CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Chapter 407: Big brother Jaden

Nate and Roxy stood in a corner, observing the kids playing or eating at the party.

They didn't talk much, but it was normal. Roxy wasn't as close to the Alpha as to start a conversation out of the blue - unless it was of use. Bass was Nate's friend. And Bass was racing after their daughter.

She watched how he forgot to say hi to his friend and Alpha to run after a small, blonde pup wearing a princess dress. Stella was eighteen months old, and she didn't talk yet. But she knew well how to run and jump.

She wanted to run to him and exchange places, but Stella was too fast to run after her in high heels. In the end, Roxy chose to stay next to the Alpha in an embarrassed silence.

Moreover, Jaden was still there, clenching Nate's trousers and looking around. His friends had waved at him, but then - seeing Nate - they hadn't dared reach closer.

At some point, when running around wasn't interesting enough, Stella seemed to notice her mother. She reached her, giggling.

«Maaa,» she exclaimed. She stopped in front of Roxy and beamed, happy to have found her mother. Bass also took a break and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Stella then moved her eyes to Nate and smiled even wider. She shouted, happy.

Lara had just finished instructing the girls in charge of the party, and she noticed the events around her mate.

«Stella has always liked Nate very much,» Roxy sighed. «For some reason, however, she doesn't get too close. She just looks at him from afar... Just like the other pups.»

«Might be due to his Alpha powers, right?» Lara murmured. «But your daughter has good taste. Her eyes see very well, I have to admit it.»

Then, the child moved a couple of steps and circled around Nate, oddly attracted by something next to him. She saw Jaden, and she ran forward, forgetting to be scared of the Alpha. She reached out to Jaden's sleeve and pulled with all her strength. In the action, she lost her balance and fell backwards.

As if nothing had happened, she got up and tried again.

Jaden just observed that small girl trying to pull him with her. When she lost balance for the second time, he reached out to her shoulder and helped her stabilise.

Stella took the chance and caught his hand. She giggled, happy like a pup. She didn't have ears to twitch and tail to wag, but her face didn't need further explanation.

«This is Stella,» Lara said, crouching next to Jaden. «Say hello, Jaden.»

«Hello.»

He continued to stare at that little girl with curious eyes, but he didn't dare ask anything.

«Jaaa,» she said, and Bass opened his mouth to complain.

His daughter had just one word in her vocabulary. He had been waiting forever for her to say daddy. And now, all of a sudden, she bypassed him and used a word to call another kid she met for the first time.

«This is big brother Jaden,» Lara said, turning to Stella.

«Big brother?» Jaden repeated. He had conflicting feelings about that part... He was Scarlet's brother; he didn't know that girl at all!

But he could play with her a little. Just a little, though. A kid so small couldn't be interesting, after all.

«Come with me,» he said. «Big brother will find something yummy to eat.»

They strolled away under their parents' gazes. All four had a different reaction.

Nate was surprised that his son had accepted a new face that easily. Lara was happy he was making friends with their friends' daughter - it meant their families would be close for generations.

Roxy was happy her daughter was playing with the Alpha's pup, but she was also a little worried because of such a quick change. Bass Cooper, on the other hand, was heartbroken. His beloved daughter had abandoned him for the first boy who had appeared in front of her. She had even called his name before saying daddy!

He turned to Roxy, asking with his expression to solve the situation. His eyes screamed: «wifey, do something!» but Roxy had no intention of meddling in children's play. Her husband had to ask himself why did their daughter prefer another man to him.

She turned her eyes away from him, pretending not to notice his desperation. She continued following the kids with her eyes.

Jaden, holding Stella's hand, guided her to the table with snacks. Since it was too high for her, he chose some snacks in her stead. He would raise his hand, grab one, and give it to her. Then, he would wait for Stella to eat it before choosing another one.

She didn't seem to mind what kind of food she received, which made Bass's heart sink even deeper in the darkness. His daughter used to be picky with food. Yet she wasn't complaining about anything, eating any colour of pastry.

«My mommy says we need to eat vegetables to grow up,» Jaden was saying.

Stella would listen to him, but it wasn't clear whether she understood.

«She says we need a lot to grow up, and you are so little. It must be because you don't eat enough! Even grandma said pups need food to grow up.»

«Jaa,» Stella repeated before nibbling on a bun with olives on top. Those were green, meaning they were healthy.

Jaden nodded, pleased. He patted her head to show her she was eating well.

Then, he remembered he also could eat something. He stood on tiptoe and looked around. He eyed a chocolate biscuit, and he grabbed it without a second thought. He ate his snack in front of Stella, exchanging smiles under the adults' dumbfounded expressions.

«Your son resembles you,» Bass commented, healing from his pain - just a little.

«He does,» Nate affirmed, proud. Even though secretly aware that his son might have been ahead of him when it was about wooing girls.

But Nate could learn a thing or two. There was still hope.