CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Samantha continued to caress Rider's hair while he inhaled her scent or rubbed her back. His way of looking for comfort was weird: he would prefer touching her than being caressed. Still, she was there because he wasn't feeling well. She let him do as he wanted.

While sitting on his lap and listening to his worries, sometimes telling about her own experience, she realised that she was an open book for him. She wasn't good at keeping secrets, and she would eventually confess anything if Rider asked with an expression docile enough.

She also understood something else, but she didn't know whether to inquire. In the end, she didn't want to take advantage of Rider. Especially now while he was feeling down.

«That brat is your Alpha's family, right?» she asked in the end. «That's why her disappearance was a great deal.»

Packs would usually keep that kind of information confidential, to avoid others using them to disturb the inner structure. For example, it wasn't known far and wide that Samantha and Nate were cousins, even though she was sure other packs might have known about it. It was not such a great secret, after all. Still, not many knew that she had been adopted into Nate's family at the age of ten.

The chance that Mayford knew about that was small, and it would have meant they did their investigations thoroughly.

«Yes,» Rider confirmed. «She's his sister.»

«Lucretia Polenta? I thought she was older and well... Uhm, more rational. I wasn't expecting a moody teenager!»

«Yes, well, a spoiled brat.»

«She likes you!»

«So what?»

«Hey, it's the Alpha's sister! Aren't you the least intrigued?»

Rider opened his mouth to point out Samantha also was an Alpha's sister, but he closed it soon enough. Lowering his guard with her was okay, but he couldn't make all his effort go to waste. He had to pretend he knew nothing about her. That's how they could be so close.

«You're more intriguing to me,» he murmured before pressing his lips on her neck. He peeked at her expression and smiled against her skin when he noticed her red cheeks.

«You're flirting,» she pointed out.

«Yes, but I'm not trying to drag you in bed. I'm not in the mood right now. Maybe next time, okay?»

«Yes, sure... I mean, I haven't asked you anything! Don't say such things so effortlessly!»

«Okay,» he accepted, but he clenched her waist and brought her closer. Funny enough, they could always come to a tad closer no matter how tight their embrace became.

«So, your Alpha punished your sister and you because of that brat,» Samantha continued. «What about her, though? She can't be an Omega right now. I can't imagine a brother doing that to his sister.»

«No, she's not. Just grounded at home for two weeks. Apparently, enough for the war to finish.»

«She ran away when she was told not to, right? Oh, what a brat, really!»

«She didn't want to stay at home and decided to leave for adventures. Luckily, you were the one finding.»

«She was looking for me, for some reason... Oh, well, I kind of guessed what it was. She wanted to check who's the woman who marked you, Rider! She was jealous and wanted revenge for stealing her man!»

«I am not her man. Never was. Jeez, that's a kid.»

«A kid? She doesn't consider herself as one, and she has her brother's territoriality... Are you sure you never gave her hope? Oh, what does your Alpha think about it? Is he unhappy she's after you? Or he's expecting you to follow suit?

Poor you... What a tough situation!»

«Hey, don't tease me like this.»

«I'm not,» Samantha chuckled. «Just... It's difficult to feel pity, you know? You're chased by the princess of your pack.»

«She's a kid,» he repeated, spitting each word as if it was poisonous.

«So? She doesn't know she's too young for you, Rider. Have you been clear enough?»

«Are you jealous, by any chance?»

«Jealous? Of a weak pup?» she scoffed, leaning back on his arms and far enough to look him in the eye. «Never.»

«Oh,» he said, feeling that sour emotion coming from her.

She didn't have a clue about how powerful their mate link was. When they were nearby, he could sense glimpses of her feelings. He could find her wherever, especially during a Black Moon. Not to mention how his soul would guide him to her even without using his senses.

It wasn't the same for her, though. It was as if she was deaf, unable to feel the same. Yet, sometimes, when close enough and during Black Moons, she could feel what he felt.

She knew he was her mate, but she didn't acknowledge it.

And she thought she could lie about her jealousy and get away with it. Moreover: she was jealous of a brat! Had Samantha been so possessive when they first met? He hadn't noticed till that moment.

«Hmm,» he moaned, inhaling her scent sour because of her mood. To him, it was the sweetest aroma ever. «Tell me more about it. Talk about how you don't want me around that brat

«Don't overstate my reaction, now. I have never said that!»

«Haven't you? What a pity.»

«Is that what you want to hear?»

Rider nodded, bowing his head and sighing deeply.

«Don't mind me. Must be an effect of... Well, you know...»

«Oh,» Samantha moaned.

She cursed in her head. Why was it so impossible to resist that sad face? Was there any other option? Not that she could see any... And he was feeling down. She could put in some effort, after all.

Just for once.

«I...» she started, her voice trembling with uncertainty. «I don't want you around that brat.»

«Oh,» he sighed, leaning back on the sofa and closing his eyes as if her words had just relieved him from great pain. «One more time?»

He opened one eye to glance at the sulking little devil sitting on his lap, and everything else disappeared for a moment. He would have found a way to save Amanda, and he didn't care too much about his own standing.

It would have been okay, eventually.