CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Soon after seeing the video, Lucretia couldn't stay seated anymore. She smiled at her friends and got up.

«I'm still on probation. If I go home early, maybe I'll be set free,» she said before turning her back and leaving. The pics and tape were on her phone, either way. She just had to get her hands on the device. Then, she had to...

Oh, do what? Send it?

She wasn't even sure of the effects... If she, who cared nothing about Amanda, felt like that, she couldn't imagine Renato. Moreover, as an Omega, he would feel even weaker and guilty for not being able to help.

She walked through the gate of the residence, and she saw a dark shadow running in her direction. She recognised him at a first glance, and she screamed his name before he could run away.

«Wait, Renato!»

He stopped just to glance at her, his expression dark like a storm.

«Wait, I need to tell you something...»

«I don't have time now. Let's talk another time,» he murmured, turning to leave for good.

She reached out to his sleeve and pulled his arm towards the building.

«You will have time for this, trust me! It's very important.»

«I have no time to play with you,» he spat out, getting free from her clench. «

«Listen, you will regret it if you don't follow me now.»

«Is it the right time to threaten me?» he said, turning to her and taking a dangerous step forward. By instinct, Lucretia flinched and hugged her arms. Why was he so dangerous all of a sudden? Was it because he wasn't under her brother's control? Or because he was fuming mad for his position?

But he had to hear about Amanda first!

«It's about your sister,» she said. «I have something to show you. Some people... She might be in danger, and they say she disappeared... Do you know where she is, by any chance?»

Seeing how he relaxed his shoulders and listened to her, she understood. Not just that he knew where the girl was: he was the one taking her away.

«Thank the Moon Goddess,» she murmured. «She's safe.»

«Mhm.»

«I've seen some pics and a tape. Some brats played a prank on h... It wasn't even a prank. It was just cruel.»

«They registered?» Renato rebuked. «How stupid is that?»

«I don't know. But I couldn't see all of it. However, I can tell you the names of those I recognised. I'd send you the tape too, but I don't have the phone with me yet. When my brother gives it back to me, I'll send you everything.»

«Okay. As for the names, can you confirm some of these?» he said, showing her the message.

Lucretia's eyes flew up, to the sender, and she realised everything. He had brought Amanda to that woman.

«Are you nuts?» she shouted. «You brought her to the enemy! Don't you fear what they will do to her there?»

«Are these the names,» Renato repeated, his voice deadly and cold. «Tell me.»

«But Mandy...»

«She's safe.»

«How can you believe it? It's the enemy's territory!»

«She's safer than here, isn't she?»

«Oh...»

Suddenly, Lucretia calmed down. She bowed her head and nodded. In the end, it was true: Amanda wasn't safe in Mayford. There was very little worse than being attacked by one's pack.

In Norwich, at least, they had no reason to pick on her.

She glanced at the message, ignoring Miss Trouble's name on the sender's slot. He called that woman names, and it felt so warm... Why couldn't she have a pet name as well? He could call her something naughty and mysterious... Yet, the most she could hear from him was «brat», and it didn't sound like a pet name. It didn't even happen so often, all in all.

Only when she managed to make him lose his patience.

As for the other names on the list, she checked everyone and nodded.

«Yes, Giusy is involved too,» she said, noticing how she was almost at the end of the list. «Is there some meaning to the order? Armando and Giusy love to make trouble together, so when he's around, she's most likely nearby as well. Other than today, I guess. And she didn't seem so innocent to me.»

«Is she the one who made the video?»

«Judging from the names you tell me, no. I saw her... I didn't see this one, though. She must have registered and taken pictures.»

«Thanks,» he murmured, putting the phone away and getting ready for his vendetta. The Alpha clearly stated he wouldn't help them. Even if they had proof, it meant nothing to him.

Alpha Luciano was more focused on dealing with the emergency than the disorder in the pack. And, without an Alpha female, they had no one who could do it in his stead.

«Remember to send everything once you're done. I might need it in the future...»

«Why not go to my brother now? It's easier, right? He'll punish them... He will also retire the sentence from you and Amanda.»

«What do you think I'm doing here, ah? Counting the windows on your home? I've already talked with Alpha Luciano. It's pointless, and the pack has more urgent issues to deal with. I can manage alone, by the way. A group of teens is nothing dangerous.

For me.»

«But you're an Omega now.»

«So what? You fear they'll pick on me as well?»

«No, but... You're weaker?»

«I'll survive. Even like this, I'm among the best fighters in the pack. Strength is not about power alone, Lucretia. There's a lot more about it...»

«And... Is Amanda okay? Did she heal?»

«She did, of course. But I can't have her return until things are settled. I won't let anyone hurt her for no reason in the world.»

«You trust that woman of yours...»

«She's not my woman.»

«Yeah, sure,» she sighed. «She might not be your woman, but you always go to her... And you're so smitten and listen. You are her man, at least. Her boy toy.»

«Oh, that sounds good,» he decided. He could offer such a deal once things were calmer.

He would pay Samantha back with his life, becoming her toy for the rest of his days. Would that help her feel better?