CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Lara dialled Nate's number and waited a couple of seconds only before he answered. She felt a little guilty for making him worry. And also for the trouble they were all getting in a few more minutes.

How did the press even find her?

«I'm... I'm in trouble, Nate. I don't know what to do.»

She had pressed the digits of his number by instinct, even though she thought she didn't know it by heart. But, somehow, she did. She had him saved on the phone, of course, but her fingers didn't have time to look for him that day.

She was in such a deep crisis that all she did was out of instinct. That realisation scared her even more... Was that part of what Ebony had said? Was she also in part wolf, in her soul? Giving birth to pups and having a wolf mate meant she also could feel part of what they felt?

She didn't know how to handle it. Part of her would be so happy she could be part of the pack. But the louder bits of her being were in total fear, terrified by something she didn't know possible.

«Where are you? I'll come to pick you up!» Nate said. She heard the sound of his chair. He had got up and was already storming out of his office - even slamming the door.

«Maybe it's better to send someone else. There's a lot of press outside. I want to go home, but they don't let me pass. How do celebrities run away from them?»

«I will be there in a minute! Just tell me the address.»

Only then did Lara remember where she was. At the address of a psychologist. That would end up in every tabloid: Nate Woods was dating a crazy woman.

Also, Nate would know it.

«I-it's...» She stuttered, looking around for inspiration. Then, she stopped every feeling from getting into her brain, every fear from interfering. She focused on her primal goal: going home to her cubs.

She told him the address and hung up the call, waiting patiently for a ray of hope. What would happen after the scandal, she had no clue. But she also didn't want to think about it.

Just when things were getting easier, when she was happy, everything was disrupted by an incident.

«It's my fault, in the first place,» she murmured. She was the one getting out in search of some time alone.

If she had stayed next to Nate, nothing would have happened. He wouldn't know that the special friend she would meet from time to time was a shrink, and they would be a happy family.

She couldn't wait to go home, hug her cubs, and sleep early.

She hoped Nate wouldn't press her too much, though. Her kids were too little to understand what was happening, and she was good enough for them because they loved her no matter what.

But Nate was an adult, and he also had a reputation to defend in the business world.

She hugged herself, standing so close to the gate that she could hear the press. She waited for Nate's people to come to fetch her, but, to her surprise, they didn't come.

When she heard the silence of the door, she knew the driver wasn't the one appearing to take her away. She knew of only one person who could make the press go mute.

Nate had come to save her. Her eyes filled with tears, and she walked to the gate, pressing a hand on the handle. She took a deep breath before opening it, and her eyes met a pair of blue gems.

«Let's go,» he said, offering his hand to her.

She took it and let him guide her to the car. Under everyone's stupefied gaze, they passed through the crowd of reporters and got out without a sound.

Only when they were next to the car, someone woke up from the gaze.

«CEO Woods, how do you comment on your girlfriend visiting a psychiatrist?»

«Did you know she came here? Since when?»

«Is it something that happens often?»

«Are you sure Miss Clayton isn't dangerous for you? Are you careful enough, Mr Woods?»

«Why did you come in person, CEO Woods?»

Nate waved his hand, signalling them not to approach any further. He helped Lara sit in the car and closed the door. Without sparing a bit of his attention to the reporters... to the paparazzi: who else would follow a woman and assault her like that, if not the worst kind of journalist?

He circled around the vehicle and sat on the driver's seat. He started the engine and drove away, not even glancing at the press who started following them. Too bad that, on foot, they lost every trace of Nate's expensive car.

Once out in the open, he sighed in relief. Lara was safe. Next was to find out how she felt. But they could work it out later. He needed to go back to the company and organise a counter-attack. He couldn't let them use his wife's name to sell their copies...

Especially with something as delicate.

Lara was already frail. A scandal on her name was the last thing she needed... He could use some old acquaintances to solve the matter, sending a message by taking down the first tabloid that dared use Lara's name in any contest.

He could ask Samantha for help, too: she was the best at dealing with reporters, threats and blackmail included.

There was a lot he could do. It was not as dark as Lara saw it, and he would have proven it. Also, once she was in the centre of the media's attention, it was just a matter of time before everything about her life was exposed. Including their kids' existence.

Dealing with Polenta, all of a sudden, seemed like a child's play. The human press was way scarier and could bring more damage. Was he concerned because his mate was human?

Also, he needed to talk with Ebony Mitchell about Lara. What did it mean she also felt the link? If that was the case, they needed to have a chat about that too. They had too much to talk about and so little time.