CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Scarlet and Jaden followed their aunty in silence, a little wary about the new adventure ahead of them. They were going to meet other kids, this time black wolves, and they would need to be polite or their mommy would be angry.

But all they wanted was to continue cuddling with aunty or chatting with uncle. Why did they need to interact with outsiders?

«They're the pups from my pack,» Samantha said while crossing the road and moving towards where the Mayford packs were held. It wasn't as developed as the kindergarten in Norwich because every family who had time would keep their pups at home. However, since Samantha had joined them, she had put extra effort to make that place nice.

The number of kids had increased since when she had come. Not only the pups of high-ranking and busy wolves went there but even those whose parents could have the time but preferred for them to grow their social intelligence.

It was still growing, but Samantha was content with the improvements. Her pup would grow up well in that pack!

«Uncle, why are you unhappy?» Scarlet asked, noticing Renato's dark face. He was strolling after them, his hands in his pockets and his shoulders bent.

He was considering his life and purpose, well aware his would be an Alpha's pup just like those two. Was he going to suffer for years until being accepted? And would being accepted be worse than being hated?

Somehow, it didn't look like Woods's problems had stopped when his kids had started calling him daddy. It was more like the opposite, at certain moments.

And, most of all, why were they so well-behaved with their aunty? He had done nothing wrong!

Oh, he did. But the pups didn't know it.

«Here is where our pups play,» Samantha explained while opening the door.

At that moment, Renato witnessed something he would have never thought possible. The twins clung on to Samantha's trousers and observed the environment with wary eyes. They hugged to her and didn't move a step.

What was happening? Were they pretending to be shy? What for? Just so their aunty wouldn't leave them there and run away? She wasn't going to do that, either way.

«Hey, don't be shy,» Samantha said, and Renato almost laughed. Shy?

No way. That must have been a wicked plan of theirs to cling longer on his very mate.

As for the pups in the kindergarten, most of them were shy for real. However, they looked up at their Alpha with shining eyes. Differently from most packs, they didn't fear their Alpha, in Mayford.

Not the pups, at least.

It could be related to her new scent, to the pregnancy. But Renato had given up on finding explanations. He agreed with those adoring brown eyes; it was not such a surprise they looked up at Samantha.

Mayford had all the dynamics in place, just some of them had odd reasons or timings. Just like how everyone avoided troubling Samantha with trivial issues and asked Renato instead.

In any other pack, they would be afraid of the Alpha and feel safe next to the Alpha's mate. But their Alpha had saved the pack so they didn't dare fear her.

Everything was messed up but in such a nice way that it felt reassuring.

«Here, here,» Samantha said, pushing the twins forward lightly. She crouched down next to them and observed the rest of the kindergarten from their same height.

There were a dozen pups of different ages, from babies to elementary school students. She hadn't had time to fix everything yet, so they would play in the same room. There weren't teachers for the older pups, yet. That pack was a mess as if they had been overlooked for years!

She had to build the simplest things from scratch while others were better developed than in Norwich - for example, the central bar was way more lively than the canteen at the LY Corp had ever been.

«Come here,» Renato said, offering his hand to Scarlet.

Jaden would have ignored him, so he didn't even try. But the little girl took his hand and they walked a few uncertain steps.

Until reaching the closest group of kids. They were playing with dolls, and they were close to the twins in age.

«Hello, girls,» he said, crouching down.

They looked up at him, curious but not daring to say anything. Either way, a wolf pup's first instincts were rarely words.

«This is Scarlet. She comes from another place but she'd like to play with you. Do you have some space for her?»

The closest girl, around six years old and with straight black hair cut to the chin, nodded. Her locks danced around her face with the movement, and she widened her eyes to see better everything about Scarlet.

«She's a little shy, you see,» Renato added. Just because Samantha was looking and listening closely. If it was up to him, he would have left the little beast there to deal with it on her own. Especially after saying he was not so pretty.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

But a single glance at Scarlet made him feel guilty. The girl was biting on her thumb, curious but also wary. Her blue eyes were filled with worry but she hadn't run away.

She hadn't said anything too cruel, in the end. He shouldn't have wished for her to go through the trouble. At that very moment, she was defenceless in that new environment. It was up to him to help her find some space.

«Scarlet likes playing with dolls too,» Renato added. «Am I right?»

She nodded her head, sitting on the floor and observing the dolls left in the heap behind the girls.

She didn't know them well. And she felt like not trying to take away one of the dolls they were already playing with. Even if those were prettier.

She chose another one from there, not troubling anyone.

Renato nodded his head, content, but he didn't know how much that situation would have made Lara and Nate sigh in awe. She was being collaborative and wasn't troubling other kids. How refreshing!