CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

The news spread in the quarters. In less than an hour, everyone knew that Samantha Murphy - Nathaniel Woods's right-hand woman and the iciest person ever - was in Renato's room, taking care of him.

The pack felt - at first - threatened, then - dumbfounded, and - finally - relieved she seemed to be on their side. Since Renato was her mate, she wasn't there to hurt them but to be with him... Hopefully.

They suspected that hormones had killed her brain cells, but no one dared say it out loud. After all, even though stupidly in love, she was still a strong wolf.

Even Renato wasn't sure how he felt about that. He knew she had abandoned her pack, even though he couldn't understand why. But why stay with him? He didn't know, but he wouldn't have wasted that chance for anything in the world.

He had spent a while on the bed, resting to the best of his capabilities. He had to recover soon, which meant laying down and doing nothing was his duty. He had more than one reason for that: starting from getting his pack back in shape. To how he had Samantha so close but was too weak to think about anything more complex than playing more damaged than he was just so she could pamper him.

She was done showering; the water wasn't running anymore. He guessed she was drying her hair or rubbing her body before getting dressed, but he couldn't get up to check because he had to... rest!

«Oh,» he groaned, annoyed. Being wounded had just a few perks and so many disadvantages.

He couldn't wait to be able, again, to overturn his mate on the bed and do all the wicked things on his list of wishes.

But he had to heal. With that thought, he closed his eyes and focused on anything other than Samantha, even though it was difficult with her scent in his room and her probably naked body in his bathroom.

Were a few steps so dangerous, after all?

He resisted until she opened the door, and the aroma of his shampoo flew inside the room. He didn't have many lotions: just the basics. Samantha must have had trouble managing her long hair and the care a woman would put on her skin.

Still, she didn't complain. She had wrapped her blonde locks in a towel, and her legs were bare under the grey t-shirt.

Oh, so much for wanting to rest! He had really, really done his best. It wasn't his fault if that tempting devil knew how to make him lose his mind...

«I'm tired,» she said, reaching the bed and sitting on it.

Renato was curious: which panties did she choose? He could just reach out and check those still in the drawer. Or he could raise the t-shirt just enough.

However, something deep inside him told him not to. He could survive not knowing... And he could hope it was revealed to him by sheer luck.

«Tired?» he asked. «What have you done while you were out?»

«I didn't hit anyone!» she defended herself. «I've done nothing, literally. But I'm tired.»

«You took care of me.»

«You're not that challenging,» she chuckled. «Don't take me wrong: you were a good patient! For sure, you haven't tired me out.»

«Then, what is it?»

«I don't know.»

«Maybe, it's stress. This place isn't your home; it wouldn't be weird if you couldn't relax.»

«Maybe,» she said, shrugging.

She lay down next to him, almost not noticing how she accepted his arm as a pillow.

«But it's weird. I really, really did nothing...»

Her eyelashes flickered while slumber took over.

«Ear,» Renato said.

«No, I'm tired now. And you're a patient. We can play another time.»

«I don't want to play. It just feels calming to see your wolf ears. So white, Mine. It makes me want to pat your head.»

«You're lucky you didn't do that yet.»

«Yes? Why so?»

«You would have earned a punch.»

«I see... But if you hit me, I might get angry at you.»

«How angry?» she wondered. «And what would be the consequences?»

«Oh, you wouldn't like it.»

«Like?»

«No sex for a while. You don't know me too well yet, but I'm stubborn.»

«I figured,» she pouted. «Stubborn like a bull. But you're telling me that you wouldn't have sex for how long? Isn't that hard on you too?»

«Oh, I'm sure it would be interesting,» he laughed.

«I won't hit you,» she said.

«That's good. It would be unfair. I'm just a poor, weak wolf. You can't use your power on me, right?»

«What the heck?» she murmured.

«I can't beat an Alpha, Mine. It would be unfair!»

«Oh, okay,» she sighed, rolling her eyes. «I won't hit you. And you won't pat my head. I am not a dog.»

«I know. But you're cute when you listen to me; it's hard to resist.»

«What's gotten into you, all of a sudden?» she asked, lifting her head just a few seconds, enough to observe his face in search of hints. Seeing none, she leaned back on him.

«I don't know... But I'd like to see your ears?»

«Why?»

«Just curious.»

«Curious?» she said.

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She made the mistake of looking at him, and she saw his black ears peeking in between even blacker locks. Oh, goodness...

«This is better,» Renato said, all proud. «Now, tell me again what happened out there. Did you hit someone?»

«No,» she said. «I've told you!»

«Oh, that's right... So, did you get in trouble?»

«No.»

«What have you done?»

«Nothing. Your friends had a little problem, and I helped them solve it. That's all. No fighting involved.»

«Hmm, this is a lie,» he considered. «You didn't hit anyone, but there definitely was fighting... Someone else fought?»

«Exactly.»

«And how did you solve it without fighting? With words?»

«Exactly!» she exclaimed, her ears upright.

Renato shook his head. She was speaking the truth, but it was so confusing... He had to wait for someone else to tell him, apparently.

It was almost dinner time. The perfect chance to get out and meet the others... As long as the pack had enough cohesion to organise the kitchens.