You're Not My Mate

This Is My Assistant

Liam POV

“Baby, how much longer?” I call into the walk-in closet. I’d been sat on the bed for the last 15 minutes waiting for her to finish getting dressed and I was getting impatient. I hated being late getting to work, and we were definitely getting close to pushing it. I can hear a bang and a huff come from the closet and shake my head trying to hide my smirk. She’d tried on 4 different outfits in the last hour, complaining that nothing looked professional enough. She looked amazing in every single one, but she was insistent they weren’t quite right. 

She finally walks out of the closet and gives me a twirl, raising her eyebrow to wait for my comment. She had pulled her hair into a low bun at the side which had her gorgeous face on display. She had finally decided to go for light blue trousers, a white blouse that was a little too low cut for my liking, and a matching light blue jacket. She had white heels on which made her slightly taller, but she was still as small as a kitten next to me. “Gorgeous, baby. What did I do to deserve such a beautiful mate?” Her cheeks flush at my compliments and I reach out to run my fingers down her face. “Come on, we need to get going.” I urge, taking her hand and pulling her out of the bedroom and out to the Range Rover that was waiting for us. Marcus was driving us in today. He had a couple of meetings at the office, and I figured he could help Aurelia feel more comfortable. She was trying to hide her nerves, but I could feel them all through our mating bond.

“Morning Alpha, Luna.” Marcus greets us both with a smile. Aurelia huffs and he chuckles, correcting himself. “Morning, Aurelia.” He drags out, sarcastically. She smiles and hops into the back seat of the car with me. She leans against my arm and rests her hand on my thigh, taking a deep breath. “You’ll be fine, baby. And you’ll be with me and Marcus all day.” She nods, smiling up at me. Her father had a lot to answer for. He’d made her a nervous wreck meeting new people, always worrying that she wouldn’t make a good enough impression or be liked by them. I wrap my arm around her and breathe in her sweet strawberry scent.

The drive to the office is filled with Marcus trying to make plans for them both to go ‘mate hunting’ tomorrow. Marcus had come to the conclusion that because he’d been out most weekends looking and hadn’t found her, that she must go out on weeknights instead. I had to chuckle at his eagerness, but it made me happy that he’d been able to get over Talula and move forward. And it was the perfect distraction for Aurelia as she spent the entire journey laughing away. 

When we pull into the garage I can feel her tense up. “You ok, baby?” She nods and tries to duck her head out of sight. I place my fingers under her chin and lift her head to look at me. “You’ll be fine, baby. You are wonderful, and everyone is going to love you.” “Or he’ll kill them.” Marcus adds in, eagerly. I glare at him but she softly laughs and I can’t help but smile at her. “I don’t want people to like me because I’m your mate. I want them to like me for me.” I nod in understanding. “Ok baby, then I will introduce you as my assistant and I promise to be professional when we’re around other people, how does that sound?” She grins, nodding before quickly kissing me on the lips. “Thank you.” 

We head to the elevator with her hand wrapped in mine. Marcus leads the way talking excitedly about how ‘awesome’ it’s going to be having the office next to her. I groan softly. It was going to be like having an office next to two school kids with these two. Next to my office was Aurelia’s. It was attached through a door so she could come in and out easily. Next to that was Marcus’s office, and then Cruz’s. It was easier this way, it meant that nobody would eavesdrop on us or be in our way for anything we had planned. 

But before we get to our top floor, we need to go to reception to get Aurelia a pass. As the elevator comes to a stop, I let go of Aurelia’s hand and we all walk out of the doors to reception. I smile at the blonde working behind reception. She’d been here for a few years now, but I honestly had no idea what her name was. We rotate receptionists on shifts and this one was one of my least favourites. She was always so pushy and in your face, and I’d made it my mission to avoid her as much as possible while here. I had been no angel before Aurelia, but I had a few rules, and one of those was never to get involved with anyone from work. Which now sounded crazy, considering I’d brought my mate along to be my assistant. “Good morning. This is my assistant, Aurelia. Would you please make a pass for her? Marcus has already emailed a photo through.” 

She nods and types away on her computer. “I’m sorry sir, I didn’t know that you were looking for an assistant. Is this a trial basis?” I had been doing my best to try and keep my eyes off Aurelia, but it was proving difficult. I turn my head slightly to face the receptionist. “No. This is not a trial basis.” She nods as the printer comes to life. I look down at Aurelia who has her eyebrow raised. I follow her gaze to the receptionist who is staring at me and try to hold my smirk in. Was Aurelia jealous of this girl?

