CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

«But what happens if the true mate appears after you're married?» Lara asked.

Roxy sighed before replying.

«It depends. Usually, wolves stay with their marriage partner. If both mates have one, nothing really happens. They might recognise each other, but they won't leave their husband or wife to be with the other.»

«So, there is a choice!» Lara said. «One can be with someone else!»

«That is after marriage, Lara. If you marry Nate, he will be yours forever.»

«I wasn't asking for me,» she chuckled. «I'm just curious.»

«The problem is when we find our mate before getting officially married. Before the mating ceremony.»

«Oh, I see... Then, a single wolf will always end up with their mate.»

«That, or they will suffer forever. That's what happened to Nate when you left. It's as painful as transforming one's character. You can't fight it, and it's not worth it. That's why partners who aren't true mates are in a hurry to perform the ceremony. It's a way to ask the Moon Goddess permission to be together.

If she allows it, the couple will live as if they had always been destined.»

«And when the true mate appears, if that happens, they won't feel the urge to leave their current partner. That's relieving, actually. I would be worried about every single marriage if not.»

«Not everyone meets their true mate. And it's also not a scientific truth that everyone has one. It has never been proved.»

«Oh, I see.»

«And when the true mate appears, things can get difficult. Especially if they're single. One single and one married is the worst option. For one, the link is active; for the other, it's deafened. However, even after the Moon Goddess blesses a marriage, true mates continue being true mates. There will always be something linking them, even if not love.

Telepathy, maybe. Common interests or anything at all. If one is married, it's still better to never meet their mate.»

«So, Nate and I were actually lucky,» she said. «I'm human, so I wouldn't know him at all, if not for this. And if we didn't meet, he would have gotten married sooner than later.»

«That's the most likely outcome, yes. But we are all happy you two met.»

«I am as well,» Lara said. «The twins wouldn't be here.»

«But you would be with your birth family. If not for them, they wouldn't have sent you away. Right?»

«Right. But I'm luckier like this. It's better that I know what I know, Roxy. Better than living my whole life thinking my parents love me.»

«That's on you to decide. You wouldn't have endured many hardships. And, never knowing about their true nature, you wouldn't have suffered as you did.»

«It was worth it, Roxy! It was worth every single moment of despair. Jaden and Scarlet are growing up so fast, and I'm happy they found a family who won't abandon them.»

«But... How can you be so sure?»

«I know about myself. Nothing they do could make me change my mind. Even if they become bad people, it will be my fault. I will support them because they gave me a reason to live when I had none.»

«And about us?»

«I feel it. You won't abandon my pups. And Nate will protect them for the rest of his life. It's different from before, by the way. It's not something I'm giving for granted. I know the dangers, and I lived through being abandoned once.

But this time... I feel that you're not like my parents.»

«Seems like a wolf thing,» Roxy pointed out.

«Don't underestimate human instinct. We also have our ways. And is it still so surprising that I act like a wolf? Nate told me a couple of times that I do what a female wolf would do in certain circumstances.»

«And you just marked your territory many times in front of a female wolf,» Roxy pointed out.

Lara blushed from forehead to chin, her ears burning and her neck reddening a cell at a time. She had been discovered.

«I didn't do it on purpose,» she moaned.

«I know. That's why it's surprising. It was your right, by the way. And you were as good at using it as not to make the other realise. Jenna didn't notice how many times you used Nate's name, by the way. To her, it's normal you call him by name.

Oh, but she might have caught the aura of danger when you asked her whether she was aiming at him. But, since it's in the past, she wasn't too afraid, to tell the truth.»

«Oh, I'm transparent to you.»

«Only because I've been doing this job for ages.»

«Don't tell Nate, okay?»

«He would be happy to hear it.»

«I know. It's not because of that. Rather, we're taking things slowly. I don't want to rush, and I'd like to take one step at a time.»

«Why so? That isn't very wolf-ish.»

«I'm human. And we both have suffered in the past. I don't want haste to ruin our relationship. We have the twins to take care of, first thing. They would suffer if we made mistakes, and I don't want that. Also, Nate doesn't deserve to be played with.

I don't want to run ahead and then take a step back when I realise it's too soon for something. I will take very careful steps, and only when I'm sure about it.»

«You know, I'm not worried about our Alpha's heart with you next to him. Even while taking things slowly, you're making him so happy. You and the twins. He didn't even know he wanted a family until you showed up, and look at him now: learning how to be a daddy and being so affectionate to children he didn't even like too much.»

«Oh,» Lara chuckled. «It's not that he didn't like them.»

«No, that's right. He just felt like they were in the way. But also a link among you two. It was difficult for him not to be mean and use them to get to you. Can you imagine the temptation?»

«Nate loves the twins,» Lara pointed out. «Not just because of me.»

«You're right. And that's what makes him so happy now. He loves the twins for what they are. Not because they link him to you. Not anymore.»

The two women smiled at each other, comforted by that thought.