Born To Be More

Mates

Max

Waking up with her in my arms was pure f*****g bliss. My mate. In her bed. In my arms. It felt like home in a way nothing else ever has.

I can't wait to take her back to the pack house, where she belongs. With me. It’s just a matter of opening her eyes to who she really is—and that shouldn't be so hard, right?

Tyson feels her wolf stirring beneath the surface—stronger now. He keeps trying to reach her, but something’s still blocking the connection. That wall is crumbling, though. I can feel it.

When Caine and Rion show up, we go over the security detail. She's got to be protected. Period. But somewhere in the conversation, I push too far—I can feel her tense in my arms. A second later, she pulls away, stiff and silent.

Fuck.

My chest tightens as she walks out and shuts the door behind her. I call her name. Nothing.

Rion and Caine stare at me, surprised. I just wave them off and head after her. My wolf is already pacing. We don’t like the distance—not even a little.

She’s upset. I get it. But I won’t let her walk away—not from me.

Not ever.

When I walk into her bedroom, she’s standing by the window, arms crossed, tension radiating off her in waves.

I step up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her against me and breathing her in. She’s tense as hell. She’s pissed—and rightfully so.

"Max, I am not a child. You must discuss things with me and let me make the final decision—even if I agree with you,” she says, her tone sharp and clear.

Then she turns in my arms, eyes flashing. "And you introduced me as your girlfriend and then pulled me onto your f*****g lap—in front of a Chic colleague."

I grit my teeth, temper flaring. She is my f*****g girlfriend. Did she not hear me last night?

I take a breath. Calm the hell down.

“I’m sorry, Angel. I’m used to being in control. Your safety... what happened yesterday scared the s**t out of me. But I hear you. I’ll discuss things with you, I promise. I just—" I pause, gripping her hands. "I won't ever compromise when it comes to protecting you. That’s not up for negotiation.”

She exhales, softening. “So you’re my boyfriend then?” she asks with a little smile.

I pull her between my legs, holding her tightly, brushing her hair off her face. “And so much more.”

Then she tilts her head, brows pulling together. “Max... did you just call me mate?”

My heart stalls. s**t.

“I hear her, Max,” Tyson growls in my head, pacing hard. “She’s getting stronger.”

I blink, caught between worlds. “Max?” she asks again, confused.

I cover quickly. “Uh—no, Angel. It wasn’t me.”

I pull her in tighter, grounding us both. Her wolf is rising. I can feel it now.

And soon… she will too.

"Finally!" Caine calls out. "Raine, we need to be at the studio by 9:30 for hair and makeup. You'll be there until noon, and then you're interviewing assistants with Melissa at one."

"Thanks, Caine. We should get going shortly. Did you find my shortlist pile?" Raine asks, grabbing her bag.

"Yeah, and I’m guessing Max helped you out with that?" he smirks, shooting me a knowing look.

"Oh, you mean the way most of the male applicants somehow landed in the no pile?" she replies, laughing.

I growl low, earning a double smirk from both of them. Smartasses.

I grab some fruit and another coffee for Raine, and we follow Caine and Rion to the lifts. Just as one opens, I tug Raine’s hand. "Take the other lift," I say to the boys.

"OMG, Max," she says, eyeing me suspiciously as I pull her into the lift and hit the button.

"What, Angel? I just want to kiss you goodbye. I can do it in here... or on the footpath. What would you prefer?" I ask, my smirk widening at her huff of irritation. Damn, she's hot when she’s annoyed.

I lean in, pressing my lips to hers softly, nibbling at her bottom lip before slipping my tongue into her mouth. She melts instantly, her body swaying into mine as I kiss her slow and deep. A soft moan escapes me as I pull her tighter.

"You are so beautiful, my Angel," I whisper, breaking the kiss. She lets out a dreamy sigh and leans into my chest.

How the hell did I get this lucky?

When the lift doors open in the foyer, I take her hand and guide her toward reception. The woman behind the desk perks up immediately.

“Good morning,” I say.

“Oh, good morning, sir,” she replies, voice sugary-sweet as her eyes rake over me. Seriously?

I feel Raine tense beside me.

"My girlfriend just moved into apartment 117," I say clearly, sliding my arm around Raine’s waist. “Please add me to her approved visitor list, along with Rion Sharpe and Caine Rodgers.”

The receptionist finally looks at Raine, and her expression shifts to something far more sour. “Yes, sir. I can do that for you,” she says stiffly.

