Chapter One

Max POV

I’m not even supposed to be working tonight. Levi owes me big time for covering this shift for him. It’s absolutely packed in here tonight. We always knew that running a restaurant right on the packs boarder would be a great cash flow injection, but I don’t think any of us expected it to be quite this successful.

As the packs Alpha I’m usually only here when we have any large bookings or functions, the workload without the restaurant is already obnoxious so it really just adds to the overflowing plate. That’s what happens when your pushing close to 30 and still without your Luna I guess. I really thought I would have found my fated mate by now. Every opportunity I’ve had to venture into any other pack or attend gatherings, I’ve been there but she hasn’t. The pressure to take a chosen mate is mounting from my pack, but just like my fated mate. Any female I could consider spending my life with continues to elude me.

“We just got a request for a last minute booking Alpha, table of 4?” I look around the restaurant. It’s nothing too fancy but its still nice. Clusters of tables are set out amongst the main area, with the kitchen in the centre. Clients love being able to see our chefs work their magic on their plates. Our function room is over at the back, two big glass doors separate it from the main part of the restaurant.

“Just pop them in the function room, open it up for any walk ins as well” Isaac nods and returns back to the phone call. I ponder back to the front of house and continue checking in customers and escorting them to their tables, and settling bills. Suddenly I hear a loud crash and raised voices in the kitchen. I whip my head around to see two of our Chefs in a very loud and visible disagreement. I sigh as I head of to the kitchen to sort it out. Motioning for Isaac to man the front.

“It was an accident im sorry”

“Your always having accidents. How you still even have a job here is beyond me”

“Im sorry, it wont happen again”

“It better not, or it will be your job” Zeke snaps at the younger chef, I’ve not seen her here in the restaurant before but I know she is a pack member. Still in high school. I clear my throat from the door as they both spin around to face me.

“Quite a lot of attention you’ve drawn to the kitchen for a dropped bowl of salad” I eye the smashed bowl and remnants of a ceaser salad on the floor at the young chefs feet.

“Sorry Alpha, I wasn’t watching where I was going. I walked into the back of Chef Zeke and the bowl slipped out of my hands” I nod.

“Happens to the best of us” I eye Zeke and raise an eyebrow. He is well aware that scare tactics is not how I run things around here or in the pack. I might have the final say but I like to think my pack follow my lead with some level of freedom rather than being dictated. He turns away from my gaze, clear that my unspoken message was heard. As I turn to head back to the front door I am suddenly hit by the most delicious smell. A mix of vanilla and rose hits my nose and my whole body goes stiff. My attention is suddenly drawn to the front of the restaurant. Standing there is a group of 4 girls, but my eyes are only on one.

Standing towards the back is the most beautiful brunette I have ever seen. Her hair drops down past her shoulder blades, hanging in loose curls. She was taller than the others, standing around 5”9 with legs for days. She’s definitely got curves in all the right places, my mind is racing.

“We called earlier, a table of 4” One of the girls says to Isaac. He nods and gestures towards me, “Max here can show you to your table” My eyes flash over to him and then back to the girl as I drag myself out of my trance.

“Right this way” I gesture my arm out signalling for them to follow my direction as I turn towards the function room.

“Oooooh fancy” the first girl says again. I smile politely as I look back towards the group. She is still following along behind the other 3 girls. She doesn’t look like she wants to be here at all. I can smell the salt from tears that have fallen from her eyes. I don’t even know her name but I’m already infuriated that something had upset her.

“Isaac will be over to take your orders shortly” I need to text Levi right now. I’m pretty sure that leggy brunette is my mate, but I’m also pretty sure she is human. I glance over at her again, suddenly she lifts her gaze meeting my eyes. Her piercing blue eyes look incredibly sad, almost heart broken. She doesn’t hold my gaze for long. Quickly turning her attention to the menu in front of her slowly flipping through the pages.

I turn on my heels and quickly walk towards my office, I pull my phone on out my pocket and text Levi

Max: I need to talk to you ASAP

Levi: Oh come on man, you said you could cover for me tonight. What have they done on my one Friday night off?

Max: I think I found her

Levi: You fucking what?!? I’ll be there in 15

I slide the phone back into my pocket and unlock my office doors. As soon as I sit down at my desk I pull up the security cameras in the function room. She’s still aimlessly flipping through the menu. The other girls she is with are chatting and laughing but she seems completely disconnected. I just sit and stare at the screen like an absolute fucking creeper while I wait for Levi to come. I’ve waited for this moment my entire life, and now it right here in front of me and I have absolutely no idea what to do. I can’t just go up to her and be like, hey your destined to be my mate for life wanna get outta here? I’d be locked up in a heartbeat.

“Oi, what are you doing? Where is she?” Levi bounds into the office looking around. Confused that I would be sitting away in the office when I’d found my mate. I gesture at the screen as Levi comes around the back of the desk beside me

“Who is that?”

“My mate, she’s fucking human”

Levi’s eyes go wide at he looks between me, the screen and the door of the office. I know he knows exactly what I’m thinking. Not only does this mean I have to woo her the old fashion way without any help from the mate bond. If anyone else found out about her she wouldn’t be able to protect herself against an enemy pack. Killing an Alpha’s fated mate, especially an unmated alpha of my age would almost seal the fate of a pack.

“What’s her name?”

I shrug “None of them said and I didn’t ask”

Levi rolls his eyes “God you’ve got no game do you old man?” I punch him in the arm “I’ve got plenty of game thankyou very much” He snorts knowing that he was right. I’ve never been into dating, I bailed to the office because without the mate bond I had no idea how to talk to her.

“I got this” I glance up at him, “What are you doing Levi?”

He smirks at me as he walks out of the office “Getting her name” he calls over his shoulder.