CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Chapter 86 - Her Dark Secrets

Both of them were in a dark pit, coming to terms with their own limits.

Samantha was in the bathroom, fretting over her wolfish features. She tried to turn her ears back, failing any attempt. Usually, they would disappear on their own after some time. But she didn't have time. Rider was out there, waiting to make fun of her. Or, worse, use her secret for his own gain.

They were enemies, after all. How stupid of her to accept eating together. To lower her guard and stop being distant... It would cost her much.

Meanwhile, the centre of her concerns was inquiring about his own abilities. He had been pushed aside so easily.

He wanted to keep her in his arms a little longer, to prevent her from running away because he knew she was feeling bad. He wanted to tell her it was all right, and that he was more excited than concerned.

But he couldn't because she just pushed him off and disappeared behind the bathroom wall.

He didn't have time to react and pull her back. But even if he did, he was certain she could shake him off with little fatigue and still reach the bathroom.

He felt so weak.

Being the second most powerful wolf in his pack didn't mean anything if he couldn't overpower his own mate. It was something he couldn't accept: his pride would have disappeared altogether with his surrender.

His mind was blown by a scene, and he almost started laughing about himself. How stupid of him to react when his pack members wanted to attack Samantha. If he couldn't, not one of them stood a chance at beating her.

She was so powerful, he thought with a little pride. Just a little, for he was still too weak in comparison. It was time to increase his training. Maybe, he could improve a little more without slacking off. He would have started right from Monday! Because he would have been busy before that...

Regarding his business... Why was Samantha still hiding in the bathroom? He could feel her presence, so she didn't run away. But was there a reason not to meet him back and talk?

In the end, it wasn't such a big deal. Just a pair of cute, snow-white ears. He smirked. Finally, he had seen her wolf fur.

He could imagine her being a lone, white wolf, with light-coloured eyes and a long muzzle, elegant like a winter divinity.

But her mid-form was so pretty. Her ears were so expressive, even if her poker face could hide her feelings. Rider was curious to see the tail, but a part of him knew that some food was not enough for that. And Samantha didn't trust him yet.

He first needed to convince her not to hide every time her ears would appear; because he was settled on making that happen more often. Every time he needed some information from her, at least. And when his ruined ego wanted some candy for his eyes.

«What are you doing?» he inquired, walking towards the bathroom.

Even if she was stronger than him, he still had an advantage. Among them two, he was the calmest.

«Let me see, Trouble. It's nothing to be so ashamed of.» After all, he did see more private places.

He leaned on the doorframe, crossing his arms and caressing her legs with his gaze before noticing her hands clasped on the ears. As if covering would have made them disappear.

«Hey,» he murmured, trying to sound reassuring. It wasn't easy with a little devil so flustered and anxious. She was just like a pup at that moment.

«Who in the world let you take care of a kid?» he chuckled, stepping inside and removing her hands from her head.

He was right: completely white. Not a single black or grey spot on her fur. He could assume the rest was just as candid.

«If you start panicking just for this, I wonder what would happen in a more serious situation.»

«Really?» she murmured, letting him drag her in his arms.

She couldn't realise, at that moment, that he wanted to peek at her back. No tail, unfortunately. But that didn't mean he couldn't bring her to wag for him.

His hands caressed her back, comforting her racing heart.

«You're so cute,» he said. «I'd like to touch your ears again, but I don't want you to faint.»

She hit his arm, pouting, but she didn't hurt him. Her strength was just enough to let him feel it.

She knew how to control herself, apparently. So well that Rider couldn't tell until she had pushed him away in panic.

Had the situation been different, he wouldn't have noticed her massive strength. With that kind of control, she could push him away without ringing any bell in his mind.

Oh, all her futile struggles in bed... Were they all fake? Had she just surrendered because she wanted to?

However... Was it something to brag about? In the end, it still was her free will that made her accept his rough manners. Not any strength unbalance. If she wanted, she could have had her way with him.

But she wanted to win with her appeal, not her muscles. It was so intriguing. And he was pleased that he could read through her and understand her motives. It was a step closer to having her heart.

«Tell me,» he said.

«Tell you what?»

«About this. Do you always eat like this?»

«No,» Samantha whined. «I don't know why this happened now. It's been months since the last time.»

And it had been during a Black Moon. She had stayed at home every single time because she feared losing control. When it had stopped happening, it took her several moons to decide to get out and have some fun during the Black Moon like her friends when they were teens.

They used to hit the clubs in Norwich centre, and she couldn't join unless it was Halloween.