“You’re actually doing it for Miss Marshall,” I correct, dropping just enough of my Alpha command into my voice to remind her who she’s speaking to. “No one goes up to see her unless they’re on the list. Understood?”

Her posture straightens instantly. “Yes, of course. Consider it done.”

Caine and Rion step forward, handing over their business cards. I pass mine over last, and I don’t miss the way her eyes light up when she reads my name.

Good. Let her google me.

I glance down at Raine. She’s still quiet, but her hand squeezes mine and she leans in closer.

That’s all I need.

I pull Raine into a hug in the foyer, not wanting to let her go, even for the day.

"I'll call you later. Message me if you get a moment this afternoon," I say, brushing a kiss over her cheek.

She smiles up at me. “Thanks, Max. You know I will. Have a good day.”

“You too, Angel.”

I watch as she walks out with Caine, slipping into the car. No cameras, no shouting this morning—thank f**k. I slide into my own car where Rion is already waiting in the passenger seat.

He glances over at me, a sly smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "So, you found your mate, huh?"

I can't help the slow grin that spreads across my face. "I did. And I still can't believe I found her in a f*****g airport."

"She’s fucken beautiful, Max," he says, sincerity in his tone. "I’m envious, for sure. But we need to talk."

My grin fades. That tone I know.

Rion continues, “I got the information you asked for, and I’ve already placed security at Chic this morning. Max, she’s on the front page of most major papers. Her photo is everywhere.”

My stomach tightens. "Already?"

"Already,” he confirms, flipping his phone around and showing me one of the covers. Raine’s face—flawless, radiant, ethereal—is splashed across it with a headline teasing 'Who Is The Kiwi Model Taking Over New York?'

I grit my teeth.

"I briefed Caine this morning,” Rion adds. “They’re watching the entrances. No one gets in without clearance.”

"Thanks, Rion," I mutter. I knew this was coming. I just didn’t expect it to be this fast. She’s barely been here 48 hours.

Now I need to move up the timeline—for everything. For security, for the agent. For Saturday. For the moment I tell Raine what she really is.

And who she is to me.

I asked Rion to dig into Raine's past and family history. “Her parents died when she was eleven,” he says. “Car accident, but... given she doesn’t know she’s a wolf? I’d bet there’s more to the story.”

My jaw tightens. That age fits. Around the time most wolf blood starts to stir.

“Do a security check on the assistant they choose today,” I add. “I want to cover every angle.”

“Already sorted with Caine,” Rion says. “Don’t worry, we’ve got this, Max. We’ll keep our Luna safe.”

Our Luna. The pack’s Luna.

“She’s going to lose her s**t when she finds out what we are,” I mutter.

Rion just laughs. “Oh, no doubt. But she’s a fighter. She’ll come around.”

Back at the office, Rion lays out his findings. “There’s no official record of her parents dying in a car accident,” he says, tossing a file onto the table. “Which means if they did die, it was covered up. My guess? Whatever pack they belonged to scrubbed the truth.”

I clench my jaw. I suspected as much.

“She grew up in New Zealand, but I can’t confirm both parents were from there. The only active pack I know of down there is the Southern Sounds Pack. I’ve got a contact for their Alpha if you want to reach out.”

“Do it,” I say. “Let’s find out who she really is.”

Rion nods, and I’m reminded—this is why he’s my Beta. We've been tight since we were kids. He’s the guy I trust to run the pack when I’m not around. Right now, our Gamma’s holding things down at the territory while Rion stays close to help me manage this… situation. Raine.

The pack compound sits deep in the forest, about forty minutes outside the city—secluded enough that even lost hikers never find it.

My assistant Luke steps in with a flustered secretary trailing behind him. I raise a brow.

“Morning, Max, I’ve got—” Luke starts, but the woman cuts him off.

“Good morning, Mr. Crawford.” Her voice drips with sugar. “I’m covering for Linda today. Is there anything you need?” She leans on the desk, too close, her blouse doing more showing than covering.

Rion snorts, turning away to hide his smirk. Luke looks like he’s about to lose it.

The woman bats her lashes. “I’m not sure when Linda will be back. But until then, I’m… at your disposal.”

Jesus.

Linda’s been with me for years. She’s the no-nonsense, coffee-bringing, schedule-running machine that reminds me a bit of my mother—and no one has ever dared flirt in her shadow.

I stare the girl down, letting the silence stretch until she shifts uncomfortably.

“I need coffee. And space,” I say flatly. “Preferably in that order.”

