CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

The operations weren't done yet, but Nate let the team deal with it on their own. He had been called by the caretaker from the kindergarten, and he had a smaller crisis to solve.

He knew what was going on: the pups were jealous. Their mommy was playing with a bunch of kids and not with them exclusively; how could they not be heartbroken?

Also, the Black Moon was having some effect already. He needed to help them get out of the little depression they fell in before it became worse so that they could spend a nice evening all four together.

«If things get complicated, just wrap it up and forget,» Nate said. «It's just money, after all.»

He left the room and collected his things. He took Lara's coat as well, ready to go home. She had spent the whole afternoon in the kindergarten. With some luck, she was growing attached to the pups there.

If she started loving the members of the pack, she wouldn't have refused to be part of it. And the pups were the most likeable.

He just needed to convince his own kids to let her approach the others.

«Protective little beasts,» he murmured.

He crossed the door of the kindergarten, and he could feel most of the pups shivering. They knew he was there and that he was unhappy about something. He had to calm his emotions before entering one of the rooms. Those small things were easy to frighten.

He knew where Lara was, and curiosity won over worry. He opened the door, and he widened his eyes at that show. His mate was surrounded by babies, happily playing with them. Yet, as soon as he had appeared, the babies started crawling around her and trying to hide from him. They caught her clothes with their hands and turned away as if not seeing him meant not being seen.

He didn't know whether to feel annoyed by the hilarious show. They were frightened of him, for some reason, and they thought that being next to Lara was enough to feel safe. He could tell how their bodies weren't acting as if he was some huge threat anymore since the moment they had hidden behind Lara.

«Oh, Nate. Hello!» she said, smiling happily. «Look at them: so cute, right? I've also got to know Manager Cooper's daughter.»

«Ah, yes,» he remembered. That blonde girl was somewhere in that group. Hiding too well from him to notice her. «I'm glad you like the pups. They're still human, mostly.»

«I was supposed to visit the whole kindergarten, but then I was distracted,» she chuckled. «I've never been surrounded by many kids like this.»

«I guess you're likeable to wolves,» he shrugged.

How could she not be, by the way? Also, being his mate, she was the only person the others in the pack could go looking for when they had issues with him or feared his reaction.

«Seeing so many in the same place makes me want to have other kids,» Lara said out loud. «The twins were like this, I swear! Adorable and calm.»

At the word calm, the caretaker swallowed. She eyed Alpha Nate and attempted a shy smile. Yet, her nervousness was too visible.

«Let's have a word,» Nate said, pointing at the hallway with his head. «Thank you for calling me.»

«I'm sorry for disturbing you, Alpha.»

«You did the right thing. You know... The twins know how to be problematic. I can't understand what's going on in their heads right now, but I'm sure it'd be even harder to guess without knowing about this. Most likely, they're just jealous that their mother is playing with other pups.»

«Rather than jealousy... To me, it looked more like they were disappointed. Or, maybe, afraid? But does it make sense? The pups aren't dangerous for their mother.»

«It's not a matter of danger alone. Not in a conventional way,» Nate chuckled. «But how could you tell that something happened? Just by looking at their faces?»

«Their expressions were transparently showing their mood. Yet, children often have gloomy moments. I just felt like this was something different. I don't know why.»

«And what about Lara?»

«What?» the caretaker repeated, confused. «She just smiled at the twins and continued playing with the babies.»

Nate sighed. Lara, more often than not, was oblivious to the situation around her. Even just to date her, he had to say everything clearly. How could the twins think that just looking at her from afar was enough for her to understand something as complicated as a wolf's territoriality?

«Also, Miss Clayton is a nice person,» the caretaker added.

«Do you also feel the need to hug her as the kids do?»

«No, Alpha.»

Who in their right mind would ever admit something like that, even if it could be true? Alpha Nate was right there, watching her calmly. However, their Alpha was good at hiding his emotions, especially when they were turbulent.

«So, you don't feel like doing anything to get her attention? You don't want Lara to take care of you in some way?» he continued, genuinely interested in the reply.

«No, I don't.»

«But do you like her? A little?»

«I like Miss Clayton, of course!»

«Since the beginning?»

«I didn't know her very well in the beginning. But Lara Clayton has always been a careful mother. She would protect the pups while staying calm, and I've heard her tell them a couple of words of scolding when needed. I'm sure she will be a perfect Alpha female one day.»

«That day isn't that far, is it? The pack is already accepting her.»

He turned to the room where the kids were already back to playing. They would move their toys for Lara to see and smile when they got a pat and a few words of praise.

«Just like the pups, the rest of the pack is finally accepting her fully,» Nate continued. «It's true, especially close to the Black Moon.. Wolves don't lie in these times.»