CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Chapter 82 - At First Sight

Nate turned to the right, headed towards the road which would have brought them to the city he chose for the vacation. They were close, but he liked talking with Lara. Even if it was a little difficult to listen to her struggles.

He slowed down, looking for something, anything, to hear her talk. He didn't even mind if it was something he knew. He could hear her saying the same thing over and over again. Her voice was so melodious while driving in the night. It made him want to listen forever.

«You didn't know you were having twins back then, right?»

«I found out when I did the first checkup. Luckily, it was an easy pregnancy. I talked with some other women in the hospital, and I heard all kinds of hardships. I was lucky with them. I could even start working soon after they were born!»

«You know... Wolves usually protect their women while they're pregnant.»

«I guess humans do as well. I was just unlucky with my parents. I told them immediately because I thought they would help me. I should have waited a month or two, maybe... Just to eat their food and use the energy they paid,» she chuckled.

«You don't need to worry anymore, Lara.»

His right hand left the steering wheel and found her. His inner voice yelling loudly how they were holding hands was soon soothed. It was a serious conversation, for goodness.

«You won't be alone again, I promise. Ever again. If only I knew how to find you sooner, I would have come right away to fetch you from your town. But I was weak back then. And...»

He sighed. Telling her his struggles about the happenings of when he had just become an Alpha didn't seem wise. He first wanted to make sure Lara realised her own worth. Only then he would have shown her his office, and they could have some tea while looking out of the window and planning their next move.

«Is it because we're mates?»

He nodded. The car took another turn, finally reaching its destination. He parked next to the hotel and turned to Lara.

«It starts from there. But there is more to it than it meets the eye, Lara. Take it like falling in love at first sight. Humans and wolves aren't that different, right? It happens to you too to see someone and realise you want to spend the rest of your life next to them, or rather alone.»

«It's not so extreme for humans, though.»

«No, it's not. But wolves feel everything with more awareness and more depth. When we're attracted to someone, we can't resist. But when we find someone suitable to be our companion for the rest of time, we don't want to resist.»

He undid his belt and turned his body towards her, facing her surprised eyes, shining because of the street lamps.

«I won't use this as a cheap trick on you, Lara. You will have the choice to accept me or not. I won't force my wolf problems on you. Just know that I'll be there for you either way. You can still choose, but I've already decided for myself.»

«You're telling me to exploit your availability,» she chuckled.

«Oh, sure. It's easy. Just tell me what you want, and it will be done.»

«I just want to give it a try. If it works, we'll be partners, Nate. You will help me, and I will help you. If it doesn't, we'll just be friends with kids in common. Whatever this is, and no matter how it evolves, I don't want the twins to suffer because of that. If it is in the way of me being a good mother, know that I'll go back to how things were before.»

«You can't be a bad mother even if you want to. It's simply against your nature. And it's not like I'm a stranger, right? Now, shall we bring the kids inside? They'll drool all over their shirts if they sleep like this any longer.»

He got off before Lara could reply, and he unfastened Scarlet from her seat. The little girl didn't oppose him, sleeping peacefully and even snuggling in his arms. She clutched his shoulder with her arms, treating it as a cushion.

Nate's heart was filled with warmth. He wasn't expecting it either, but that little girl was growing on him. She could be cute, even if not on purpose and definitely not without any agenda. Yet, she knew how to do it.

Not like that other pup who would calmly glare at him and promise a slow death. That one wasn't cute.

«Hey, let me,» Nate said while approaching Lara. He took Jaden from her arms and somehow managed to carry both the twins at once.

Lara had done that for years, so he could help her even if it was late.

«The key?» Lara said, noticing it was still in the car.

«Leave it there. Someone will come and park the car better. The bags, too: leave them there. Someone will deliver everything to our room.»

She sighed, already noticing how elegant the hotel was from outside.

«You didn't have to spend so much for our vacation. A hotel for families would have been more than enough,» Lara pointed out. She would have offered to pay her part, but she didn't have enough savings for such a place.

She wasn't stupid, and she had peeked into that world before. She knew how unaffordable some places could get. Even her parents had to think a couple of times before recklessly stepping foot in one of them.

Her whole month of work wasn't worth a night in that place, and they were a family of four.

«Hello,» he said at the reception, whispering not to wake the cubs.

She observed his back as he whispered with the man at the reception and then signalled her to take the card which opened the room. His hands were busy, so Lara had to use her own.

«All right,» she mumbled. She was tired, as well, and the long journey made her wish to reach a bed as soon as possible.. It didn't even matter if it was expensive.