CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

After realising that it wasn't such a big deal - not that she could hide it any longer - Lara was relieved from the pressure on her heart. Nate wouldn't leave her just because she visited Doctor Mason. And he didn't mind about the press.

She still felt guilty for his image, but there was nothing she could do. They decided not to reply to any questions and keep their life as private as the paparazzi would allow them.

«We can go on holiday a little later,» Nate said. «It's a difficult moment for the company, and I don't want the paparazzi to follow us. We'll wait for the scandal to settle. It's no big deal, Lara. They will forget it soon enough.»

«Okay,» she replied.

The cubs were sleeping on the couch, tired from the mountain of emotions of the day. She envied their calm breathing and worry-less expressions. She was also exhausted but couldn't just lie down and sleep.

Not only because she was an adult and had to look mature, but because their heads were on her lap. She had no space to relax like that.

«But we will definitely have our holiday! I've already found a way to settle the pups for a couple of days, and we can go to whatever place you like!»

«Yes, okay,» she chuckled. «I am in no hurry.»

«Even though we don't reply to the reporters, we shouldn't hide. We haven't done anything wrong, Lara. We should live our life like before. We should continue going out, meeting friends, and doing our job daily.»

«Do you think it's a good idea? Isn't it better to wait for a little?»

«They will assume there's more to the story, Lara. We don't have anything to hide. Nothing we did is wrong, isn't it? And you have the least guilt among the two of us.»

She nodded, not knowing how to reply to that sentence. She knew neither of them was in the wrong, but she still feared what the others would say, how they would stare and, most importantly, how they would act with the twins.

«Regarding this,» Nate added, «since we don't need to hide, we might as well go to a nice party. I haven't attended before, but people seem to have a lot of fun and create new connections at charity galas. Would you like to go?»

«A charity gala?» Again? she thought.

«Yes... This one is greater than the last gala we attended. I usually don't go, but this year is special for many things. Would you like to come with me? It might be fun, in the end...»

«Oh, sure!» she said. «We can go! I was just thinking about how the last one was kind of boring. Weren't it for Roxy, I would have been alone... Other than you, of course. But we don't need to go that far to spend some time together or with a friend.»

«It will likely be more crowded. Expect something similar to the first cocktail party we attended together. Do you remember it?»

«Oh, yes,» she chuckled. «I took a sip or two of that cocktail... Not enough to forget about it all, Nate!»

«Yes, sure... But... Would you like something similar?»

«Yes, it should be fun. Also, this time I won't be shy!»

«Oh, don't,» he agreed. He liked it so much when she wasn't shy. Like that time, after the party, when she had pushed him on a bench to kiss him. It had been their first date and maybe the third time they had seen each other. It had been so forward from her, even though... Don't humans date longer before making out?

He wondered.

What if everything was due to the incomplete link? He could feel it well, and he could recognise when his nature was pushing him towards her and when he wanted her just because she was awesome. But Lara? She was human: her instinct wasn't trained to recognise wolves' connections.

Maybe, he shouldn't have sent Ebony away just yet. She seemed to know more than them all about connections and wolves' psychology. Maybe, she could solve the mystery about Lara's panic attacks...

«Oh,» he sighed. He shouldn't have told Ebony to get lost. It had been the wrong decision, taken while prey to many emotions. And he had spent the rest of the day worrying about Lara and comforting the pups in an attempt to settle his heart.

Now... Was it too late to find that woman? He hoped she didn't go too far. If she was still in Norwich, there was some hope he could locate her. He had to ask a few questions, those he hadn't thought of before...

«Nate?» Lara called him, noticing his expression. He was absent-minded, lost in his considerations.

«Yes?» he mumbled, waking up from his daze.

«Nothing... You seemed troubled. Just that.»

«Oh, nothing bad. I've just remembered something I needed to do. But it's not urgent. How are you? Are your thighs tired of the weight?»

He smirked when his eyes moved on the pups, sleeping with their heads on their mommy's lap. They were so peaceful that it made him sigh in awe. Their turbulent temper was hidden behind those angelic faces, and their sleeping expressions were as relaxed as to make him - almost - forget how they could be witty while awake.

«It's fine,» Lara chuckled. «I'm used to it, even though they haven't been so clingy lately.»

«It's because they sensed you were feeling unwell. Once, Jaden told me they would wag their tails on purpose when they thought you were sad.»

«Oh,» she sighed. «It's true. Every time I felt down, they would try to comfort me in their own way. It's so cute, Nate! It made my heart melt!»

«I see,» he said. «They love you so much.»

«They love you too, don't worry. You're just too smart and confident to feel down. They haven't had any chance to comfort you yet, but they will when you need it.»

He sighed. Maybe, they had comforted him too while waiting for her. Just not in any cute way like with Lara. They were in the same room, and that alone could calm him.