She blinks, flushes, and nods quickly before all but scurrying out.

Luke lets out a low whistle. “Damn, Max. That was brutal.”

I ignore him and glance at Rion. “Call that Alpha in New Zealand. I want answers.”

She makes me take breaks for lunch and dinner, doesn’t tolerate office gossip, and runs this place with a level of professionalism that earns everyone’s respect.

Linda. Solid as they come.

The woman standing in front of me? Not Linda.

“What’s your name?” I ask, leveling a cool stare at her. She looks mildly offended that I don’t already know.

“Saphire,” she says, sultry and deliberate. “Like the jewel.”

Jesus.

“Well, Saphire,” I say gruffly, “don’t come in here again unless Luke sends you or I call for you. And don’t interrupt him again. You’re wasting both his time and mine.”

She blinks, a little stunned.

I look to Luke, who’s already one step ahead. “You’re dismissed, Saphire. I’ll call you if you’re needed. Until then, go back to the desk.”

She turns, clearly annoyed, and walks out, hips swaying a little too much for this to be an accident.

As soon as the door closes, the room cracks with laughter.

“Where the hell did she come from?” I ask, shaking my head.

Luke rolls his eyes. “HR sent her up to cover Linda while she’s out. She’s going to drive me up the fuckin’ wall before the end of the day.”

“Just make sure she doesn’t get back in here,” I mutter. “I’ve got zero time for office soap operas.”

Luke grins. “Noted. Oh—and Matt’s younger brother, Alex, starts his internship today. He’s down in HR ‘til lunch.”

“Right. Thanks, Luke. Keep your eye on both of them,” I say with a smirk.

“Always do,” he replies, chuckling.

Once the office clears out, I lock the door and dial the number Rion gave me for the Southern Sounds Pack.

The line clicks. “Hello?”

“I need to speak with Alpha Reid Spaulding,” I say, firm.

“This is him,” comes the reply.

“Alpha Max Crawford, Jewel Moon Pack,” I state clearly.

There’s a pause. Then a metallic clank—like something just hit the floor.

“I know who you are, Alpha Max,” he says more carefully now. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m looking for Sue and Greg Marshall. Are they—were they—members of your pack?”

Another pause. “Yes, they were… but why are you asking about them?”

I don’t hesitate. “Their daughter is my mate.”

The sharp inhale on the other end of the line is unmistakable. “f**k,” he mutters. “You have her. Is she safe?”

“Of course she’s safe,” I snap. “Reid, why the hell doesn’t she know she’s a wolf?”

Silence.

Then I growl low and dangerous. “You’ve got some explaining to do, Alpha. Start talking.”

"f**k!" I slam the phone down harder than necessary and drop into the chair, dragging my hands through my hair. Everything Reid told me is spinning in my head like a goddamn hurricane.

I call Rion back in, needing my Beta—my brother in arms—to help me make sense of this mess.

He bursts in moments later, eyes scanning me for damage. I don’t speak—I just grab two glasses, pour the good scotch, and hand him one.

He takes it without question.

I start pacing. “Raine is special, Rion.”

He raises a brow. “Yeah, Max. she's you’re mate. That’s kind of the definition.”

“No,” I snap, spinning to face him. “She’s special, Rion. More than fated-mate kind of special. Her parents... they’re alive.”

Rion blinks. “What?”

“They’re in the Southern Sounds. She was born in that pack, raised there until she was eleven. Then they hid her. Reid said it was to protect her.”

“Protect her from what?”

I stare at him. “Not what—who. Raine’s a blue wolf, Rion.”

His drink sloshes as he nearly drops it. “f**k off. That’s a myth.”

“It’s not.” I shake my head. “It’s not extinct either—not anymore. She’s the real thing. Direct bloodline of the Moon Goddess.”

He sinks into a chair like I just punched him. “Jesus, Max. That means—”

“She’ll be one of the most powerful wolves born in a century.” I nod grimly. “And she has no idea.”

Rion whistles low, stunned. “No wonder someone enchanted her wolf. If word got out—”

“She’d be hunted before her birthday.” I cut him off, voice like stone. “Which is in three f*****g weeks.”

His eyes snap to mine. “Three weeks?”

“Yeah. And that enchantment? It lifts when she turns twenty-four. Or when she’s fully mated.”

Rion leans forward, his expression deadly serious now. “Max… when the enchantment lifts, everything will change. You need to prepare your pack. You need to prepare her.”

I down the rest of my drink. “I know. And I’m going to. Starting Saturday.”