be younger, but they’re ten times more vicious—and less patient. If there were answers to be found, they’d drag them out one way or another.

I looked down at Raine, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She leaned into my touch, but her eyes were wary.

Nate and Luke stormed into my office like a thunderclap, scanning the room out of habit before zeroing in on me. Raine stiffened slightly in my lap, and I wrapped an arm tighter around her waist.

“It’s OK. Go ahead,” I said, giving them the nod.

“The rogue is working for someone,” Nate began, voice low and clipped. “He was sent in as a distraction. Someone else was supposed to scare Raine—force her off the pack grounds.”

I felt my wolf slam against my chest, fury vibrating through every muscle.

“There were at least two more rogues waiting just outside the south border,” Nate continued, jaw tense. “Once she was isolated, they planned to move in.”

Raine’s breath caught, and I could feel the panic start to rise in her. I locked eyes with her, grounding her, my thumb brushing over her hand.

“We have a traitor in the pack, then,” I growled, the words bitter in my throat. My trust in every damn wolf on these lands cracked just a little more.

“Brother,” Luke said, stepping forward, “we’ll keep working the rogue until we get names. He knows who he’s working with—we’ll break him.”

“Thanks, guys,” I muttered, rage barely held in check. One of my own… How dare they risk her?

Luke’s expression softened as he turned toward Raine. “Luna, I’m sorry we haven’t had a chance to spend more time with you this trip. Max is greedy with his time.”

“Damn right,” I muttered, and Raine let out the smallest laugh. God, I needed that sound.

“But we’ll sort this,” Nate added, his voice firm. “Our pack is strong. We’re loyal. And we protect our own. No one touches you, not here. Not ever.”

Raine looked between them, then up at me, still pale but nodding.

I could see the shift happening in her—her wolf rising, her instincts stirring. She didn’t even know what kind of power lived inside her yet, but I did. And the world would soon find out too.

"Rion, we need to up the security," I said, my voice firm. "Cameras in the hallways and back entrances of Raine’s apartment building. No blind spots."

Rion nodded. "Already ahead of you, Alpha."

"And another thing—Raine’s hired an assistant, but I was thinking... maybe your brother could intern with us both. It’d be good experience for him, and I’d feel better knowing one of our own is with her."

"I’m sure he’d love that. I’ll speak to him today," Rion said.

I felt a sharp pinch in my side. I looked down.

Raine.

“For f**k’s sake, Max,” she snapped, eyes flaring with heat. “Were you going to ask me if I wanted another assistant? No offense, Rion—your brother's probably great—but I have an assistant. She might be a little slutty, but Max? Let me remind you I have a brain.”

The room went still for a beat. Then, Luke burst out laughing. “I think I love her, Max.”

“Shut up, Luke. Go find your own mate,” I growled, though I was barely holding back a smile.

Raine crossed her arms. “I can make decisions for myself, Max. I know you want to keep me safe, but I’m not a f*****g porcelain doll.”

I sighed, brushing a hand down her back. “You’re right, Angel. I just—” I stopped, meeting her eyes. “I will never jeopardize your safety. But I hear you. I should have asked.”

She nodded, satisfied but still glaring. “Thank you. That’s all I wanted. A conversation, not a command.”

I leaned in and brushed my lips over hers, soft and quick. She pulled back, her cheeks turning pink. “Max,” she whispered. “Is it not enough that you’ve got me on your lap in front of everyone? Now you’re kissing me too?”

That set the boys off. Luke, Nate, even Rion, laughing like schoolboys.

My growl was half amusement, half warning. “Get out. All of you.”

Chairs scraped back and the room cleared in seconds.

When the door shut, I turned back to Raine, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You make me crazy, Angel.”

She smirked. “Good. Now you know how I feel.”

Everyone files out of the office, and as the door clicks shut, I shift her fully into my lap, turning her to straddle me. Her legs bracket my hips perfectly. I hold her there, anchoring both of us.

“You okay, baby?” I ask, running my hands up and down her thighs. “You’ve had a hell of a day. How are you feeling?”

She exhales slowly, her hands resting on my shoulders. “I’m... okay. I will be okay. It’s just... a lot, Max. I need time to process everything. My whole world has flipped.”

“I know, Angel. And I’m sorry about earlier. I just—f**k, I need to protect you. It’s in my blood.”

She shifts slightly, and I suck in a breath as her body presses right against me. My c**k is rock hard beneath her, and there’s no way she doesn’t feel it. Her eyes widen as I grind up gently, making sure she does.

“This,” I murmur, eyes locked with hers, “this is what you do to me. You’re mine, Raine. My mate. My love. And soon… my Luna. I won’t apologize for kissing you. So you better get used to it.”

She swallows hard, her pupils dark with heat, but her voice is steady. “I love you too, Max. I just—need time. I need to catch up with everything—my new job, the move, the fact I apparently have supernatural powers, and now… my parents. My head’s a mess, and I need answers.”

I stop breathing for a second.

“You… love me?” I ask, gripping her waist tighter, the words hitting me like a thunderclap.

A breathy laugh escapes her lips. “Yes, Max. I love you.”

Tyson howls in my head, so loud it echoes. He’s f*****g euphoric. And honestly? So am I.

“Jesus, Angel,” I groan, pulling her forward and crashing my lips to hers. The kiss is hard, deep, and filled with everything I can’t say fast enough. She clings to me like she feels it too.

I nip gently at the curve of her neck, her scent flooding my senses, dragging me under. “You have no idea what you just did to me,” I whisper against her skin. “But I’m going to show you.”

“You know, Angel,” I murmur, trailing my lips along the curve of her neck, “this is where I’m going to mark you.” I flick my tongue over the soft skin just below her jaw, right over the bond spot.

