CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Eating seemed like a good idea.

Even if he didn't get anything useful out of the conversation, they would communicate. He could try finding out about her, something other than her famous reputation as a reckless and infallible manager. He already knew enough about her close relationship with the Norwich pack's Alpha.

He knew too much for his taste. It was rather unclear why those two could get along, but he didn't like that a man other than himself was allowed to be so close to her.

Still, he couldn't help it. They were close family, after all.

Thinking about family, he remembered the pup he heard when they finally talked on the phone. The little devil snobbed him because she was with something small and cute, who called her Aunty Sam.

She might have not noticed, but Rider could hear it pretty clear.

The information he had about her brothers didn't help him believe that little pup was one of her nephews. She was at odds with her brothers, more or less. It was not clear for what reason, but she didn't have many interactions with her birth family. As a child, almost a teen, she had changed packs.

Since then, she had rarely gone back home. And even more rarely received someone from her family. She was a wolf of Nate's pack, loyally and completely.

However, she had changed pack once. There was nothing that made him think she couldn't change a second time.

«The food is here,» he said, leaving the trails on the bed.

Much to his displeasure, Samantha had worn the t-shirt back. She was sitting with her legs crossed, patiently waiting for dinner.

There were no forks as Rider explicitly asked them not to bring any. He wanted to see his devil eat with her hands, lick her fingertips when the oil would slip down. And look at him while enjoying a piece she liked more than others.

As she eyed the plate with chicken wings, her ears turned furry. Her tail didn't appear yet, but her eyes gleamed while reaching out to the first bite.

Rider observed her tense back, her ears twitching... And he couldn't stop himself.

He blocked her wrist before she touched the food, and he smirked at her. Samantha moved her eyes on him, and her ears stopped in such a sad way.

Rider lifted a brow, confused. Was that how an adult wolf behaved in front of food? Oh, he should have thought about it earlier. She was just... He couldn't find a word to describe what was happening in his mind, in his heart... And to other parts of him as well.

Probably, Samantha hadn't noticed yet about the ears. But it was weird. Did she have some problem controlling her turning?

He couldn't imagine it. She was so perfect, her reputation was top-notch... Was there any chance she could have something so big to hide?

He bent down, pushing her on the bed. He blocked her wrist on the mattress and clashed his mouth on hers, invading with his tongue and forcing her to kiss him back.

There was something irresistible about her weakness. So much that he wanted to eat her whole, furry ears included.

«Food... cold,» she muttered through the kiss, but he didn't let her go.

She was whining and complaining, but her free hand was in his hair, not pushing him away to get some air or stop.

Her drooped ears returned vigil as the kiss intensified, and he couldn't help but want to touch them. His fingers sank in her hair, and he pulled lightly to hear her moan. Resisting that weird urge consumed his patience until he finally surrendered and caressed her right ear with his index finger.

Just as he did it, Samantha realised. She had lost control.

But... why? It was not a Black Moon. It was not even a Bright Moon, for goodness. Just a regular day in the middle of the month.

It was a little secret of hers. As a teenager, she used to lose control over her turning. Her ears were almost the only part appearing without her wish, but it was embarrassing. All her friends didn't have any problem.

She had spent her most sensitive nights alone and locked in her room, far from the eyes. After turning twenty, that phenomenon had gradually changed. She had stopped losing control except for rare occurrences.

And then, she was back at it. Just seeing a plate with fried wings and being surrounded by Rider's scent made her return several years back.

She pushed him away, and, to both their surprise, Rider fell back. She crawled out of bed, covered her head with her arms, and ran to the bathroom to check on the mirror.

She didn't even close the door behind her, for it was too late to hide.

She stared at her reflection with a pale face, her breathing unstable and her eyes disillusioned. It was over. What attraction could Rider have towards a wolf with no control?

At the same time, she didn't know Rider was having different thoughts. He had forgotten about her ears when she had pushed him away.

His hand was on his chest, in the exact same place where hers were a few moments before.

He hadn't let her win. Samantha wasn't able to overthrow him just because he conceded, but she did it all alone. Her arms were strong enough.

She was stronger than he had assumed and estimated while rolling on the bed.. She could win against him any moment.