CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

As soon as they reached the residence, Scarlet ran to her grandmother as soon as she was free from the seat belt.

Nate observed her focused expression, and he followed her in silence.

Lara helped Jaden out of the car and followed as well, noticing how Melanie was patting the little girl's head and smiling.

«Why can't I be the CEO?» Scarlet was asking.

Melanie chuckled, offering cookies to the pup.

«Because you're still too young,» she said. «Only adults need to work. Pups should play and think about growing up and having fun.»

«So, can I become one when I grow up?»

«I don't know. Maybe you'll change your idea when you find out how much a CEO actually works.»

«But your son does nothing for the whole day!»

At her words, especially that yelled: «your son», Melanie burst out laughing even louder.

«He's your dad before being my son,» Melanie pointed out.

«See? You don't want him either. Why does he have to stick to my mommy?»

«Because you are a family.»

«Oh, I see...»

Scarlet nodded, poking her lips with a finger as if it helped her think.

«So, grandma, I can become a CEO if I grow up?»

«It's when; not if.»

«But I want to stay little. My mommy will love me and kiss me more, like this.»

«Oh, your mommy won't stop loving you.»

«What about you? Didn't you love Nate when he was little?»

«I did... Ehm, I do. I loved him when he was little, and I love him now.»

«Are you sure, grandma?»

«I am. He's my son, after all.»

«So, my mommy won't change her mind when I am not cute anymore...»

«Yes, of course.»

Scarlet nodded again and reached out for a cookie. She was always a little hungry at that time in the afternoon.

«Then, you say I can become CEO. And wear pretty clothes like aunty Sam?»

«Yes, Scarlet. You can do what you want. It's just a matter of how much you work for it.»

Lara and Nate stood behind the door, observing that show with dumbfounded expressions.

«What is she doing?» Lara muttered.

Scarlet was asking the exact same questions as in the car. Didn't she get her answers already? Was her trust in Nate so low that she would run to confirm with Melanie?

«She's listening to different opinions,» Nate whispered, his lips curled in a proud smirk.

His daughter sure was something. Before meeting their father, the pups had only Lara as a reference. They would ask her and believe in her words because they simply had no other choice.

When joining the pack and living as a family, they had more people they could confront. Starting from their grandmother, to their aunt. Or even just the other pups in the kindergarten.

«It's a good sign,» Nate said. «She's developing critical thinking. And she's becoming less shy. It's good, Lara.»

«But she should believe her father!» the woman replied.

«It's not necessary. I prefer her to be free to ask whoever she deems useful.»

Lara sighed, turning on her heels and looking for Jaden. He had been oddly silent, and she was getting worried about him as well.

«Hey, mommy's boy,» she said while walking into the room. «Are you tired?»

Jaden shook his head, pretending to be focused on one of his toys.

«What's up?»

«Nothing.»

«Nothing?»

«Hm-mm. I'm good.»

«But you're unhappy, aren't you?»

«It's fine. You can go back and talk with Scarlet,» he said, pouting and turning his back to Lara.

She lifted her brows, surprised by the first fit of her son. Had the twins ever been jealous of each other before? Not that she couldn't remember. Until Nate appeared, they were in complete harmony.

But they wouldn't stay far apart for long either.

«Hey, Jaden, I'll talk with you as well,» she said, taken back. How was one supposed to act in such cases?

«But you talk with Scarlet more. And Nate, too.»

«Nate?»

«Yes. Since he appeared, you talked less and less with us. You don't sleep with us anymore.»

«Okay, but what does Scarlet have to do with it?»

«She's always with Nate! I told her not to trust him, but she is completely smitten. She has no time for me anymore!»

«Oh, come on...»

«She plays with the other kids instead of me.»

«You can play with them as well.»

«But they're boring! And their games are boring!»

«Have you ever tried to play with them?»

«No, mommy. I don't want to.»

«Jaden, if you don't play with them, you will never know if their games are really boring. And, even if they are, it's fun to have friends. Even if they're not always funny and entertaining, it's just part of life.»

«But I don't want to. I liked how things were before.»

«Before, we were alone. Now, we are not. It's better, Jaden, for all three of us.»

Jaden looked at her, dejected. His eyes were tired, sad, and confused at first. But then, he seemed to accept his destiny. It was late to fight either way.

Lara pecked his hair and hugged him, making him feel all the warmth she was capable of.

«Mommy...»

«Yes, mommy's boy?»

«I want to be like Nate, too, when I grow up.»

«Oh, you want to be the CEO?»

«No, not the CEO.» He didn't know what that meant, exactly.

«The Alpha?»

«It sounds better, but no. Not that.»

«Then, what do you mean when you say that, Jaden?»

«I want to be tall like Nate.»

«Oh, you'll surely be,» Lara chuckled, messing his hair. «You might become even taller! Wouldn't that be awesome?»

Jaden nodded, relieved. If he became taller than Nate, he would be stronger. If he was strong, he could protect his mommy.

To reach his goal, he had to become more like his father.

«Also, I don't hate Nate being with us,» he confessed. «Even if he likes Scarlet more.»

«He doesn't like Scarlet more!»

«He does! And he doesn't even hide it! But it's fine.. He protects you, so it's fine.»