“Here you go, sir. Can I do anything else for you? Would you like a coffee? Maybe some breakfast?” I open my mouth to answer her but get beaten by Aurelia who snatches the pass. “Thank you...” She pauses and looks down at the receptionist’s shirt. “Samantha.. But my mate will not be needing anything that you offer. In future, you may hand me my pass directly. Good day.” She grabs my hand and pulls me off and I swear I can hear Marcus snickering behind us. I pull her gently towards the elevator.

“You okay, baby?”

“Yes.”

“You sure?”

She huffs as we step into the now open elevator doors and Marcus pushes for our top floor. 

“I don’t like her.”

I chuckle at how adorable she looks with her eyebrows scrunched together and her mouth in a thin line, showing how angry she is.

“Don’t laugh at me.”

“Sorry, baby. If it makes you feel better, I don’t like her either. Do you want me to sack her?”

“No. Just make sure she knows you’re mine.”

“So.. You DO want people here knowing I’m your mate now?”

“Yes. Make it clear. Very clear. Especially to the females.”

I chuckle as she squeezes my hand tighter and I pull her closer to me. “You are so much fun when you’re jealous, Aurelia.” Marcus grins from ear to ear and I shake my head at him. She just scowls and he holds his hands up in defence. Aurelia was the sweetest but at the same time, none of us wanted to get on her bad side.

The elevator bings for our floor, Marcus scurries off to his office ready for his first meeting while I pull Aurelia along to my office at the end of the floor first.

Aurelia POV

“This is your office?” I ask, awestruck. My earlier feelings of jealousy now disappearing. Liam had the most amazing office, and I had no idea why I thought he wouldn’t. The 2 walls were pure glass from floor to ceiling looking out across the city. He had drawers lining one of the inner walls that had a connecting door. There was a wooden desk with a large black chair behind it. Opposite the room he had a large grey sofa with a matching coffee table. Before I can start exploring, Liam pulls me along to the connecting door.

“This is your office. You can decorate it however you want.” I follow him excitedly through the door. The outside wall is floor to ceiling glass again. There is a large oak desk with a cream office chair and 2 cream chairs opposite. There’s a black sofa, a bookshelf and two cupboards and that’s all. But it’s actually perfect. I wouldn’t need anything else adding.. At least I don’t think I do. “Do you like it?” I look up to see Liam shifting between his feet, feeling anxious. I can’t help but chuckle at his nerves. “I love it. It’s perfect.” I walk over to him and stretch up to wrap my arms around his neck. He snakes his arms around my waist and pulls me up to kiss me gently. 

“Has the green monster been shut away again?” I blush and try to squirm away but he holds me tighter. “Aurelia.. I only see you.” A shy smile spreads across my face as he kisses my forehead. “I only see you too.” I breathe. It was true. Liam occupies my entire day, whether he’s with me or not. He’s the only one I want to see, to talk to, to laugh with, to spend my life with. He grins in response before gently putting me down on my feet. “Come on, let’s get to work. I’ll show you what needs doing.” I nod eagerly, following him back out to his office, grabbing a notebook and pen on the way.

“How’s my favourite Luna?” I look up from the pile of papers to see Marcus grinning at me. I raise an eyebrow at him. “I’m your only Luna.” He pretends to think it over and then shrugs before taking a seat opposite my desk. “Can I help you?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at him. He pretends to act hurt, gasping at me and I can’t help but let out a small smile. “I thought I’d fetch you these to share with me..” He opens up a small box I didn’t see he had and the smell of freshly baked doughnuts fills the room. “Ohh, Marcus!” I can feel my grin spreading from ear to ear as he puts the box on the desk and throws a whole one in his mouth. I shake my head at him and his wolfish manners while I take a bite of one. I let out a small moan as I bite into it, with all the jam filling my mouth. “Oh Marcus, this is amazing. You are amazing. You can come in here everyday.” I moan as the fresh doughnut fills my mouth.

A few seconds later and Liam walks in with his eyebrows furrowed and eyes glaring looking between us both. Marcus is laughing away with tears in his eyes while I look between them both confused, until the realisation dawns on me what this must have sounded like. I blush and then burst out laughing with Marcus as well. Liam just looks between us both shaking his head and letting out a sigh before lifting me up to sit on my seat, and then sitting me back down on his lap. I smirk at him as I finish off the last piece of my doughnut. 

