CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Lara and Nate called soon after breakfast. Samantha left the phone on speakers, and the twins ran to her to hear about their mommy. And check whether the dad was alive enough to protect their mommy.

«Mommy! Mommy!» Lara and Nate heard.

«What are you doing?» asked Jaden.

«Do you have enough food?» added his sister.

«Hey, you two!» Lara said with a warning tone.

«How are you daad?» said Jaden, clearly just because his mommy wanted him to. They hadn't heard any answer from their mommy yet but were already forced to talk with Nate.

«Are you feeding my mommy, daddy?» asked Scarlet. She, on the other hand, was actually interested.

Nate chuckled, and the parents could see the kids' questioning faces even though the phone. They could imagine them perfectly.

«Am I feeding you good food, Lara?» he asked.

«Sure!»

«Oh, good. You're doing well, daddy. My mommy is skinny and needs more food.»

«What are you talking about?» Lara inquired. Since when did her cubs worry about her being skinny or not?

«Oh, mommy, mommy! We have an uncle! He's tall and dangerous, but aunty Sam said not to be afraid,» Jaden explained. «He also told aunty to eat more so that she's not too skinny.»

«He made breakfast for us, mommy,» Scarlet added. «He's a little useful: he can make food for aunty and such. I like having an uncle.»

Nate and Lara exchanged a gaze, surprised their pups were happy about a man in their life. How come the dangerous, dark Renato Cannella had earned their trust in no time while Nate had needed to sweat?

Life was so unfair. Why could Cannella have Sam, but he couldn't have Lara all to himself?

«He's just a little clingy with aunty,» Scarlet said, whispering next to the phone. «But no one is perfect.»

«Hmm.» Lara hummed.

What in the world was happening there? Should they worry?

«And you two? Are you two clingy with your aunty?» she asked.

If the mate bond worked for everyone the same way, that poor man was being tortured by her cubs. She hadn't thought about that possibility, and it made her feel a little - just a little - guilty.

She exchanged a glance with Nate, but his expression was void of any worry. He seemed almost happy to hear his kids were causing trouble in Mayford.

«When are you coming back, mommy?»

«Hey, Jaden!» said Samantha, intruding in their familiar conversation. «Are you already tired of me?»

The little boy stood silent for a little while. Nate and Lara got closer to the phone to hear his reaction. The tension could have been cut with a knife. How would he get out of the situation?

«No, aunty! I love staying here with you. But I miss my mommy,» Jaden said. His voice was broken, his eyes probably filled with tears. «I will stay with aunty until tomorrow, right? Mommy said two days.

We can sleep together and wake up late!»

Lara's face lost colour while Nate started laughing. He turned away from the phone not to give himself away.

«Jaden, listen here,» Lara said, trying to save the situation. «You don't cling to your aunt during the night, pushing everyone else away. Do you?»

«What?» Scarlet said. «No! We just take a little space. Aunty is also so happy. Am I right, aunty?»

«Very much right!»

While Lara felt sorry for the trouble, Nate was as happy as a man could be. The little beasts were torturing Cannella to the point of pushing him out of bed, taking his place, and monopolising their dear aunty. Just the thought made him wish to take an extra day off!

But Lara was already panicking, trying to talk the twins out of taking every space for themselves. It was fine if they lay next to her; she was their mother. But with their aunt, they shouldn't take such confidence.

«Will you be good?» she asked after her nagging.

«Yes, mommy, we will,» the twins replied.

«Also, we won't cling on aunty Sam today,» Jaden pointed out. «She said we will meet other pups to play.»

«O-other pups? Is it okay?»

«Yes, mommy. Aunty said we'll have fun.»

«Samantha, is it really okay?» Lara asked.

«Don't worry, I'll be there and keep the situation under control. They just need kids their age to play with,» Samantha explained. «And if something happens, I'll just carry them away. Is that okay?»

«It's fine, but I'm worried. They can be a little difficult to deal with, Samantha. I don't want you to sweat after them. That's all.»

«I'll be there in any case. I'm not leaving them alone with pups of a rival pack. But they're too small to feel rivalry. It will be all right!»

«Okay, but don't feel too bad if your rosy plans turn out different in reality, Samantha. Kids are unpredictable sometimes.»

«It's the perfect chance for me to train. I'll also have to deal with an Alpha's pup, Lara.»

«Oh, that's right. I'm not sure whether to congratulate or warn you that it'll be a lot of work. Either case, it will be worth it.»

«I know,» Samantha said. Her voice was calm and tender, and they heard the door opening in the distance.

«You ready for the tour?» Lara and Nate heard in the background. «Oh, sorry. You're on the phone.»

«We're talking with our mommy, uncle,» Scarlet said. Her voice lowered in tone, which meant she walked away from the phone. «I had to check whether daddy was becoming useless again. But he said he will feed mommy!»

At her words, Nate's laughter stopped and was replaced by coughing. Since when would his daughter prefer a stranger to him like that? Why would she say harsh words in front of Cannella of all people? That was not fair. Not at all.

However, he didn't say anything. His heart hurt too much to find any reply. His daughter could be heartless just as much as she could be tender.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om