CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

The plan had worked flawlessly, but the pack would have stayed in the base for the weekend at least. It was to prevent any accidents.

Also, Lara had cancelled her appointment with Doctor Mason, just in case, saying she had to skip a week. It was better to stay safe; her problems wouldn't run away. She would spend the next few days taking care of her family and the pack, paying attention to their mood swings.

Nate said it would be a difficult battle, so she was nervous. Oh, she was dead scared he would be hurt or worse! But she had to pretend to be unaffected, for the others. She had noticed a few stares at her: the other wolves would look at her, trying to deduce whether there was any reason to worry.

The kids were unresting, and not just the twins. Most of the wolves in the base weren't warriors or soldiers, and they would do small chores to keep themselves busy. No one was willing to sleep even if it was getting late.

When the warriors returned home, Lara sighed in relief and let her expression show all the worry she had tried to hide.

Nate was among the last to walk in, making her heart throb in the wait. She moved one step forward, intending to run in his arms, when two shadows were faster than her.

She looked down at the twins, shamelessly hugging Nate's legs.

«Daddy!» they were shouting, raising their arms and trying to get picked by him. «Daddy, you are back!»

Nate rose his brows and stared, confused. Did he have two affectionate children? He remembered two overprotective beasts, not those two cute little things trying to get his attention. He crouched in front of them and managed to pick them up both, one per arm.

They didn't even glance back at Lara while hugging him, their eyes closed, and their lips curled up.

«What does this mean?» he inquired, still curious.

«We missed you, daddy,» said Scarlet, pecking his cheek and hiding her face on his shoulder. She even bit him out of joy, but Nate was getting used to that.

Jaden, on the other hand, blushed. He pursed his lips and looked away, shy like only he could be.

«Hey, you ran to me like this, and now you pretend to be shy?» Nate laughed.

Since the boy didn't look back, Nate kissed his hair while walking away.

«Shall we go to sleep?» he wondered.

«I wanted to play with dad.»

«Yes, I also wanted to play with you.»

«This late?»

«It's not late,» Scarlet said. She pointed at the lights and added: «don't you see? It's so light! I can't be late if it's not dark!»

Jaden puffed, rolling his eyes. He was a big boy and had learned how to read a clock, so he knew it was very very late! So late that the clock was showing lunchtime again even though it was already night!

Still, he didn't contradict his sister. He stayed silent because he also wanted to play with his father. Only a little, though.

«I shall shower first; I smell of battle,» Nate chuckled. Even though he didn't do anything. Since Luciano Polenta was nowhere to be found, Nate had just walked in and out of the Mayford pack quarter.

«Daddy smells good,» Scarlet said. She even sniffed him, nodding approvingly to enforce her words.

Jaden seemed to agree, so the three reached the kids' room. They played together for a while until the twins' eyes started closing against their will. They stubbornly continued looking for something new to play with, using everything at their disposal as a way to stay awake and play with their father.

In the end, they just couldn't take it anymore.

Even Nate started yawning. After the battle, he wanted to rest a little. Yet, those little beasts didn't give him a second of rest. However, earlier than he thought, the pups' energy disappeared, and they leaned their heads on his lap and closed their eyes. They fell asleep on the floor, clinging to their father like they used to do with their mother.

«How did you resist for years with them? They have almost more energy than me...» he said, turning to the door.

Lara was standing there, leaning on the frame and smiling at the cute scene. She chuckled when her eyes met Nate's.

«I bet today is a special day. They've bitten their nails for hours until you came back. They missed you and were worried... It's no surprise they wanted to play with you.»

«Tomorrow, I won't work. I can play with them for the whole time... If they still feel like it,» he said. «But I was so surprised when they insisted, that I couldn't say no.»

«I understand you. They were acting cute, and they know it's hard to refuse them when they're cute.»

She picked up Scarlet and carried her to the kids' room, followed by Nate with Jaden. They settled the kids on the beds, making sure they were comfortable and warm. Then, they closed the door and walked away.

The base had limited space, so the twins had to share their room. Next to theirs, there was Lara's, and a few steps away, Nate's bedroom.

«Let's go,» Lara said, grabbing his hand and marching towards the doors.

«Your room?»

«Nope! Yours.»

«Ah, okay,» he hummed, following her as if enchanted.

«I haven't greeted you yet. I wanted to, but the twins were faster. You went away and played with them, completely forgetting about me!»

She was in a good mood, visibly. As much as to pretend to feel jealous.

«I can pay all the attention you want, now.»

«Awesome!» she exclaimed, opening the door.

Nate observed his room with a suspicious expression, but Lara dragged him inside before he could add anything else. Not that it was such a hard feat to lure him in.

He would have followed Lara into hell, let alone a comfortable and promising bedroom.