CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Chapter 378: Protective dad

Lara closed her eyes and waited for the attack, but nothing happened. A few seconds passed, and she wondered whether she had time to get up and get to safety. Yet, her knees were too weak to keep her weight.

She was tired of all those emotions, and her whole body was trembling.

She heard a thud, followed by a growl and the sounds of a battle. She opened her eyes to look and froze in awe. A giant white wolf had appeared out of nowhere. It was as big as the black one, if not even bigger! Its fur was like snow, clean and pretty. Its eyes were blue like sapphires, and its paws were as powerful as to keep the other wolf at bay.

The white wolf sank his teeth in the other's throat, forcing him to retreat.

Lara's mouth was wide open in shock and wonder. She had always thought that feral animals had something special, a charm making them beautiful. However, that wolf was something else.

She liked that white fur and also the way it moved. Its attacks were flawless, and he was mercilessly pushing the black wolf away. Attacking and growling, he had forced the black wolf to retreat.

At first, he seemed to follow him in the forest. But then, he turned back and reached Lara to check she was all right.

Lara's eyes locked with the wolf's, and they exchanged a glance. It was odd, but Lara felt understood. And she also felt as if she knew what that wolf was thinking and feeling.

There was some magic in the way she felt safe and protected.

But then, the wolf lowered its ears and turned back as if remembering something.

«Nate?» Lara called him, but he didn't turn. «Nate?»

He disappeared into the forest, Lara's eyes following him with a desperate expression. She still couldn't get up. At least, Scarlet had stopped scratching the door. She heard Jaden's voice as well, and she considered whether to open the door or not.

Doing so would have been a chance for the twins to come out, and she couldn't chase them in that condition. However, listening to their calls without doing anything was so difficult.

She would have needed someone, at that moment, but she was alone.

«Nate,» she called, her voice low and her tone desperate, almost a cry.

Why had he disappeared when she needed him? He had run away as if afraid... But she was just a plain human; what could she even do?

«Mommy,» she heard from the other side of the door, and she understood the Bright Moon was almost over. The twins could talk words, which meant their wolf instincts were under control... more or less. Still, it was too early to open that door.

«Mommy is here,» she said. «It's okay... I'm here. You two should be good cubs and go to sleep now.»

«Mommy,» they repeated, sobbing.

Her heart sank deeper into desperation, and she reached for the handle. She opened the door ajar and witnessed the scene she was expecting to see: her cubs ran out and surrounded her, hugging her tightly and sniffing her scent.

«Mommy, mommy,» they continued, and she hugged them back.

«Let's go inside,» she said, but she still wasn't sure whether she could walk.

From the forest, a set of steps made them prick their ears on alert: all three of them observed the shadows, trying to recognise the figure approaching. Finally, the moon allowed them to see Nate's blonde hair, and they sighed.

«Daddy,» Scarlet said. Even Jaden called him, but they didn't let go of Lara. They were still protecting their mommy.

«It's me,» he said.

He crouched down, searching Lara's expression for any trace of panic. Yet, she seemed fine.

Maybe, she would have a panic attack later. After all, she had just seen him in his wolf form. He didn't notice anything amiss, though. She was just clenching her kids, hugging them in such a desperate way.

On her side, Lara didn't know what to do.

She couldn't get up... No matter how hard she tried, her brain couldn't command her body.

First, it had been fear. And now, it was a relief. She couldn't move! All she could do was tightly clutch her cubs.

«Can I help you?» Nate asked.

She nodded, hiding her relief. She was starting to think he would never ask.

He picked the pups, making them release their mother.

«Go inside,» he ordered, and they pouted their lips. However, they followed his instructions.

He picked up Lara and carried her inside, carefully lifting her from the ground and stepping through the door. On her side, she could hug his neck and breathe happily. It was over, wasn't it? Even just for that night.

Luciano Polenta was far away if Nate was paying so much attention to her, wasn't that right?

It was over!

«We're safe now,» she said. «Right?»

«Right. But I lost him... He ran away, so we still don't know where he is. But I will find him; it's a promise.»

Lara hugged his neck and kissed his cheek.

«Thank you!» she said. «You saved my life.»

«Aren't you afraid of me now?» Experience tales at mvl

«Oh, Nate... I'm just so thankful that you saved me. I couldn't move, and I felt like it was the end. But you came just in time!»

«Also... What were you doing out there?»

«I was getting Scarlet back. She escaped using the window on the back. I came out to retrieve her.»

«I see... I shouldn't have left you alone to manage two pups during a Bright Moon. They're a handful. Even more than usual.»

Lara laughed, and all her tension was released in that gesture. The twins listened to her voice and hugged each other, obediently sitting on the couch.

They were still afraid, but their mommy was happy. Did it mean everything was okay?

Oh, but... Nate was with them. There was nothing that could go wrong with him nearby. He could protect them from anything. Them and their mommy.