“So, all done here today, boss? Bosses.. Wait. Is Aurelia my boss now too.. Or because she’s your assistant.. Does that mean she’s my assistant too?” I look at Marcus who’s thinking through both details and shake my head. “She’s my assistant. Your boss.” Liam warns him and I grin, triumphantly at Marcus. “I’m always the boss, Marcy.” He scowls but nods in defeat, grabbing another doughnut. “I just have one last email to send. What about you, baby?” He asks. I look at the pile of paperwork I had been going through. “I just need to pop those into a folder to finish organising and I’m done.” He nods as I pick up another doughnut and start to eat it. “Well, I’ll go tidy up in my office then and meet you both down by the car in 15?” We both nod to Marcus and he grabs another doughnut off the desk before leaving.

“So. Do you like it here?” He asks me. I nod and go to take another bite of my doughnut when Liam grabs my wrist and pulls it towards him taking the remainder of doughnut in his mouth. I narrow my eyes at him and he just grins with a mouthful while trying to swallow it all. I shake my head and lean forward to wipe some of the jam from the corner of his mouth. “You boys are such animals when you eat. Honestly.” I shake my head in disapproval before he grabs my finger and licks off the jam, smirking at me. I roll my eyes at him and reach over to the napkins.

“So, does this mean you’ll work here with me full time?” He asks, and I can hear the hope in his voice. I shake my head though. “I’m still needed at the hospital at the moment. I’ll be working there 1 day a week, and I’ll work here with you then too.” He mulls it over and nods. “Ok, well I only need to be in the office 3 days a week.. So we’ll come here for those 3 days, you can have 1 day in the hospital.. And that leaves us with 3 days just me and you every week, baby.” His eyes light up at the thought and I can’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy. “And the pack, of course.” I add in, remembering that the jobs of being Alpha and Luna are a lot more hard work than I thought they would be. Luckily Cruz and Marcus are amazing, as is Clara-Jane and they significantly reduce the work we have to do.

Liam nods before kissing my cheek. “Don’t you like being Luna?” I turn to face him and grin. “I love it. I love our pack.” He smiles back and looks out through one of the windows. “Me too.” I lean my head against his, wondering what he’s thinking about. I can see all the memories of us walking around the pack house, the grounds, having food together, playing with the pack children. It all looked like the perfect movie. I pull back and smile, holding onto the collar of his perfectly white shirt. “I love you, baby.” I grin at his words and kiss his nose. “I love you too, Casanova.” He chuckles, shaking his head before lifting me up and heading back to his office. “We’re meeting Marcus down at the car in 10.” He calls over his shoulder and I hurry to get all of the paperwork filed away ready for me to finish organising tomorrow.

Liam POV

I’m stood in the doorway, watching Aurelia tidy up her desk and leave her to-do list out. She looked amazing, way too amazing to be my assistant. She could run this place. A warm feeling spread through my body as I watched the woman who would be mine forever, grab her handbag and flash me a smile as she walks towards me, taking my hand. “What are you thinking about?” She asks. I look down at her innocent face, always wanting to know what everyone’s thinking. I think about showing her but lifting her up to my forehead would only result in us getting sidetracked with her in my arms. 

“I was thinking about how beautiful you look. And how you look far too amazing to be called my assistant.” She smiles sweetly at me as we stand outside the elevator doors, waiting for them to open. “Well, you know what they say. Dress for the job you want, not the one that you have.” She winks at me as she steps into the elevator. I follow after her, gently laughing to myself. “So, what’s the job you’re dressing for?” I ask. She turns to face me, with a sly grin on her face. “Your job, of course. I’ll be CEO one day.” My mouth drops as the elevator doors open and she walks out to where Marcus is waiting for us.

“What’s up with you?” He asks and I realise I probably still look dumbfounded. I try to laugh it off but Aurelia beats me to it. “I told him I’m gonna have his job one day, I’ll be CEO.” Marcus’s eyebrows rise up so far I think they’ll come off his face and then he spirals into a loud laugh that fills the whole garage as we get to the car, making me groan.

“You got yourself a real fire cracker here, Alpha.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Ah, you know she’s kidding. She’ll be CEO somewhere though.”

I mull the thought over of her being CEO somewhere. In a couple of years she’d probably gain a whole lot of knowledge from my company, and then she could use it to run her own. 

“Hey. I was only joking.”

I turn to face her worried face and smile warmly at her.

“You’ll be a CEO, baby. Let’s just hope it’s not in my place.”

She smiles and bites her bottom lip.

“I’ll always be wherever you are. You’re my home.”

Her words throw me. She’s not sweet very often, she’s usually full of sass and fire. But when she’s sweet, my heart always feels like it grows to be that little bit bigger. Until her, I’d doubted I even had a heart. Sure, I loved my family and my sister. But nobody else. Until her. She had changed me completely. She’d mellowed me out, made me feel things I never knew existed and accepted me. I had a feeling this is why the Moon Goddess chose us together. Because I hope, our mating, has meant that I’ve given her the strength to stand up for herself, to be the strong woman I know she is. And that her father will never beat her spirit.

