CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

«I'm really sorry,» Amanda whined, wiping her tears and looking her brother in the eye.

«Hey, you'll survive it. You don't even like the common facilities...» Renato said, trying to calm her a little.

«I'm not crying for me,» Amanda revealed. «I don't even care about being an Omega. I'm sorry for you! You live for the pack, and all you've done so far was so that we all could have a better life. It's so unfair that you've lost your position for something I did!»

«It's not your fault, Amanda. I was the one talking back to the Alpha.»

«But you did it to defend me. You saved me nights in a solitary cell.»

«Hey,» he murmured, dragging her in a hug. «It will be all right, eventually. This is just a period, and it will pass.»

«How can you be so calm after losing your standing?»

«I don't know, Amanda. Maybe it's because you're crying so desperately that I realised that nothing actually happened. We're part of the pack, even though not like before. We weren't thrown out, which means we still have hope to get our lives back.»

«But you were the chief of security, and now you can't even be a guard... You have worked so hard for the whole pack, reaching your place with tons of sweat. It's unfair that, because of that brat's actions, we are paying the consequences.»

«It's a difficult period, Amanda. It will pass, and everything will return as it was. We'll have our peace and a good life once things are solved...»

«You mean when the war with Norwich is over?»

«It's not war,» Renato said. Not yet war: they haven't fought for real yet. Just a few scuffles and economic games. Was that Nathaniel Woods's final plan? To make them poor?

«Let's go home, now. Mama won't throw you out of home even if you're an Omega now,» he said, surrounding Amanda's shoulders and walking towards their house.

«Will you stay with us?»

«I'm currently jobless, so I can stay. I guess...»

«That's good.»

«Yes. We both need some company right now. It will make it easier to bear.»

«I was so scared when Alpha Luciano said he would lock me in the cells! I haven't been there yet, but I heard people talking about it and... it's so bad, isn't it?»

«Yes.»

«That's why you stood in my defence. If it wasn't severe, you wouldn't have talked back to the Alpha and challenged his authority.»

«We're lucky there was no one in that room,» Renato said. «No one saw it, so it won't cause trouble in the future.»

«I see... So, I can't tell everyone how awesome my brother is, can I?»

«No, you can't. It would be worse if anyone heard, and Alpha Luciano wouldn't forgive us so easily.»

Before they could reach their house, but after the last turn on their path, Renato's phone rang. Who could it be?

Maybe, something had happened, and the Alpha was already calling him back. It wouldn't have surprised him too much if that was the case.

Still, the contact on the screen didn't say Alpha but Trouble. That's how he had saved Samantha's number.

«It's her, isn't it?» Amanda commented, glancing at the phone. «You should answer.»

«It's not the right time. Samantha will understand, and I'll call her back later.»

«But you shouldn't lie and tell her you were busy, Renato. You said you wouldn't lie to her; have you already forgotten?»

«No, but... This regards the inner organisation of the pack, Amanda. I can't just tell her everything.»

«She told you,» the girl pointed out. «She's more concerned about you than meets the eye, and she's falling in love just like you. You're close to your goal, brother.»

«I don't have any goal. Not anymore...»

«But you should answer all the same.»

«You also bring trouble, Mandy. Are you sure you're my birth sister?»

«Yes,» the girl chuckled, running to the house to let Renato have his privacy. She had to tell her mama about the events, either way. She was in a hurry!

He answered the call and heard the voice of the only person in the world who could make him forget about how he had just lost everything. Almost everything.

«Hello, how did it go?» Samantha inquired.

«What?»

«You brought the girls back, right? Are your parents angry with your sister?»

«Not much, actually. But the Alpha is. Now he demoted me to Omega...»

«Omega? Why? Just because of two teens? Was the other one your little princess or what?»

«It doesn't matter. The Alpha decided on a punishment, and I talked back to him and asked for something milder. As a result, I'm now also involved in it.»

«It's bad for Betas,» he heard her sigh. «Being an Omega feels like having your arm or leg cut off to a Beta Wolf.»

«It is what it is.»

«But you shouldn't bear it all alone! I feel bad for it... I don't even know why I called you, Rider, but now that you've told me about this, I want to see you in person and check that you're really all right.»

«I am, but you're welcome to check.»

«Since you're the one in need of comfort, I can come closer to your place. I can't cross the border and wander inside Norwich because we risk someone noticing my presence. But I can come to a nearby city. At least, you won't need to drive for long.»

«I'm not in the mood for a hot night, Mine.»

«Who said anything about hot? Nothing wild nor sexy; I promise! I just want to hear you out, and maybe that can help you as well.»

«If you insist,» he chuckled.

«I do!» was her reply, excited and happy to be of help.

Oh, damn it. How could she be so irresistible? Moreover, pretending to be untouched and ready to leave any time would have become very difficult sooner than later.

«I'll send you the address, Mine. It's a nice place, and we can have some time alone. For talking, of course.»

«Talking!» she repeated not less content than before.