CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

After making sure Scarlet and Jaden were comfortable, Samantha lay down with them. She chuckled when they placed their heads on her shoulders and clenched her clothes, wondering whether they did the same with Nate and Lara. For sure, they were used to sleep while clinging on to their mommy.

When their breathing became stable, she got up. She used a pillow to hide her flee, and the pups didn't seem to mind. She wasn't sure she would be able to sneak out but, apparently, the twins weren't as new to sleeping alone. Had Nate trained them? For sure, he couldn't allow his mate to spend every single night with them rather than with him.

She caressed their heads, observing their calm expressions for a long while. Then, she left the door open ajar - just in case they woke up - and returned to the one where Renato was. He was in bed, his hands behind the head and his eyes staring at the ceiling. He hadn't turned the lights off, so she could see his complex expression. He was pondering, and seeing him like that made her chuckle.

He turned after hearing her voice, his face still unreadable. There were too many thoughts in his head for Samantha to decode any of those.

«Hey,» she said while sitting on the bed. «Is there some space for me?»

He got up just to surround her waist with his arms and pull her in a tight hug. Delicately as not to hurt her, he lay down again. He sank his face in her hair, inhaling her scent and wishing to follow any of her desires. He was getting used to it; and he couldn't wait for that pregnancy to be over. He couldn't bring himself to be wicked or domineering anymore...

His heart beat harder against his chest when Samantha returned the embrace and closed her eyes to sleep. She moved a little, looking for a comfortable position for the night.

«Dinner was delicious,» she said. «I'm relieved you're competent enough to take care of our pup. They will be happy with a father like you. If I was alone, my pup would die of hunger...»

«No,» Renato chuckled. «They would just eat weird things, but they would definitely survive. If you didn't die of hunger living alone, there's some hope.»

She rolled her eyes, considering to turn her back to him. Yet, she preferred staying like that, her ear pressed on his shoulder to listen to that interesting rhythm. His heart was so fast, all of a sudden. Hers followed suit, instead of calming down to sleep.

How was she supposed to close her eyes when all her body was pressed against his hard muscles? Suddenly, without any forewarning, her body lit up. She wanted him!

«Hey,» Renato murmured when she pressed her thigh against his crotch. He knew what was going on; not just that he could feel it, but he knew his mate well. He could recognise that light in her eyes.

There was just one thing that could make them shine so much. But she was pregnant: they shouldn't have sex... At least not the usual way. The little thing growing in her belly was precious and needed care, after all.

And he hadn't been in the mood, lately. Since the day he heard he would be a father, everything changed. His mate wasn't just the most appealing creature in the world, but she was becoming the mother of his pups. She was even more precious and delicate than before, in his eyes... Even though his eyes were, in fact, the only place where her delicateness existed.

She was a strong wolf; but - for him - she was like a flower.

«Hey!» Samantha exclaimed, noticing how his hand rubbed her back without any lewd intention.

She was expecting him to take the chance to jump on her, especially after so many days of abstinence. They had been too busy or too worried to think about sex, after all.

Yet, Renato didn't move. So, he wasn't holding back. He really didn't feel any need to touch her!

«Hey,» she repeated, this time disappointed.

She let go of him and moved a few inches back. She pressed a hand on her stomach and didn't find any change. Not even her breasts had changed shape yet - even though that shouldn't have been a problem, right? Surely, Renato wouldn't dislike rounder breasts.

However, the signs of pregnancy weren't yet visible on her. Was the thought enough to turn him off? Why?

Her fingers trailed up her body, checking everything else. But she was the same! Finally, she touched her face. Was she becoming ugly? They could turn the lights off, in that case. And she hadn't seen any big sign in the mirror, that morning.

«You don't like me anymore!» she murmured, her voice broken by sadness. A dark pit without an end opened under her, and she fell in a darkness without end.

What had she done to be disliked by her mate? Just like that, without any warning? Everything was all right until a few days before!

«What is it?» she asked, a lone tear falling on her cheek. She didn't dare to look at him, knowing very well she would break if she found a pair of uninterested black eyes.

Was it because they were becoming parents? Was it because she was an Alpha? He had told her he didn't mind! He had said he didn't dislike a woman stronger than him!

Yet, there they were. In the end, he could say what he wanted, but reality was different. Just like usual, a male wolf couldn't accept a strong female just like that...

She had known it since the day she found out about herself. No male in the world could accept something as weird as her.

It was her mistake to think that it could be different with Renato. He had been pretty predictable so often, in the end. She should have known it.

She was an idiot.