CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Chapter 362: Cannella

«Let me come in,» Nate said, but Samantha refused.

«If you come in, these people will feel lost and beaten again.»

«I won't hurt anyone, I promise.»

«It's not about physical pain. You won your war, not let them live on. If you come in and out of here as you want, they will feel like a conquered land. These last two days, they started rebuilding the pack and helping each other survive. I can't let you destroy it again. It would be fatal this time.

Their connection is so frail that it's frightening.»

«Why do you even care?» Nate chuckled. «Just because your mate is one of them?»

«It's not just that. I don't know how to explain it, but I don't want them to suffer anymore. Most of these wolves are innocent. They don't even know Polenta kidnapped Lara and the pups. They don't know a lot about their Alpha, and I will make sure they find out in due time. But that doesn't mean they deserve to be stepped on.

I guarantee Polenta isn't here, and coming in - to show you can do what you want - won't make it more difficult for him to rebuild his power. It really has no meaning, Nate.»

«You're so damn stubborn.»

«You are too. You know well enough he's not here. You would feel the aura of an Alpha.»

«I'm not sure. His Alpha aura isn't that strong anymore. I'm using human tech to locate him, you know? It's as if he was invisible... A stray more than an Alpha.»

«He is a stray,» Samantha pointed out. «Just like we all are here. A pack of strays, isn't it funny?»

«I don't see strays,» he said, tilting his head.

He stopped arguing and focused on Samantha for a moment. She was a little different than usual.

«You're not hiding,» he realised.

«Mhm? I am, though.»

«No. I can feel you, and everyone else too... Sam, by any chance, are you...»

He didn't finish his question. It was quite obvious she was becoming one of them. And she stood in front of him to defend the pack.

She had already done more than Polenta ever had. And she didn't even know about it.

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Nate knew that Samantha was a crippled wolf just like him, but he didn't know that she was as damaged as not to sense the power dynamics.

«Hey, why don't we find an agreement?» he said.

If that was the case, he couldn't walk in. He would have ruined Samantha's standing, first, and then the pack cohesion. And having her in Mayford was unexpectedly calming.

She was an ally, after all. They were siblings, and they could understand each other. Even as a teenager, she hadn't confronted him that openly ever.

If she stood there and said no, she felt the need to do so.

She was becoming the leader of an unstable pack, and she was helping it rebuild.

«No agreements,» Samantha said, crossing her arms. She even frowned, annoyed.

«I mean, I won't come in,» Nate said, clarifying the rising misunderstanding. He didn't want her to lose ground with the pack, and it was in his interest that she consolidated her position and took charge.

«Oh,» she moaned.

She would have accepted if a pair of arms didn't surround her waist from behind. She felt Renato pushing her back, and she took a couple of steps with him.

«Let him pass,» he said.

His hair was tickling her ear, as his head was bowed in shame. He hated it more than anyone else, but he also understood they couldn't stand another battle with Norwich.

«Let him see whatever he wants. You don't need to argue with your cousin because of us. We'll survive this as well.»

Samantha didn't open her mouth, but she caressed his arms around her. She wasn't expecting him to run after her.

She smiled sweetly, turning to him. She could tell him she had found an agreement, and they didn't need to fight nor surrender. Renato would be happy, right?

However, when she turned back to Nate, she found his blank face. Her cousin was pale and oddly silent, his fingers twitching with nervousness.

Was it because of what he had done to Renato? It was in the past, and it was war. No one seemed to take it too seriously.

Also, she knew her mate's character. Most likely, Renato had asked for it in some way.

«Sam...» Nate said after a few seconds. «Why didn't you tell me your mate is Renato Cannella?»

«Cannella?» she repeated. How odd she heard both his name and surname for the first time from someone else. She could learn only Renato's age directly from him.

It was her fault, wasn't it? She asked him not to tell her anything. It was time to change that... Those old times when she thought she could fight their attraction were gone.

Then, she returned her focus to Nate.

«I didn't know his name, remember?» she said.

If Nate did, however, it must have meant something.

«He's Polenta's right-hand man. The chief of security and one of the most powerful wolves in the pack. I was surprised he wasn't there when we saved Lara, but now it makes sense. He was with you.»

Samantha nodded. So, Renato wasn't talking big when he acted all important. Her mate was strong for real.

«I didn't know he was someone as relevant,» she chuckled. «You never stop surprising me, Renato.»

It was the calm in her tone that surprised both the men.

One was dumbfounded by the ease she had accepted that awkward hug and was letting that man touch and talk to her like that. The other was surprised she wouldn't get furious by the discovery.

Both didn't know what to say. They knew her as an unstable wolf, and they thought anything could make her angry or suffer. Yet, she was accepting with such ease.

She didn't even push Renato back when he had tried protecting her from Nate. Had it been anyone else, they would have got a punch and a few bad words.

She didn't need protection, but she allowed a wolf to do so with her.