CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

«What are you doing here?» Nate asked. He was holding Lara's hand, protectively standing a step in front of her.

He was staring at the other woman, Ebony Mitchell. She had appeared out of nowhere, made his wife shake in fear and his friends have a marriage crisis. She better had a hell of a reason to be there.

«I had a dream,» Ebony replied. She didn't look frightened by the Alpha's appearance, but she knew he was dangerous and getting angry.

«You went far away from home because of a dream? What kind of dream makes people wander in other people's territory?»

«Not to mention I crossed Mayford while coming here,» she sighed. «I was expecting trouble, but their Alpha ignored me.»

«They have more pressing issues than you.»

«Yeah, I know. They didn't even notice I was there, but they're doing so good. Why couldn't they sense a stranger wolf close to their home?»

«They are having some issues with the pack.»

«No, they are not,» she chuckled. «My parents would say they had low cohesion and risked disbanding every now and then. But they're a strong pack... Now that I've felt it by myself, I can go back home and tell my parents they were wrong. Mayford isn't going to disappear anytime soon! Have they found an Alpha female?»

«Well... Rather than an Alpha female...» Nate murmured.

At the same time, Lara sighed, relieved.

«They're all right!» she exclaimed. «I'm glad!»

«Why?» Ebony asked, curious. Not just Nate Woods wasn't growling at the mention of the Mayford pack, but his mate would feel happy they were doing all right.

«They don't have an Alpha female... Rather, a female Alpha,» Nate explained.

«Does she have a mate?»

«Yes, she does.»

«So, that's it. A pack is more stable when there's a couple guiding it. A lonely wolf needs to struggle more to make it work. Am I right, Alpha Woods? You know very well how hard it is, don't you?»

Nate nodded.

«But you found your mate. It's easier now, isn't it? She can do half of the work.»

Lara followed the exchange, trying to connect the dots. Had anything changed since she was here? Nate was as busy as when they had met a couple of months before. And the rest of the pack didn't seem any different to her. She did solve a couple of things, from time to time... Rather than solve, she would talk with the others and help them find a solution on their own.

It was like teaching her cubs something new: she could explain, but they needed to understand on their own before being able to solve their problems.

She hadn't done much, not enough for Nate to feel any difference.

«You're right,» he said, though. «It's so much easier.»

«You are lucky,» Ebony told Lara. «Not every human woman has enough sensitivity to deal with a pack. But the Moon Goddess blessed you. You're fit for this pack, and your soul will rest better among wolves than humans.»

«What do you mean?» Lara said, even more confused.

«You don't know it? Haven't you noticed already? How long are you together? Years?»

«No, we... We just met,» Nate said. «Except once, six years ago. But it was just once, and we didn't even tell each other's names. It doesn't count.»

«Hmm? But you two have been linked since then. Something must have happened when you met, and your souls recognised each other. Isn't it right?»

She turned to Lara and bit her lips, looking for the right words not to alter that threatening Alpha in between them.

«You are part of this pack,» she added. «Isn't that alone enough to unsettle a human woman? But you're different. And the link with your mate... The Moon Goddess blessed you to feel it. Alpha Woods is as lucky as to have a responsive mate, someone who won't be deaf to the depth of his feelings.»

«I don't know what you mean, but okay,» Lara commented.

It reminded her of what some fake mages or gurus would say. Depth of feelings, sensitivity... She had no time for that with a pack to know and her kids to take care of.

«I mean... You do know that your attraction isn't just that, right?» Ebony continued. «It's more than that; almost feral. I can't imagine how confusing it could be to you. I'm glad you two solved it, though! It's easier to accept than fight it, but human women know how to be...

complicated.»

«Ac-accept?» Lara stuttered.

Something deep in her stomach started hurting. She grabbed Nate's shirt and pulled him back as if wanting to get far from imminent danger, dragging him to safety with her.

However, nothing happened. Why did she feel as if death was approaching, as if she had no choice but to run away?

«Oh,» Ebony hummed when she saw her reaction. «You did not solve it at all. What a pity. I thought you were okay, but... How long did you say you met?»

«T-two months,» Nate said, delicately hugging Lara and caressing her back.

She hadn't started hyperventilating, which meant she was still in control... sort of. He was still in time to prevent her from having a full panic attack. If only he knew how!

«And what kind of couple goes from meeting to living together and sharing their destiny in two months?» Ebony continued, waking Nate from his thoughts.

That woman was right. As much as he hated admitting it; as much as he wanted to bite her throat off just so Lara wouldn't be any more afraid... She was right.

To wolves, two months were quite the period for dating. Only affairs as complicated as Samantha's would require that much! But for humans?

They were used to years of knowing each other before making a decision. At that very moment, he regretted his hurry. He should have never mentioned marriage in front of Lara. Not until he was sure they were on the same wavelength.

«I'm an idiot,» he whispered. All of a sudden, everything made sense.