CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

After more than twenty-four hours locked in her room, Lucretia finally got permission to go out. She still had restrictions, like staying inside the inner circle, but it was better than a room four times six. That was suffocating!

Her friends would most likely be in the central bar, and she could have a coffee there before returning home in time for the curfew. She had promised her brother she would behave before he allowed her to leave.

Just a couple of hours of chatting, and she would be back home. She couldn't survive alone, after all. Wolves were social animals.

When she reached the bar, she noticed how only a few of her friends were there. Three or four of the girls she knew better and just a couple of guys... Where was everyone?

«The curfew is close, so they went home,» Anna replied before she could even ask a question. «They are worried the Alpha gets mad if they're a minute late.»

«Oh, come on,» Lucretia chuckled. «Are the punishments he gave so bad? Why is everyone afraid of being grounded for a few days?»

«Grounded? That's not what they fear,» the girl pointed out. «And, honestly, I feel like them. But I'll go home half an hour before dinner time. No need to overdo it like some of them. We still have time.»

«But you're so worried... It's not like my brother will walk around and check who's in and who's out of their house.»

Moreover, he was so busy with the human officers... He wouldn't even notice.

«Still, better not risk it. You're the Alpha's sister, so it's not the same for you.»

«I won't go out either,» she scoffed. «I'm just surprised by all this fear.»

«Why?»

«It's too much, come on!»

«Well... It's not without reason. You're relaxed because you're safe, Lucretia.»

«Safe? From what? I got my punishment!»

«Yeah, but that freak girl got it harsher. Even Renato was punished because of her.»

«Renato? What happened?»

And why? Did her brother find out that he was falling in love with that wench from Norwich? But how could he? Even though Renato was quite transparent, Luciano was blind to certain matters.

«You... How can you not know? You're Alpha Luciano's sister!»

«Why? Is it so severe? I was grounded in my room and couldn't hear any gossip for the whole day.»

«Renato and his sister have been demoted to Omegas. Both of them, even though we know Renato will soon return to his place.»

«Of course,» one of the boys added. «If the Alpha set a curfew, we must be going to war. Finally! After all, it's time to teach Norwich a lesson. We've been patient long enough.»

«Wait, what was that about Omegas? How is it possible?»

That was too harsh! And, also, how come she didn't notice? Is disobeying the Alpha once enough to lose contact with the pack? Was she also becoming an Omega?

Before Lucretia could start panicking, she felt the link with her pack and calmed down. No, that was not it. She was still one of Mayford.

Then, how come she didn't notice that someone was cut out? Not just someone: Renato and Amanda, and she had spent so much time with them...

«Oh, I was a little worried about my own situation,» she said, moving a lock of hair behind her ear. «I didn't have time to notic

«Even if it was Renato? I thought you had your antennas ready when it came to him...»

«Me? Huh, I might appreciate his looks, but the world doesn't revolve around him.»

«Now, it doesn't? Well, his bad. He can't look up to you now that he's an Omega.»

Somehow, that sentence disturbed Lucretia. She couldn't imagine it... How could Renato be an Omega? He was their pack's first fighter after her brother!

But, about Amanda... She didn't deserve the punishment. Not that it was Lucretia's business, but it felt wrong.

«Well, not my cup of tea.» She shrugged. She was too busy to worry about her.

«I see,» one of the other girls added with a wily grin. «I thought you two were friends.»

«Friends with that freak? Oh, as if... Wasn't it for her brother, I wouldn't even talk with her. But it feels bad for Renato's sister to be all alone, right? That's why I called her to tag along.»

«We all know, don't worry. But reaching Renato through his sister doesn't seem to work. Thankfully, you're over him. Now that he's an Omega, you can finally look for someone your age, Lucretia.»

«Boys are boring,» she complained.

She had tried, but it wasn't her fault if most of them were either ugly or stupid...

«They say the freak girl disappeared, by the way.»

«Ah?» Lucretia murmured, returning from that place far away from earth.

She had just started thinking about Renato, his broad shoulders and pitch-black eyes, his sexily threatening expression... That she was called back to talk about his sister. What had happened to her?

«No one saw her after yesterday. Armando swears she's alive, but... Who knows? Maybe she really died. She already was weak before; now, she must be half a human.»

«Died? Why?»

Did her brother lock her? Was she starving in a cell? Oh, but that was too much after making her an Omega...

«You don't know? I thought Armando would send you the pics first thing. But it looks like he's waiting to show you in person,» the girl continued, her lips curled in a pleased smile. «We taught her a lesson.»

«Lesson? And who is we?»

«Armando, I, and the others.»

«Oh, don't be so difficult, Giusy. Just show me already!»

She sat closer, her instinct yelling to check what was going on. She didn't have access to her phone, so she couldn't be sure what had happened. However, if Giusy and Armando were involved, it must have been something huge.

«Tell me everything,» Lucretia said, her lips curled just like Giusy's.

Something deep inside her was certain that she had to hear that story.