CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Lara helped Nate by collecting his clothes on one side. He turned back to human, not without uncertainty. He liked being in his wolf shape if Lara petted him like that.

But, in the end, he liked more what he could do as a human, for her.

He dressed again and sat next to her on the ground. She was wearing his jacket because the breeze had turned chilly and she felt cold. So, instead of sitting on it, she leaned the jacket on her shoulders.

«Shall we get back?» Nate offered, not willing to let her suffer a minute more.

He would have offered to hug her to warm her up, but somehow he felt better at the thought of his mate safe and in a protected place. He liked that thought more than he liked hugging her, somehow.

«What do we do now?» Lara said, getting comfortable on the sofa. They could take another late-night bath. Or just roll in bed till morning...

«We sleep,» said Nate after glancing at the clock. It was late; she must have been exhausted.

«S-sleep?» she stuttered, trying to hide her chuckle. «Wait, are you tired after transforming? Tell me more about it. I'm sure we have a lot to talk about.»

«Talk about?»

«Yes, we can chat a little,» she said. «I don't know, do you have anything to tell me?»

Her smile was shy, and Nate tilted his head confused. Why was she asking? He flinched, touching his pocket out of reflex. He had forgotten all about it because he had no plans to confess in the living room.

His hand didn't find the small box, so he touched around. He didn't find it so he had no choice but to stick his hand in the pocket. But still, nothing.

The box with the ring was gone.

His face lost colour, and every plan he could have shattered at that very moment.

Where was the ring? Had he lost it during the transformation? After?

Before, when they were still strolling in the city?

Was he still in time to trail back their movements and find the ring? He had touched it on the bridge, so he had it until that moment. Could he remember every step taken after that moment? Likely, he could.

«Wait, I'll be right back!» he said and turned his back to Lara.

He ran out, not letting her complaints stop him.

«Wait, Nate!» Lara said, but he didn't listen.

He closed the door behind his back, and she walked after him. However, when she reached the door, he had disappeared.

She walked back to the sofa and sat there, feeling awful for something she hadn't done on purpose.

«Oh, damn it,» she cursed. It was all her fault, but she didn't know it would end up like that!

She hadn't thought much, actually.

Meanwhile, Nate went back on their steps and checked every single centimetre of land. He even rummaged under the dead leaves but... nothing!

He even thought about asking at the police station, but who would deliver it there and not keep it for themself? Such a nice ring?

Did he have time to buy another one? But... without the pups? The one they had chosen was just perfect and everyone liked it.

What a pity he had lost it. He almost sobbed, considering his mistakes.

He should have left it home. He should have predicted he wouldn't propose that evening. But he had brought it along and forgot about it while turning.

He thought he had lost it there, while taking off or on the trousers, but he couldn't find it no matter how hard he searched.

With his clothes dirty from mud, dust, and things he didn't want to identify, he went back to the hotel. He opened the door and remembered he had left the phone there.

Lara was sitting on the sofa, where he had left her, with her shoulders bent and a worried expression.

He was a mighty Alpha no one could hurt so easily. He could see in the dark. He had shown her his transformation.

However, even though knowing all of that, she still found time to worry.

«Hey, Lara,» he said when she got up and watched him from head to toe.

She took a step to hug him, but he prevented her.

«I'll go take a shower first.»

«Just change clothes,» she said. «We can bathe in the pool.»

«I'm not... I'm not in the mood.»n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

«So, you'll rather avoid me instead of just telling me what's wrong?» she said.

«It's nothing grave, really. I'm just a little down. I lost something.»

«What is it? Maybe I can help,» she said, her lips curled in a gentle smile.

Every trace of guilt was lost at watching him react like that. In the end, it was lucky she did see it.

«It fell from your clothes,» she said while delivering a small velvet box. «I collected it from the ground and assumed it fell from the jacket. So, I put it in the pocket of your jacket. I didn't know it fell from your trousers.»

At first, Nate's face lit up with relief. Then, he realised Lara had discovered everything. And, finally, he had made a fool of himself.

Not only the surprise was ruined, but she would also think he was clumsy and couldn't be more careful with something as precious as an engagement ring.

«I haven't opened it,» she added. «Sorry for pretending as if nothing happened. I haven't seen you so worked up since the kidnapping.»

«I thought I messed up,» he confessed.

«No, you didn't mess up anything. I did.»

«I should thank you for pretending not to have noticed, though. Would you have also pretended to be surprised when I proposed?»

She shrugged. «Probably.»

«I feel so stupid, now.»

«Why?»

«I was discovered.»

She just chuckled.

«It isn't supposed to be a surprise, Nate. Maybe the exact moment, or the location... But the question is never a real surprise. I have to admit I wasn't expecting you to move so soon, but you have been in a weird mood today.»

Oh, he had been discovered even earlier than he thought.