CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

The pack had cohesion.

Renato couldn't help but stare in confusion. He had left them that same morning with tons of issues to solve, yet the pack seemed to be functioning somehow. And, most of all, without a leader?

«Hey,» he said, turning to Samantha, «what did you say happened before? You talked your way out of a fight?»

«Yes!» Samantha nodded, smiling content. It was obvious that she was turning things around.

She hadn't said words of peace. That was sure.

«So, how do you find them?»

«Who?»

«My friends,» he said. «The other guards and the wolves in the pack, in general.»

«They're nice,» she said. «I was expecting worse.»

«Like big, dark wolves with inelegant manners and impolite to the core?»

«That's how you are,» she said, nodding. «But you're not evil. Not all of you.»

«You know, the fact that our packs are enemies doesn't mean we're bad people. Especially because it's a matter between our Alphas.»

«Was abducting Nate's family something between the Alphas?» she said, laughing sarcastically. «Luciano Polenta didn't kidnap the kids on his own. Other wolves helped.»

«I know,» Renato said. «That's right. But not all of them knew about it.»

«You did.»

«Only after it was done. But the others don't know about it. They think Woods attacked just because he's evil.»

«That's unfair!» Experience exclusive tales on m v|l e-NovelFire

«I know, but... We needed this to keep the pack in check.»

«We?»

«Well, the Alpha needed it.»

«So, you weren't involved in the kidnapping?»

«No, I was with you.»

«He sent you to keep me busy!»

«No one sent me. I just happened to need you so much that I couldn't stop myself from looking for you...»

«And how did you find my apartment? Were you following me? Did you make someone investigate?»

«No... I didn't know it. I just followed my heart and found you.»

«You sound like the hero of a romance novel. Following your heart? Don't make me laugh!»

He shook his head, showing her the door to the central bar. Theirs surely wasn't as fancy as the one in Norwich, but they weren't in the condition to choose another place. And Samantha hadn't ever complained about unfancy places before. Even shabby motels were okay for her.

«It's normal for mates,» he said. «We can feel each other.»

«Wait... Can we? For real?»

Oh, she thought she was feeling him when she had come to Mayford. She also followed her heart, in some sense... But it had never happened before, and Renato was in danger.

«So, it's real?» she asked. «All that talk about mates' connections... Is it true?»

«Yes, it is. Mates can feel each other... Wait, don't you feel me?»

He pouted, unhappy.

«Not always,» she said.

«I can't always feel you either, and I thought the talks about it were overstatements... But lately, I'm starting to wonder...»

«About what?»

«It could be related to you... To your condition. Maybe that's the reason it comes and goes. But I always know how to make it work when I need it!»

Proud and mighty, he nodded his head. He could find his mate wherever in the world. He just needed a valid reason to look for her.

«But why can't I?» she wondered. Was it related to her inability to keep her ears in check?

«I can't always feel it. But, every time I focus, I know where you are,» he said. «It might be the same for you. Maybe you haven't focused on me yet.»

«That's not it,» she said. «It might be a little more com

«You can't manage your shape. You don't sense your mate, and, as far as I could witness, you don't have complete control over your powers.»

She sighed, even more distraught. Why was all of that happening to her? Wasn't a single weakness enough?

«It must be tough to be a strong wolf.»

«How do you know about my powers?» she asked. «About losing control and all. I thought I was good at controlling and hiding it.»

«You are, in fact. You gave yourself away the night at the motel. When fried chicken made you a little too excited. You pushed me back, and I realised.»

«That I was an Alpha?»

«That you were stronger than me. At that time, I found out about this only.»

«Oh, that must have hurt you if you didn't find out sooner,» she said. «I thought it was pretty obvious.»

«Ah, Mine... I knew you were strong, but you used to hide your real capabilities.»

«And then? Or, is that all?»

«No, not all. You marked me, do you remember? And you don't know how it's done. That made me realise you don't have control. And, after that, it wasn't too difficult to find out about your nature. Even though I was confused every time you submitted in bed.

That is not what an Alpha would do, right? Until finding a solution to that as well.»

«Hey!» she murmured, crossing her arms.

They had just walked in, not yet staying in line. But they were already the centre of attention. Samantha hoped no one would be as impolite as to eavesdrop on something as embarrassing.

«I remembered that I'm your mate,» Renato said.

«So what?»

«Rules are different for mates. Even more when we talk about Alphas.»

She glared, but he couldn't help but laugh out loud. She was beautiful with that expression, and she confirmed all his theories.

Alphas acted different with their mate, and he hadn't thought about it because their case was a little distant from usual. Yet, Samantha would listen to him with so much attention, allowing him things that would have earned anyone else a punch.

It wasn't his charm alone doing the work. He knew well enough he didn't have enough of that. Even though it hurt his pride, he had to be sincere with himself before anyone else.

What he got from Samantha was a favoured treatment, and it felt so damn right that he was proud of it. He could have an Alpha wolf wrapped around his finger. He didn't know such a realisation could be so pleasant.