She stills. “Mark me?”

I smile against her skin. “When wolves find their true mate, they mark each other. It’s a bite, here,” I say, licking the spot again, slower this time. “It seals the bond between us. Forever.”

“Oh.” Her voice is barely a whisper.

“That’s it? Just an oh?” I tease, pulling back slightly to look at her face.

“Well… what does it actually mean? Like, in your world?” she asks, cheeks flushed.

“In human terms? I guess you could say it’s like marriage. But it’s deeper than that, Angel. It’s soul-deep. Once I mark you, you’re mine—and I’m yours. No one else can ever touch that.”

Her lips part, and I see her mind racing, trying to process what that would mean—for her, for us. She’s quiet.

“Listen,” I say gently, brushing her hair behind her ear, “I want nothing more than to mark you, Raine. But I’ll wait. Until you’re ready. Not a second before.”

She nods slowly, and I feel her heartbeat where she’s pressed against me.

The tension between us hums electric, but her silence pulls at me. I lean forward and bury my face between her breasts, letting out a groan as she threads her fingers through my hair. I grind up into her slowly, letting her feel exactly what she does to me.

“I want you so bad, baby,” I murmur. “But I just got a link—dinner’s ready. And you must be starving.”

As if on cue, her stomach growls. I bark out a laugh, and she groans in embarrassment, climbing off my lap.

“Come on, Angel,” I say, standing and tucking her close to my side. “Let’s eat, relax, and keep things chill tonight. No drama. Tomorrow morning, we head back to the city.”

“Okay,” she says softly, but her fingers slip into mine and squeeze.

She’s quiet, thoughtful. But she’s still here. Still with me. And that’s more than enough—for now.

I grabbed Raine’s hand and led her down to the dining area for dinner. The whole family was already gathered, and judging by the smirks on my brothers’ faces, it was obvious they’d noticed I was still sporting a hard-on.

Assholes.

I quickly pulled out a chair for Raine and took my seat beside her, doing my best to adjust discreetly.

Mum launched into cheerful chatter the second we sat, and Raine began to relax. She was glowing—fielding questions about her modeling work, the community projects she'd helped with back in New Zealand, and offering little anecdotes that had everyone smiling.

My brothers were not so subtle in their amusement.

“Shut up, assholes,” I linked Nate and Luke as they exchanged a look and snorted into their drinks.

“I feel completely unworthy of this family all of a sudden,” Luke linked back.

“Dude, we’re all unworthy. Look at Mum and Dad—they’re absolutely smitten,” Nate added, grinning.

“That’s because all they see is potential grandbabies,” Luke said, snickering.

“Well, now that I’ve found my mate, you both better get ready—Mum and Dad are gonna ride your asses to find yours,” I warned.

“Actually,” I added slyly, “I think Mum was trying to set me up with the daughters from the Blue Lake Pack last month.”

That got the reaction I was hoping for. Both of them froze, eyes wide with horror.

I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing—too loud and too sudden, forgetting I’d been linking.

Raine turned to me with a curious smile, eyebrows raised. “What’s so funny?”

I reached under the table and gave her thigh a gentle squeeze. “I’ll fill you in later, Angel,” I said, still chuckling.

She tilted her head, amused, then turned back to answer one of Mum’s questions, her smile lighting up the room.

And for a moment, just a moment, everything felt right in the world.

I wrap my arms around her from behind, pulling her into my chest. Her body fits against me like it was made for this—made for me. I rest my chin on her shoulder, inhaling the scent I’ve come to crave. Raine tilts her head back slightly, exposing her neck in silent invitation. I can’t resist. My lips graze her skin, soft kisses turning to gentle nips. She shivers.

Slipping my fingers beneath her straps, I ease her top from her shoulders, taking my time, wanting her to feel every brush of my skin. "Come with me, Angel," I whisper, my voice low, rough.

She follows me onto the balcony, moonlight bathing her in silver. I unbutton my jeans, pulling off my shirt, aware of her eyes drinking me in. The way she looks at me—hungry, uncertain, curious—it lights every nerve in my body on fire.

When I step closer, she doesn't move away. I reach for her, brushing my thumbs over her lace-covered curves before slowly removing her bra. Her breath hitches, and I feel her watching me, waiting.

Her fingers trail down my chest, and I close my eyes, letting the moment pulse between us like a live current.

"You're mine, Raine," I murmur. "Every part of you. But I’ll go at your pace. Say the word, and I’ll stop."

She looks up at me with those wild, stormy eyes of hers—eyes that already know too much, feel too deeply.

Her lips wrap around me, and I swear the air leaves my lungs. I groan, head tipping back as she licks along my length with a confidence that threatens to undo me completely. Her tongue flicks over the tip before she sucks, slow and deep, until my control is razor-thin.

"Angel," I grit out, voice thick with warning. "If you don’t want it all, you need to stop—now."

But she doesn’t stop. She moans against me, one hand cupping me tightly while the other slides to my hip, pulling me closer. Her mouth takes me deeper, and when she drags her nails down the back of my thigh, I lose it. My hand fists in her hair as I release, watching her swallow every last drop.

She looks up at me with wicked satisfaction in her eyes, and I haul her to her feet, crushing my mouth to hers, needing to taste her, to feel her everywhere.

“Jesus, Raine,” I growl against her lips. “You’re going to destroy me.”

She doesn’t get the chance to answer. I strip her jeans and panties down her legs and scoop her into my arms, carrying her straight into the steaming hot tub on the balcony. She gasps as the heat surrounds us, and I settle her across my lap, her bare skin slick and flushed.

"My turn, baby," I murmur, trailing kisses down her neck, lower, determined to return every ounce of the pleasure she just gave me.