CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Lara walked into the room with her head bowed. She opened the door, stepped in, and stood there, waiting for... for anything.

Nate and the twins stared at her, confused. The pups wanted to run in her arms, hug her tightly and wag their tails as they used to when they were alone, but... Nate had told them not to. So, they clenched their teeth and resisted the urge to comfort their mommy.

Lara saw them from afar, and she felt even worse. She was expecting some love, at least from them.

Jaden pulled Nate's sleeve, his eyes watery because of the pain he could feel from there. His mommy wasn't well, yet Nate was doing nothing. At the same time, Scarlet did the same from the other side, trying to pinch him through his trousers to wake him up.

Seeing the unresting pups do their best not to traumatise their mommy, Nate patted their heads and got up. They were asking him to comfort their mommy: how could he refuse?

«How are you feeling?» he asked while reaching his mate. «Are you unwell?»

«I'm fine,» Lara said, avoiding his gaze. «Sorry for... for the trouble.»

«No worries. It's not like you did anything to cause it, by the way. But I'd like to know how you are now. The press can be scary, and they might write worse things than those they said. But that doesn't mean you should do anything, Lara. Ignore them for your own sake, and I'll do the rest and erase every tabloid that dares to write something annoying to you.»

She nodded, still standing so close to the door. Almost fearing she would disappear, Nate reached out and held her hand. He squeezed her cold fingers and pulled her in his arms, as light and delicate as he could, but without any hint of uncertainty.

Lara's face was unreadable, but she looked like she needed a hug.

«It might be too easy for me to say this,» he whispered while running his hand on her back or caressing her neck, «but it's not as dark as it seems. Nothing big happened, after all.»

«No?» she whined, closing her eyes and letting herself lean on him. «Are you sure?»

«In the end, it's over. They won't be able to attack you just like that. And I will go with you if you're afraid. I'll accompany you to the gate next time. Let's see who dares glaring at you, let alone take pictures and ask rude questions.»

«I'm sorry, Nate.»

«For what? You didn't know the paparazzi was following you. It's not your fault.»

«I mean, for your reputation... And all the rest. I'm sorry for making everyone know you're dating a crazy woman.»

Her eyes filled with tears, and she clenched his shirt, in fear he would disappear now that her self was open in front of him. Everything: from her daily habits to that dark part she wanted to be hidden from Nate. He could see and judge, and that option made her sweat in panic.

What if he left her? What would she do? What if her cubs were ashamed of her as a mother?

«Hey,» Nate said, wincing. He squeezed her shoulders and forced her to look up at him. «I don't care about what the world says.»

«But you're... I'm... We're mates, and you can't choose.»

«Hmm? I don't understand.»

«The place where the press found me was the studio of a psychologist. I went to therapy, Nate... When I said I was meeting a friend, that I needed my space... It was all an excuse. I'm actually seeing Doctor Mason.»

«And does... Ehm, what kind of person is Doctor Mason?» he inquired, pretending not to be feeling anything. Yet, it did annoy him a whole lot.

However, he did his best to keep Lara relaxed in his arms. He would find Doctor Mason later and have a chat with h...

«She's nice. She understands me, and she always has a word of encouragement. I showed her the picture of the kids, and she said they're adorable...»

«She?»

«Hmm? Yes, Doctor Skyler Mason.»

«Oh,» he hummed. Well, he did know she was meeting a woman. He had sensed it. Why did his brain assume it was a man?

«I'd like to meet her too,» he said.

«Really? Nate, you don't need to pretend it's all right. I know it's...»

«I'm curious about what a human psychologist does. Oh, I guess it's no different than wolf doctors, but... I'm curious. If it's okay with you, of course. I'm not trying to steal your doctor.»

«You're not angry?»

«Why should I be?»

«I lied to you. And I'm seeing a shrink! Isn't that like... a bad thing? Especially in the world where you're the perfect CEO Woods.»

«What's wrong with it?»

She sighed, relieved he wasn't thinking much about it.

«You're... okay with this?» she inquired again.

«Actually, no. I'm worried about you, and I'd like to help you more. And the thought that something I've done or said made you think it's not all right - that thought is killing me. You went as far as to hide your visits, and it makes me disappointed. About me, not you. What is it that told you to keep it a secret?»

«N-nothing,» Lara sighed. «But I thought you would look at me in a different way. I was scared.»

«Different?»

«Oh, I was so stupid!» she exclaimed, hugging him back.

Nate had never ever shown any bias. He was so accepting and patient with her. She had been such a dumbass to believe he could leave her because of a few sessions of therapy.

Also, her kids were sitting on the sofa and observing their parents with the most complicated expression Lara had ever seen on their faces. They had no clue whether to be happy or unhappy. They didn't know whether to glare at Nate or stare worryingly at their mommy.

In the end, their parents turned to them. Nate waved, showing them they could approach.

As if woken up from a dream, they shook their heads and jumped down from the sofa. They ran to their mommy and hugged her thighs, pressing their heads against her just like when they were little cubs.