“Can we go for a walk after dinner?”

“Of course, baby. Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere. Crimson is just desperate to get out for a walk or a run.”

I nod in agreement. Theodore had been on my case recently too. He was missing Crimson. 

The drive home ends up being slower than normal what with endless traffic and roadworks. And Theodore was getting more and more impatient. Hearing he was about see Crimson had gotten him all excited.. And now he was desperate to shift and see her. Wolves are our whole reason for the mating bond, and them two hadn’t spent as much time together as me and Aurelia, and I was starting to feel guilty about it. It seemed that one thing after another just happened for us and time would disappear.

When we pull up, Marcus walks with us to the kitchen where Jordan had made  us fresh pizzas. Aurelia had a cheese one, while me and Marcus had meat feasts. Aurelia has the weirdest fascination with cheese. Even Jordan was surprised by it. She wants it on everything, which just makes us all laugh, considering we were all meat orientated. “I just need to change into something comfier.” Aurelia says across the table while finishing up the last slice of her pizza. Jordan collects our dishes and we head upstairs. Climbing the stairs in front of me, she spends time swaying her ass from left to right. I try to ignore it.

“You better ignore it. It’s my turn.”

Theodore growls in my head. I shake my head and slap her ass the next time she does it. “I swear Aurelia, I will throw you over my shoulder if you carry on.” She spins around smirking at me. I shake my head at her. “If you carry on, Theodore is going to come out. And you know he’s not as pleasant.” She scowls at me, putting her hand on her hip refusing to move while Theodore growls. I sigh and lean down slightly to throw her over my shoulder. She squeals and tries to sliver out but she’s got no chance. That’s when it reminds me about Antonio. 

“Baby..?” She huffs in response and I try to hold in my laugh. “Antonio has been nagging me to let you train, if you..” “YES!” She squeals, squirming around excitedly. “You didn’t even let me finish.” I pout, tossing her onto the bed as we walk in. She grins and jumps up, rushing into the closet to change into some joggers and a vest before running back to me. She jumps mid air and my reflexes are tested again as I catch her. “One day I’m not going to be able to catch you.” I warn, but she just dismisses me with her hand waving around. “You’ll always catch me.” Of course, she’s right. I always would. 

Aurelia POV

“So, who am I training with?” I ask, bouncing with excitement as we walk out of the pack house and into the forest. Liam looks pained at the thought, with his eyebrows furrowing and his forehead full of creases. “What’s wrong?” I ask, stopping us. He sighs and tugs my hand along again to keep walking. “I don’t want you training.. I don’t want to see you hurt.” I shrug it off. “I used to be one of the best fighters in my old pack.” He raises his eyebrow at me which makes me scowl. “I’m serious. I have Alpha blood, I was the only Alpha daughter, and I have 2 older brothers. Plus a father who hated me. Of course I can fight. I’m probably better than some of your warriors.” He nods but refuses to look at me, making me huff. 

He pulls us to a stop in a clearing and starts undressing. As he leans down to take his socks off I jump onto his back and hook my arms onto his shoulders. “I promise to be very careful.” He reaches behind to grab hold of me and swivels me around his body. I try to avoid thinking how his upper body is naked right now and how strong his muscles all feel through my clothes. “I just don’t want you hurt. I’ll always protect you, and I don’t want you to ever have to fight.” I smile at him, he was always so caring, and sweet. “And I want to be able to protect you, just incase something ever happens.” I lean up to give him a gentle peck but he deepens it, pushing his tongue into my mouth.

I swoon at the taste of pizza in his mouth mixed with his delicious hot cross bun smell. I wrap my arms around his neck, trapping him from leaving. I wanted this kiss to last forever.

“Please, stop. I want to see Theodore.”

Crimson pleads with me, making me sigh. I try to pull away from Liam but he just follows me. After a few attempts he finally releases me, pouting. “Crimson?” He asks. I nod, laughing. “Theodore is the same. Come on, let’s get changed and let them have their fun so I can get back to you.” I cup his face, giving him one last quick peck before hopping down out of his arms and stripping off. The shifting was still painful, but each try was getting easier. When we shift, I look over to see Liam’s massive wolf staring at me. 

“You’re so beautiful, baby. And all mine.”

I walk over to him and nuzzle into his neck. 

“I love you.”

“I love you too, baby girl.”

He licks my face before we both let our wolves take over. Crimson thanks me and in no time at all I’m pushed to the back of my mind and let her take over to spend time with Theodore. I was mentally drained from all the paperwork, and so I was grateful for a chance to shut off.